Best Knee-High Boots 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Fall is the perfect opportunity for a wardrobe refresh, and a great tall boot is one of the most versatile pieces to invest in. The best knee-high boots for women are comfortable for day or night, provide warmth in cold weather and feature luxe materials to make a style statement, especially alongside your more basic and practical outfits.

The best knee high boots are comfy for walking and standing, they're made from soft-yet-durable ... [+] materials, and they're endlessly stylish for cool-weather wear.

When assembling your cool-weather capsule wardrobe, consider pairing a knee-high boot with midi dresses, cardigans, blazers and barn jackets. We love the slouchy nonchalance of Larroude’s Kate Slouch Boot, the chic block heel of Madewell’s The Zane Knee High Boot and the tasteful embellishment on Isabel Marant’s Lestany Boot. All these—plus many others below—will take your look to new heights this season.

Margaux

Margaux’s designs perfectly walk the line between contemporary and classic. This boot features a comfortable 3.25-inch block heel for a stable base while standing or walking, and the almond toe is a more accommodating and roomy shape than narrower, pointy styles. Wear this pair with midi dresses or mini skirt, depending on your look.

Everlane

We love the unexpected silhouette of this architectural pull-on style. It’s cut from supple Nappa leather, and it features a soft pointed toe, curved three-inch heel and a shaft that’s just the right amount of slouchy. It comes in black, dark brown or black suede.

J.Crew

Everyone needs a versatile boot for everything work days to nights out, and this one checks all the boxes. It has a sleek-but-understated heel, pull-on fit and durable rubber outsole that will last. This style comes in five cold-weather-friendly colors.

Ba&sh

This suede boot gives off a casual vibe—the chunkier sole and 1.5-inch heel are comfy for walking and standing, and the caramel shade goes well with casual dresses and denim skirts. The Candella also has a Western-style top that dips low in the front, which helps to visually elongate your legs.

Stuart Weitzman

Finding boots that can accommodate wide calves and different foot widths can be tricky, but this pair works for many foot and leg shapes: It comes in narrow, medium or wide through the foot, and regular or wide (a 14.1-inch or 15.1-inch circumference) for the calf. The classic, simple silhouette also features a rounded toe, 60mm stacked heel and a side zipper for easy on and off. You can choose from black calf leather or suede khaki.

Nordstrom

This knee-high style features a stretchy back panel for a flexible fit through the calf, a cushioned insole for shock absorption and a low, 1.5-inch stacked heel with a grippy rubber sole. Wear this pair with knit dresses, leggings and a long sweater or midis in different climates.

Madewell

Not only is a square toe and block heel an updated silhouette, it also serves the benefit of allowing toes more room and providing a stable base for walking or standing. The Zane features a just-right 2.5-inch heel and a 14.5-inch shaft height, making it not too tall and not too short on lots of women.

Sezane

Finding the right shade of brown can involve a lot of trial and error, but this pair from Sézane comes in two amazing fall and winter colors—an iced chocolate smooth leather and taupe, which is really more of a rich brown suede. It features a 2.8-inch heel, subtly rounded toe and an inside zipper at the ankle to make them easy to slide on and off.

Alexandre Birman

These boots exude sophistication and polished. The 2.3-inch geometric heel is refined but also has a thicker base at the bottom, making it more comfortable to wear than a stiletto style. The pointy toe is both feminine and sleek. Consider this your power boot for the office or nights out.

Larroude

This is an '80s-inspired statement boot. It features a 3.8-inch stiletto heel with a cloud memory foam insole, and has a pull-on shaft that can be pushed down for a chic retro look. Wear these boots with a mini dress and show off your legs, or pair them with a midi and have the slouchy suede peeking out from underneath. This boot comes in black or oyster grey suede, or fringed denim.

Loeffler Randall

This boot is equally practical and beautiful. The 1.5-inch heel and padded footbed make it comfortable for all-day wear, and the leather is both soft and luxurious. The Indy comes in three colors—cacao suede, black or espresso.

Sam Edelman

If you have muscular calves, it can be difficult to find the right pair of boots. With a calf circumference of 15.7 inches, this style has extra room at the top of the shaft for a comfortable, flattering fit. It also features a soft pointed toe, refined 2.8-inch heel and a zipper closure. This boot comes in nine leather colors and three suede colors.

Cole Haan

Cole Haan shoes are known for high-quality fabrication and comfort, and this style exemplifies both. It has a stacked 2.5-inch heel and a cushioned footbed for all day-and-night comfort, a half zip for ease of wear and a textured sole that offers traction on slick surfaces.

COS

Understated and chic, this pointed toe style has a minimalist stacked heel and clean lines. The refined cowboy silhouette goes just as well with a denim pencil skirt as it does with a crepe midi dress.

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant has one of the widest selections of knee high boots around, including flat boots, cowboy styles and even boots with fringe. We love the statement detailing on this pair, which includes a split front, smooth leather straps and a silver-finish metal piece at the ankle. The three-inch heel is just high enough to make these a go-to dress boot.

Staud

If you’re looking for something other than basic black and brown, this pair comes in 12 versatile colors. The two-inch heel features a slim design and this pair is available in half sizes for a great fit. To note: The 18-inch shaft height on this boot may make it a better fit for those who are tall.

Schutz

The texture of crocodile-embossed leather adds an edgy vibe to this pointy toe style. It has a 3.3-inch heel, 15-inch shaft circumference and a 14.2-inch shaft height, which makes it a good fit for women of average height. It comes in cherry wine, brown or black croc-embossed, or in a snakeskin print.

Reformation

With a chunky block heel and square toe, these boots have a moto feel. They’re cut from durable vachetta leather, which is hard-wearing and develops a rich patina over time. These come in black, distressed brown and whiskey.

Forbes Vetted’s style editors have extensive experience evaluating women’s clothing and accessories. When it comes to fall and winter dressing, we have written about a wide variety of topics, from the most comfortable flats to the best sweaters for women to the best barn jackets.

Heel thickness and height ultimately determine comfort and how long you can stand and walk in your boots. In general, block heels are more comfortable than a stiletto-type heel since they provide a wider base for balance and support. Higher heels—such as those 2.5 inches and higher—will not be as forgiving on feet because they put more pressure on the ball of the foot. In some cases, a thinner heel will appear more elevated, which is something to consider if you’ll be wearing your boots for dressier occasions.

The shaft of the boot is the part that extends from the top of the heel to the highest point at the top of the boot. On a tall boot, it’s the part that covers your ankle and calf. For knee high boots, the shaft is typically between 13 and 18 inches. Some knee-high boots fit tight to the calf whereas others have more a slouchy, relaxed look that leaves space between the boot and your leg. If you have wider calves, the Stuart Weitzman Esme Boot and Sam Edelman Sylvia Knee High Boot come in various widths.

Knee high boots typically come in smooth leather or suede, while some faux leather boots are made from polyurethane. Both smooth leather and suede will naturally stretch over time. While suede is a great look for fall and winter, you should spray it with a leather protectant to prevent stains and scuffs, and it is best worn on rain- and snow-free days.

First and foremost, knee high boots should fit comfortably, but how tight the shaft is may depend upon the style of the boot and the shape of your leg. Some people prefer knee high boots to fit close the leg—like the Anne Klein Sable Knee High Riding Boot, which has a stretchy back panel—while others prefer a looser, slouchier look. In general, knee high boots should hit about two inches below the center of your knee cap, although some styles may scrunch down lower on your calf.

In general, a wide calf circumference is considered to be around 16 inches, although this depends on the retailer. Brands such as Sam Edelman, Stuart Weitzman and Madewell all offer knee-high boots in extended calf sizes.

Yes, absolutely. In many cases knee high boots can take the place of pumps, and they add an extra layer of protection from the elements during cold seasons. Stacked or block heels provide a comfortable, stable base when you spend long days on your feet, and in general, lower heels are more forgiving on feet and work appropriate.