September 02, 2021

Dress Shoelace Length Guide [From Shoes to Boots by Number of Eyelets]

革靴の紐の長さの目安【鳩目穴の数別に短靴からブーツまで】

This guide provides standard lengths for dress shoelaces, organized by the number of eyelets.

To help you visualize, we've included photos of laces on actual shoes. Please use this as a reference when replacing your laces.

About the Length Guide: Important Notes for Replacing Laces

Please understand that the lengths provided are a general guide. This is for the following reasons:

[The distance between eyelets varies by shoe]

Because the distance between eyelets is different for each shoe, the proper length can vary even for shoes with the same number of eyelets.

In the image below, the shoe on the right has a greater distance between its eyelets, so it requires laces that are about 5cm longer than the shoe on the left to achieve the right fit.

The distance between eyelets varies by shoe

[The width of the opening varies depending on fit]

The proper length also varies depending on how wide the quarters (the parts with the eyelets) open. If you have a wider fit, you will need longer laces than usual.

In the image below, the shoe on the right has a wider opening, making the laces look shorter. If your shoes have a wide opening, you should choose a length about 5cm longer than the guide suggests.

The width of the opening varies depending on fit

As you can see, the proper length can vary depending on eyelet spacing and your personal fit. While this guide is a great starting point, the most reliable method is always to measure the laces that originally came with your shoes.

Dress Shoelace Length Guide

Quick Reference Chart for Lace Length

Number of Eyelets Length Guide Recommended Length
2 55-60cm 60cm
3 60-65cm 65cm
4 70-75cm 70cm
5 75-80cm 75cm
6 85-90cm 85cm
7 (Boots) 110-120cm 120cm
8 (Boots) 120-130cm 130cm

You can see photos for each eyelet count below. ↓↓

For 2-Eyelet Shoes

For 2-Eyelet Shoes

*Note: This is a 3-eyelet shoe laced to look like a 2-eyelet.

For 2-eyelet shoes, a length of 55-60cm is a good guideline.

The recommended length is 60cm, as used in the photo above. (Shoe: Soffice&Solid)

For 2-eyelet chukka boots, a slightly longer length of around 65cm is a better fit.

Lace used: MONDSHOELACE "Thin Glossy Waxed Cotton Round Shoelaces 2/25""(2.2mm)" in Dark Beige

For 3-Eyelet Shoes

For 3-Eyelet Shoes

For 3-eyelet shoes, a length of 60-65cm is a good guideline.

The recommended length is 65cm, as used in the photo above. (Shoe: Soffice&Solid)

For 3-eyelet chukka boots, a slightly longer length of around 70cm is a better fit.

Lace used: MONDSHOELACE "Thin Glossy Waxed Cotton Flat Shoelaces 1/8""(3mm)" in Dark Beige

For 4-Eyelet Shoes

For 4-Eyelet Shoes

For 4-eyelet shoes, a length of 70-75cm is a good guideline.

The recommended length is 70cm, as used in the photo above. (Shoe: Tricker’s Burton)

Lace used: MONDSHOELACE "Thick Glossy Waxed Cotton Round Shoelaces 7/50""(3.5mm)" in Dark Brown

For 5-Eyelet Shoes

For 5-Eyelet Shoes

For 5-eyelet shoes, a length of 75-80cm is a good guideline.

The recommended length is 75cm, as used in the photo above. (Shoe: Raymar)

Lace used: MONDSHOELACE "Thin Stay-Tied Waxed Cotton Round Shoelaces 2/25""(2.2mm)" in Black

For 6-Eyelet Shoes

For 6-Eyelet Shoes

For 6-eyelet shoes, a length of 85-90cm is a good guideline.

The recommended length is 85cm, as used in the photo above. (Shoe: WHEELROBE)

Lace used: MONDSHOELACE "Wide Glossy Waxed Cotton Flat Shoelaces 1/5""(5.5mm)" in Bordeaux

For 7-Eyelet Boots

For 7-Eyelet Boots

For 7-eyelet boots, a length of 110-120cm is a good guideline.

The recommended length is 120cm, as used in the photo above. (Shoe: Tricker’s Malton)

However, if you tie a 120cm lace at the second-to-last eyelet, it will look a bit long as shown below. If you plan to tie at the second-to-last eyelet, a length of around 110cm would be better.

120cm lace tied at the second-to-last eyelet

Lace used: MONDSHOELACE "Thick Glossy Waxed Cotton Round Shoelaces 7/50""(3.5mm)" in Light Beige

For 8-Eyelet Boots

For 8-Eyelet Boots

For 8-eyelet boots, a length of 120-130cm is a good guideline.

The recommended length is 130cm, as used in the photo above. (Shoe: RENDO)

However, if you tie a 130cm lace at the second-to-last eyelet, it will look a bit long as shown below. If you plan to tie at the second-to-last eyelet, a length of around 120cm would be better.

130cm lace tied at the second-to-last eyelet

Lace used: MONDSHOELACE "Thick Glossy Waxed Cotton Round Shoelaces 7/50""(3.5mm)" in Dark Brown

Where to Buy Shoelaces in Your Ideal Length

While we've provided a length guide, ready-made shoelaces are typically sold in 10cm increments, so you might not be able to find the perfect length.

If that's the case, please visit our shop, MONDSHOELACE. We are a semi-custom shoelace brand that allows you to choose the exact length you need.

In addition to choosing the length, we offer a rich variety of shapes and colors, so you're sure to find the perfect laces for your shoes.

Shop at MONDSHOELACE

Reference for this article: A Guide to Dress Shoelace Length [By Number of Eyelets for 4-hole, 5-hole, etc.] | KutsuMedia