How to Tie Shoelaces

How to Tie Shoelaces: Every Knot, Step by Step

The standard knot, the easy bunny-ears method for kids, the lightning-fast Ian knot, and how to stop your laces coming undone for good. Simple, step-by-step, no diagrams needed.

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Pick your method
Four ways, depending on what you need.
Standard knot
The everyday bow most people use — loop, wrap, pull
Bunny ears
The easiest way to teach a child — two loops, cross and pull
Ian knot
The fastest knot there is — both hands at once, once you've got it
Secure knot
Stops laces coming undone — the double knot and the surgeon's knot

1. The standard shoelace knot

This is the everyday bow almost everyone uses. If you learned one way to tie your shoes, it's probably this.

  1. Cross the two laces over each other to make an X, then feed one end under the other and pull both tight. That's your starting knot.
  2. Make a loop with one lace — hold it near the base between your finger and thumb.
  3. Wrap the other lace around the front of that loop.
  4. Push the middle of the wrapping lace through the gap behind the loop to form a second loop.
  5. Pull both loops apart evenly to tighten. Done — a neat, balanced bow.

Tip: if your bow always ends up crooked or comes undone easily, you may be tying a "granny knot." Fixing it is as simple as wrapping the other way round in step 3 — see the secure-knot section below.

2. The bunny ears method (best for kids)

Bunny ears is the easiest way for children to learn, because both loops are made first and the steps are symmetrical — left and right do exactly the same thing.

  1. Tie the starting knot (cross over, under, pull tight), same as the standard method.
  2. Make a loop — a "bunny ear" — with each lace, one in each hand.
  3. Cross the two ears over each other to make an X.
  4. Tuck one ear under and through the gap, just like the first knot.
  5. Pull both ears tight. That's the bow.

3. The Ian knot (the fastest knot)

The Ian knot is widely regarded as the quickest way to tie a shoelace — it forms both loops at the same time, in one smooth motion. It takes a little practice, but once it clicks you'll never tie slowly again.

  1. Tie the starting knot as usual.
  2. Make a loop in each hand — but hold them differently: one with the loose end at the front, the other with the loose end at the back.
  3. Cross the two loops, then pass each loop through the other at the same time — your hands work together in one movement.
  4. Pull both loops apart to snap the bow tight.

Don't worry if it feels awkward at first — it's the hand positions that make it fast, so give it a few tries before you judge it.

4. How to stop your laces coming undone

If your laces keep coming loose, the knot — not the lace — is usually to blame. Two simple fixes hold far better.

The double knot
Tie your normal bow, then loop the two bows over each other once more and pull tight. Quick, secure, and easy to undo with a tug on the ends.
The surgeon's knot
At the starting knot, wrap the laces around each other twice instead of once before making your bow. The extra wrap grips and stops the knot slipping.

Two more things help: make sure you're tying a balanced "reef" knot, not a lopsided granny knot (if your bow sits vertically down the shoe instead of across it, that's the giveaway) — just reverse the direction you wrap. And the lace itself matters: smooth, worn laces slip, while waxed laces grip themselves and hold a knot far better.

And if you'd simply rather never tie a lace again, no-tie laces turn any shoe into a slip-on while keeping a snug, laced fit.

Teaching a child to tie their shoes

  • Start with the bunny ears method — it's the most forgiving.
  • Use two different coloured laces (or a two-tone lace) so they can see which lace goes where.
  • Sit beside them, not opposite — so they see the knot the same way round you do.
  • Practise on a shoe off the foot, on a table, before trying it while wearing it.
  • Keep sessions short and celebrate small wins — it clicks suddenly, not gradually.

Laces that make it easier

Hold a knot
Waxed laces
Grip themselves so knots stay tied — the easy fix for laces that keep coming undone.
Shop waxed laces
Teach kids
Flat laces
Easy to grip and tie, in two-tone and bright colours that make learning simpler.
Shop flat laces
Never tie again
No-tie laces
Turn any shoe into a slip-on — ideal for kids, runners and anyone over tying laces.
Shop no-tie laces
Want to change the look, not just the knot? See the different ways to lace your shoes.
Shoe lacing styles →

Frequently asked questions

What's the easiest way to tie shoelaces?
The bunny ears method is the easiest to learn, especially for children, because you make both loops first and the left and right steps mirror each other. The standard loop-and-wrap knot is the quickest for most adults.
Why do my shoelaces keep coming undone?
Usually because of a lopsided "granny knot," or smooth laces that slip. Switch to a balanced knot, add a double knot or surgeon's knot, and use waxed laces that grip — or go no-tie and skip knots entirely.
What is the fastest way to tie shoelaces?
The Ian knot, which forms both loops at once in a single motion. It takes practice, but it's widely considered the quickest shoelace knot.
At what age can a child tie their own shoes?
Most children manage it between about 5 and 7, though it varies a lot. The bunny ears method, bright two-tone laces and short, regular practice all make it click sooner.
What is a surgeon's knot for shoelaces?
It's a standard bow with one extra wrap at the starting knot (wrap twice instead of once). That extra turn grips and stops the knot slipping, so it's great for sport and kids' shoes.
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