How long should boot laces be?
A typical boot (9 eyelet pairs, wide width) needs about 189 cm / 74 in. Adjust for your exact shoe below.
Typical boot length
Narrow shoe
106 cm
42 in · buy 45″
Medium shoe
146 cm
58 in · buy 63″
Wide shoe
189 cm
74 in · custom
Boots run 8-12 eyelet pairs and often wider spacing, so they need noticeably longer laces; hooks/speed-lacing add length too.
Calculate your exact length
Exact = (H + √(H²+V²)×(pairs−1) + ends)×2. Measure H (across the shoe) and V (between rows) center-to-center for your shoe; defaults are typical values. Then round up to the next standard lace size.
How these lengths are computed & sources
- Exact length for criss-cross lacing =
(H + √(H²+V²)×(pairs−1) + ends)×2, where H = horizontal spacing, V = vertical spacing, ends = lace left for the bow (~250 mm). - Typical values use documented widths (narrow 25 mm, medium 50 mm, wide 75 mm) and V ≈ 20 mm — measure your own shoe for an exact answer; shoes vary widely.
- Computed length is rounded up to the next standard lace size (27″, 36″, 45″, 54″, 63″, 72″).
- Lengths are computed geometry, not a guarantee; different lacing methods change the length.
Sources:
- Ian Fieggen (Professor Shoelace) - Shoelace Length Formulas (fieggen.com/shoelace/lengthformulas.htm): criss-cross total = (H + sqrt(H^2+V^2)*(P-1) + L)*2.
- Ian Fieggen - Accurate Shoelace Lengths (fieggen.com/shoelace/accuratelengths.htm): measure P, H, V, end length L (~250 mm ideal), center-to-center.
- Ian Fieggen - Approximate Shoelace Lengths (fieggen.com/shoelace/approximatelengths.htm): quick estimate = horizontal spacing x total eyelets + 500 mm; narrow/medium/wide columns.
- Omni Calculator - Shoelace Length: Pythagorean derivation of the diagonal lace runs.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-24.