How to Tie Shoelaces: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

October 03, 2025

In a world of slip-ons and zippers, the humble shoelace remains a timeless detail. Knowing how to tie shoelaces is not just a practical skill - it’s a small ritual of care and precision that completes your look. Whether you’re teaching a child, learning for the first time, or simply refining your technique, tying shoelaces with confidence ensures your footwear is both secure and stylish. 

Additionally, it’s not just something that stays a ritual. Tying your laces properly affects how well your shoe fits you – which in turn affects how comfortable you are. On the other hand, don’t tie them properly and you might end up stumbling on your way to somewhere. That’s why we’ve crafted this guide to how to tie your shoelaces properly. So without further ado, let’s get started. 

Why Learning to Tie Shoelaces Is Still Important 

Some may wonder if knowing how to tie your shoes is even necessary today. But shoelaces remain a cornerstone of classic footwear, from everyday sneakers to polished oxfords. In fact, you never know when someone has noticed your clumsily – or cleanly – tied shoelaces and judged you. To make it even clearer, we’re listing down the reasons that make it important. 

Here’s why the skill still matters: 

• Security: Properly tied shoes prevent slips, trips, and untimely loosenings. 

• Appearance: A neat bow adds polish and ensures your footwear looks intentional. 

• Versatility: Many formal shoes for men and elegant shoes for women still rely on laces as part of their design. 

• Independence: For children, learning to tie shoelaces is often a small but important milestone in self-sufficiency. 

Ultimately, mastering this detail means mastering a tradition that blends function with fashion. Since the thing about fashion is that it is all about attention to detail. So never underestimate the power of knowing how to tie your shoelaces properly. 

How to Put Shoelaces Into Your Shoes the Right Way 

Before you can learn how to tie shoes, it’s important to know how to put a shoelace on a shoe correctly. The way laces are threaded sets the foundation for a neat appearance and secure fit. This is one of the most ignored things about footwear, something that many of us realise once we have removed the shoelaces to wash them and then don’t remember how to put them back. That’s why we’ve listed down the steps that you need to follow to put in your shoelaces properly. 

How to put in shoelaces: 

• Start at the bottom eyelets: Insert the lace ends downward through the first set of holes so they sit evenly on both sides. 

• Check for even length: Ensure both lace ends are the same length before continuing upward. 

• Choose your lacing style: 

• Criss-Cross Lacing (most common): Cross the laces diagonally, feeding each end under the next eyelet. 

• Straight Bar Lacing: A polished method often used for formal shoes, where the laces run horizontally for a refined look. 

• Work your way upward: Continue lacing until you reach the top eyelets, keeping the laces flat and untwisted. 

• Prepare for tying: Pull both lace ends snug so the shoe feels secure but comfortable. 

Threading shoelaces neatly is the first step toward a sophisticated finish. Getting the basics like this right is the key to getting the finish right. Knowing how to put in the shoelaces in your shoe is somewhat like building the right foundation for your house. If you get this done well, you’re only making your job easier. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Tying Shoelaces Easily 

Now, let’s focus on how to tie a shoelace step by step. The key here is to make it easy and memorable. That’s what we’ve considered when documenting the steps that you need to follow, even if you find it challenging. Here’s the most accessible method for beginners: 

• Cross the laces: Hold one lace in each hand. Cross the right lace over the left, then pull it through the gap to form the first knot. Tighten gently. 

• Form the first loop: With one lace, make a small loop (like a bunny ear), pinching it between your thumb and fingers. 

• Wrap the other lace around: Take the opposite lace and circle it around the loop you created. 

• Pull through to form a second loop: Push this lace through the small hole that forms, creating another loop. 

• Tighten the bow: Hold both loops and pull outward until secure. Adjust for balance so the loops are even. 

This method is simple, reliable, and one of the best techniques if you want to know how to tie shoelaces easily. Get this handy and you’re sorted for a long time. 

Common Shoelace Knots You Can Try 

Once you’ve mastered the basics, experiment with different knots to suit your shoes and style. The mastery of various kinds of knots shows that you’re ready to invest more time in your looks and that always creates a good impression. If you’ve wondered how to knot a shoelace in ways beyond the standard bow, here are a few refined options: 

• The Standard Bow Knot: The everyday method described above - simple, effective, and timeless. 

• The Double Knot: Tie a regular bow, then loop the loops once more to lock the knot in place. Perfect for sports or long walks. 

• The Surgeon’s Knot: Add an extra twist in the initial cross step before tying the bow. This creates more friction, making the knot less likely to loosen. 

• The Ian Knot: Known as the world’s fastest shoelace knot, it’s a modern technique that ties both loops simultaneously. Efficient yet stylish. 

• The Straight Bow: Ideal for formal shoes, this knot lies flat and looks neat, enhancing the elegance of polished lace-ups. 

Choosing the knot depends on context - whether you need reliability for athletic wear or refinement for formal attire. 

Conclusion: Mastering the Basics of Shoe Tying 

Learning how to tie shoelaces may feel simple, but it’s one of those foundational skills that blends practicality with polish. From understanding how to put a shoelace on a shoe to exploring how to tie shoelaces easily with different knot styles, the process is both functional and fashionable. It is something that a lot of us underestimate but it ends up having a bigger effect on our look than we can imagine.  

Whether you’re showing a child how to tie your shoes for the first time or refining your own technique with advanced knots, the ability ensures your footwear always feels secure and looks sophisticated. It is something that is as much a ritual as it is an important practice. As an additional detail, get good laces for your footwear that compliment its looks and quality. 

In the end, the art of shoelace tying isn’t just about utility - it’s about presentation. Master this detail, and every pair you own, from casual sneakers to formal lace-ups, will reflect elegance from the ground up. As we always say, the true cheat code to fashion is through attention to detail.