Heel Height Comfort Calculator

How it is calculated

The tool uses two fixed proportions of your foot length, which you enter in centimetres. The recommended maximum heel rise is max = foot × 0.13, and the ideal heel rise is ideal = foot × 0.085. Both are shown in centimetres. The maximum is also converted to inches with max ÷ 2.54. Foot length must be greater than zero. Because heel height scales in direct proportion to foot length, a foot that is 10% longer gets a heel allowance that is 10% higher. Only length goes into the formula. Arch support, shoe fit, platform soles, walking surface and how long you stand are not considered, so treat the figures as a starting guideline, not medical advice.

Common mistakes

• Entering shoe size instead of foot length. A size such as 38 or 8 is not a length in centimetres; enter the measured length of your foot.
• Entering the length in inches. The field is centimetres, so typing 10 for a 10-inch foot gives a heel limit near 1.3 cm instead of about 3.3 cm.
• Measuring the insole of a shoe rather than the foot. Shoe interiors are longer than the foot by some margin, which inflates the allowance slightly.
• Confusing total heel height with heel rise. A platform adds height at the front too, so for a platform shoe measure the difference between heel and ball height, which is what matters for the forefoot.
• Treating the maximum as a safe limit for all-day wear. The ideal figure is the lower, more conservative target; the maximum is already the upper edge of the guideline.