Shoelace Length Calculator

Start by counting the eyelet pairs on your shoe. An eyelet pair is one hole on the left side plus the matching hole on the right side at the same height. Use the quick preset buttons if your shoe has 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 pairs.

Next, enter the eyelet spacing and shoe width. If you do not have a ruler handy, the default values (0.75 inches for spacing and 1.5 inches for width) work well for most standard shoes. You can also use the narrow, standard, and wide presets for shoe width.

Choose your lacing style and adjust the bow allowance if needed. The calculator will instantly show the total lace length in both inches and centimeters, along with the nearest standard store size that will fit your shoe.

Eyelets are the small holes or metal rings on either side of the tongue where the lace passes through. To count eyelet pairs, look at just one side of the shoe and count the holes from the bottom near the toe all the way up to the top near the ankle. That number is your eyelet pair count.

Some shoes use hooks instead of eyelets near the top, especially hiking boots and work boots. Count each hook as one eyelet for the purposes of this calculator, since the lace still wraps around each hook in a similar path.

If your shoe has an uneven number of eyelets on each side, count the side with more eyelets. This is uncommon but can occur on certain athletic shoe designs.

Standard criss cross lacing is the pattern most people learn as children. The lace crosses diagonally from one side to the other at every level, creating an X pattern up the tongue. This style uses the most lace because each crossing travels a diagonal distance, but it provides the most secure and even fit.

Straight or bar lacing runs the lace horizontally across the shoe in neat parallel bars. The vertical segments are hidden on the inside of the shoe. This style looks clean and formal, making it popular for dress shoes. It uses slightly less lace than criss cross because the horizontal distance is shorter than the diagonal.

Display or loose lacing keeps the lace horizontal with minimal tension and less vertical travel between eyelets. This style works well for shoes you want to slip on and off quickly without retying. It uses the least amount of lace and is common on casual sneakers.

Shoelaces wear out gradually, so it can be easy to miss the signs. The most obvious indicator is fraying at the tips where the aglets (the plastic or metal ends) have come off. Without aglets, laces are difficult to thread through eyelets and will continue to unravel.

Check for thinning along the sections that pass through the eyelets. Repeated friction wears down the fibers, and you may notice the lace looks noticeably thinner or feels rough in those spots. This weakening can lead to sudden breaks, often at the worst possible moment.

Discoloration and stiffness are also signs that laces have reached the end of their useful life. Laces absorb sweat, dirt, and moisture over time, which can make them brittle. If your laces no longer flex easily or hold a knot well, it is time for a fresh pair.