Yes, a heel lift can sometimes be used with an insole or orthotic, provided the combination follows the products’ instructions and still fits the shoe correctly. The lift’s position is product-specific. Clearly adjustable, it normally sits beneath the insole; a prescribed orthotic may require its provider to approve or incorporate the lift.
Check three things together: the intended elevation, the way the inserts sit against each other, and the room left for your foot.
This guide focuses on adding a lift to an existing footbed in closed footwear. If you are still deciding which type of insert you need, start with our heel lift, orthotic insole, and heel wedge comparison. Have the required height and side established before using a lift for a medical correction.
Does a heel lift go above or below the insole?
There is no single placement rule for every lift and orthotic. First identify whether you have the shoe’s original liner, a replacement contoured insole, or a prescribed device. The instruction “under the insole” does not establish compatibility with every rigid shell, heel cup, or built-in modification.
| Existing setup | Placement decision | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Removable original footbed | For clearly adjustable, place the lift beneath the footbed in the heel area, smooth the side upward, then refit the footbed. | The footbed seats properly over the lift, and the heel remains held by the shoe. |
| Replacement full-length insole | Follow both products’ fitting directions. Determine whether the replacement takes the place of the original liner before adding a lift. | The insole’s base and heel contour accommodate the proposed addition without rocking or buckling. |
| Custom, rigid, or already modified orthotic | Ask the orthotic provider to specify the lift location and whether it should be incorporated into the device. | Any existing raise or rearfoot modification is accounted for before adding another component. |
| Fixed or glued-in lining | Check the lift’s instructions and the shoe construction. If access beneath the lining requires alteration, use a qualified footwear professional. | The lining can be handled without damage; placing the lift on top is not an automatic substitute. |
The clearly adjustable placement instructions provide the under-footbed example above. Instructions for a covered foam lift, including its permitted contact surface, should be checked separately.
What if your orthotic already includes a heel raise?
Bring the orthotic and its fitting information to the provider before adding a retail lift. Some orthotics are manufactured with a raise attached underneath; the Orthotic Group lists this as a specific modification. A thick-looking heel section alone does not reveal whether it provides cushioning, a prescribed raise, or another adjustment.
Ask whether the new lift is meant to add to, replace, or become part of the existing correction. Do not remove an attached component or select another lift by comparing the two orthotics’ appearance. The provider can assess the complete arrangement rather than an isolated thickness.
Compare heel lifts for an existing insole setup.
These options differ in material and adjustment interval. The table helps you compare the lift itself; it does not certify that any lift-and-insole pairing will suit a particular foot or shoe.
| Product | Construction and adjustment | Relevance when combining inserts |
|---|---|---|
| Clearly Adjustable Heel Lift | Firm, clear layered vinyl; 1–12 mm in 1 mm increments. | Published instructions address placement beneath the footbed. Confirm that the existing footbed can seat over it. |
| Our Balego Adjustable Heel Lift | Extra-firm foam with a suede leather top; nominal 1/8, 1/4, or 3/8 inch settings. | A covered, three-layer alternative. Check its supplied placement directions rather than transferring instructions from a vinyl lift. |
| SoleAid Adjust-A-Heel | Neoprene sponge rubber with a vegan-suede top; nominal 1/8, 1/4, or 3/8 inch settings. | Shares nominal settings with our Balego lift but has different materials and sizing. Follow the SoleAid instructions for the actual product. |
Each linked lift is sold individually. The product pages contain size options and current availability. For a prescribed height written in different units, consult our heel-lift height conversion guide before substituting a nearby setting.
Also identify the insole you intend to keep. Our SoleAid Work III insoles combine full-length cushioning with a medium-flex support shell. Our SoleAid I+ insoles include an integrated metatarsal pad. Those structures introduce fitting considerations beyond the size printed on the package; neither listing is a universal approval to add a separate lift.
Compare the fit before and after adding the lift.
Use the same shoe and usual sock for the comparison. This makes it easier to describe what changed when you contact your fitter.
- Record the starting arrangement. Note the shoe, the insole model, any existing modification, and which shoe is intended to receive the lift. Check whether a removable factory liner is still underneath the replacement insole.
- Confirm the planned arrangement. Use the specified lift height and placement. Before inserting your foot, check whether the footbed returns to its intended position or lifts, curls, or rocks over the added piece.
- Check the foot inside the assembled shoe. Compare heel hold, space above the foot, toe room, and the position of the arch or forefoot support. Fasten the shoe normally. A closure that now feels excessively tight is a reason to review the setup.
- Follow the prescribed introduction to wear. If a short walking check is appropriate under your instructions, reassess the fit afterward. Report a new pressure point or movement of the insert before extending wear.
A useful fitting record: shoe model and size; sock type; original liner retained or removed; insole model; lift model, side, and setting; approved placement; and what changed during the check.
Dorset County Hospital’s orthotics guidance emphasizes footwear deep enough to accommodate an insole without heel slipping, with a removable liner helping create space. An empty shoe accepting all the components is only the first part of the fit check.
Troubleshooting a heel lift and insole combination
| What changed? | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| The heel slips after adding the lift. | Whether the heel now sits too high in the shoe’s supporting area. | Have shoe depth and retention reviewed. Moving the lift under a different layer does not remove its added bulk. |
| The orthotic rocks or its edge lifts | Whether the added piece interferes with the way the orthotic rests in the shoe. | Pause use of the new combination and ask the orthotic provider to assess the contact surfaces. |
| The shoe feels tight across the top or toes | Whether the replacement insole was added above a factory liner that was meant to be removed. | Confirm the intended liner arrangement and footwear fit; do not cut a support shell to force clearance. |
| A new arch or forefoot pressure point appears. | Whether the foot still sits correctly against the insole’s shaped support areas. | Request a fitting review. Extra padding or a taller lift may introduce another change without resolving the cause. |
Stop using the new combination if it causes pain, numbness, rubbing, persistent pressure marks, or skin damage, and contact your clinician. Dorset HealthCare’s insole guidance also advises checking the skin and avoiding self-adjustment of prescribed insoles.
Questions about combining heel lifts and orthotics
Should I remove the original shoe insole?
It depends on the intended setup. With Clearly Adjustable beneath an original removable footbed, that footbed goes back over the lift. When installing a replacement full-length orthotic, the original liner may need to come out to make room. Follow the shoe and orthotic instructions rather than automatically stacking both full-length inserts.
How much heel-lift height will fit with my orthotic?
There is no universal maximum for that combination. Available room depends on the shoe, the orthotic, and your foot. A lift’s highest available setting describes the product’s range; it does not establish a suitable correction or a usable height inside every shoe. Have the prescribed height and footwear assessed together.
Can I glue a heel lift to my orthotic?
Only when the product instructions and orthotic provider permit the method and adhesive. Material compatibility matters: Clearly Adjustable specifically warns against carpet tape and contact cement because they can damage its vinyl. A lift that keeps moving needs a placement and fit review before permanent attachment.
Can I move the combination into another pair of shoes?
Follow each component’s instructions and repeat the fit check in the destination shoes. Keep the prescribed side and setting consistent; do not quietly reduce the correction to fit a shallower shoe. For open footwear, use our separate heel lifts for sandals guides, where retention and footbed access require different checks.
Find the right product information before ordering.
Browse our orthotic insoles, shoe inserts, heel lifts, and wedges once the intended arrangement is clear. If you need help identifying a model, size chart, or published instructions, contact our product-support team with the product name and existing insole details. Your clinician or orthotic provider should determine the correction and approve changes to a prescribed device.
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