10 Steps to Make Your DIY Elevator Shoes

Learn how to DIY elevator shoes with easy materials like cardboard, tape, and insoles to increase height without breaking the bank. Simple steps to make comfortable lift shoe inserts for any shoes.

Getting a little taller can help you, whether you want to feel better about your height or look stronger. But elevator shoes that you have to get can be a little expensive. This guide will show you how to DIY elevator shoes at home.

Important: Know Your Shoe’s Limits Before you start cutting, measure the heel counter (back height) of your shoes.

• Low-top sneakers/Loafers: Do not exceed a 0.5 – 1 inch lift. Anything higher will cause your heel to slip out, leading to blisters or sprained ankles.
• High-top boots: These are the best candidates for DIY lifts. You can safely experiment with 1.5 – 2 inches, provided the boot still laces securely around your ankle.
• The 4-inch Warning: While you might want to add 4 inches of height, DIY cardboard stacks of this size are highly unstable and dangerous for your tendons. For significant height increases, professional elevator shoes with built-in structural support are the only safe option.

Things You’ll Need:

• Cardboard (cereal boxes or packing cardboard)
• Duct tape
• Shoe inserts or insoles
• Scissors or box cutter
• Ruler or tape measure

Pro Tip: Choose the Right Materials
While cardboard is great for a quick experiment, it compresses quickly under your body weight. For a more durable and comfortable lift, consider using:

EVA Foam Sheets: These are available at craft stores and provide better cushioning and hold their shape longer.

Cork Sheets: Natural cork is lightweight, firm, and provides great arch support without adding too much weight to the shoe.

DIY Lift vs. Professional Elevator Shoes: Which is Right for You?

1. Measure Current Height and How Tall You Want To Be

First, stand against a wall and measure your height in feet. Write down how tall you want to be in inches. I suggest not to lift more than 4 inches to keep your health in good shape.

2. Cut Cardboard Inserts

To make the base lift, cut slices of cardboard about the length and width of your foot. Cut additional layers or thicker pieces for more lift.

3. Tape Cardboard Together

Place cut cardboard pieces on a flat surface and use several layers of duct tape to hold them together tightly. That will make the structure strong and stable.

4. Add taper To Make It Fit Right

Cut the sides of the cardboard carefully inward at the toe end. So that they fit better with your shoe shape and walking style. Remember, avoid seams pressing feet or edges that are too sharp.

A common mistake is leaving the cardboard edge blunt. This creates a painful “cliff” under your arch.

• How to do it: Use your box cutter or heavy-duty scissors to carefully shave down the front edge of the cardboard stack (the part that sits under your midfoot) until it is paper-thin.
• The Goal: When you place your shoe inserts over the lift, you should feel a smooth slope, not a sharp drop-off.

5. Reinforce Back and Sides

Add extra pieces of tape to the back of the cardboard plates to make them last longer and give your feet more support. Cover all the edges of the cardboard that are still raw.

6. Put Insoles in Shoes

Put cardboard shapes inside shoes or right into the insoles that are already there. Make sure the fit is comfortable and no pain places or bumps in the changes.

7. Adjust for Even Height

If your feet are different heights (lld: Leg Length Discrepancy), try the inserts on both of them and make any necessary changes to make them even before wearing them longer.

8. Do it Again With Other Shoes

Make extra patches so that you can use them with different kinds of shoes. Keep extras flat until you’re ready to use them.

9. Discreet Wearing Tips

For stealth mode, wear with pants or skirts that cover your shoes. Fabrics that are too big hide extra height. Wear loose pants or shorts that show off your legs.

10. Keep An Eye on Health and Safety

Listen to Your Body’s Red Flags: If you experience any of the following, remove the DIY lifts immediately:

• Burning sensation in the ball of the foot (Metatarsalgia).

• Sharp pain in the heel or Achilles tendon.

• Numbness in your toes (this means the lift is taking up too much vertical space and crushing your foot against the top of the shoe).

If you’re careful, lifts you make yourself can stay secret posture boosts. Also, you can learn how to walk in elevator shoes in  my another post.

Summary

To sum up, you can now make your own DIY secret height-enhancing inserts at home using simple household items. This is a cheap and discrete way to improve your look as required.

Please let me know if you need more help with any part of the process. Have fun with your new view!

💡 Tired of DIY? Get the Professional Look Instantly.

If you want a permanent height boost without the hassle of cardboard and tape, explore our collection of best-selling elevator sneakers.