Standard Shoelace Lengths: What Size Do I Need?
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Most adult shoelaces are 45 or 55 inches. Use 45 inch for 4–6 eyelet pairs or 55 inch for 6–8; count the eyelet pairs on one shoe and match the chart. These overlapping ranges are starting points.
| Spiffy length | Eyelet pairs | Typical shoes |
|---|---|---|
| 30 inch | 2–3 pairs | Kids' sneakers, slip-ons, very low-cut shoes |
| 45 inch | 4–6 pairs | Most adult low-tops — Vans Old Skool and Era, Air Force 1 Low, Samba, New Balance runners |
| 55 inch | 6–8 pairs | Dunks, Air Max, Stan Smith, Jordan 1 Low, most mid-tops |
| 65 inch | 8–10 pairs | High-tops, Jordan 1 High, Air Force 1 Mid and High, Chuck Taylor highs, boots |
Three ways to get it right
Measure the laces you already have (most accurate)
Pull one lace all the way out, lay it flat, and measure it end to end including the plastic tips. That's your number. If those laces felt too long or too short, adjust by one size — not two.
Count your eyelet pairs
Count the holes on one side of one shoe. That's your pair count. Match it to the chart above. This is the fastest method and it's right most of the time.
The string method (for odd shoes)
If you've lost the original laces and the eyelet count is unusual, thread a piece of string or a phone charger cable through the shoe exactly the way you'd lace it, leave enough at both ends to tie a bow, then pull it out and measure it flat.
The honest version: every chart disagrees
Look up a shoelace length chart and you'll find five different answers for the same shoe. One retailer says a Jordan 1 High takes 63 inches. Another says 72. Both are selling laces, and both are guessing at an average.
They disagree because lace length doesn't depend on the shoe model alone. It depends on how many eyelets it has, how far apart they are, how you lace it, and how big a bow you like. A 10½ and a 7 in the same model don't need the same lace.
So treat any chart, including ours, as a starting point — and use one of the three methods above if you want to get it right the first time.
Why our sizes aren't the standard ones
Most lace brands sell 36, 48, 54 and 63 inch. We run 30, 45, 55 and 65. That isn't an accident — the lengths were set around how our flat lace actually sits in the shoes people were buying them for, not around an inherited standard.
In practice it means our 45 inch sits between the common 36 and 48, and our 65 inch runs slightly longer than a standard 63. If you're used to 48 inch laces, our 45 is the closest — with a slightly smaller bow. If you're used to 63, our 65 gives you a little more to work with.
Flat laces lace differently
Every Spiffy lace is flat, and flat laces behave differently from round ones in two ways worth knowing:
- They take up more room in the eyelet. A flat lace sits wider, so it can feel tighter through small metal eyelets even at the same length.
- They hold a knot better. More surface area means more friction, so flat laces come undone less. You can go slightly shorter than you would with round laces and still tie a bow that stays.
New flat laces take roughly ten ties to settle; learn how to keep shoelaces from coming untied during break-in.
When to size up
Go one length longer if you do any of these:
- Tie a double knot every time
- Like a big, loose bow
- Lace straight-bar or ladder style, which both eat more lace than criss-cross
- Wear a US men's 12 or larger
Go one length shorter if you skip eyelets, prefer a tight minimal bow, or keep tucking the ends in.
Kids and toddler shoelace lengths
Start with our 30 inch lace for 2–3 eyelet pairs on kids’ sneakers. Toddler shoes vary: a shoe with fewer holes or closely spaced eyelets may need less than 30 inches, so measure its original lace or use string before ordering. Do not choose by age alone.
For a child’s shoe with 4–5 pairs, 45 inch is the next starting point; a compact shoe may still work with 30 inch. Leave enough lace for a secure bow without long trailing ends. Shop shoelaces for kids.
A note on women’s shoelace length
There is no separate standard length for women’s shoes. Count the eyelet pairs and check their spacing, rather than choosing by the women’s size label; 45 or 55 inch is a starting point for many adult sneakers, not a guarantee.
Still not sure?
Tell us the shoe you're lacing and we'll tell you the length. It takes us thirty seconds and saves you a return.
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Questions & answers
How long are standard shoelaces?
Standard adult shoelaces commonly run 45–55 inches. There is no universal length: eyelet spacing, the number of pairs and your bow all affect the fit.
What size shoelaces do I need?
Count the holes up one side of one shoe, not both sides together. At US 7–11, start with 30 inch for 3–4 pairs, 45 inch for 5–6, 55 inch for 7–8 or 65 inch for 9 or more, then measure your current lace to check. Kids’ sizes step down one length and US 12+ steps up one.
How long should shoelaces be for 4 eyelets?
If you mean four eyelet pairs, start with 30 inch Spiffy laces at US 7–11; 45 inch may suit a wider shoe or a bigger bow. Four holes total means two pairs, for which 30 inch is also the starting point.
How do I measure shoelace length?
Remove a lace and lay it flat, then measure end to end including the plastic tips. If it already fits well, choose the closest length; otherwise thread string through your preferred lacing pattern and measure that with bow allowance.
What size shoelaces do kids need?
Start one length shorter than the adult chart: count the eyelet pairs, find the adult starting length, then step down one size (65→55, 55→45, 45→30; 30 stays 30). Toddler shoes may need less than 30 inch, so measure instead of choosing by age.
How long are shoelaces for sneakers?
Many adult sneakers use 45 or 55 inch laces, while high-tops may need 65 inch. Count your actual eyelet pairs and measure the original lace because models, sizes and releases differ.