How to Size Roller Skates in Australia: Brand-by-Brand Guide
How to Size Roller Skates in Australia
Getting the right size is the most important part of buying roller skates online — and where most problems happen. Skates that don't fit properly are uncomfortable, hard to control, and cause blisters. Skates that fit well feel immediately better and let you focus on actually learning to skate.
This guide covers sizing for every major brand we stock, including the quirks that catch people out.
The Golden Rule: Measure Your Foot
Don't rely solely on your shoe size. Sizing varies between footwear brands more than most people realise, and skate brands often size differently from street shoes. The most reliable method:
- Put on the socks you plan to skate in (thicker socks = slightly larger fit required).
- Stand on a piece of paper and trace your foot.
- Measure from the heel to the tip of your longest toe in centimetres.
- Compare that measurement against each brand's centimetre-based size chart.
This is the method every brand recommends and the one we use in store for every customer. Do it for both feet and use the larger measurement if they differ.
Brand-by-Brand Sizing Guide
Impala Roller Skates
Impala sizes in women's AU sizing. Women: true to standard shoe size works for most. Men: size down 1.5–2 sizes from your usual shoe size. So if you wear a men's AU 10, try a women's AU 8 or 8.5.
Impala tends to run slightly on the larger side — if you're between sizes, size down rather than up.
Rio Roller Skates
Rio Roller sizes in EU sizing on the box but can be cross-referenced easily against AU sizing. Women: generally true to size. Men: size down 1.5–2 sizes as with most quad skate brands. Rio tends to have a slightly wider toe box than Impala, making them a better fit for skaters with wider feet.
Moxi Roller Skates
Moxi sizes in US women's sizing. For AU sizing: Moxi runs generally true to AU women's size, sometimes one size large. The Jack boot (men's model) is sized in US men's sizing and built on a wider last for a more comfortable men's fit. Check Moxi's cm chart for the most accurate result.
Chuffed Skates — Important Sizing Note
Chuffed runs 1–2 sizes smaller than standard AU women's sizing and is equivalent to AU men's sizing. This is the brand sizing question we get most often in store — people order their normal size and end up with skates that are too big.
The correct approach: measure your foot in cm and match directly to Chuffed's cm size chart. Do not convert from your usual AU women's shoe size without checking the chart.
Chaya Roller Skates
Chaya sizes in EU sizing and generally runs true to standard sizing. Their adjustable youth models cover a range (e.g. EU 33–36) — check the specific range on each product page.
K2 Inline Skates
K2 sizes in US sizing, which is consistent with AU sizing for men and approximately 1.5 sizes larger than AU women's sizing. K2 tends to run true to size. Their BOA closure systems allow some fine-tuning of fit across a small range, which is helpful for skaters on the cusp of two sizes.
Powerslide Inline Skates
Powerslide sizes in EU sizing. Generally true to size. Their heat-mouldable liners (on NEXT series) will conform to your foot over time, reducing the importance of perfect out-of-the-box fit slightly — though you should still start with the right size.
Should Skates Feel Tight or Loose?
Skates should feel snug, not tight, and not loose. Your toes should just brush the end of the boot when you stand (not curl). There should be no lateral movement of your foot inside the boot when the skate is laced. Your heel should not lift when you flex forward.
A small amount of discomfort during break-in is normal — especially across the top of the foot where the boot is stiffest. Genuine pain, numbness, or toes going white are signs the skate is too small or laced too tightly.
Most skates loosen a small amount with wear over the first 5–10 sessions as the boot material softens and the liner compresses slightly. This is why it's important not to size up to account for anticipated break-in — a skate that feels slightly snug when new will often feel perfect after a few sessions. A skate that feels loose when new will only get worse.
Come In and Get Sized
If you're in Melbourne, we're at 435A Bridge Rd, Richmond — open 7 days. We size and fit skaters in store every day and can find the right size across every brand we carry. Free shipping Australia-wide on all orders over $90 for those buying online.