Home › Foot health guides › How should shoes fit your feet?
Feet aching by the end of the day?
Shoes that keep you comfortable from morning to night
How should shoes fit your feet?
How should shoes fit? Allow about a centimetre beyond your longest toe, room in depth, a heel that holds without slipping and a fastening so your toes don't have to grip. Try both on, walk around, and bring the socks and orthotics you'll use. A brand name doesn't show fit.
How we can help at Burwood Podiatry
Bring the shoes you wear most, and the pairs that bother you, and we'll check them with you.
- A footwear check of toe room, depth, heel hold and fastening at any appointment
- Shoes that work with orthotics, or whether you need orthotics at all
- Advice for wide feet and bunions, corns and pressure spots: corns and calluses
- School and sport shoes for children: children's feet
Emergency, or a foot that suddenly turns cold, pale or blue? Call 000.
Footwear questions
Why do my feet ache by the end of the day?
Long hours standing or walking in shoes that are too short, too shallow, too flat or that don't hold the heel can leave feet aching. Allow about a centimetre past your longest toe, room in depth, a heel that holds and a fastening. If aching persists despite better shoes, an assessment can find the cause.
How do I choose shoes that fit orthotics?
Bring your orthotics and socks. Check depth and heel hold, and ask whether to remove the shoe's insole. Devices won't fit every shoe.
What heel height should everyday shoes have?
Under about 4cm, with a wider heel and a thicker, padded sole. The right shoe still depends on your feet.
Where to next
Reviewed by Burwood Podiatry · November 2026