Do sneaker prices vary by size?

Yes.

The blue line represents the percent deviation between the average DS price of that size and the overall average DS price.  For example, size 8 is negative 1.9%.  This means that the average price of a size 8 pair is 1.9% less than the average price of all sizes together.  On the other hand, size 13 is 3.5%.  This means that the average price of a size 13 is 3.5% greater than the overall average price.

As you can see:

• 13 is the most expensive at 3.5% more than the average DS price
• 8 and 10 are the least expensive, both at 1.9% less than average
• 8, 8.5, 9.5, 10, 10.5 and 11 sell for less than average
• 9, 11.5, 12, and 13 sell for more than average
• 14 actually sells for exactly the same price as the average
• Sizes 12.5, 13.5, smaller than 8, and larger than 14 were omitted from this analysis due to very low volume

So is this a lot?  3.5% and -1.9% seem like nominal differences in price.  Does this even matter?

Well, a 5.4% difference between the two extremes, when applied to a $248 pair of sneakers (the average price of the 517 sneakers we looked at) equals a difference of $13.  We’ll let you judge the significance of $13 for yourself, but it seems to us that for your average sneakerhead, copping 1-2 pairs a month, 13 bucks a pair will add up pretty quickly.

We conducted this analysis by looking at all 2013 eBay sales for 517 sneakers (Deadstock, Mens).  This ended up being almost 220k auctions – 219,635 to be exact.  The 517 that were analyzed (which are listed at the bottom this post) were selected from the 840+ sneakers Campless tracks (see our Sneaker Price Guide) because they were the ones which had DS sales in at least 9 of the 11 sizes.  These 517 represent 98.5% of the total volume that Campless  tracks.

The volume distribution, by size, of these 220k sneakers can be see in the above graph, the white bars.

• As expected, sizes 11 and 10 were the most prolific, at 15% and 14.3% of total volume, respectively
• Size 14 had the fewest pairs, at only 2.9% of total volume
• The sizes not included in this analysis (12.5, 13.5, under 8, over 14) composed 2.3% of total volume, combined

For ease of review, here are the sizes listed in order of volume:

• 11              15.0%
• 10             14.3%
• 10.5          12.9%
• 12              11.6%
• 9.5            10.1%
• 9                 7.7%
• 13               7.3%
• 11.5           6.1%
• 8.5             5.2%
• 8                 4.5%
• 14              2.9%
• All other sizes combined        2.3%

For the average sneakerhead who is not reselling (and average adult male whose feet have stopped growing), all of this may be irrelevant because we always buy the same size, give or take a half size.  If that’s you, we hope this is at least intellectually stimulating.

For resellers, however, or anyone who copped the wrong size and is looking to flip or trade, this could have important implications.  Knowing the relative price premium and scarcity of each size can ensure you make the best deal for yourself.

Does any of this surprise you?  What has been your experience trying to cop a particular size?

.

.

.

Sneakers Included in Size Analysis: