DocumentationHeel vs Platform Height: Real Lift of BC Shoes
Actual lift is heel height minus platform height. See the heel, platform and real lift of 16 BC Shoes styles, from Winnie to Peace Train.
Quick answer: A shoe's actual lift is its heel height minus its platform height. A BC style with a 2.25-inch heel and a 2-inch platform has only about 0.25 inch of real lift, so it feels close to flat. Check both numbers on the product page, not just the heel.
Why two numbers
Chunky soles make the heel number look bigger than it feels. The heel measurement includes the platform under the ball of your foot. The platform measurement is that thickness at the front. The difference is how much higher your heel sits than your toes.
Actual lift = heel height − platform height
Example
Evolution has a 2.25 in heel and a 2 in platform. Its actual lift is 2.25 − 2 = 0.25 in. It looks bold and chunky, but your foot sits almost level.
Peace Train has a 3.75 in heel and a 2 in platform. Its actual lift is 3.75 − 2 = 1.75 in, which is the highest in the table below.
Heel, platform and actual lift
These are 16 styles from our collection, using the heel and platform measurements on each product page, in inches.
| Style | Type | Heel | Platform | Actual lift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnie | Sneaker | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Laguna | Thong sandal | 0.5 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Evolution | Platform mule | 2.25 | 2 | 0.25 |
| Jackpot | Platform mule | 2.25 | 2 | 0.25 |
| Teddy | Faux-fur boot | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Smooth Landing | Mule | 1.25 | 0.75 | 0.5 |
| Fiction | Loafer | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Fan Club | Mary Jane | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Ocean Mist | Slide sandal | 2.5 | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Unmatched | Moto boot | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Just This Once | Platform mule | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Story Of My Life | Sandal | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Starfish | Platform sandal | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Koko | Ankle boot | 2.75 | 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Ambitious | Loafer | 2.75 | 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Peace Train | Heeled loafer | 3.75 | 2 | 1.75 |
Measurements can vary slightly by size, so treat the table as a guide and confirm on the page for your pair.
What this means in practice
Tall sole, gentle slope
Styles such as Evolution, Jackpot and Fan Club add height without changing the angle of your foot much. That is why platforms can look dramatic yet feel more like a flat.
More lift, more of a heel
Koko, Ambitious and Peace Train have a bigger gap between heel and platform, so your heel sits noticeably higher. Peace Train also runs large, so read its fit note.
Total height
The heel number tells you how tall the shoe makes you stand overall. The platform number tells you how thick the sole is. The difference tells you how the foot is angled.
How to use this when choosing
- Decide how much height you want overall.
- Decide how much slope you want. A smaller actual lift gives a flatter feel.
- Check the fit notes and size chart.
We do not make comfort promises based on numbers alone, and every foot is different. Use the figures to compare styles with each other.
BC Shoes Fit Notes by Style: True to Size, Large or Wide
Do BC Shoes run true to size? Fit notes for Peace Train, Ambitious and Winnie, plus general advice for platforms, loafers, boots and sandals.
Are BC Shoes Vegan? Our 100% Vegan Footwear Promise
Yes, we design 100% vegan, cruelty-free BC Shoes. See what vegan means for our materials, packaging and recycled content, and what we do not claim.