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shoelaces

In the United States, the sequence 27, 30, 36, 40, 45, 54, 63 and 72 inches was already usual at least as early as 1919.¹ Lengths appropriate to various uses include:

Infant's Shoes
Oxfords, sizes 3 to 12	18″
High shoes	24″

Children's Shoes
Shoe sizes 12½ to 8	24″
Shoe sizes 8½ to 12	27″

Men's Shoes
Pairs of eyelets	Dress Shoes	Casual Shoes
1 or 2	18″	18″
3 or 4	24″	27″
5 or 6	27″	36″
7 or 8	36″

Running, Training Shoes
Pairs of eyelets	Length
4	27″
5	36″
6	40″
7	45″
8	54″
9	63″
10	72″

Boots and Work Shoes
Oxford	27″
6 to 8 inches high	40″
8 to 10 inches high	54″
10 inches high and over	72″

Sport Shoes, by Type
Golf	27″
Low cut (boys, girls, ladies)	36″
Low cut (men's)	40″ or 45″
Hightop (men's)	54″
Ice skates	72″ or 81″

By Lengths
of Currently Manufactured Shoelaces, with Some Uses
Available Lengths	Pairs of Eyelets	Uses
14″		children's
18″		children's
21″
24″	2, 3
27″	3, 4
30″	4, 5	golf shoes
33″		patent leather tuxedo shoes
36″	4, 5	longest waxed dress laces; golf shoes
40″	6
45″	5, 6, 7
48″	6	work boots
54″	6, 7, 8	round leather laces
60″	7, 8
63″	8, 9
70″	9
72″	10, 11	longest flat dress laces; small hockey boots; square leather laces
76″	11
81″	11, 12	roller skates;
84″	12
90″		small figure skates
100″	13-14
108″
120″	14-15	large hockey boots; large figure skates
160″	15 plus

1. For example, advertisement on page 32 of The Shoe Repairer and Dealer of June 15, 1919.