What to Do If Your Shoes Are Too Big: Tips & Tricks

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Easy solutions to make large shoes fit

Co-authored by Marc Sigal

Last Updated: June 19, 2025 Fact Checked

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Everyone knows the feeling: you slide on the perfect pair of shoes only to find that they’re too big. Now you’ll have to change your whole look! Well, not exactly. Thankfully, whether the shoes are oversized in one area or just giant overall, there are plenty of tricks you can use to wear big shoes without looking silly! Keep reading for a list of products and hacks that’ll help make bigger shoes fit better.

The Best Ways to Make Large Shoes Fit

Shoe filler inserts: Insert a filler insert into the shoe’s toe to make it smaller.
Insoles: Place insoles in your shoes to add more cushion and support.
Heel strips: Make shoes smaller with added cushion to the heel of the shoe.
Ball-of-foot pads: Make shoes tighter by wearing a cushion on the ball of your foot.

Section 1 of 2:

Easy Ways to Make Big Shoes Fit

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1
Stuff the toes of the shoes with cotton or paper. In a pinch, use cheap, wadded-up material (like cotton balls, tissue paper, toilet paper, or even thin rags) to fill in the space at the tips of your shoes. This is a great choice if you feel your feet sliding from the front of your shoes to the back as you walk. Plus, it's something you can do almost anywhere.
- Best for: Flats, boots, close-toed heels.
- Available products: Nowadays, shoe filler inserts are made to be inserted into the toe or heel of a shoe that is too big. This product may be more comfortable than using a wad of paper or cotton. ^{[1]
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- Notes: Not a particularly good choice for athletic situations or long walks—the "filler" material can get gross and uncomfortable with heavy use.
2
Use an insole . An insole is a soft pad (usually made of foam or gel material) that sits under your foot in the shoe to provide cushioning and support. Insoles are often intended to help with posture problems and discomfort, but they're also handy for taking up extra space in shoes that are too loose. ^{[2]
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- Best for: Most shoes (including heels and open-toed shoes).
- Notes: If you can, try on any insoles before buying them to ensure they’re comfortable. Well-known brands like Dr. Scholl and Foot Petals offer comfortable, long-lasting insoles, but any quality insole brand should work. Higher-end insoles can run $50 or more but provide top-of-the-line comfort and support.
- Can’t find an insole you like? Try making your own !
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3
Use a set of heel strips . Heel strips (or heel grips) are thin strips of padding similar to insoles and ball-of-foot pads. As their name suggests, these adhesive pads are often used to pad shoes with uncomfortable, pinching heels, but their strip-like design means you can put them virtually anywhere in the shoe to take up extra space. ^{[3]
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- Best for: Most shoes, especially tight pairs of heels.
- Available products: Heel strips and grips come in a range of styles and sizes. Heel cushion pads are a simple oval shape that adds space to the heel, while heel grips often have “grips” to help secure the foot in place.
- Notes: Try these on before wearing, and be aware that some users report blisters after use.
4
Use ball-of-foot pads . Sometimes, adding "full" insoles to a set of shoes makes them uncomfortable or awkward to wear. Luckily, other, smaller cushioning devices are usually sold alongside insoles. One such device that's useful for too-big shoes is partial pads that sit directly under the balls of your feet (the part just before your toes begin). These discreet, hard-to-see pads provide friction and a thin layer of support, making them perfect for heels that are just a little too big. ^{[4]
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- Best for: Heels, flats
- Notes: These products often come in many colors, so try to pick a color that complements your shoes so they’re more discreet.
5
Wear thicker socks (or multiple pairs). Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to make a loose pair of shoes fit better is to "bulk up" your feet with thicker layers of socks. For example, you might try exchanging a skin-tight pair of dress socks or tights for a padded set of crew socks. You can even wear two or three pairs of socks on top of each other—the thicker the padding, the more tightly your foot will sit in the shoe. ^{[5]
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- Best for: Athletic shoes, boots.
- Notes: This can be an uncomfortable choice in hot weather, especially if you tend to get sweaty feet.
6
Try shrinking the shoes with water. It’s possible to make some shoes permanently smaller by wetting them and letting them air-dry. This can get great results if done right, but it's important to note that it carries a small risk of damage to your shoes, so always check the care label inside the shoe before beginning. Follow the directions below to give this shoe-shrinking hack a try: ^{[6]
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- First, get your shoes wet, per shoe care specialist Marc Sigal’s instructions. For leather or suede shoes, use a spray bottle. You can even spritz specific areas of the shoe with water if you don't want to shrink the entire thing. For casual or athletic shoes, soak the shoes in water.
- Let the shoes dry in the sun, as instructed by Sigal. If it's not sunny, use a hairdryer on the "low" setting. Be careful not to hold the hairdryer too close to the shoe—anywhere from 6 to 9 in (15 to 23 cm) is a safe distance.
- When your shoes are dry, try them on. You may need to repeat this process several times if they're still too big. If you're worried about your shoes shrinking too much, let them dry on your feet so they’ll form around them.
- Condition fine suede or leather shoes after they dry with a conditioning kit .
7
Sew an elastic band to the heel to constrict the shoe. Stitching elastic bands into the inside of your shoes pulls the material together, giving a tighter fit. All you need for this is a short elastic band for each shoe, a needle, and thread. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to do this simple hack: ^{[7]
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- Stretch the elastic band along the inside of the back of the shoe. A good spot for this is the inside of the heel, but any loose area will work.
- Sew the band in place, keeping the elastic tight as you go. Safety pins can help here.
- Release the band. When you let go, the elastic band will draw in the material of the shoe. This should give it a "smaller" fit.
- Try using this method with the water shrinking method or one of the tricks above if needed.
8
See a cobbler or shoe repair professional. When all else fails, you can always see a professional. Cobblers (people who specialize in working with shoes) were once common, but they are somewhat rare today. However, the internet can make them a little easier to find! Simply search “cobbler near me” or “shoe repair near me” online.
- Best for: High-quality, expensive shoes; treasured heirlooms.
- Notes: The services of a cobbler are often expensive, so try to reserve them for shoes that are really worth it. The nicest pair of dress shoes you own are a good choice to bring to a cobbler. Your daily tennis shoes are not.

Section 2 of 2:

Things to Remember When Wearing Big Shoes

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1
Try to maintain your posture when wearing big shoes. Keep in mind that, no matter what you do to the inside of your shoes, they'll still be about the same size on the outside. This can sometimes lead to posture and gait problems. When you're wearing an oversized pair of shoes, it's important to maintain good posture to compensate for your "bigger" feet. A few general points include: ^{[8]
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- Stand up straight. Keep your head and chest up and pointed forward. Pull your shoulders back slightly to align your arms.
- Use a heel-to-toe walking motion. Start each step by putting your heel down in front of you, then rolling through your arch, balls, and toes. Finally, push off!
- Try to squeeze your abs and glutes slightly as you walk. These supporting muscles help keep your spine straight and well-supported.
- See our posture article for more tips and pointers.
Oversized shoes can be slightly longer than what you're used to wearing. This means that it's extra-important to pick your feet up as you walk. If you let your feet drag, it's easy to catch the toe of your shoe on the ground. This can lead to tripping or stumbling, so try your best to avoid falling over!
3
Avoid wearing shoes that fit poorly for long walks. No matter what solutions you're using for your too-big shoes, almost nothing provides the support of a shoe that fits properly. Try to avoid wearing shoes that are too big for longer treks, such as day trips or hikes. Wearing properly fitted shoes can spare your feet the discomfort of blisters, cuts, and sore spots. ^{[9]
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- More importantly, wearing well-fitted shoes also reduces your chances of injury. Ankle injuries (like painful twists and sprains) are more likely in shoes that are too big.
The tricks above will only go so far. If your shoes are more than one or two sizes above your normal shoe size, no amount of padding will help. Don't risk pain and injury just to wear a pair of new shoes. Remember to try on shoes in-store, and walk around in them to make sure they fit properly before you buy them. ^{[10]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
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Will the water shrinking trick work on canvas shoes?

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Most likely no. The water may change the color depending on the type of canvas.

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Will the water method need conditioning kits? I have suede and leather shoes.

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Yes. The water method might discolor your suede or leather shoes, so a conditioning kit is needed.

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Will the water shrinking trick work on white Adidas?

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If they are leather, it may work.

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Always try on new pairs of shoes before you purchase them to see if they fit. It's better to find out that your shoes don't fit at the store than it is at home.

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Look for sizing straps on the heel and ankle. Some shoes (usually sandals and heels) are meant to be tightened manually with a set of adjustable straps.

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What to Do If Your Shoes Are Too Big: Tips & Tricks

The Best Ways to Make Large Shoes Fit

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Easy Ways to Make Big Shoes Fit

Things to Remember When Wearing Big Shoes

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