Measured: Heel height is measured vertically at the center back of the shoe, from the ground to where the heel meets the sole. A heel sitting exactly on a boundary is listed in both adjacent bands.
The basics
What to know about heel height
Heel height changes your posture before you take a step. Every inch of lift tips weight from your heel toward the ball of your foot. It also shortens your stride and works the calf. This number predicts how a shoe feels better than almost any other detail. Height is measured vertically at the back of the shoe, from the ground to the point where the heel meets the sole. It is banded rather than exact, because the true figure drifts slightly across a size run.
Height alone does not set difficulty. A 4" block heel over a 1" platform can walk easier than a 3" stiletto. What your ankle actually feels is pitch, the angle between your heel and the ball of your foot. A platform under the toe reduces that angle. Read height together with heel type and sole construction, never on its own.
The bands run contiguously from 0" to past 4". Each inch upward trades walkable hours for line. Flats cover a full day on foot, and low and mid heels cover a workday with care. Above 3 inches you are planning your day around chairs.
