What Can a Cobbler Fix? [10 Items Cobblers Fix]

I love my shoes, and I find it hard to throw them away, especially if new ones start to break. I looked up information about what a cobbler can fix and how much it cost, and guess what? I found some helpful information I didn’t know that might be helpful to you.

A cobbler can fix almost any kind of shoe, including boots, chunky loafers, flat loafers, slides, heels, dress shoes, mules, sneakers, and slippers. Typically, a cobbler can fix many items such as buckles, zippers, tassels, elastic, straps, hooks, sliders, etc. Here is the list of items that a cobbler can fix:

Resole Your Shoes
Stretch Your Shoes
Waterproof Your Shoes
Dye Your Shoes or Bags
Repair Your Shoe Heel
Shoe Straps Amendments
Shorten Your Leather Belts
Restore Your Handbags
Replace Or Repair Your Bag Straps
Insert Padding into Insoles

The cobbler I am referring to is the person who fixes your shoes. Typically, these people own small businesses and operate shoe repair shops. If you want to find out what services they offer and how much they cost, keep reading.

1. A Cobbler Can Resole Your Shoes

You may need to resole your shoes if your feet start feeling the ground, the sole becomes soft, or if a hole appears. Depending on its condition, a cobbler can fix your boot or shoe sole by adding half or full new sole.

Choose The Material of The Sole

You need to specify whether you would like rubber, leather, or foam soles on the shoes. You can either choose the half-sole or full sole, but half soles are less expensive than full soles.

I would suggest resoling your shoes, even if the soles are not damaged, since they are comfortable, protect your shoes and provide better traction in the rain or snow.

A cobbler can add rubber soles to your shoes if they are slippery. This may be necessary for both well-worn shoes and brand-new shoes. I recommend adding rubber soles, especially to your new leather shoes, since they have hard, smooth leather soles that can be very slippery.

I think rubber soles and Vibram soles are better because they protect your shoes from long-term wear and tear. Also, you should know that resoling your shoes will result in the removal of both the original sole and any embossed logos.

How Much a Cobbler Charge to Fix Your Shoe Sole?

A cobbler may charge you somewhere between $30 and $55 for half resole, while for full resoles, they may charge you between $40 and $75.

The cost of resoling your shoe varies depending on how damaged they are. If you bring them in early, you can save some money; otherwise, if they have holes, be prepared to spend a little more.

You can resole your high-quality shoes multiple times; however, cheap shoes are difficult to resole. Therefore, I suggest you spend a little more on your shoes so they will last you for a long time.

2. A Cobbler Can Stretch Your Shoes

Stretch Your Small Shoes

If you are suffering from too-small shoes, it’s time to visit a cobbler. A cobbler can stretch your shoe half or full size without ruining them. Often a cobbler can help you with shoes that are too small, narrow, or that cause friction against your feet using a stretching machine.

Although you can stretch your shoes yourself with different methods and tools, a cobbler can do it at a much lower risk. This is because a cobbler doesn’t stretch the entire shoe; they stretch the area that hurts.

However, cobblers know that stretching doesn’t fix all the problems of incorrectly sized shoes. So when breaking in new shoes, their services come in handy for getting some wiggle room if the shoes are too tight in a certain area.

Improves The Fit of Your Shoes

If you are someone who can never find boots that fit right, then you need a cobbler. But it’s a little complex process, so you should do your research to find an experienced cobbler to do the job.

A cobbler can help you improve the fit of your shoes by stretching a pair that is too tight, adding toe room, or lifting an instep. Using different methods and add-ons like insoles and cushions, make your shoes more comfortable. Describe to them where your shoe doesn’t fit, rubs your feet, or feels uncomfortable, and they will solve the issue for you.

Change Your Boot Calves

A cobbler can also expand your boot calves if they are too tight by stretching. If your boot calves are too skinny or wide, a cobbler will tighten or stretch them for you.

Also, if you like boots designed for someone taller than you, a cobbler can shorten the boot’s shaft. They do this by moving zippers, adding or replacing elastic, and cutting down shafts.

How Much a Cobbler Charge for Stretching?

A cobbler will charge you depending on the type of shoe and how much stretching is required. However, the cost is around $20 – $50 for stretching shoe half-size and around $45 if you wish to stretch the calf of your boots.

3. A Cobbler Can Waterproof Your Shoes

Getting the outside of your shoes and boots waterproofed is convenient, especially for those living in rainy areas.

You can get your suede shoes and leather shoes waterproofed by a cobbler. Although you can do it yourself, you might slightly change the color of your shoes since you are not an expert.

It’s always a good idea to waterproof your shoes with a cobbler; there is less chance of ruining the shoe color or material.

How Much does a Cobbler Charge for Waterproofing Your Shoes?

You can get your shoes or boots waterproofed before the start of the snowy, wet season or if you are wearing your shoes for the first time. They may charge you around $15 to $25 for waterproofing your shoes.

Remember that water repellant sprays don’t prevent your shoes from submerging underwater. The only purpose they serve is to repel water if you’re caught briefly in the rain. Also, I would recommend waterproofing your shoes again after some time because the sprays may wear off over time.

4. A Cobbler Can Dye Your Shoes or Bags

Do you think you could get more use out of the old tan boots if they are dyed black? That’s right! A cobbler can change the color of your shoes, boots, sandals, heels, or even your bags.

A cobbler can rejuvenate your faded shoes by dying them a little darker and making them more versatile. You can get your suede shoes, leather shoes, or even satin shoes dyed.

Suppose your shoes are expensive designer ones or are precious to you. In that case, I suggest inquiring the cobbler first before handing them over.

5. A Cobbler Can Repair Your Shoe Heel

Another item that a cobbler can fix, change, or repair is your shoe heel. Are your heels worn down or look old? You may need a cobbler since they could cause you more pain in your ankles, legs, and back.

Heel Repair

Cobblers can fix your broken heels, bent heels, and shaky heels. Thye can repair the rubber on your shoe heels. In addition, they can repair a collapsed heel collar or broken heel cup.

Heel Replacement

If your heels have started to make noises too loudly, it’s time to replace the heel tip. It’s a quick, easy, and inexpensive solution. Unfortunately, high heels usually have hard tips made with plastic, so they wear out quite frequently.

However, you can extend their life by taking your brand-new shoes to the cobbler right away and having high-quality tips applied. But don’t worry if you haven’t replaced the heels of your new shoes. You can easily replace the heel tips as they wear out. They can also attach a heel tip to your existing one to prevent wear and tear.

Re-Heeling

A cobbler’s most common job is to reheel your worn-out shoes. Although I recommend you to do it sooner rather than later because once your heel breaks or wears out, it will be more expensive.

Change The Height of Your Heels

A cobbler can change the height of your heels using heel inserts that raise heel adjustable heel lifts.

Change The Style of Your Heels

Have you ever thought you can get change your chunky heel into stilettos? Though you can’t do it yourself, a cobbler can do it for you by changing the thickness of the heel. In addition, they can modify your stilettos into traditional heels or change your wide heels into stilettos as well.

How Much a Cobbler Cost for Heel Repair?

A cobbler will cost you around $8 to $15 for a heel tip replacement. The average cost for reheeling your shoes is $30.

6. A Cobbler Can Shoe Straps Amendments

If your shoe straps or sandal straps are too long or even too short, then don’t worry. A cobbler can adjust the shoe straps’ length, tighten them, or repair them to fit you perfectly.

A cobbler can lengthen your shoe straps If they are too short.
A cobbler can shorten your shoe straps If they are too long.
A cobbler can replace your shoe straps If they are damaged.
They can also punch another hole in a strap if you want.
They can also add inserts so the straps won’t rub your skin.
A cobbler can add inserts to your shoe straps so that the straps do not rub against your skin.

7. A Cobbler Can Shorten Your Leather Belts

A cobbler can help you fix your leather belts. Depending on the design, you can choose to shorten your belts at the buckle or the tail end.

For a basic leather belt, they may charge you about $15, but for a designer belt, they will charge $100+. I recommend Checking out their previous work before giving them your designer belt to avoid disappointment later.

8. A Cobbler Can Restore Your Handbags

A cobbler can clean and restore your handbags. So if your handbag is damaged or has wear and tear, don’t worry. Just contact a good cobbler, and he will perform miracles on it.

However, I suggest taking your designer handbags to a professional who has experience dealing with branded bags. Do your research to find a good cobbler with reasonable prices and good reviews.

9. A Cobbler Can Replace Or Repair Your Bag Straps

Just like shoe straps, a cobbler can repair or replace your handbag straps or handles if they are detached, damaged, or worn out. This is a more common job for local cobblers and is done at most shops.

10. A Cobbler Can Insert Padding into Insoles

A cobbler can insert padding to the insole of your shoe so you can walk easily on cobblestone roads in super skinny heels. Of course, you can insert store-bought insoles, but that won’t be comfortable enough.

A skilled cobbler will make fully customized insoles from leather. In addition, they will add extra padding under the existing liners for additional comfort. A cobbler will charge you about $25 – $55 to do this job.

How Much Does a Cobbler Charge?

A cobbler will charge you based on the services they provide. Here is a list of their services and how much you will need to pay for them.

The Services A Cobbler Offers	How Much They Charge?
Half resole	$30 to $55
Full resole	$40 to $75
Stretching shoe half-size	$20 to $50
Stretching the calf of your boots	Around $45
Waterproofing your shoes	$15 to $25
Heel tip replacement	$8 to $15
Reheeling your shoes	Around $30
Shorten basic leather belt	About $15
Shorten designer leather belt	$100+
Insert padding to the insole	$25 to $55
Shoe hardware repair	$60 to $80
Full shoes clean up	$50 to $60

How much does a cobbler charge?

Other Repair Services

Shoe Hardware: There are times when we throw our shoes away before they get retired because they need a simple repair. A cobbler can fix your shoe hardware or accessory such as buckles, zippers, tassels, elastic, straps, hooks, sliders, etc. You can expect to pay $60 – $80 depending on the type of repair.
A Quick Cleaning: A cobbler can help you quickly clean up your shoes. Their services include shoe shines, leather conditioning, color refreshes, and suede brushing. In addition, a cobbler can freshen your shoes and remove stains.
A Full Clean Up: If you want a deeper cleaning of your shoes, you can go for full ocean up service. A cobbler will deodorize your shoes, remove stains, and clean them thoroughly. It may cost you around $50 to $60 for a full clean-up. Also, you can have your suede shoes dry cleaned by a cobbler. A cobbler can also remove scratches and scuffs from your leather shoes as part of a full cleaning.

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References

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