‘This shopping guide for comfortable heels for work is inspired by one of our all-time top posts, The Quest for Comfortable Heels. We update the text of this page regularly and invite you to add your on-topic comments as well. Last updated: Oct. 2023.
Forget the Holy Grail — the quest for comfortable heels can be a lifelong hunt for some women. In general, if you can find one pair of shoes you like, try other shoes from that brand (although there can be variances within that brand as well).
Note that for interviewing, you should be able to walk a few blocks in your heels comfortably; I would say the same for your first day on the job as well as any big meetings (since you may walk to lunch at a local restaurant).
Of course, flats are acceptable for interviewing and beyond, as well!
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Some Of Our Favorite Comfortable Heels
These are some of our favorite heels as of 2024, but check out our entire Guide to Comfortable Heels!
These are some of our favorite comfortable low heels for work as of 2024… also check out CK Calvin Klein, Trotters, Sam Edelman, and Sarah Flynt!
Brands for Comfortable Heels
The most comfortable heel brands can be broken down into four price ranges, and then into two categories.
The first group holds the stylish/trendy brands that everyone swears by for comfort (whether or not they’re marketed as “comfort shoes”).
The second group of shoes are marketed for comfort but often a bit funky/clunky when paired with, say, a pencil skirt.
For specific shoe recommendations other than those pictured below (both from Kat and the readers) check out our roundup of Top Ten Comfortable Heel Brands, as well as our regular Hunt feature (in which we hunt for one wardrobe basic or basic accessory in a range of prices) and our afternoon Coffee Break posts (which often feature shoes); you may also want to check out our post on upgrading your shoe collection.
The Most Comfortable Heels, Designer Edition
Hunting for investment heels? Some of the bestselling, highest-rated designer heels for work in 2024 include:
“Investment shoes” such as Christian Louboutin (but please know your office before considering thick platforms or 4″+ heels, see more things to consider below), Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Aquazzura, Sarah Flint, and Miu Miu (one of the favorites in our Newbie Guide to Designer Shoes)
Special mention for comfortable (but pricey) professional flats: Chanel.
{related: here are our favorite investment ballet flats if you want something slightly fancy}
The Most Comfortable Mid-Range heels, $200-$500:
Stylish/trendy but reportedly comfortable heels:
The hands-down reader favorites are Stuart Weitzman and Salvatore Ferragamo — also try AGL (particularly for flats, but they make heels too), Cole Haan, Kate Spade (the brand’s wedges were apparently a favorite in DC on political campaigns in years past), Paul Green, and SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker
Designed for comfort, but may be funky or clunky, depending on your taste:
Arche, Beautifeel, Earthies, Eileen Fisher, FLY London, Gentle Souls (by Kenneth Cole), John Fluevog, Pikolinos, Taryn Rose, Think!
Special mention for comfortable flats in this range: AGL, French Sole, Paul Mayer, Salvatore Ferragamo
Affordable Comfortable Heels (under $200):
Stylish/trendy but reportedly comfortable heels:
Donald J Pliner, Franco Sarto, Geox, Isolá, Sam Edelman, Sofft
Designed for comfort, but may be funky or clunky, depending on your taste:
Aravon, Børn, Camper, Clarks (particularly the Indigo or Artisan lines), Cobb Hill (by Rockport), Dansko, Ecco, Josef Seibel, Miz Mooz, Munro, Ros Hommerson, Tsubo, Umberto Raffini shoes at The Walking Company
Special mention for comfortable flats in this range: Børn, BP
Budget-friendly Comfortable Heels (often under $100)
Anne Klein (particularly the iFlex line), Bella Vita, Comfort Plus by Predictions (at Payless, now also at Amazon), Corso Como, Soft Style (by Hush Puppies), Sole Society, and Trotters. Read our other tips on great shoe bargains, below.
Other Notes on Comfortable Heels:
Particularly great for high-heeled winter boots*: Aquatalia by Marvin K., Frye, La Canadienne (most are waterproof! See our roundup of weatherproof shoes for work here.)
Mall stores that bring trendier shoes to you at a more reasonable price: Naturalizer (particularly their N5 lines) and Rockport
Brands that you can still find on eBay and other resale sites: Anyi Lu, Cole Haan Air (from Cole Haan’s late, great collaboration with Nike), Hollywould, Sacco, Sudini
Comfortable flats: We’ve mentioned a few brands or styles for comfortable flats in each price range, above — do check out our previous discussions on comfortable flats and flats for job interviews, as well as our best tips on how to look professional if you ONLY wear flats. (It can be done!)
In our last poll on comfortable heels, readers mentioned other favorites including Alfani Step n’ Flex, Brooks Brothers, Butter, Calvin Klein, Coach, Enzo Angiolini, J.Crew, Joan & David Circa, Seychelles, VANELi, and Via Spiga.
We’ve also named names for some of our least comfortable heels (brands and styles). If you’re looking to upgrade your shoe collection in general, you may want to check out our discussion on the different tiers and levels that people consider for shoes.
Special Sizes: Wide heels can be found; we’ve also talked about general shopping tips for problem feet. In our more recent Hunts, we also try to include picks for wide/narrow widths, extended sizes, and (for boot round-ups) wide and narrow calves.
Some of our favorite comfortable wide heels as of 2023 include (below): 1) Sam Edelman 2) Naturalizer 3) Walking Cradles 4) A New Day (under $30!) 5) LifeStride (also, N.B.: the styles at Inez, Margot, Ally Shoes, and Poppy Barley all look great and come in wide widths!…)
Comfortable Heels in Narrow Widths & Small Sizes
In our last roundup of classic black heels for business attire, we rounded up some pumps that came in extended widths, including:
- Extended widths (AA, C, W): Target (M/W), Vionic (MW), Rockport (NMW), Ferragamo (2A, B, C), Trotters (M,W, WW), Sam Edelman (NMW), Bella Vita (AA-EE), LifeStride (AA-E), Naturalizer (N-WW),
- Extended sizes (4-13): Target (5-12), Calvin Klein (4-13), Ferragamo (4-11),
Avoiding Pain in Heels
Alleviating Pain Caused by Shoes, During:
Inserts can make a big difference with heels! I’ve liked Dr. Scholl’s and Foot Petals.
Note that some shoe maintenance (such as asking a cobbler to put rubber soles and rubber heel tips on your new shoes) can increase comfort as well as extend the life of your heels.
I’ve also been a longtime fan of ball-of-the-feet inserts, like those by Dr. Scholl’s or Foot Petals.
Finally, if you really can’t walk far in your heels, there are a number of foldable ballet slippers that you can stash in your purse:
Alleviating Pain Caused by Shoes, After:
YogaToes can also be miracle workers after a long day in heels or on your feet. The book Your Feet Don’t Have to Hurt has a bunch of great foot exercises that help flex the muscles that might be sore after walking in heels.
We rounded up some of those exercises in our post for how to make your sore feet feel better, such as drawing the alphabet with a pointed toe, or spending a few minutes, barefoot, trying to pick up a pencil with your toes. I would heartily recommend the book if only for that section!
Commuting in Heels?
Although some rockstars can walk for miles in their five-inch heels, don’t worry too much if you can’t.
While some women who walk to work prefer to wear wedge heels, my personal secret has always been to have a pair of commuting heels like Clarks or Danskos that are nearly the same height as my office pumps, and then switch into the prettier ones at work.
(Check out our guide to hem lengths for thoughts on which lengths look best with what kind of shoes.)
Finally: Shoes are so much more comfortable (and last longer, and look better) when they’re properly taken care of — don’t skimp on shoe care to make your shoes last longer, and take steps to keep your shoes odor-free.
Where to Find Great Deals on Comfortable Heels
If you know the exact name of the brand or the style name you’re looking for, Amazon is hard to beat — they often have sale shoes in lucky sizes for steep discounts.
Beyond that, Nordstrom shoe sales are great (particularly with their generous return policy!). You can also occasionally find good deals at discount stores like DSW or Nordstorm Rack.
{related: check out my other internet shopping tips!}
For pricier shoes, resale sites like eBay or The Real Real can be a great way to get lightly used merchandise at a good price (but proceed carefully).
* Know your office before buying! Remember that peep-toe shoes are not appropriate for every office; the same goes for shoes with heels higher than 3.5,” over-the-knee boots, and even knee-high boots (yes, really).
Readers, which brands are your favorite for comfort? Do you have any tips and tricks for making high heels more comfortable?
Liked this article? Don’t forget to check out other Corporette shopping guides.
2020 updated images via Deposit Photos / IgorVetushko (woman in pants suit, trying on d’Orsay heels while sitting in beige chair). Earlier social media images via Shutterstock / Martin Novak (woman with pink sneakers changing into black heels) or Deposit Photos / studio-fi (woman trying on black heels while sitting on black leather tufted bench).
Debashis
Watch this YouTube channel https://youtu.be/W0ezw7oppFY
Girlonawireless
My feet are comically big. (Well, it’s not comical to me, but I digress.) Sam Edelman’s heels are all over my closet because they come in size 13 (and sometimes 14), they offer colors other than black or nude, and they are actually comfortable. Calvin Klein used to make size 13, but they were very uncomfortable after just a couple hours, and that was after they had to be doctored up with heel pads so my heel wouldn’t lift out of the back. Jimmy Choo and Louboutin claim they make size 13, but they run small. AGL has made cute flats in 13 for a while, and I’m looking forward to trying some of the heels that they’re now releasing in size 13.
Callie
Thanks for this guide!! I don’t know if you know them, but vicson.com has some of the most comfortable heels i’ve ever worn!! it’s so hard to find brands that make shoes that don’t give me tons of blisters :/
Chris
Is it possible to get heels that have rounded rather than pointed toes? Human feet do not go to a sharp point. How about some foot shaped shoes?