How to Replace Leather Shoe Laces the Right Way
By Handcrafted Leather Shoes & Boots, Made in Tuscany | Buttero | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to measuring, choosing, and fitting leather laces, including a length guide and care tips so your new laces last.
Quick answer
Pull one old lace out, measure it end to end, and buy the closest standard length: 130 cm for sneakers and derby shoes, 160 cm for lace-up ankle boots and hiking boots. Then thread from the bottom eyelets upward, adjust the tension evenly, and trim any excess only after you have walked in them once. Leather laces settle with wear, so re-check the knot after the first few outings.
Measure the lace you already have
Remove one lace completely and lay it flat without stretching it. Measure from tip to tip with a soft tape or a piece of string, then note whether the old lace is round or flat. Leather laces are often cut square rather than round, which changes how they sit against the eyelets and how they knot.
Match length to shoe type, not just eyelet count
A six-eyelet derby and a six-eyelet boot do not take the same lace because the distance between eyelets differs. As a working rule, 130 cm covers sneakers and derby shoes, while 160 cm covers lace-up ankle boots and hiking boots. If your shoe sits between sizes, choose the longer lace and trim it after lacing.
Thread from the bottom and keep tension even
Start at the lowest eyelets and work upward, crossing or straight-lacing according to the shoe's existing pattern. Pull each section snug as you go rather than tightening everything at the end, which prevents one side from ending up longer than the other. Leave the lace loose enough to slide your foot in without forcing the leather.
Trim only after a test walk
Walk around indoors for a few minutes before cutting anything. Leather laces can stretch slightly with body heat and use, so a lace that looks too long at first may settle. If you do trim, cut square across the tip and leave at least a few centimetres beyond your usual knot.
Care habits that keep leather laces working
Wipe laces with a dry cloth after wet or dusty wear, and avoid soaking them, which can stiffen the leather. If a lace feels dry, a light touch of leather conditioner on a cloth can help, but keep it away from the eyelets and stitching. Rotate in a spare pair so one set is not always under tension.
Replacing leather laces step by step
- Remove one lace and measure it: Take out a single lace, lay it flat, and measure tip to tip. Write the number down before you shop so you are not guessing from eyelet count alone. Checkpoint: if the old lace is stretched or knotted, measure a second time against the shoe's eyelet span.
- Choose the closest standard length: Use 130 cm for sneakers and derby shoes, 160 cm for lace-up ankle boots and hiking boots. Longer is easier to work with because you can trim it down. Common mistake: buying a shorter lace to avoid trimming, then finding it will not tie comfortably.
- Thread from the bottom eyelets upward: Feed the lace through the lowest pair, even the ends, and work upward following the shoe's existing pattern. Tighten each section as you go. Checkpoint: both ends should reach the top eyelets at roughly the same length before you tie.
- Tie once and walk indoors: Make your normal knot and wear the shoes for a few minutes. Leather laces can relax slightly with warmth, so this shows whether the length is right. Common mistake: cutting the lace before this test and ending up with tips too short to grip.
- Trim square and keep a spare set: If you trim, cut straight across and leave a few centimetres past your knot. Store a spare pair so you can swap rather than overwork one set. Checkpoint: re-tie after the first few wears to confirm the laces have settled.
Product facts
- Leather Laces - White: These leather laces in white are cut square rather than round, so they sit flatter against the eyelets and hold their shape over time. Length can be adjusted simply by trimming them down. 130 cm for sneakers and derby shoes; 160 cm for lace-up ankle boots and hiking boots. Made in Italy. The square cut gives a cleaner line on the shoe and the two lengths cover most casual and boot uses, so you can order one pair and trim to fit.
- TANINO: tanino-slip-on-sneakers-in-beige-suede-79b060108f064f5e72a5f217-1609503">tanino-sneakers-in-black-leather-203de72addc66f38aaac6136-1609500">tanino-sneakers-in-ebony-leather-f390569525549077c86bc844-1609498">tanino-mid-top-sneakers-in-beige-suede-9248b6fa101bacee48a4353f-1609490">Tanino has stayed Buttero's hero sneaker since its debut in 2013, with raw-cut edges, two stitch points at the toe, and brass eyelets. It uses leather laces and brass eyelets for the closure, and a spare pair of laces is included. If you own Tanino, the spare pair means you can practise relacing without risking the original set, and the brass eyelets suit leather laces better than thin synthetic cord.
- LAYDEE: Laydee is a riding boot shape with a removable and adjustable leather strap and double vintage-brass buckle at the ankle. The upper is soft calf leather in black, fully leather-lined, with a leather insole and a stitched leather sole with rubber inserts. Heel 3 cm, shaft 36 cm. Made in Italy. On a taller boot like this, a 160 cm leather lace has enough length to lace comfortably and still tie, and the leather lining means you should keep laces dry to avoid marking the inside.
