Shoe Soles for Making: Leather, Rubber & Crepe

Match the sole to the build. Vegetable-tanned leather outsoles (8-12 oz, roughly 3.5-5 mm) suit welted boots and turnshoes; expect $15-$40 a pair for pre-cut bends, less for uncut shoulder pieces. Rubber soling sheet — lug, ripple, or plain 4-6 mm — runs $10-$30 per sheet and bonds well with contact cement. Crepe is the classic pick for desert boots and moccasins, while jute rope or pre-stitched braided soles are the standard base for espadrilles, usually offered in EU sizes 35-46. Check listings for stated thickness, Shore hardness on rubber, and whether soles arrive as sized pairs, oversize blanks you trim after lasting, or die-cut to your pattern. For slippers and baby shoes, look for non-slip suede or dotted grip soles instead of hard soling. Most suppliers ship stock sizes in 3-7 business days; custom die-cutting typically adds 1-3 weeks.

Use the on-page filters to narrow by material and size range, and scan the related searches below for specific sole types.