Heel repair
Identify whether heel wear concerns the wearing layer, heel block or attachment, and prepare useful views of the complete pair.
Guide updated
Understanding the repair
Heel repair can mean replacing a small heel tip, renewing the wearing layer on a broader heel or addressing damage further into the heel structure. The important distinction is between the replaceable surface that meets the ground and the part supporting it.
If wear has passed through that surface, a straightforward renewal may no longer cover all the work needed. A side view and a view from behind help show the remaining height, any slope and the condition of the heel base. Stop using a visibly loose or unstable heel while arranging an assessment.
Repair options
Heel tips and wearing layers
Where the base is sound, renewal of the ground-contact surface may be the relevant repair. Shape, size and the existing attachment matter; a narrow heel tip and a broad boot heel are assessed differently even though both are described as heel wear.
Damage into the base
An exposed fixing, worn-down block or loose attachment needs considering beyond the wearing layer. The proposed scope should explain whether the supporting part can be retained and what visible change may result if further work is necessary.
Consider the pair together
Bring both shoes so their height and wear can be compared. This helps discuss the finish across the pair and identify whether the sole nearby also needs attention, rather than treating one freshly repaired heel in isolation.
Questions before a repair
Does a clicking sound mean I need heel tips?
It can be a clue, but noise alone does not locate the fault. Show the remaining wearing surface and any exposed fixing.
Must both heels be repaired?
The pair should be assessed together. The condition and proposed result determine the scope; do not assume from one photograph.
Can a heel be made higher or lower?
That changes the shoe’s geometry and requires its own assessment. It is not the same request as replacing a worn surface.
Talk through your item
Bring your item to our Banstead workshop or send it by post from anywhere in the UK. Tell us about the damage and what you would like to keep or change; we will discuss the most suitable approach and agree the work and price before starting.
Explore Repair Atlas (opens in a new tab)