Guide · Clothes, shoes and bags
How long should shoes or boots last in Australia?
Shoes or boots bought for around $150 should last about 18 months or more.
Clothes and shoes are covered too. A sole that splits or a seam that gives way long before it should isn’t normal wear.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long shoes or boots should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $80 | 6 months |
| $80 to $300 | 18 months |
| Over $300 | 3 years |
For one bought around $150:
- Under 11 months: very likely covered.
- 11 months to 18 months: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 18 months: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- The sole splits or comes away from the upper
- Stitching fails or the lining tears early
- The material cracks in the first months of normal wear
What usually isn’t covered
- Wear from rough ground or a heavy daily commute
- Damage from being left in the sun or the wet
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought shoes or boots here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for shoes or boots
Stop wearing them once you spot the fault and take them back as they are. Washing or repairing them first can muddy the claim.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should shoes or boots last?
By our guide, shoes or boots bought for around $150 should last about 18 months or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to shoes or boots after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if shoes or boots fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Do I need the receipt to take shoes or boots back?
You need proof of purchase, but not the original receipt. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration can do the job.
More guides
- How long should a jacket or coat last?
- How long should a bra last?
- How long should a handbag or backpack last?
- How long should sunglasses last?
- See all guides