New Balance B vs D Width: What Each Letter Means

In New Balance shoe widths, B and D are width labels, not length sizes: for many adult styles, B is the standard width for women and a narrow width for men, while D is the standard width for men and a wide width for women. The same letter can therefore describe a different fit depending on whether you are shopping a women’s or men’s size, so read the letter alongside the shoe’s size category rather than treating it as a universal width.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating what b and d mean.

Start with the New Balance size chart for the specific style and size category you plan to buy, then compare its width options with a pair that already fits you well. If your toes feel crowded or the sides of your forefoot press against the shoe in your usual width, you may need more room; if your foot slides sideways or the upper feels loose, you may need a narrower option.

Try shoes on with the socks you expect to wear, and make sure your toes can spread naturally while your midfoot feels comfortably held and your heel does not slip excessively. Width can affect how securely a shoe holds your foot even when the length seems right, so do not automatically solve side pressure by buying a longer size or solve heel movement by sizing down.

Note the full size of a comfortable pair—including its width letter—and compare it with the sizing information for the New Balance style you want, since a familiar length number alone does not tell you whether the width will feel right. Our AI-Powered New Balance Fit Prediction Guide is a featured sizing eBook, and you can also use our guide to choosing your New Balance size online to work through your size decision before ordering.