I recently had my shoes' soles and heels repaired and it was done superbly! Ordered during the COVID pandemic but the team kept in contact and my boots returned to me in perfect condition.
Trisha, Sydney
Easy, Reliable Shoe Heel Repairs
Our craftsmen have been repairing heels on shoes since 1955. Trusted by generations of Australians and a host of designer brands, we fix the heels on thousands of shoes each year. If you are looking for a shoe heel repair near you, then look no further — we service all of Australia with an easy online service.
Free Shipping
Order online with free packaging and shipping to and from our workshop
Quality
Have your shoes repaired by Australia’s best craftsmen, trusted since 1955
Service
We care about you and your shoes; your satisfaction is our highest priority
How it Works
1. Order Online
Answer a few questions to get an instant quote and complete your order.
2. Drop off
Drop your shoes off at any local post office for free packaging and shipping to us.
3. We repair
A team of experienced craftsmen will carefully repair the heels on your shoes.
4. We return
We'll deliver your repaired shoes to you, wherever you are in Australia.
Shoe Heel Repair Services
Heels bear the greatest brunt of everyday wear and so are often first parts of shoes to wear down. But damaged heels are rarely beyond repair. Shoe heel repairs take a variety of forms depending on the damage involved, and extend from repairing the old heels for their continued use to replacing the heels entirely or only parts of the heels.
The broader heel pieces are referred to as ‘heel blocks’, while the bottom pieces are referred to as ‘heel caps’ or (on shoes with narrower heel blocks, like pumps and stilettos) as ‘heel tips’. Read on to learn more about the shoe heel repair services we offer based on the affected parts of the heels.
Heel Cap Replacement
A shoe heel replacement does not always involve complete replacement of the heel blocks. Rather, if only the rubber heel caps are worn, then those pieces alone can be replaced with entirely new ones — leaving the rest of the heel blocks where they are.
Note: For narrower heels blocks, like those on pumps and stilettos, see heel tip replacement.
We replace worn heel caps with high-quality heel caps made by Vibram and Casali in Italy and TOPY in France — including rubber heel caps and ‘combination heel caps’ made of both leather and rubber — with the leather at the front and the harder-wearing rubber at the back, where heel caps otherwise tend to wear fastest. Where the colour of the leather on these heel caps is a signature brand colour to be preserved, we custom make rubber heel caps with colour-matched rubber.
Heel Tip Replacement
Heel tips are small rubber pieces attached to the ends of the heel blocks on stilettos and other high heels. The hard-wearing rubber on these tips is specifically made to bear the weight of each step, protecting the relatively delicate heel blocks above them.
Note: For rubber bottom pieces on larger heel blocks, like those on dress shoes, see heel cap replacement.
While heel tips are available in a variety of sizes and colours to suit the shoes on which they are being installed, we often customise heel tips to either sit with a wide fit (where greater balance is desired) or sanding them down for a flush fit (where a slimmer profile aligned with the heel blocks is desired).
We use high-quality Supertap heel tips imported from Europe. We also use original manufacturers’ heel tips when supplied with the shoes. For customers who desire a heavier-duty pair of heel tips, we can use steel heel tips (which look much like ordinary rubber heel tips but have metal rods that make a click, clack sound as you walk) made to survive regular wear on the cobblestone streets of European cities.
A heel tip repair is often accompanied by a heel block repair of some sort. As part of the heel tips replacement service, we will generally repair loose or lightly scuffed leather immediately above the heel tips. However, if the leather is otherwise torn or discoloured, we can repair or replace the leather heel covers / wraps.
Heel Block Repair, Replacement and Alterations
While heel bottom replacements are the most common heel repair services (see heel cap replacement and heel tip replacement), we also repair, replace and alter heel blocks on shoes where required.
Worn Heel Blocks
When shoes continue to be worn after the heel caps are worn through then the heel blocks start to be worn through as well. These heel blocks are usually made of rubber or leather (specifically, stacked layers of leather, also known as ‘heel stacks’) and generally more expensive to repair or replace than just the heel caps alone.
When heel blocks are gradually worn, we either:
Replace the heel blocks with entirely new ones made from similar materials; or
Repair the heel blocks, adding layers of leather or rubber pieces to build up and level the heel blocks where they are worn.
Damaged Heel Block Covers / Wraps
Heel blocks often bear the marks of occasional accidents, in the form of gnarly scuffs or tears. However, there are usually a few options available when the leather heel covers / wraps and strip veneers on heel blocks are damaged.
We can replace the leather covers with entirely colour-matched leather.
We can repair the leather covers, stretching out and then glueing down any loose leather or veneer as cleanly as possible, using special fillers to plug gaps and/or recolouring the leather.
The first option is relatively expensive but it generally offers a superior outcome where matching the colour and texture of the leather is feasible. While the second option is a great, economical option in cases of minor damage to the heel blocks, this sort of work does not always result in a full restoration of the leather — rather, the aim is to seal up the tears, reinforce the leather to help prevent further damage, and reduce the visibility of the damage as much as possible.
Repairs to damaged heel covers are often accompanied by heel tip replacements and heel cap replacements.
Dirty / Stained Heel Blocks
We often see heel blocks on pumps and stilettos that are dirty or stained as a result of walking on soft ground — particularly on heel blocks covered in non-leather materials like satin. We carefully clean and treat the materials with special stain removers to help get the heels looking fresh again.
Broken Heel Blocks
We often see longer heel blocks, like those on stilettos and pumps, develop cracks or snap as a result of excess pressure. We work with our suppliers to source suitable replacement heel blocks and install them in place of the broken heel blocks.
Detached Heel Blocks
Heel blocks can become detached from the main body of the shoes, leaving screws visible protruding from the top of the heel blocks or bottom of the shoes. We carefully re-secure these detached heel blocks by repositioning or replacing these screws and pressing the heel block bag against the shoes with the support of proper adhesives.
Heel Block Alterations
Whether for reasons of comfort or aesthetics or on the recommendation of a medical professional, we can alter heel blocks — shortening them, heightening them or modifying their shapes or gradients.
Looking for something else?
We also perform a variety of other specialist heel and shoe repair services. If you do not see what you are looking for or you are not quite sure what your shoes need, learn more about our shoe repair services or select the ‘Heels’ option while completing our order form — you will then be able to describe and upload photos of the heels on your shoes, which we will then review and recommend work for.
Trusted Shoe Heel Repairers Since 1955
What our Customers Think
Here is some of the feedback we have received from customers whose shoe heels we repaired.
Trusted by Luxury Brands
Australia-Wide Service
SoleHeeled operates across Australia. No matter where you live, our free and easy 2-way shipping service has you covered.
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane
- Perth
- Canberra
- Adelaide
- Hobart
- Darwin
And all regional areas ...
Shoe Heel Repair Examples
Repair Case Studies
Here are a few examples of shoe heel repairs performed by our team of experienced cobblers, along with before and after photos.
Case Studies List
Recent Orders
Here is a list of recent shoe heel repair orders we have received from customers across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's all very quick and easy — promise!
- Complete our online order form, where you'll be able to upload photos and describe the work you'd like done to the shoes. You'll get an instant quote based on your selection and then choose to either proceed with an order or request a custom quote.
- Once we've reviewed your order, we'll email you instructions for getting your shoes to us. If you live in Sydney, you'll have the option to drop the shoes off at our workshop. Otherwise, you'll be able to drop them off at a local Australia Post office, where they'll be packaged and shipped over to us for free.
- Once we receive your shoes, we'll repair and return them to you by courier.
The cost to repair heels on shoes can vary widely depending on the actual work performed.
A straightforward heel tip replacement can cost as little as $49, while a complete replacement or re-wrapping of heel blocks can cost as much as $179.
In all cases, the exact cost depends largely on the materials used and factors affecting the amount of time required to perform the work, such as how the heels are constructed and attached to the uppers and how damaged the existing heels are.
Simply complete our order form to get a free diagnosis/quote based on your particular requirements.
Heels can generally be shortened as much as desired, subject to two limits:
- Some heel blocks contain metal rods that cannot be cut through to shorten the heel blocks any further once the rods are reached.
- Shortening the heel blocks affects the balance of the shoes — in particular, shortening them too much would cause the shoes to point too far upward at the toes, making them uncomfortable and difficult to walk in.
We ascertain these limits by inspecting the shoes and sometimes removing the heel tips to look inside the heel blocks.
If you are considering shortening your heels for the sake of comfort or balance, then you might consider a heel tip replacement (for wider tips) or stiletto heel replacement (for a thicker, more stable heel block) as interesting options.
The time it takes to complete a heel repair varies depending on the particular work required and the workload in the workshop when the shoes are received.
We are generally able to complete basic heel repairs within 2-5 business days of receiving shoes at the workshop. This extends to 1-2 weeks for most specialist repairs and longer for more complex repairs and restorations.
If you will be using our free shipping service (rather than dropping off and picking up your shoes at the workshop), then you should also factor in shipping time via Australia Post. This varies depending on your location, but generally takes no more than a few business days if you're in a metropolitan area and otherwise up to 5 business days (if you're in a regional or remote area).
Once you submit your online order form, you'll be given a token that allows you to track everything online, throughout the process of getting your shoes heels repaired.
And whenever your shoes are in transit (whether on their way to our workshop via Australia Post or on the way back to you via courier), you'll have a parcel tracking number and receive real-time shipping notifications by email.
Yes, you can drop off and pick up your shoes at our workshop in Martin Place, Sydney provided that:
- You first complete your order online;
- You let us know (in the order form or by follow up email) that you'd like to drop off and/or pick up at the workshop; and
- We have emailed you a ticket that you'll need to print out and hand over at the workshop for ID and proof of payment.