Shoelaces Explained: Your Questions About Types, Lengths, Tying and Style

Shoelaces are a small part of your shoes, but choosing the right pair can make a difference to how they fit and look. The tricky bit is knowing which shape, length and style you need.

I started Love Your Laces after a compliment about my laces on the golf course. That little detail sparked a business built around giving shoes a fresh look. Since then, I’ve been creating lacing tutorials and showing how different colours and patterns change the same footwear.

Here are the answers to those everyday shoelace questions, from choosing a length to understanding why your bow keeps coming undone.

What Are the Different Types of Shoelaces Called?

Shoelaces can be described by their shape, material or finish. Those descriptions overlap: a lace might be flat, made from cotton and finished with wax.

The main types include:

• Flat shoelaces: ribbon-shaped laces often used in trainers and casual shoes.
• Round shoelaces: cord-shaped laces used across footwear, including boots and formal shoes.
• Oval shoelaces: slightly rounded, flattened laces often found in sports shoes.
• Waxed shoelaces: laces with a wax coating, commonly chosen for a neat finish on smarter footwear.
• Elastic shoelaces: stretchy laces that may be used with a no-tie fastening.
• Curly shoelaces: coiled laces designed to help hold shoes closed without a conventional bow.

Colour and pattern add another layer of choice. Floral, leopard print, tartan and metallic describe the appearance rather than the underlying lace shape.

Which Is Better: Flat or Round Laces?

Neither is best for every shoe. Start with the shape and thickness of the original lace, particularly if you already find it comfortable.

Flat laces give you a broad surface for showing off colour and pattern. That makes them a lovely option when you want the laces to become part of the look.

Round laces create a different finish and can suit smaller eyelets, depending on their diameter. Chunky round laces need enough room to pass through the shoe’s holes comfortably.

My advice is to think about fit first, then appearance. A beautiful lace still needs to work with the shoe.

What Are Cotton Laces Called?

They are usually called cotton shoelaces. Cotton describes the material, so you can have flat cotton laces, round cotton laces or waxed cotton laces.

Check the product description if the material matters to you. A soft-looking lace is not necessarily made from cotton.

What Are Curly Shoelaces Called?

They are often sold as curly, coiled or no-tie shoelaces. Their spring-like shape helps them stay in position without a traditional bow.

“No-tie” is a broader category, though. It also includes straight elastic laces secured with toggles or other fasteners.

How Do I Know What Size Shoelaces to Buy?

The most useful starting point is an existing lace that fits the way you like.

Remove one lace, lay it flat and measure it from tip to tip without stretching it. Then consider whether you want the replacement to be the same length, shorter or longer.

That measurement tells you the length of your existing lace. It does not automatically mean it is the right length for you.

If your current bow is enormous, you may prefer a shorter replacement. If you struggle to tie it, you may need more length.

Nike also recommends measuring an existing lace as the easiest way to find a replacement length. 

What Size Are Normal Shoelaces?

There is no single “normal” length. Different shoes need different amounts of lace.

As a rough starting point for conventional criss-cross lacing:

• Four to five pairs of eyelets may suit approximately 100cm.
• Five to six pairs may suit approximately 120cm.
• Six to seven pairs may suit approximately 140cm.

These are estimates, not guarantees. The distance between the eyelets, the width of the shoe opening and your preferred bow all affect the length you need. Some shoes require lengths outside these ranges.

Count the holes on one side of the shoe to find the number of eyelet pairs. Six holes on each side means six pairs.

How Long Are Shoelaces for Size 7 Shoes?

Shoe size alone cannot tell you the correct lace length.

A size 7 low-cut trainer and a size 7 high-top can need very different laces. Look at the shoe’s eyelets and construction, or measure an existing lace.

I would always rather help someone check their particular shoe than suggest a length based only on the number printed inside it.

Are All Shoelaces the Same Length?

No. Shoelaces come in different lengths, widths and thicknesses.

Check whether the stated measurement refers to each individual lace. A pair of 120cm shoelaces normally means two laces, each measuring 120cm.

What Length Are Nike Shoelaces?

There is no universal Nike shoelace length. Different models and lacing arrangements need different lengths.

Measure the original lace if it gives you a comfortable fit. If it does not, use that measurement as a starting point and adjust for the change you want. 

What Laces Do Converse Use?

Classic Converse styles commonly use flat laces. Converse lists 45-inch laces for low-tops and 54-inch laces for high-tops, approximately 114cm and 137cm respectively. Those are useful reference points, but check your particular model rather than assuming every Converse shoe uses the same length. 

You can also change the colour or pattern while keeping a suitable shape and length. That is where replacement laces become a styling choice as well as a practical purchase.

What Length Are Old-School Laces?

“Old-school” describes a look rather than a standard measurement.

If you mean wide, retro-style trainer laces, you still need to choose a length for the shoe. If you mean Vans Old Skool trainers, check the particular pair or measure the existing laces.

Why Are My Shoelaces Always Too Long?

Your laces may be longer than you need for the way you wear your shoes.

Possible reasons include:

• You leave some eyelets unused.
• You pull the sides of the shoe closer together.
• You have changed to a lacing pattern that uses less lace.
• You prefer a smaller bow than the original laces allow.

Before replacing them, check that the lace is centred. Uneven ends can make one side look much too long.

If both ends trail after you have tied a comfortable bow, a shorter pair may be a better fit. I would avoid cutting ordinary laces as a first solution: removing the tips can leave the ends vulnerable to fraying.

How to Choose Your Next Pair of Shoelaces

Start with the practical details:

• Measure an existing lace and decide whether its length works for you.
• Check the shape, width and eyelet size.
• Allow for your preferred lacing pattern and bow.
• Choose a colour or pattern you will enjoy wearing.

My advice is to get the fit right, then have fun with the finish. You can explore more measuring, choosing and care advice in the Love Your Laces Shoelace Advice Hub.

A little something for your shoes can make a lovely difference.