Shoe and boot repair, made easier to find
Good cobblers are getting hard to find. We help you find one.
Many towns that once had a shoe repair shop no longer do. Cobbler Finder lists shops by city and services that repair shoes by mail, with a link to the source for every listing, so you can stop searching and get your favorite pair fixed.
The numbers behind the shortage
"There were 62,000 shoe repair shops in 1950. Today there are fewer than 3,500."
"from 120,000 in 1928 to around 3,500 today, the majority run by people rapidly approaching retirement age and without apprentices."
What people are saying
"I can't find a cobbler within 100 miles of me. When I was growing up, there were four within 12 miles."
"Does anyone know a good cobbler in the bay? Mine just retired"
"Tried the local cobbler and angling centre and no one seems able to fix a strap on a pair of Hunter wellies."
"I've taken the initiative to look for shoe repair in my area however no one is able to fix it."
Why repair beats replacing
A well-made shoe or boot is built to be repaired. When the sole wears out, a cobbler can replace it and you keep the uppers you have already broken in. Here is one real example using a brand's own published prices.
Keep the fit you already earned
You spent weeks wearing your favorite pair until it stopped pinching and started feeling like yours. A new pair means starting over: stiff leather, sore spots, and another break-in period. When a cobbler replaces a worn sole, you keep the part that already fits your foot and get back to walking in comfort.
"The more you wear them, the more they take on a personalized fit thanks to the leather insoles and cork midsole that form to your feet."
Red Wing, describing its Iron Ranger boot: Red Wing product page
Buy new
$349.99
Red Wing Iron Ranger, style 8111, listed price on Red Wing's site. The same page lists it as "Resoleable: Yes".
Resole
$165.00
Red Wing Repair Shop resole, which includes oiling and new laces when applicable. Their Premium Repair Package is $180.00.
Difference
$184.99
$349.99 minus $165.00, using the two published prices at left. Red Wing notes repair pricing may vary by location, and shipping or tax is not included.
Prices checked on October 21, 2026. Red Wing's repair shop only works on boots made by Red Wing Shoe Company.
Less going to the landfill
"Landfills received 11.3 million tons of MSW textiles in 2018."
How Cobbler Finder helps
Save time
One page per city instead of an afternoon of searching and phone calls.
No driving around
See who is out there before you get in the car.
Find who can fix your item
Listings say what each shop or service repairs, based on its own site, like resoles, heels, boots, or bags.
Mail-in when there is no shop nearby
If your town has no cobbler, our mail-in guide lists services you can ship to.
Keep good shoes out of the trash
A new sole or heel can keep a pair you love on your feet instead of in a landfill.
Why you can trust these listings
We only list what we could confirm on a business's own site or an official listing page, and we link that source on every listing. If we could not confirm a detail, we leave it out. Read more on About and sources.