CS-01 · Compression Socks
How do I measure for compression socks?
The short answer
Measure the narrowest part of your ankle and the widest part of your calf first thing in the morning, then match both numbers to the maker's size chart, not your shoe size.
A compression sock only applies its stated pressure when it fits the leg it was sized for. Shoe size gets you close; ankle and calf measurements get you right.
How to measure
Measure in the morning, before your legs have had a chance to swell. Sit with your foot flat on the floor.
Ankle: the narrowest point, just above the ankle bone. Calf: the widest point. For thigh-high stockings, add the widest part of the thigh.
If you fall between two sizes on the chart, the calf measurement usually decides: a calf that is too tight is the most common complaint.
Wide calf is a size, not a style
Wide-calf socks are cut for a larger calf relative to the ankle. If regular socks dig in below the knee or roll down, the calf is the problem and a wide-calf cut is the fix.
Questions people actually ask
Straight answers
Should compression socks be hard to put on?
Firm ones take some effort. Turn the sock inside out to the heel, put your foot in, then roll it up. If it is painful, leaves deep marks or numbs your toes, it is the wrong size or the wrong level.
Why do my compression socks roll down?
Usually the calf is too large for the size, or the sock is too long for your leg. Re-measure the calf and check the length on the size chart.
Updated 2026-09-26. Nothing on this site is medical advice. If you have a condition, talk to your clinician before you buy.