Name labels for shoes that stay on
Name labels for shoes stay attached when you put them on the inside of the shoe, high up on a smooth, firm surface, and never under the sole where friction wears them off. Press the label firmly onto a clean, dry shoe for about ten seconds and let the glue cure for 24 hours before the shoe gets wet or is washed. Then a regular self-adhesive name label stays on everything from gym shoes to sandals.
Here you will learn exactly where inside the shoe the label should go, which shoes usually go missing, why a label sometimes comes loose, and when another type of labeling is better.
Name labels for shoes: where inside the shoe does the label fit best?
The label needs a smooth surface that does not bend or wear when the child walks. Most children's shoes have three good places:
- The care label under the tongue. Many shoes have a small sewn or printed label with the size and material on the inside of the tongue. It works like a care label in a garment: put the name label there.
- The lining high up at the heel. A smooth leather or faux-leather lining on the inside of the heel counter is attached to the shoe and experiences little wear.
- The insole, if it is glued in place. At the back of the insole, where the heel rests, the surface is flat and immediately visible when you look down into the shoe.
Avoid surfaces that look tempting but do not hold: the underside of the sole, netting and mesh, fleece or fur lining in winter boots, and rough materials such as suede on the outside. The glue cannot grip an even surface there. Lappus's own guide on where to put the name label says the same thing for clothes and belongings.
Removable insole: label the shoe, not the insole
This is something many people miss. If the label is attached to a removable insole, the name stays with the insole, not the shoe. Insoles are removed to dry at preschool or at home and can easily end up in the wrong pair. Therefore, attach the label to the tongue or heel lining in shoes with removable insoles. To be safe, label both the shoe and the insole.
How to attach the name label inside the shoe
- Start with a dry shoe. Attach the label before the shoes are used for the first time, or once they have dried completely after a wet day. Wipe dust and sand off the surface.
- Peel off the label and position it. Touch the adhesive side with your fingers as little as possible.
- Press firmly for about ten seconds. Pay extra attention to the corners; that is where a label starts to come loose.
- Wait 24 hours. The glue needs around 24 hours to cure. Leave the shoes somewhere dry until the next day before washing them or using them in puddles.
Which shoes go missing, and why
It is rarely the shoes on the child’s feet that go missing. It is the shoes that are left behind somewhere:
- Indoor shoes at preschool. They are kept on a shelf or in a box with many other pairs and put on in a hurry.
- Gym shoes at school. They are changed in the changing room, often by several children at once, and go home in the wrong bag.
- Sandals and flip-flops. They go along to the swimming pool, summer camp and summer preschool and look identical throughout the group.
- Football and training shoes. They end up in a shared pile after practice.
- Popular models. If several children in the group have bought the same shoe from the same chain, the color does not help, only the name.
Shoes that the child wears all day also need to be labeled, but they are rarely the problem. Start with indoor shoes and trainers. On the page about name labels for preschool, you can find the rest of the items that usually need to be labeled.
Rain boots are also among the items that get swapped in the cloakroom. The same rule applies: a smooth surface high up, not where the boots rub against each other.
What should be written on the label in the shoes?
The child's first name is usually enough at preschool. If two children in the group have the same name, add the surname or an initial. A phone number on the second line is useful on shoes that leave the house, such as football boots and flip-flops. All labels in a set have the same text, and you can see the result immediately when designing them.
For children who cannot read yet, a picture helps. A child who knows that her labels have a fox can find her indoor shoes on the shelf without reading a word.
Right and left
Lappu has no specific right and left labels: all the labels in a set are identical. One simple trick works anyway. Place the label on the inside of the shoe, on the side facing the other foot, in both shoes. When the shoes are positioned correctly, the labels face each other. The child can learn to check this.
What can the name label in a shoe withstand?
The label is machine-washable at up to 60°C and can go in the tumble dryer and dishwasher. It adheres to plastic, leather and metal, and to fabric via a sewn-on label. Read more about what name labels can withstand.
In practice, it is the shoe that sets the limit, not the label. Many shoes can withstand less. For example, Kavat's Iggesund WP sneaker should be washed at 30 degrees on a delicate cycle and not dried at high heat (care instructions at Åhléns, checked October 2026). Always follow the shoe's own care instructions. The label can withstand them.
Why does the label come off the shoe?
| What happened | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The label was attached under the sole | Friction against the ground wears it off | Move it to the inside, high up |
| The label was attached to mesh or fleece lining | The glue can only adhere to the threads, not to a surface | Choose the tongue's label area or a smooth heel lining |
| The edges lifted immediately | The shoe was damp or dusty, or the label was not pressed firmly enough | Apply a new label to a dry, clean surface and press for ten seconds |
| The label came off after the first rain | The shoe got wet before the glue had time to cure | Wait one day before wearing the shoes outside in wet weather |
| The name went with the wrong pair | The label was attached to a removable insole | Label the shoe, not the insole |
| The label creased | It was placed on a part that bends with every step | Choose a flat part that does not fold, such as the heel lining. |
Rule of thumb: if you cannot find a smooth, firm surface in the shoe, a self-adhesive label is the wrong choice. This applies to shoes made entirely of soft foam material and silicone, and shoes lined with fur all the way up. We cannot guarantee that the label will stay on in these cases. Test a label first, or label the shoe with a durable permanent marker on a light-colored part of the lining.
Calculation example: how many labels are needed for shoes?
A calculation example for a preschool child over one year (your figures will be different):
- Outdoor shoes, indoor shoes, sandals, winter boots, and rubber boots: 5 pairs.
- One label in each shoe: 10 labels.
- The child outgrows half of the pairs during the year and gets new ones: around 5 additional labels.
That comes to around 15 labels per year. A set of regular name labels contains 124 labels from SEK 139, which works out to around SEK 1.12 per label. The shoes use a small portion of the set; the rest is enough for clothes, bottles, and lunch boxes. See how the price per label is calculated on the page about cheap name labels.
When something else is better
A self-adhesive label is the quickest way to label most shoes, but not all of them. For shoes without a smooth surface inside, a permanent marker works better. An embossed name on a leather strap is an option for wooden clogs, but it is only offered by some manufacturers. Iron-on labels are suitable for garments washed at temperatures above 60°C, but they require fabric that can withstand an iron, and few shoes have that. Lappu only sells self-adhesive name labels, and we would rather tell you when they are not suitable.
You can pay with Klarna, card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or MobilePay. Shipping costs SEK 25 and is free for orders over SEK 199, and the labels arrive in your mailbox within a few business days.
For backpacks, sports bags, and shoe bags, large name labels work better because they are visible from a distance.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you put a name label in shoes?
On the inside of the shoe, high up on a smooth surface: the label area under the tongue, the heel lining, or a firmly glued-in insole. Never put it under the sole, where friction will wear it off.
Does the name label stay on if the shoes are machine-washed?
Yes, the label is machine-washable at up to 60°C and tumble-dryer safe once the adhesive has cured for one day. Follow the shoe's own care instructions when washing, and many shoes can withstand less than the label.
Which name label is suitable for shoes?
Regular name labels fit in most shoes, since they fit on a label area or heel lining. Large name labels are better for shoe bags or sports bags, where they need to be visible from a distance.
Do name labels stay on clogs and water shoes?
The label sticks to hard, smooth plastic. It adheres less well to soft foam material and silicone, and we cannot guarantee that it will stay on there. Test a label on a flat area first.
How soon can the child use the shoes after labeling?
The adhesive needs about one day to cure. Therefore, label the shoes the evening before and do not let them get wet or wash them until the next day.