Dr. Martens resoling by mail
A welted pair of Dr. Martens 1460s can be resoled. Getting it done in the US is less straightforward than the brand's reputation suggests, because the official repair service is UK-only and the original air-cushioned sole isn't generally sold to American cobblers. Here's what we found on the repairers' own pages when we checked on 2 November 2026.
First, check your boots can be resoled
Only Goodyear-welted Docs can be resoled in the traditional way. The Boot Repair Company, which runs Dr. Martens' authorised repair site, splits its catalogue into welted and non-welted styles. Its welted list includes the 1460, 1461, 1490, 2976 Chelsea and Jadon. For non-welted styles such as Bonny, Boury, Combs Tech, DMXL and Rilla, it offers upper repairs, zip repairs and cleaning, but no resole (welted repairs, drmartensrepairs.com).
To tell the difference, its guide says to look for a small visible gap where a welt has been stitched around the boot, usually the familiar yellow stitching, and a sole that sticks out beyond the upper when you look down from above. If your pair has no welt stitching, ask a cobbler what's possible before you ship anything.
Why US owners can't use the official service
Dr. Martens' authorised repairer is in Leeds, UK. Its FAQ answers "Do you repair outside of the UK?" with "No, we only offer our repairs to UK customers." For reference, its "Resole and Welt – Classic DMS Sole" costs £79.99 per pair. That covers a new sole, welt and stitching, with a choice of sole colour (translucent, smoke or vintage) and welt and stitch colour. The listing warns that boots may feel tight again after the repair, which matters if you spent weeks breaking them in. UK mainland orders over £50 ship free; below that, two-way carriage is £7.95.
US mail-in options and published prices
| Shop | Dr. Martens resole price | What's included / notes | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Street Shoe Repair (Salem, OR) | $95/pair; $105/pair with red sole | Return shipping included. Vibram, Goodyear or similar soles (see below). Also does Solovair at the same price. US addresses only. | Depends on workload (not stated as a fixed time) |
| NuShoe (San Diego, CA) | $90–110 | Recommends its Traveler NuCraft ($95: rubber soles and heels, stitching as needed, refinish, new laces). Not charged until the boots go into repair. | 3–4 weeks including round-trip shipping (DM page) |
Sources: High Street Dr. Martens resole, High Street Dr. Martens FAQ, NuShoe Dr. Martens repair, checked 2 November 2026. Shipping to the shop is extra unless stated.
Other mail-in shops in the directory that resole welted boots, such as Cobblers Direct or The Cobblers, may also quote for Docs. We didn't find a published Dr. Martens resole price on their sites, so ask first.
What will be different after a US resole
High Street Shoe Repair's Dr. Martens FAQ is unusually candid about this:
- It won't be the original sole. The shop says original factory soles are "generally not available" to independent repair shops in the US. It says replacement Vibram soles are made differently, so there can be small differences in flexibility, cushioning, weight and tread. It also notes that uppers already moulded to your feet often make a resoled pair more comfortable than a new one.
- Sole choices. Options listed include Vibram 4014 and 1705 Stowe (it says the 1705 is the most common choice), plus Vibram 1758, 100 Montagna, 2021, 1752 and 1757, and Goodyear soles including a red option.
- The edge looks different. The shop says the original sole's distinctive moulded edge "cannot be duplicated". Its replacement soles have a smooth, clean edge instead.
- The yellow stitching usually stays. The work is done below the welt, so the original welt stitching is kept "whenever possible".
- Platforms are case by case. For platform or unusual soles, the shop asks for photos (side, bottom and a close-up) before you ship.
If an exact factory look matters to you, that's a reason to ask before ordering. If you mainly want another few years of wear, a Vibram sole is a common upgrade.
Cracked or split soles
Older Docs often fail by cracking across the forefoot rather than wearing smooth. High Street says it repairs boots with cracked or crumbling soles as part of a resole. It also offers sole-separation regluing ($15–35) but says that service is not offered through the mail, so a mail-in fix for a cracked Doc sole will normally be a full resole.
Sending them in
- Check the construction (welted or not) and send photos if you're unsure or have platforms.
- Follow the shop's form. High Street asks you to print its shipping form (it has a "Dr. Marten soles, circle one: 4014 / 1705" line), add a short description of the repair and put both boots in a sturdy box. It says the Post Office's shoe boxes fit most boots. NuShoe takes orders online.
- Take out anything you want back that isn't part of the repair, such as aftermarket insoles, and photograph the boots before packing.
More background: how mail-in resoling works, is it worth resoling? and questions to ask a cobbler.