Types of heels are easiest to recognize by looking at the heel’s height, width, shape, and placement beneath the shoe. This guide explains familiar heel styles and the visible details that distinguish them, including a few designs that are often confused with one another.
How heel styles are classified
A heel is the raised part of a shoe beneath the back of the foot. Heel names usually describe its silhouette, but names can overlap: a pump, for example, may have a stiletto, block, or kitten heel. The shoe’s upper, toe shape, fastening, and overall construction are separate features.
When identifying a pair, view it from the side and back. A narrow heel that tapers toward the ground suggests a stiletto; a broad, nearly rectangular heel points to a block style. Also note the height, whether the sole is raised at the front, and whether the heel extends across the shoe’s width. These cues are more useful than relying on a product label alone.
Common types of heels at a glance
| Heel type | Visible shape | Typical distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Stiletto | Long, slim, sharply tapered | Narrow profile and concentrated heel point |
| Block | Wide, with a flat or broad base | More substantial shape than a stiletto |
| Kitten | Short and slender | Low height paired with a narrow profile |
| Wedge | Continuous slope beneath the heel and midfoot | No separate heel column beneath the back |
| Cone | Broad near the shoe, narrowing toward the floor | Inverted-triangle or funnel-like outline |
| Platform | Raised section beneath the forefoot | A front sole feature; heel shape can vary |
Stiletto, pump, and kitten heels
Stiletto heels
A stiletto has a slender heel that narrows to a small ground-contact point. Its profile is distinct from a thick block heel, even when both are attached to similar closed-toe shoes. Stiletto describes the heel, not the entire shoe: stilettos appear on pumps, sandals, ankle boots, and other designs.
Pumps
A pump is a shoe style, commonly recognized by a closed toe and a low-cut opening over the foot. The heel may be high or low and can have several shapes, including stiletto, block, or kitten. A pump is therefore not a specific heel type, although the terms are sometimes used loosely in fashion descriptions.
Kitten heels
Kitten heels are short, usually narrow heels with a gentle curve or slight taper. They are often seen on pumps and slingbacks, but the label can be applied to other shoe shapes. Their defining visual feature is the combination of low height and a slim heel, rather than a particular upper or toe shape.
Block, wedge, and platform heels
Block heels
A block heel is broad enough to create a solid, column-like profile. It may be square, rectangular, or slightly flared, and can be low or tall. Look at the back and side of the shoe: a block heel has a distinct structure beneath the heel of the foot, unlike a wedge, which continues forward under more of the shoe.
Wedge heels
A wedge runs beneath the heel and extends forward along the sole, forming a continuous sloping support. Some wedges are exposed and clearly visible; others are covered in the same material as the shoe upper. Espadrille wedges are a recognizable variation with a woven or rope-like finish around the sole, though other materials are also used.
Platform heels
A platform is a raised sole beneath the forefoot. It is not, by itself, a heel shape: a platform shoe can combine that thick front sole with a stiletto, block, or other heel. To distinguish a platform from a wedge, check whether the rear heel is a separate column or part of a continuous slope.
Cone, spool, and flared heels
Cone heels are broad where they meet the shoe and narrow toward the ground, giving them a cone or funnel-like outline. Spool heels, also called hourglass heels, are narrower around the middle and wider at both ends. Their curved silhouette distinguishes them from the straight sides of many block heels.
Flared heels widen toward the ground rather than narrowing. The base may extend outward from a slimmer top, producing a bell-like shape when viewed from the side. Heel names are not always used consistently by brands, and some designs sit between categories; describing the visible outline can be more precise than insisting on one label.
Special shapes and lower heels
Mary Jane heels are identified by a strap across the instep, not by a single heel silhouette. They can have a low, chunky heel or a taller, narrow one. Similarly, slingback heels have a strap around the back of the heel, while their heel itself may be kitten, block, or stiletto.
Chunky heels is a broad descriptive term for heels with a substantial width. It can refer to block, flared, or other sturdy-looking shapes, so it is less specific than a named silhouette. A Cuban heel is a moderately low, straight-sided heel often associated with boots and some dress shoes; the exact profile varies by design.
How to identify a heel from its silhouette
Start with the heel’s outline, then separate that observation from the rest of the shoe’s design. Ask whether the heel is narrow or broad, whether its sides are straight or curved, and whether it stands alone or continues beneath the forefoot. Finally, note any platform, fastening, or upper style as an additional feature.
- Narrow and tapered: likely a stiletto or another slim heel.
- Low and slender: likely a kitten heel.
- Broad with a flat base: likely a block or chunky heel.
- Continuous from heel toward midfoot: likely a wedge.
- Raised beneath the front of the foot: the shoe has a platform, whatever the rear heel shape.
- Curved or changing width: compare the profile with cone, spool, or flared silhouettes.
These descriptions cover common heel designs, but there is no single naming convention used across every maker or retailer. When a style is ambiguous, describe its height and visible shape alongside the shoe type—for example, a closed-toe pump with a low, tapered heel.