Stack height explained
What it is
Stack height is the thickness of material between your foot and the ground, normally quoted at the heel and at the forefoot in millimetres. Larger numbers mean a thicker sole.
Some race rules limit the stack height of road shoes, which is one reason brands publish it.
Why numbers differ
Brands, retailers and labs do not always measure the same way: with or without the insole, at different points, in different sizes. We store each figure with its source so differences are visible rather than hidden.
Values on this site
- Heel stack (mm): Total sole thickness under the heel (midsole + outsole, sometimes insole, per source convention).
- Forefoot stack (mm): Total sole thickness under the forefoot.
Questions
- Does more stack mean more cushioning?
- Not by itself. The foam and the shoe's construction decide how a given thickness feels.
See it in the data
These pages describe product measurements. They are not medical advice or a recommendation for any person or condition. More: methodology, all explainers.