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The Best Laces for Kids’ Shoes: Length and Type
Kids shoes wear out fast and the laces even faster. They drag across the playground, go missing or cannot be got white again after a single autumn. Buying new laces then turns out to be harder than expected: most laces are too long for a small shoe. This blog explains which are the best laces for kids shoes, which length goes with which size and when elastic laces are the smartest choice.
In short
- Most kids shoes need 60 or 80 cm. Count the eyelets: 4 per side means 80 cm.
- Flat laces of 8 mm are the easiest for children’s hands to tie.
- Short lengths of 60 and 80 cm come in white, black, sail and light grey.
- If you want a color, choose elastic laces. You cut those to any length.
- If your child cannot tie laces yet, elastic laces let them get in and out on their own.
The best laces for kids shoes: length per shoe
The shoe size tells you less than you think. The number of eyelets determines the length. Count the eyelets on one side of the shoe.
| Eyelets per side | Length | Often found on |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 60 cm | Shoes for toddlers and pre-schoolers |
| 4 | 80 cm | Most children’s sneakers |
| 5 | 100 cm | Larger children’s sizes and high-top kids shoes |
| 6 or more | 120 cm | Teen sizes: the adult lengths apply here |
If you still have the old lace, measure it from aglet to aglet. That is the most reliable way. If the old lace was too long, choose one step shorter. More on measuring and the calculator can be found in the shoelaces length guide.
A lace that is slightly too long can be solved with a double bow. With children that is often a plus, because a double bow comes undone less easily. Loops that are too long are a trip hazard, though. If the loops touch the ground, do choose a shorter lace.
Which type of lace is most practical?
| Type | Why | Lengths |
|---|---|---|
| Basic flat laces (8 mm) | Wide band with plenty of grip. Easy to grasp and the bow stays tied | 60 and 80 cm in four basic colors, from 100 cm in all colors |
| Elastic laces (8 mm) | No tying. Set them up once and then step in | 120 cm, can be cut to size |
| Waxed round laces (3 mm) | For children’s dress shoes with small eyelets | 80, 100 and 120 cm |
For children who tie their own laces, a flat lace is the best choice. A round, smooth lace slips more easily out of small fingers and out of the knot.
When do you choose elastic laces?
In kids shoes, elastic laces solve three problems at once.
- The length: you lace them in, set the tension and cut off what is too long. So they fit any kids shoe, however small.
- The color: they come in seventeen colors, from pink and light blue to neon green. Short regular laces do not offer that choice.
- The tying: there is no bow. Your child gets in and out on their own and nothing comes undone along the way. Handy for PE, swimming lessons and rushed mornings.
How to fit them is explained step by step in the guide how to fit elastic laces. With a growing foot, do not cut them too short. Leave a few centimetres extra, so you can change the tension later.
Will my child still learn to tie laces?
The two do not have to clash. Many parents use elastic laces in the school shoes and practise at home, with no rush, on a shoe with regular laces. Around the age of six, most children have the fine motor skills to learn it.
Practising is easiest with a flat lace that is not too long. A trick that works well: lace in two colors, so your child can see which end goes where. The two methods children pick up fastest are in teach kids to tie shoelaces.
How do you make children’s laces last longer?
- Teach your child to undo the shoe before taking it off. Stepping out of a fastened shoe pulls on the lace and on the heel.
- Wash dirty laces by hand in lukewarm water. How that works is explained in how to wash shoelaces.
- Let wet laces air dry and not on the radiator.
- If the aglet is broken, the lace quickly frays further. In what is an aglet you can read how to repair it.
With a 5-pack you have spares at home for the whole family. That works out cheaper per pair than buying them singly.
Frequently asked questions
Which length laces for EU sizes 28 to 32?
Usually 80 cm. To be sure, count the eyelets: with 3 per side 60 cm is enough, with 4 per side 80 cm fits.
Are elastic laces safe for small children?
The laces are fixed in the shoe with a lock and there are no long loops hanging down. Cut off the excess, so no loose end is left dangling.
My child has narrow feet. Is the shoe secure enough with elastic laces?
Yes, you set the tension yourself. Pull the lace firmly when you set it up, so the shoe stays put when running too.
Do flat laces of 8 mm fit kids shoes?
In most children’s sneakers, yes. Children’s dress shoes often have smaller eyelets. A thin round lace of 3 mm is a better fit there.
Browse all laces for kids shoes or go straight to the elastic laces.
