You can get orthopedic shoes from specialty shoe stores, podiatry clinics, certified pedorthists, online medical footwear retailers, and sometimes through your doctor’s office with a prescription. The right source depends on whether you need a standard extra-depth shoe off the shelf or a fully custom-molded pair built from a cast of your foot.
Podiatrists, Pedorthists, and Orthotists
Three types of professionals specialize in therapeutic footwear, and each serves a slightly different role. A podiatrist diagnoses foot conditions and can prescribe orthopedic shoes or custom insoles. A pedorthist (sometimes called an orthopedic shoemaker) specializes in fitting and modifying therapeutic footwear, particularly for use with orthopedic shoe designs. An orthotist (orthopedic technician) typically handles more severe foot and limb disorders and may fabricate braces or supports that integrate with your shoes. All three have separate training programs and take different approaches to construction and fitting.
If you’re unsure where to start, a podiatrist is usually the first stop. They can evaluate your feet, identify the underlying problem, and either fit you directly or refer you to a pedorthist or orthotist who carries the right inventory. Many podiatry clinics stock recommended brands on-site and can order specialty sizes for you.
Specialty Shoe Stores and Brands
Brick-and-mortar orthopedic shoe stores exist in most mid-size and large cities, often under names like “comfort footwear” or “therapeutic footwear.” These shops carry brands specifically designed for foot problems and typically have staff trained in proper fitting. Some are affiliated with hospitals or rehabilitation centers.
Brands that podiatrists commonly recommend include Dr. Comfort, Drew Shoes, Revere, Vionic, Naot, Ecco, Dansko, and Alegria. For men, Merrell, Keen, Dr. Martens, and Ariat also appear on recommended lists. Many of these lines offer extra-depth shoes, which provide an additional quarter- to half-inch of interior space to accommodate custom insoles or foot deformities like bunions and hammertoes. You can find some of these brands at general shoe retailers, but a specialty store will carry a wider range of widths and depths.
Online Orthopedic Shoe Retailers
Several online stores focus exclusively on orthopedic and therapeutic footwear. Orthofeet, for example, offers free ground shipping across the continental U.S. and a 60-day wear test on all shoes and insoles purchased directly from their site. If you’re not satisfied, you can return or exchange for a full refund within that window, with one exchange allowed per order. Items marked “final sale” don’t qualify.
Other online options include the direct websites of brands like Dr. Comfort and Drew Shoes, plus general retailers that carry orthopedic lines. The advantage of buying online is price comparison and convenience. The risk is fit. Orthopedic shoes need to match not just your foot length but also your arch length and width, which are harder to assess at home. If you go this route, measure carefully and look for retailers with generous return policies so you’re not stuck with shoes that don’t work.
Getting a Proper Fit
A professional fitting measures three things: heel-to-toe length, arch length (heel to ball of foot), and width. The standard tool is a Brannock device, the metal foot-measuring plate you’ve probably seen in shoe stores. What most people don’t realize is that overall length alone isn’t enough. Your arch length determines where the shoe flexes, and if that flex point doesn’t line up with the ball of your foot, even the right “size” will feel wrong.
When using a Brannock device, you press your toes flat and read the length at your longest toe, which isn’t always your big toe. The arch measurement uses a sliding pointer that fits against the ball joint on the inner side of your foot. Width is then read from a sliding bar pressed firmly against the edge of your foot at the correct size marking. If your measurement falls between two widths, a thicker foot generally does better in the wider option.
For orthopedic purposes, you should be measured while standing with full weight on your feet, ideally later in the day when your feet are slightly swollen. If you wear custom insoles, bring them to the fitting since they take up interior space.
Extra-Depth Shoes vs. Custom-Molded Shoes
Most people who need orthopedic footwear end up in extra-depth shoes. These look like regular oxford or athletic shoes but have more interior volume to accommodate insoles, orthotics, or common deformities. They tend to be lightweight with shock-absorbing soles and come in a wide enough range of shapes and sizes to fit almost any foot. With modifications, even severe deformities can usually be managed in an extra-depth shoe.
Custom-molded shoes are built from a cast or 3D model of your individual foot. They’re reserved for extremely severe deformities that can’t be accommodated any other way, and they’re relatively rare. The process involves multiple appointments: one for casting, one or more for fitting adjustments, and follow-ups to check for pressure points. Expect several weeks between ordering and receiving the finished pair.
Medicare Coverage for Therapeutic Shoes
If you have diabetes with severe foot disease, Medicare Part B covers therapeutic footwear. The benefit allows one pair of custom-molded shoes (with two additional pairs of inserts) or one pair of extra-depth shoes (with three pairs of inserts) per calendar year. After you meet your Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when your supplier accepts assignment.
Getting coverage requires a face-to-face encounter with your doctor and a written order completed before the shoes are delivered. Your prescribing physician must document the medical necessity, and the footwear must be provided by a Medicare-enrolled supplier. Without this documentation chain, claims get denied. Ask your doctor’s office to confirm they’ll handle the paperwork before you visit a supplier, and verify that the supplier participates in Medicare so you’re only responsible for the 20% coinsurance rather than the full price.
What to Expect on Cost
Without insurance, extra-depth orthopedic shoes typically run $100 to $300 per pair depending on the brand and features. Custom-molded shoes cost significantly more, often $500 to $1,500 or higher, because of the labor-intensive fabrication process. Custom insoles or orthotics add another $200 to $800 on top of the shoe cost.
Private insurance plans vary widely in what they cover. Some treat orthopedic shoes as durable medical equipment and reimburse a portion with a prescription. Others exclude footwear entirely. Call your insurer before ordering to ask whether therapeutic shoes are a covered benefit under your plan, what documentation they require, and whether you need to use specific suppliers. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, ask your podiatrist about lower-cost alternatives. An over-the-counter extra-depth shoe paired with a prefabricated insole can sometimes provide meaningful relief at a fraction of the custom price.