Quality and Stylish Wide Calf Boots: My Picks
If you're like me, you can't go into any old shoe department and grab a pair of tall boots because they just won't fit. Even when I was a single-digit clothing size I wore wide calf boots, and I have always struggled to find quality and stylish wide calf boots.
Just like plus-size clothing, I don't understand why so many wide calf boots are ugly: over-embellished, cheap fabrics, weird heels, and just plain awful. Below I share my picks of stylish wide calf boots, all are a minimum of a 16″ shaft circumference, and all are made from real leather and/or suede. For each style, I will share the shaft circumference so you can find the wide calf boot that is right for you!
This 2019 article was updated for Fall 2025 as boots are a BIG trend this year and I know from personal experience it's not easy to find stylish wide calf boots. I have updated with retailers that are carrying stylish wide calf boots this year and are still shipping to the U.S.
You may also like: cocktail and formal shoes for plantar fasciitis
What Makes a Wide Calf Boot Stylish in 2025?
I know some folks will comment and say this boot or that is always a classic, but let's be real. Concepts may be classic, but style is constantly changing, refining, and merging, and that affects toebox shape, heel height and shape, color, finish, and when and where they should be worn and with what.
Luckily, this year, a super classic boot is what is deemed the most stylish. We're talking riding boots, cowboy boots, sleek knee-high boots with a reasonable heel height. Suede is popular, snakeskin and croco is still worn, but buttery soft leather is still reigns supreme. Chocolate brown, black, but also oxblood and camel.
Steer clear of a lot of embellishments or hardware as the looks are far more refined this season and more likely to be trend-resistant year after year. That is, unless you're considering a true statement boot, which is always fun and a great choice for us eclectic and fashion-loving grown women.
How to Measure For Wide Calf Boots
When measuring your legs for knee-high boots, it's important to do it correctly to get an accurate measurement that matches what the bootmakers are following. You'll need a flexible measuring tape; if you don't have one, in a pinch you can use a string or ribbon and then measure it against a tape measure or ruler.
- To measure calf circumference: Sit in a chair and place your feet flat on the ground, your legs straight. Use the measuring to measure the widest part of your calf. Be sure to measure both legs; most people have one leg that is wider than the other. Use the largest measurement for shopping. Do not pull the measuring tape tight; it's better to have it a bit loose so you have room in your boots for hosiery, leggings, or jeans. If you are under 5'4″ you may wish to add an inch to your measurement as the widest part of the boot's shaft may be higher than where your calf's widest point may be.
- To measure shaft height: When tall or short, the height of the boot shaft is imperative. Too short and it can look awkward; too tall and it can bow out like a pirate boot or even hit the back of your knees, making it hard to walk. Again, sit on a chair with your feet flat on the ground and your legs at a 90-degree angle. Place the measuring tape end on the ground right behind the bottom of your heel. Measure up to the place you would like your boot to end. For this measurement, you may want assistance to get the most accurate number.
My Picks for Quality and Stylish Wide Calf Boots
My picks for truly wide calf boots that are at minimum 16″ wide in the shaft, with most of them at least 18″ wide in calf circumference. With a focus on the quality and heel height we grown-ass women deserve, these are not cheapy pleather, but boots you can hopefully buy once and wear forever. I share the shaft circumference for each boot below so you can better narrow down to find the best stylish wide calf boots for you.
DUO Boots has been a place I've shopped for wide calf boots for two decades. The company has gone through different iterations over the year, but is back offering high-quality classic leather and suede boots up to a 20.9″ shaft. Even better, some styles like this one, the Haltham Standard Shaft Knee-High Boot, comes in three heights to work with petite, average, and tall legged folk and six different colors and finishes.
The Haltham from DUO Boots is a great classic boot that won't look dated in a year's time and styles beautifully over jeans and skinny pants as well as with short and midi-length skirts and pants.
Also from DUO Boots is the Saffron Knee High Boot which is a great option for those who desire a riding or Western-inspired boot and have found other so-called wide shaft boots (I'm looking at you, Sam Edelman) to not be wide enough. DUO offers 11 different colors and finishes of the Saffron, with this boot available up to a 50cm/19.7″ shaft circumference.
JJ Footwear used to be called Wide Widths, and IMO, they are the G.O.A.T. for high quality truly wide calf boots. Offering up to a 22.22″ shaft and sizes 5-13, JJ's boots are real leather, really roomy, and for the quality and fit, the price is extremely reasonable. The Lindau boot from JJ Footwear has a roomy toebox and a walkable 25mm block heel in black or cognac.
A similar concept but available in four different colors of suede is the Leyburn boot from JJ Footwear. Also with a 25mm heel, the Leyburn boot has a subtle stretch panel at the back for a great fit. The Leyburn is also available up to a 22.22″ shaft.
If you're looking for a sleek, dressy tall boot, the Auggie from Dolce Vita is a great choice and one of the most sophisticated options I have found without a sky-high heel. It still has a 2.4″ heel height, but I found it manageable for work and nights out where you're not doing miles of walking or dancing. With four shaft circumferences up to 18.2″, the Auggie is available in black and brown leather.
Also from Dolce Vita I'm a fan of the Virona H2O, a waterproof boot made from a water-based leather alternative with a leather lining. Available up to a 20.1″ shaft with a 2″ heel height, the Virona H2O from Dolce Vita is another Western-inspired boot that would look great with denim, corduroy, and wool dresses and skirts of any length as well as being styled over slim pants and jeans.
Adelante makes ethically made handcrafted boots in 14 different calf widths up to 46.9cm/almost 19″ calf and two different shaft heights. That being said if you need wider or a different height, Adelante also makes custom to order boots.
The Condesa boot from Adelante is a classic boot from full grain leather with calfskin lining and 2″-inch” stacked leather heel. These boots are designed for a lifetime of wear; they can be reheeled and resoled each season and just get better and more comfortable with time. Available in 10 different colors, I am partial to Caramel and Chestnut.
The Deesha from Naturalizer is a popular choice, and while the shaft does fit up to a 20″ calf, this is a better choice for those with average to narrow ankles and shins. I could not zip these up, but knew if I could get them up the first few inches, my calves would have fit beautifully. And it's a chic boot in four calf widths and six color/finish options that I think looks best and most luxe in the suede options.
The Lucky Brand Hybiscus Extra Wide Calf Boot is a great casual boot that is stylish and timeless and has over an 18″ shaft. Slip over jeans, but also rock with midi-length skirts and dresses in sturdier fabrics like wool, corduroy, and denim. Reviewed for being roomy in the ankle and shaft, this is a great option for those of us who have thicker legs, not just larger calves. Available in three colors.
Vagabond Shoe Makers crafts cool girl footwear with a focus on sustainability and transparency. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Blanca Tall Boot from Vagabond comes in a wide calf, and the wide calf is a hair over a 17″ circumference! With a 1.85″ flared heel and stylish center seam, the Blanca is a modern option that isn't trend-specific and will look stylish for years with pants and dresses.
Vionic carries what it calls wide calf boots, but they just barely hit at a 16″ shaft circumference. I had to include them though, because they are truly comfortable for those of us who deal with plantar fasciitis and difficult feet. They also come in regular and wide width.
The Sonora Tall Heeled Boot from Vionic is my personal favorite from the collection, available in black tumbled leather or chocolate brown suede. Do know, this is a taller boot and better for those with long legs and/or those who are at least 5'5″ tall.
David Tate makes high quality, truly comfortable footwear. The Branson tall boot from David Tate has a 18 3/4″ wide shaft and is made from buttery soft leather. While I am not a fan of large visible elastic gussets on wide calf boots, the location of this one and the rest of the boot is clean and classic enough that I think these look elevated.
Vince Camuto's extra wide calf boots are a 17-18″ circumference, depending on your shoe size. And Vince Camuto is one of the few footwear brands that carries so wide a tall boot in really fun and trendy styles.
I love a slouch boot, it's a fashion boot that never really goes out of style. The Kindre boot from Vince Camuto has a 2.6″ heel and comes in four colors. This is a great style to wear with tights and shorter skirts and dresses, or over skinny pants.
Did you like what you just read?
Consider tapping here to buy me a coffee in thanks. The best gift you can give a content creator is the gift of sharing. Consider sharing this article on Facebook or Pinterest. Thank you so much for your support!
Alison, I hope you have found a replacement for your favorite, much loved but crumbling, boots.
I ordered a couple which inspired updating this post. Stay tuned to see if any work out!
Thank you for listing the calf measurement—it saves me a bunch of heartache clicking through and finding out it’s too small for me!
Another option is Adelante, which is a made-to-order shoe company. They have sizes 4-15 and widths B-EEE. The calf sizes available in their drop-down menu go up to 18.5”, but they also offer custom sizes if you need larger! I don’t have knee high boots from them, but I have Granada ankle boots and (men’s) Havana boots and I’ve only had good experiences. They’re well-made and resolable (goodyear welted or blake stitched).
They are spendy, but they have decent sales and their “encore” section has returns offered at a discount (and those go on sale sometimes, too!).
Customer service is great as well. I asked if I could make a return after the return window had passed (life got crazy, etc.) and they were super gracious about it.
Just the other day I saw on IG that Naturalizer has introduced its “most size inclusive [boot] collection yet.”
narrow to XW calf sizes
Universal Standard helped style the pictures used in the campaign. (Which is how I saw this news)
Thank you! I missed that and just added it to this post. Sad though that “extra wide” isn’t even 18” but it’s some progress!
May I request an update on this post please? It’s about to be boot season!
YES, this is on my mind and in my browser tabs for myself. I will update with the contenders I’ve found so far as I am looking to add a pair to my own wardrobe. Thank you for the nudge, Kay!
Thank you!!!
Hi Jax, sorry for the delay in replying your comment went into moderation because of the links. Whoops! I now have the Walk-Hero insoles in my slim La Canadienne lace-up boots, my engineer boots, and a Chelsea boot similar to the ones you have from ASOS. They’re slim enough to work in all of these plus my sneakers! https://amzn.to/2E9yhr7
I have not been able to find a pair of knee-high boots in a decade, but will keep trying! In the meantime, and I know you love Talbots, I recommend these mid-calf boots — they fit comfortably on wider calves, yet look slim and trim. Further, I love that Talbots offers 10.5, which is such a hard size to find in shoes, much less boots. The black version is gorgeous!
http://bit.ly/2D49CE1
That’s so awesome to know, thank you so much Bette for sharing these boots!
Thanks for a great post again! I just got the pair from Simply Be, in tan. They’re so beautiful 😀 The quality is really nice for the price, and they’re quite comfortable. It’s my first pair of tall boots since 2003! Mostly because I refuse to wear anything but leather, and because I take EEE width and an 18 inch calf – which narrows the field considerably! So, YES to the Simply Be boots 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Simply Be! I think they have a great mix, some awesome some notsomuch but they are SO worth checking out!
Thank you for this! I struggle as someone with wide calves but not wide feet which makes the more affordable options at places like Torrid problematic for me because the foot area is so wide I have to wear very thick socks to make them wearable at all. My calves are about 16.5- 17.5 depending on my weight at the time and I have had consistent luck over the years with wide calf options from Marc Fisher, as well as recently with the wide calf option of the Nine West boots currently available at Kohls. Currently I’m looking for over the knee boots that don’t have the string at the top to keep them tight at the top but instead have elastic/other means to keep them up. If anyone has recommendations please let me know 🙂 thanks!!
Ugh, on the gripe side…what happened to Naturalizers?!?!? I have two pair that are both over 5 years old that I have beat up and in the past two years I have purchased several pairs and returned the both. I ordered a 9.5W, wide calf and the foot and shaft were both narrow! Not to mention the leather looks really low quality these days. I am really bummed because I was a pretty loyal customer for many years. This is a great list! I’ll give some of these a try. Thanks!
Ugh, excuse the typos…I was really passionate and typed quickly – LOL!
I can relate to the passionate typing! 🙂 I’ve noticed the same with Naturalizer and didn’t know if it was just me. their shoes and boots always fit me great and now I’m finding them more narrow, not as roomy for my high volume feet, and the quality isn’t what it used to be. It’s sad because they were always my go-to shoe brand!
Clarks always has one tall boot style that’s at least 16″ wide with an elastic gusset, very simple, classic design, good quality leather, incredibly comfortable & durable. I have a pair that are at least 10 years old now & are just barely due for resoling now. I’ve put them through *a lot* in terms of walking & weather, & they’re champs! Plus, as beautiful unadorned black boots, they go with everything. Highly recommended.
Clarks are amazing, I agree!
Great post! Thanks!
I’m glad you like it, Marla!
Thank you for the info! I purchased a pair of Duo boots several years ago when you first recommended them. I have always enjoyed them but they tend to slouch down after just a small amount of time wearing them. I often wondered if I should have gotten a larger circumference size? (They are definitely NOT too loose-if anything, perhaps a bit snug) Any thoughts? It tends to create a messier look than I’d like. I am in the market for a new pair for the season and I don’t want to make the same mistake! Thanks again for always providing great content!
A lot of times that is not because the calf is the wrong size, but the shins/below the calf muscle is too loose. A cobbler can sometimes nip in the shaft so it’s a more custom fit, preventing that. Another solution are boot straps; they go on your leg and connect to your boot to keep them up. Hollywood Fashion Secrets has a version that’s under $10 and free shipping at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pA5I2p
Thank you so much for the response. This makes total sense. I am going to try the boot straps first and go from there. I really appreciate your help with this!
I have and use the Hollywood Solutions straps linked. The will not keep your boots up. That is not what they are for. They keep your pants tucked in so you get a smoother pant line. They don’t work as well as the clip on stirrups but I think they are more comfortable. If you find something that keeps your boots up that actually works, let me know, because I haven’t found it. At least slouchy boots are in this season 😉
Thank you for this!
I have a pair of Duo boots, bought from their shop in Bath. I don’t have particularly large calves, but the range of sizes means that you end up with boots that feel made to measure. The staff are really helpful, so you can choose the style that best fits you – some are better on slim ankles, other on chunkier ankles. And of course these will also work for women who struggle with boots because their calves are very small. If any of you in the US are contemplating a visit to the UK, Bath is a beautiful, historic city – so perhaps you should make a pilgrimage to Duo. They aren’t even expensive.
Duo really impresses me. I’m sad that they rebranded for a bit and came back with a more limited collection that is far slimmer and taller than the past, but there are still some great options.
I am a 5’0″ woman with big legs so I am difficult fit in tall boots in both width & height. I just received the Charles by Charles David Patrol boot after looking all season for a tall boot in a lighter brown or tan. The calf circ is 16″ so they won’t work for every larger leg but the slouchy look worked beautifully for me. I love how they pair with midi skirts and dresses and the western style is very on-trend. I wore them all day teaching school so I can vouch for their comfort as well.
http://bit.ly/2Qxp97f
Thank you so much for sharing these boots, Liz. They’re really cute!