What Length Laces for Boots?
Boots take longer laces than sneakers with the same number of eyelets. For a typical boot with 4–6 pairs, published charts land between 33 and 54 inches (84–137 cm); for 7 pairs the most common answer is 54 inch (137 cm), and for 8–9 pairs it is 72 inch (183 cm). Count every eyelet and hook pair first — that count decides everything below.
How to count eyelets on a boot
Count up one side of one boot, and count every place the lace passes through or wraps around: closed eyelets, D-rings, speed-lace loops and open hooks all count as one pair each. For example, a boot with five eyelets and three hooks is an 8-pair boot, not a 5-pair one. Leaving the hooks out is the most common reason a replacement boot lace ends up too short to tie.
Count only the pairs you actually lace. If you leave the top hook empty, leave it out of the count — but measure for the boot laced the way you wear it.
Boot lace length by eyelet pairs
Four published boot charts — three lace and boot retailers and a sizing calculator — agree that boots need more than sneakers and disagree on how much. The recommended length is the value most of them give; where no value is common, the row shows the spread instead of picking a winner. A row appears only where at least three of the four charts publish a figure.
| Eyelet pairs | Recommended length | Typical range | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pairs | 33–41 inch — sources disagree | 33–41 inch | 84–104 cm |
| 5 pairs | 45–48 inch — sources disagree | 45–48 inch | 114–122 cm |
| 6 pairs | 45–54 inch — sources disagree | 45–54 inch | 114–137 cm |
| 7 pairs | 54 inch | 54–63 inch | 137 cm (range 137–160 cm) |
| 8 pairs | 72 inch | 60–72 inch | 183 cm (range 152–183 cm) |
| 9 pairs | 72 inch | 68–83 inch | 183 cm (range 173–211 cm) |
Sources: Shoesizeconvert boot column, Lace Lab boot lace chart, Guarded Goods boot lace length guide and Timberland lacing FAQ. Lace Lab and Guarded Goods publish overlapping bands (for example 6–7 pairs), so one pair count can take two of their values, which widens those rows. Three pairs is left out: only two of the four charts give a figure (31 and 27–33 inch), so measure a three-pair boot instead.
One size up from your sneakers
At the same pair count, boots generally want one lace size up from the equivalent sneaker. Boot eyelets sit further apart, the lacing runs up the ankle, and hooks take extra length to wrap around — Shoesizeconvert puts the difference at roughly 10–15%. If a 6-pair sneaker takes a 45 inch lace, a 6-pair boot is usually a 55 inch job.
Flat laces through boot hooks
Most boot laces are round because round laces slide around hooks and through tight eyelets with little friction. A flat lace can twist as it wraps a hook, sit on its edge, and grip the hook harder, which makes tightening and loosening slower. A flat lace still works on a boot: lace the hooks from the outside in, keep the lace flat as it goes around each one, and allow a little extra length for the wrap.
Which Spiffy laces fit boots — and which don't
3–6 pairs: our 45 inch and 55 inch laces cover these boots. Use 45 inch for a low ankle boot with 4 pairs; use 55 inch for 5–6 pairs, or whenever hooks are part of the count.
7 pairs: our 65 inch covers the published 54–63 inch range, but leaves little spare for ladder lacing or wrapping the ankle. Measure first.
8 pairs or more: these boots want 63–72 inch or longer. We don't stock a lace long enough. Our longest is 65 inch (165 cm), and on a tall boot it can stop short of a secure knot. Buy a dedicated boot lace of 72 inch or longer rather than one of ours — we would rather tell you now than send you a lace that won't tie.
Not sure which side of the line your boot falls on? Lay out the old lace and measure it tip to tip, then compare with the shoelace length guide or put your count into the shoelace size calculator.
Main length chart · Lacing styles
Questions & answers
What size lace should I use for 8 inch boots?
Count the eyelet and hook pairs, not the boot height. Many 8 inch work boots have about 8 pairs including hooks, and published boot charts put 8 pairs at 60–72 inch (152–183 cm), most often 72 inch (183 cm). Spiffy’s longest lace is 65 inch, so it is not the right choice for most 8-pair boots.
Do hooks count as eyelets on boots?
Yes. Count every eyelet, D-ring and hook on one side of one boot as one pair each. Leaving hooks out of the count is the most common reason a replacement boot lace is too short.
Do boots need longer laces than sneakers?
Generally yes, by about one size at the same pair count: boot eyelets are further apart, the lacing climbs the ankle and hooks take extra length to wrap.
Can I use flat laces on boots with hooks?
Yes, but flat laces grip and twist more around hooks than round laces. Wrap each hook from the outside in, keep the lace flat and allow a little extra length.