Thick Laces for Sneakers: Oval, Rope or Wide?

Thick laces turn a familiar sneaker into a different shoe. More volume on the instep, a fuller bow and a look that comes straight out of skate and hip-hop culture. Thick does come in several kinds, though: oval, round like rope or flat and wide. They look different and do not all fit the same shoe. This blog explains which thick laces for sneakers there are, which will go through your eyelets and which length to choose.

In short

• Fat oval laces of 9 mm are the easiest step: they fit many sneakers and tie as normal.
• Chunky rope laces are round cords of 8 to 10 mm with a rugged look.
• Wide laces of 20 and 30 mm are flat and give the most volume.
• Always check that the aglet goes through your smallest eyelet.
• Thick laces use slightly more length. If in doubt, go one step longer.

Thick laces for sneakers: the types side by side

Type	Shape and width	Look	Lengths
Fat oval laces	Oval, 9 mm	Full and sporty	100 to 180 cm
Chunky rope laces	Round, 8 to 10 mm	Rugged, like a thick cord	120 and 140 cm
Textured laces	Flat, 8 mm with a weave you can feel	More texture without extra width	120 cm
Wide teddy laces	Flat, 15 mm, fluffy	Soft and eye-catching	120 and 140 cm
Wide laces	Flat, 20 mm	Wide and bold	120 and 140 cm
Extra wide laces	Flat, 30 mm	Oversized	120 cm

Which thick lace suits your sneaker?

That depends on two things: how roomy your eyelets are and how much attention the lace is allowed to draw.

• You want more volume but still want to tie as normal: choose fat oval laces. They slide smoothly through the eyelets, hold the bow well and come in most lengths.
• You want a tough, coarse cord: choose chunky rope laces. They go well with boots and chunky sneakers.
• Your shoe has regular eyelets and you still want something extra: choose textured laces. They are 8 mm wide, so they fit anywhere a standard flat lace fits.
• You want the full, wide look: choose wide laces of 20 mm. For maximum effect there are extra wide laces of 30 mm.
• You want soft and eye-catching: choose wide teddy laces. More on those in what are teddy laces.

Will thick laces fit through my eyelets?

Test it with the aglet. Take out your old lace and push the aglet of the new lace through the smallest eyelet of your shoe. If it goes through without forcing, the lace fits.

As a rule of thumb, fat oval laces of 9 mm fit most sneakers that currently have a flat lace of 8 mm. Chunky rope laces and wide laces need roomy eyelets. A flat wide lace folds double in the eyelet. That is how it should be, but in a small eyelet with a metal ring it will get stuck. If you are unsure about the size, check the shoelace width guide.

Which length do you choose for thick laces?

A thick lace travels a slightly longer path at every crossing and needs more length for the bow. So if in doubt, go one step longer than with a regular flat lace.

Eyelets per side	Regular lace	Thick or wide lace
5	100 cm	120 cm
6 or 7	120 cm	120 or 140 cm
8	140 cm	140 or 160 cm

Not every thick lace comes in every length. Wide laces go up to 140 cm and extra wide laces only come in 120 cm. If you need more than 140 cm, for high-tops for example, fat oval laces are the best choice. They go up to 180 cm. The length per shoe type is in the shoelaces length guide.

Tie them or tuck them away?

Fat oval laces and rope laces tie like any other lace. The bow turns out a little bigger and that is part of the look. With wide laces of 20 and 30 mm a bow soon gets very large. That is why many people lace them loosely and tuck the ends away. How to do that neatly is explained in how to hide shoelaces. Tips for keeping wide laces flat are in how to lace wide laces.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between thick and wide laces?

Thick laces are oval or round and have volume all round. Wide laces are flat: they are wide, but not thick. On your shoe both give a fuller look.

Do thick laces come undone more easily?

Fat oval laces and wide flat laces hold a bow well, because there is plenty of contact area in the knot. A round rope can be more slippery. Pull the bow tight there or tie a double knot.

Can I use thick laces in running shoes?

Fat oval laces, yes, if the eyelets are roomy enough. Rope laces and wide laces are meant for the look and not for sport.

Are thick laces comfortable?

Yes. A wider or thicker lace spreads the pressure over a larger area than a thin cord. Do make sure the bow does not get trapped under the tongue.

Browse all fat oval laces, chunky rope laces or wide laces.