Air Jordan 1 vs Air Force 1 Sizing: Which Size to Buy

No. The Air Jordan 1 fits true to size, and the Nike Air Force 1 runs about half a size big. If you wear a men's 9 in the Jordan 1, a men's 8.5 is the usual size in the Air Force 1. The exception is wide feet, which often stay at the same number in both.

The gap shows up in length first, then in toe box shape. The AF1 is the bigger, rounder shoe, and the Jordan 1 is the trimmer one. This guide explains what drives the difference and how to translate your size from one to the other.

The rule of thumb

Treat the Jordan 1 as your true Nike size and take half a size down in the Air Force 1. Our Air Jordan sizing guide and Air Force 1 sizing guide both lead to this, and it matches the common consensus among wearers.

• Jordan 1 size 9 to AF1: 8.5.
• Jordan 1 size 10 to AF1: 9.5.
• AF1 size 8.5 to Jordan 1: 9.
• Wide feet: the same number in both, and try the AF1 first.

Why the Air Force 1 runs bigger

The Air Force 1 has a tall, rounded toe box and a thick midsole, and the shoe is cut generously through the front half. At your true size, many people find about a finger's width of free space beyond the longest toe, which is more than most sneakers offer. That is why half a size down usually gives a more normal fit.

The Jordan 1 is built differently. The toe box narrows toward the front, the upper wraps the midfoot snugly, and the heel is held firmly. The length matches the number on the box far more closely.

Comparing the two, area by area

Toe box

The AF1 is wider, taller and rounder, and it leaves room for the toes to spread. The Jordan 1 is slimmer. The front of the shoe tapers, so a wide forefoot can feel pressure at the little toe.

Midfoot

The Jordan 1 hugs the arch and the instep. The AF1 is more relaxed in this area, and you can feel the difference as soon as you tighten the laces.

Heel

The heel of the Jordan 1 is held firmly, and you are unlikely to feel it move when you walk. The AF1 allows more heel movement, which is one reason the half size down is not as risky as it sounds: some of the extra length is just air around the heel, and a half size down gives you back a closer fit.

Wide feet: the exception

Wide-footed buyers are the people for whom the half size down rule does not hold. The AF1 starts out roomier, and that room is useful for them. If you have a wide forefoot, order your true size in the AF1, and expect to need half a size up from that in the Jordan 1.

The Jordan 1 High '85 is described as narrower in the forefoot than the High OG, so wide feet are better off going half a size up in that version. If you cannot decide between the two models, the Air Force 1 is the better starting point for a wide foot. See our wide feet guide for general advice.

Narrow feet

For narrow feet, the Air Force 1 can feel big even half a size down, because the extra width and height are not filled. The Jordan 1 is the better match. Heavier or padded socks and the tighter lacing options of the Jordan 1 give you more ways to fine-tune.

Different heights, same logic

The AF1 Low, Mid and High fit the same, according to our existing guide, and the Jordan 1 High, Mid and Low fit alike too, with the Low OG sometimes a bit longer. So the half-size-down rule applies whichever heights you compare. The one thing to remember is that the AF1 Low '07 Premium and the AF1 Low Four Horsemen are described as slightly shorter and snugger in the toe box than the standard AF1, so you may not want to drop half a size in those.

Other Nike models for reference

• Dunk Low: true to size, so it lines up with the Jordan 1. See the Dunk sizing guide.
• SB Dunk Low: half a size up from the Dunk, which makes it a half size up from your Jordan 1 number too, and a full size up from the AF1.
• Air Max and running models: these vary. Our Nike sizing guide covers them.

Men's and women's sizes

Women's sizing runs 1.5 higher than men's for the same foot, so a men's 9 in the Jordan 1 is a women's 10.5, and the AF1 equivalent is a men's 8.5, or a women's 10. Some of the most popular Jordan 1 Lows are released in women's sizing only, so work out the conversion first. The men's to women's conversion guide has the full table.

Three real-life examples

Numbers are easier to trust with a few cases in front of you. These are illustrations of the rule, not reports from specific buyers.

• Average foot, 26.2 cm (men's 9). Jordan 1 in a 9. Air Force 1 in an 8.5. The Jordan feels closely shaped, and the AF1 feels roomy but not sloppy.
• Wide forefoot, 27.1 cm (men's 10). Air Force 1 in a 10, since the extra width is welcome. Jordan 1 in a 10 or 10.5, with the half size added only if the little toe is pinched.
• Narrow foot, 25.4 cm (men's 8). Jordan 1 in an 8. Air Force 1 in a 7.5, and if the shoe still feels big, tighter lacing and a thicker sock help.

Buying online: a simple process

Start with the shoe you already own and know fits. Decide whether that shoe is the Jordan 1 or the Air Force 1, then apply the half-size rule in the right direction. Look at the retailer's return policy, because both shoes are widely stocked and returns are usually simple. When the pair arrives, check the heel first, because it is the part that does not change with wear, then the toes.

If you are still undecided between two sizes, our shoe size calculator can help you check your numbers against your foot length, and the brand size comparison shows how Nike sits next to other makers.

Break-in and materials

Both shoes are mostly leather, so they relax with wear, but they relax in different places. The Air Force 1 softens quickly because the upper is simple and the toe box has room to flex, and most pairs feel comfortable after a few wears. The Jordan 1 takes a little longer, particularly at the ankle collar and across the toe crease, where firm leather can feel stiff on the first days.

Because leather gives in width more than in length, sizing down in the AF1 is safer than it might seem. The shoe will not shrink, and the half size you remove from the length mostly comes out of empty space. In the Jordan 1, do not size down hoping the leather will stretch to fit.

Common mistakes

• Using one number for everything. The AF1 and Jordan 1 are neighbors in Nike's catalog, but not twins.
• Dropping half a size with wide feet. The rule is for narrow and average feet.
• Judging by toe space alone. The AF1 will always show extra room up front. Check the heel and midfoot instead.
• Forgetting the women's conversion. It is easy to miss on women's-only Jordan 1 Lows.

Nike men's size chart

Both shoes use this scale. The foot length column is the real length of the foot, and CM (JP) is the box label, which is longer than the foot.

As an example, a 26.2 cm foot is a men's US 9. That is the size to take in a Jordan 1. In the Air Force 1, step down to a men's 8.5, which the chart lists as a 25.9 cm foot. If you want to confirm your own measurement, see our foot measuring guide.

Our recommendation

Order your usual Nike size in the Air Jordan 1 and half a size down in the Air Force 1. If your feet are wide, wear the same number in both and prefer the AF1 if you must choose. If your feet are narrow, the Jordan 1 will fit better, and the AF1 may feel roomy even at half a size down.

If you own only one of the two, use it as your reference and translate. That one step saves most of the sizing mistakes people make when they buy their second Nike sneaker.