What Does GS Mean in Shoes? All You Need to Know
When it comes to shoes, you’ll hear all kinds of terms and sizing labels that can get a little confusing. One of those is "GS" shoe size. So, what does "GS" actually mean, and how can you use it to find the right fit—especially for your kids?
Kids grow so fast, and they need comfy, adaptable shoes like Vessi to keep up with them. That’s why getting the right size is a big deal. To make things easier, Nike introduced the "GS" label for their Air Jordan line. GS stands for "Grade School," meaning these shoes are designed to fit kids in grade school.
But here’s the thing—GS sizing isn’t just for kids. It’s more of a general size range, so adults with smaller feet can totally wear them too!
Check out the chart below for all the GS sizes you need to know.
GS Shoe Size Chart

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Other Shoe Acronyms You Should Know About

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The GS is just one of several terms used to categorize shoes for their respective easy identification. Below are some acronyms you should be familiar with.
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K- Stands for "kids" shoes and are designed to be worn by kids.
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Y- Used interchangeably for "years" or "youth" and are meant for kids of a specific age.
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N- Stands for "narrow" and is meant for people with narrow feet.
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W- "Wide" shoes meant for anyone with relatively wide feet compared to the standard size.
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M- Refers to "medium" shoe size and is meant for anyone who would find the wide shoes too loose and the narrow shoes too tight.
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R- "Regular" shoes for anyone with an average foot width and length.
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GG- Stands for "girls grade" school size and is targeted towards girls of a grade school age.
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BG- Similar to the "GG," "BG" stands for "boys grade" school shoes which target boys of a grade school age.
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HC- Stands for "hard court" and is meant for shoes often used on hard and abrasive surfaces. These shoes have a more hardened sole than the average shoe sole.
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PRM- These are shoes with more "premium" materials used on them. For instance, you can get Jordan GS shoes with more nuanced colors which would make them more premium.
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OVO- Another Nike line formed from a collaboration with Drake's label, October's Very Own.
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OG- Used by Jordan shoes to refer to the original releases of a specific design, which might make the OG shoes slightly costly.
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PS- Refers to "pre-school" kids' shoe size.
Frequently Asked Questions About GS Shoes

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a) Are GS shoes for kids only?
GS shoes are for people who have smaller feet (moderately smaller for adults or children) and require a tight fit. Adults will love the GS-sized shoes just as much as the kids with feet a bit larger than the size range.
b) Is GS men's shoe size the same as women's?
Not really. Foot width and length vary from person to person, and GS sizes are technically kids' sizes. If you're looking for GS shoes, just check the store’s size chart since US, UK, and other regions all size things a little differently.
c) Is GS 7 the same as Men's 7?
Close, but not exactly. A GS 7 is slightly shorter than a Men’s 7, and men’s shoes tend to be wider. But if you’ve got smaller feet, GS sizing could still work since the length is pretty similar to adult sizes.
d) What is the average shoe size for a 12-year-old?
Every child has different feet in length, but we see the average shoe size of size 7 as the universal size of foot for 12-year-olds. There is a chart you can use to measure GS shoe sizes, but you still have to take the kid back and try the shoes on extensively.
e) Do all shoe brands have grade school sizes?
The Nike Air Jordan introduced the GS shoe sizing concept. However, most brands are jumping on to the idea. GS Nike shoes are different brands' standards for the GS sizes, but GS sizes could run really small or really large, depending on the brand. However, that idea has really spread to almost all the brands.
f) How often should you replace your kids' shoes?
Our Vessi shoes are durable, comfortable, and made with high-quality materials, and if your kids wear like this, you won’t have to replace them often. Although kids grow out of their clothing so fast, you would need to buy a new pair every six months. Still, children tend to get into numerous shenanigans, which means you must clean their sneakers regularly to ensure they last long.
g) What is the difference between the Jordan 4 and Jordan 4 GS?
Jordan 4 GS shoes are tweaked a bit to be more comfortable for smaller feet. The width might be a little different since grade school kids can have the same foot length as adults, but not always the same width.
h) Should the inner shoe dimensions be equal to my foot size?
Nope! Your foot should be about half a centimeter shorter than the inner shoe dimensions. If you’re a size 37, expect the footbed to be around a 38 for a comfy fit.
i) Can I buy GS shoes online?
Children's shoes are sold in most of the stores. However, even so, you should still get the shoes for grade school kids physically since getting the properly sized GS pair is not easy per se. Luckily, our stores at Vessi have a great return policy on their shoes.
Final Thoughts

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GS in shoes stands for "grade school," but that doesn’t mean only kids can wear them! No matter your size, Vessi’s got you covered with all-day comfort and reliability. Their shoes are built to last, and honestly, no other brand does it quite like they do.