Heel height is the vertical distance from the floor to the point where the heel joins the shoe, measured straight up with a ruler.
Whether you are shopping online or checking a pair you already own, knowing how to measure high heels correctly saves you from surprise blisters and wobbly strides. The method is simple and takes about a minute, provided you measure vertically rather than along the slope of the heel. Here is the exact process, plus the platform-shoe catch that trips up most people.
The Standard Way To Measure A Heel
Place the shoe upright on a flat, hard surface like a table or counter. Identify where the back of the heel actually meets the ground, then hold a rigid ruler or tape measure vertically at that point. Read the height where the heel joins the shoe—that number is your heel height.
Kurt Geiger’s fit guide describes measuring from the bottom of the heel, along the central point, to the top tip where the heel meets the shoe. Clarks uses similar wording, measuring from just above the heel cap to the centre of the heel where it meets the sole, and notes manufacturers typically exclude the heel cap from the measurement. Supadance explains the same principle for dance shoes.
- Keep the shoe naturally upright—do not press down or tilt it.
- Measure both shoes—small left-right variations exist, and you want the taller one.
- Record in inches or centimeters consistently so you can compare.
How To Handle Block, Wedge, And Platform Heels
For block, wedge, or sloped heels, the rule changes slightly: measure from the outermost base point on the ground straight up to the heel-shoe junction, not diagonally along the slope. A diagonal reading on a wedge can overstate the height by half an inch or more.
Platform shoes carry their own caveat. If the shoe has a platform, measure only the heel itself and exclude the platform height, per Kurt Geiger’s guidance. For a “true heel rise” on platform shoes, Supadance advises measuring heel height and forefoot platform separately, then subtracting the platform from the heel measurement. A 5-inch heel with a 1-inch platform actually lifts your foot only 4 inches—that is the number that matters for how it feels to walk.
| Shoe Type | Measure From | Measure To |
|---|---|---|
| Stiletto / slim heel | Ground at heel base | Heel-shoe junction, straight up |
| Block heel | Outermost base point on ground | Heel-shoe junction, vertical |
| Wedge | Back edge at the ground | Where wedge meets the shoe, vertical |
| Platform + heel | Ground at heel base | Heel junction, then subtract platform |
Common Mistakes That Skew Your Measurement
Most errors come from four habits. Measuring diagonally along a sloped heel is the most common—always go straight up. Starting from the wrong point on the heel cap adds fake height; begin at the base where rubber meets floor. Skipping a flat surface lets the shoe tilt, and confusing heel height with platform height muddles the real lift. A rigid ruler beats a floppy tape measure for accuracy.
Heel height directly affects balance and walkability, and higher heels increase instability. Checking both heel height and platform height before buying gives you a realistic sense of the true rise and how steady the shoe will feel. If you are shopping for dramatic heights and want to see tested options, our roundup of 7 inches high heels shoes covers the best-reviewed pairs on the market.
FAQs
Do I measure the heel from the front or the back?
Always measure from the back center of the heel. The front edge of a sloped or angled heel sits at a different height, so using the back gives a consistent, accurate reading that matches how manufacturers label their shoes.
Does a platform change the heel height measurement?
Yes. Measure the heel and the platform separately, then subtract the platform from the heel height. That gives you the true rise your foot actually experiences, which is the number that affects comfort and walkability.
Why does my tape measure give a different reading than the label?
Labels typically exclude the heel cap and measure straight up from the base. If you measure diagonally along a sloped heel or include the cap, your reading will come out higher than the manufacturer’s stated size.
References & Sources
- Kurt Geiger. “How Do I Measure Heel And Boot Height?” Details the central-point measurement and platform exclusion rule.
- Clarks. “Best Heel Height And How To Measure Heel Height.” Explains measuring from the heel cap to the sole junction.
- Supadance. “How To Measure Heel Height.” Covers the true heel rise calculation for platform shoes.