Canadian Boot Width Notation Decoder

Boulet's width letters don't match US width letters. A Boulet E is roughly equivalent to a US D — this tool translates between systems before you buy the wrong boot.

⚠️ The trap that costs Canadians money Boulet uses a width scale that runs one letter wider than the US standard. A Boulet E is their standard/medium width — the equivalent of US D (medium). If you see a wide US boot labeled EE and try to match it with a Boulet EE, you'll end up with a boot that's too wide.

Width Converter

Select your brand and current width to get the US equivalent and shopping guidance.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

The same physical foot width has different letters depending on the brand's system. Use this when shopping cross-border or comparing Canadian vs US brands.

Physical Width Boulet Label US Standard Label Canada West Label Notes
Narrow A B (women's) / A (men's) A Hard to find in most styles
Slim-medium B B (men's) B
Medium-narrow C C C Not always available
Medium D D (men's standard) D US men's standard
Medium-wide (Boulet standard) E D or E depending on brand E ⚠️ Boulet E = US D for most shoppers
Wide EE EE (2E) EE
Extra wide EEE EEE (3E) EEE Limited availability in western styles

Why Boulet Uses a Different Scale

Boulet Boots is based in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec and has been making western boots since 1933. Their width scale evolved from older North American cowboy boot sizing conventions where the letters shifted meaning over time.

The practical result: Boulet built their "standard" width around what they call E — a fit that most Canadian men with average-width feet wear. US brands call that same width D or sometimes "medium." Neither is wrong; they're just speaking different dialects.

The confusion gets expensive when a Canadian shopper in a Boulet E buys a US boot in E — which is actually a wide — and wonders why it feels sloppy.

Canadian Brands at a Glance

Boulet

Canadian scale. E = standard/medium. Add one letter to find US equivalent. Most popular widths: D, E, EE.

Canada West

Closer to US scale. Their D = US D (standard). Less offset than Boulet. Confirm with retailer on specific style.

Ariat (sold in Canada)

US scale. D = medium. EE = wide. No offset. What you see is what you get.

Justin / Tony Lama / Lucchese

US scale. B = narrow (women's), D = medium (men's), EE = wide. Standard US system.

Shopping Online from US Retailers

If you're buying from a US retailer (Boot Barn, Sheplers, etc.) and you normally wear Boulet:

When to Size Up vs Try a Different Brand

Size up when:

Try a different brand when:

See also: How Western Boots Should Fit and the Calf Fit Finder if tall shaft fit is the issue.

The Width-Last Interaction

Width letters are one variable. The last (the 3D mold the boot is built on) is another. Two boots labeled EE from different brands can feel completely different because one last is cut fuller through the toe and another through the instep. Boulet's ranch-toe last, for example, runs generous through the toe box even in standard E. Their pointed-toe fashion styles are less forgiving.

If you're shopping at a store that carries both Canadian and US brands, bring your Boulet boots and ask the staff to measure your foot on a Brannock device — width and length separately. That number is the ground truth that transcends brand labelling.

More on fit: Canadian Western Boot Buying Guide | Boulet Boots Review | Boulet vs Canada West