Buying guide
How to Tell If You Have Flat Feet: A Simple At-Home Test
Before you buy a single pair of shoes, it helps to actually understand your arch type. This is the same simple test I used years ago to confirm what I'd already suspected — and what to do with the answer once you have it.
On this page
The wet footprint test
This is a low-effort, at-home way to get a general sense of your arch type. It won't replace a professional assessment, but it's a genuinely useful starting point.
- Wet the sole of your bare foot thoroughly.
- Step firmly onto a surface that will show a clear footprint — a piece of thick paper, cardboard, or a dry pavement/patio surface works well.
- Step off and look at the shape your footprint leaves behind, particularly the area along the inner edge, between your heel and the ball of your foot.
Reading your results
- High arch: You'll see a thin band, or almost no connection, between your heel and forefoot along the inner edge.
- Normal arch: You'll see a moderate curve inward, with roughly half the middle of your foot showing in the print.
- Flat/low arch: You'll see most or all of your foot's width along the inner edge, with little to no curve.
See our arch comparison diagram on the homepage for a visual reference of how a normal arch differs from a flat arch.
What to do next with your result
If your test suggests a flat or low arch, that's useful information — not a diagnosis, and not something that requires immediate action if you're not experiencing discomfort. If you are noticing foot, ankle, knee, or lower back fatigue, it's a reasonable signal to:
- Look at stability or motion-control shoes rather than neutral cushioned shoes — see our best shoes for flat feet roundup to start.
- Pay attention to how long you can comfortably stand or walk in your current shoes, and whether that improves in a more supportive pair.
- Consider whether your discomfort is new, worsening, or has been stable for years — that distinction matters for whether to see a specialist.
When to see a podiatrist instead of just buying shoes
Shoes can meaningfully improve comfort, but they're not a substitute for medical care. Consider seeing a podiatrist if you experience:
- Persistent or worsening pain in your feet, ankles, knees, or lower back
- Sudden changes in your arch or foot shape
- Numbness, tingling, or swelling that doesn't resolve
- Pain that doesn't improve after a reasonable trial (several weeks) of more supportive footwear
This site shares personal experience and general buying guidance, not medical advice. See our about page for more on how we approach this content.