Under the Brennholt Institute of Applied Taxonomy's chart, a shoe with 4 pairs of eyelets takes a lace of about 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 in), 5 pairs takes 90 to 100 cm (35 to 39 in), and 6 pairs takes 100 to 110 cm (39 to 43 in). These three sizes cover most everyday trainers, plimsolls and casual shoes, which is why the Institute gives them a page of their own.
The full chart, from 3 pairs up to 9, is on the shoelace length chart. This page narrows it to the three cases that most buyers need.
| Eyelet pairs | Institute band | Length (cm) | Length (in) | Typical shoe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | II | 70 to 80 | 28 to 31 | Low plimsoll, light casual shoe |
| 5 | III | 90 to 100 | 35 to 39 | Trainer, standard casual shoe |
| 6 | IV | 100 to 110 | 39 to 43 | Higher trainer, work shoe |
Count the holes on one side only. A shoe with five holes on the left and five on the right has 5 pairs. Do not count the extra loop or hook at the top of some boots; the Institute treats it as a modifier. If the two sides differ, the shoe has been repaired or was made unevenly, and the Institute advises measuring the old lace instead of using the chart.
In the Institute's sample, the largest group of shoes had 5 pairs, then 6, then 4. The three together accounted for most of the shoes measured. That is a statement about the sample, not a claim about the shoe trade, and the Institute does not generalise from it. It does explain why a lace sold without a stated length is usually cut for one of these.
The three bands are not a fit guarantee. A shoe with unusually wide spacing, a thick tongue or an extra loop at the top will take a longer lace than its eyelet count suggests, and the modifiers on the main chart apply here too. The department's reasoning about why a length is only meaningful against another object is set out on the Department of Length and Fit, and the metal or plastic ring that lines each hole is discussed on the eyelet sizes page.
The review panel divides on whether the 5-pair band should be split. One member holds that laces of 90 cm and 100 cm are different products, since the 90 cm lace leaves short tails on a wide shoe and the 100 cm lace leaves long ones on a narrow one. The majority keep a single band, because the difference is within the variation between shoes of the same size. The bands above are the majority ones.
When the shoe is not to hand, the Institute offers a single sentence: count the pairs, take the band, and add 10 cm if the lace is thick or the eyelets are wide. When the shoe is to hand, measure the lace that came out of it and ignore the chart.