As always with New Balance, New Balance 991 sizing is the first thing people ask about.
The 991 has a long history, and whether it is the V1 or the newer V2, the fit can feel a bit tricky if you have never worn one before.
Some people wonder if it runs big or small, others worry about width, toe room, or pressure around the forefoot.
That is exactly why this guide exists.
I am going to break down how the New Balance 991 fits in real life, based on how it feels on foot, not tech talk. Think of this as a simple, honest look at sizing so you know what to expect before you buy.
New Balance 991 Sizing
If you’ve worn a few New Balance pairs before, the 991 probably doesn’t scare you.
But once you actually put them on, you realize pretty quickly that this is not a forgiving silhouette. The fit is very deliberate, especially through the forefoot.
Related: If you’re coming from something more modern and cushioned, the New Balance 740 sizing guide is a good comparison point. The fit story there feels a bit more forgiving than the 991.
New Balance 991v1 Sizing
For me, the 991v1 fits true to size, but in a noticeably snug way width-wise.
My feet measure as a true US 9 on a Brannock device, and I sit between a D and an E width. I went with a size 9, and length-wise, the fit is right where it should be.
I didn’t feel like I had too much extra room in front of my toes, and I didn’t feel cramped length-wise either.
Where you do feel the shoe is around the ball of the foot…
That area can feel a little firm at first, and this is something I’ve experienced with multiple 991v1 pairs.
The good news is that, from my experience, this pressure eases with wear. As the shoe breaks in, the forefoot materials soften and open up just enough to feel comfortable without losing structure.
Because of that, here’s how I’d size it:
- Narrow, normal, or slightly wide feet → go true to size
- Very wide feet → this might not be the most comfortable model, unless you size up half a size
For reference, I wear a size 9 in models like the 1500, 2002R, 860v2, 1906R, and 9060, while I usually go half a size down to an 8.5 in models like the 990 series, 992, 993, and 550.
Now, do all 991v1s fit the same?
Mostly yes. But not always…
Related: I also broke down how the New Balance Abzorb 2010 fits, and that one sits in a very different place width-wise compared to the 991.
991v1 collabs and colorway differences
Most 991v1s fit consistently, but there are exceptions.
JJJJound x New Balance 991
This pair surprised me.
Even though I stuck with my usual size 9, it felt slightly more accommodating than other 991s I own.
The toe box felt a touch more forgiving, and I didn’t notice as much pinching as usual. I’m not sure if this was a factory variance or material choice, but sizing-wise, true to size still felt correct.
Related: For anyone cross-shopping chunkier runners, my New Balance 1000 size guide explains why that model feels roomier on foot.
Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 991 – Chocolate vs Celery
Both pairs fit differently despite being the same model.
The Chocolate pair felt closer to a traditional 991v1 fit. There was a slight pressure at the ball of the foot, but it was manageable.
The Celery colorway, however, felt more spacious overall. I noticed less pressure and more breathing room, especially through the forefoot.
My guess is that the mesh and suede combination played a role here.
I stayed true to size for both, and I wouldn’t recommend changing your size unless you’re truly between sizes.
Related: If you already wear a 530, checking out how the New Balance 530 fit compares can help you decide what size to grab in the 991.
Sneakersnstuff x New Balance 991
This one fit a bit longer than a standard 991.
Width-wise, it was spot on for my foot, but length-wise, I had just over a finger’s width of space in front of my toes.
Because my feet lean slightly wide, I didn’t feel comfortable going half a size down. True to size still made the most sense here unless you have a narrow foot and prefer a very snug fit.
Related: The New Balance 574 sizing article is useful if you want a reference for a more relaxed, everyday fit.
Consistent-fit collabs
These fit exactly like a standard 991v1:
- Run The Boroughs x New Balance 991
- Stray Rats x New Balance 991
- Stick with your usual 991 size on these.
New Balance 991v2 Sizing
When it comes to New Balance 991v2 sizing, I know this is the part everyone scrolls for.
There’s been a lot of talk online about whether the V2 is more wide-foot friendly than the V1, so I went into this pretty curious myself.
Again, my foot measures as a true size 9, slightly on the wider side, and I wear a size 9 in the 991v1.
I picked up the 991v2 in the same size, and after wearing multiple colorways, I can say pretty confidently that the V2 fits very similarly to the V1.
Going true to size, the length feels slightly on the longer side, which is typical for this model. I had just over an index finger’s width of space in front of my toes.
The toe box itself still leans narrow, and just like the V1, I could feel a bit of pressure around the ball of my foot, especially where the bottom lace sits.
That said, the pressure wasn’t painful. It felt snug, but not uncomfortable, and from my experience, this area does break in over time and starts to accommodate your foot better the more you wear them.
Because of that balance between length and width, true to size makes the most sense for most people.
Now, here’s how I’d size it:
- Narrow feet and you like an exact, locked-in fit → you might get away with half size down
- Normal or slightly wide feet → true to size
- Very wide feet → honestly, the 991v2 probably isn’t the best option overall
The reason I don’t usually recommend sizing up for wide feet is simple: this shoe already runs a bit long.
At true to size, I had about a thumb’s width of space up front. Going up half a size would just add too much length, even if it helps slightly with width.
Related: If you’re used to slimmer silhouettes, I’d also look at how the New Balance 327 fits, since that shoe shares some of the same forefoot quirks.
Colorway and collab fit differences
Most 991v2 colorways fit very consistently, but there are a couple worth calling out…
New Balance 991v2 “Silver Blue / Turbulence”
This pair felt slightly roomier than my other 991v2s. Length-wise, it was the same, but I noticed noticeably less pressure around the ball of my foot.
Based on what I’ve seen online, this seems more like a manufacturing or material variance rather than a rule. Because of that, I’d still recommend sticking true to size, especially if you have a higher instep or slightly wider foot.
Salehe Bembury x New Balance 991v2
I went with my true size 9 here, and the fit was spot-on.
Compared to other V2s, this pair felt more forgiving, likely due to the suede construction. I didn’t experience any pinching or pressure points in the toe box at all.
Break-in was minimal, and I wouldn’t personally size up or down on this one.
Collabs that fit like a standard 991v2
From my experience, these all fit the same as a regular 991v2:
- Stone Island x New Balance 991v2
- Kith x Danielle Cathari x New Balance 991v2
- Up There x New Balance 991v2
- Kith x New Balance 991v2
- thisisneverthat x New Balance 991v2
If you already know your 991v2 size, you can confidently stick with it for these.
New Balance 991 Size Chart
Men
| US Men | US Women | UK | EU | CM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 36 | 22 |
| 4.5 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 22.5 |
| 5 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23 |
| 5.5 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 23.5 |
| 6 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 38.5 | 24 |
| 6.5 | 8 | 6 | 39.5 | 24.5 |
| 7 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 40 | 25 |
| 7.5 | 9 | 7 | 40.5 | 25.5 |
| 8 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 41.5 | 26 |
| 8.5 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 26.5 |
| 9 | 10.5 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 27 |
| 9.5 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 27.5 |
| 10 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 44 | 28 |
| 10.5 | 12 | 10 | 44.5 | 28.5 |
| 11 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 45 | 29 |
| 11.5 | 13 | 11 | 45.5 | 29.5 |
| 12 | 13.5 | 11.5 | 46.5 | 30 |
| 12.5 | 14 | 12 | 47 | 30.5 |
| 13 | 15 | 12.5 | 47.5 | 31 |
| 14 | 13.5 | 49 | 32 | |
| 15 | 14.5 | 50 | 33 | |
| 16 | 15.5 | 51 | 34 | |
| 17 | 16.5 | 52 | 35 | |
| 18 | 17.5 | 53 | 36 | |
| 19 | 18.5 | 54 | 37 | |
| 20 | 19.5 | 55 | 38 |
Women
| US Women | US Men | UK | EU | CM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2.5 | 2 | 34 | 21 |
| 4.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 34.5 | 21.5 |
| 5 | 3.5 | 3 | 35 | 22 |
| 5.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.5 |
| 6 | 4.5 | 4 | 36.5 | 23 |
| 6.5 | 5 | 4.5 | 37 | 23.5 |
| 7 | 5.5 | 5 | 37.5 | 24 |
| 7.5 | 6 | 5.5 | 38 | 24.5 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6 | 39 | 25 |
| 8.5 | 7 | 6.5 | 40 | 25.5 |
| 9 | 7.5 | 7 | 40.5 | 26 |
| 9.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 41 | 26.5 |
| 10 | 8.5 | 8 | 41.5 | 27 |
| 10.5 | 9 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 27.5 |
| 11 | 9.5 | 9 | 43 | 28 |
| 11.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 43.5 | 28.5 |
| 12 | 10.5 | 10 | 44 | 29 |
| 12.5 | 11 | 10.5 | 45 | 29.5 |
| 13 | 11.5 | 11 | 45.5 | 30 |
| 13.5 | 12 | 11.5 | 46 | 30.5 |
| 14 | 12.5 | 12 | 46.5 | 31 |
| 15 | 13 | 13 | 48 | 32 |
New Balance 991 Width Chart
| Code | Men | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| 4A | — | X-Narrow |
| 2A | X-Narrow | Narrow |
| B | Narrow | Standard |
| D | Standard | Wide |
| 2E | Wide | X-Wide |
| 4E | X-Wide | XX-Wide |
| 6E | XX-Wide | — |
How to measure your feet for New Balance 991
Before you stress over New Balance 991 sizing, get your foot measurements right first. This model is a bit picky with fit, especially around the forefoot, so this step really matters.
Best option: try them on in store
- Get measured by a professional if possible
- Walk around and pay attention to pressure around the ball of your foot
- This is the easiest way to know right away if the 991 works for you
Using a Brannock device
- Measure both feet, not just one
- Use the longer and wider foot as your reference
- Check both length and width, not length alone
Measuring at home
- Stand on a piece of paper with your heel against a wall
- Put your weight on your foot and mark the longest toe
- Measure from heel to toe and repeat with the other foot
- Always go with the larger measurement
What to keep in mind for the 991 specifically
- This shoe runs a little long in length
- The toe box can feel narrow, especially at the ball of the foot
- Width matters more than you might expect, even if length feels fine
Final thoughts on New Balance 991 sizing
After wearing the 991 in different versions and colorways, my takeaway is pretty simple. The New Balance 991 sizing is more consistent than people make it out to be, but the shape of the shoe is what throws some people off.
For me, going with my actual foot size works best. The length always feels slightly generous, while the front of the shoe feels more narrow and structured.
That balance is why I would not size down unless you know you like a really snug fit and you have a narrow foot.
If you have an average foot, start with your normal size and see how it feels. A bit of pressure around the ball of the foot is normal at first and usually eases up after some wear.
If your foot is very wide, this model might never feel great, no matter the size.
Your turn…
If you own a pair of 991s, I’m curious to hear your take.
- Did you stick with your usual size, size down, or try something else?
- And did your pair loosen up after some wear, or stay snug up front?