The 12 Best Flats for Work, Tested by Real People

Best Overall

Margaux The Demi

4.8

View On Amazon View On Margauxny.com View On Zappos

After wearing these flats for an entire workday, Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm said the flats were comfortable and “buttery soft,” noting the “plushy footbed” of the shoe. While Gemperlein-Schirm did note that the shoe minorly rubbed against the back of her foot, she also mentioned that the flats were still more comfortable than others she tried. “By the second day of wear, they started to mold to my foot nicely,” she added. 

With an incredibly inclusive size range and great customer reviews, these classic flats provide a great value while being stylish, classic, and comfortable, as well, putting them at the top of this list.

Price at time of publish: $198

Material: Italian Nappa leather upper | Size Range: 3-14 | Colors: Black, Saddle, Ballet Pink, Scarlet +more | Toe Style: Rounded

Best Splurge

Gucci Leather Princetown Loafer Mule

4.3

View On Nordstrom View On Net-a-Porter View On Saks Fifth Avenue

Gucci isn’t necessarily in everyone’s budget, but if you’re looking to invest in a pair of flats and you have an eye for luxury, you can’t go wrong with this easy-to-wear pair of Gucci Loafer Mules. As Commerce Editorial Director Jessica Mahgerefteh writes, “They are super comfortable. No blisters on the back of my ankles because it's a mule, and the front of my feet are not bothered by these either. I'm always hesitant to buy mules because there's less stability, but these hold my feet in place, even if they get a little sweaty. The leather may feel a bit stiff when first worn, but they start to give in fairly quickly with continued wear.”

While the quality and craftsmanship are top-notch when it comes to these shoes, it is worth noting that the sizing is a bit off, according to Mahgerefteh. She suggestedex sizing up by one full size when shopping for the perfect pair. As a bonus, though, Mahgerefteh also notes that they are still good options for those with wide feet.

Price at time of publish: $850

Material: Leather upper | Size Range: 4-12 | Colors: Black, White | Toe Style: Rounded

Best Value

Sam Edelman Lorraine Bit Loafer

4.8

View On Amazon View On Samedelman.com View On Shopbop.com

Scoring high at 4.8/5, these Sam Edelman Lorraine Bit Loafers were a favorite of Byrdie's Associate Commerce Editor Erika Reals. 

“The flats were super comfortable and fit well with socks," she said. "I probably should have sized down a half size because they are a bit loose without socks or when I'm wearing thinner socks. I didn't experience any blisters or signs of discomfort at any point in the workday. They have some extra cushioning on where the bottom of your heel sits for added comfort.”

The best part of Reals’ review, however, is that she can vouch for the longevity and durability of the flats. “I've had these flats for three years and they are still in amazing shape. The leather is soft and supple and forms to the shape of your foot,” Reals said.

Price at time of publish: $150

Material: Leather upper | Size Range: 4-12 | Colors: Saddle, Black, White, Soft Jade, Butter Yellow, Cedarwood +more | Toe Style: Almond

Best Loafers

G.H. Bass & Co. Whitney Weejuns

4.5

View On Bloomingdales View On Freepeople.com View On Ghbass.com

If you’re shopping for your first-ever pair of loafers, you can’t help to consider the most classic option and style. These penny loafers are versatile and stylish, while still being comfortable, Reals explained.

“Overall, they were comfortable to wear throughout the entire workday,” she said. “I did not get any blisters despite them being a bit snug. They have a good amount of cushion, as well, and with someone with very arched feet, my feet and back didn't experience any pain while in these loafers.” 

Another plus to these loafers is that they should last a very, very long time given the material and construction. “I can't imagine an instance where these would permanently stain or be hard to clean," she said. I can see these lasting a long time in my wardrobe and I think they're great quality considering the price point."

One important note before hitting “add to cart,” though: Size up if you’re in between sizes.

Price at time of publish: $175

Material: Genuine leather upper | Size Range: 5-11 | Colors: Black, Cognac, Cordovan, Navy | Toe Style: Rounded

Best Mary Janes

Sam Edelman Michaela Mary Jane Flat

4.5

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Anthropologie

Tester Julia Fields found the strap on these Mary Jane-style flats to be a detail that helped them stay secure and comfortable while working at home and walking around. 

“I wore these on the streets of New York for a few walks and they held up great. There were no changes in the color or shape of the shoe,” Fields said. “The bottoms of the shoe did begin to scuff up but nothing that changed the shoe in its entirety. For wearing to work, I think these would last a while and the style is so complementary and transitional to different times of day and occasions that I do believe these are worth the price.” 

Price at time of publish: $130

Material: Velvet or leather | Size Range: 5-11 | Colors: Rust Velvet, Gold Leaf, Eggshell Leather, Modern Ivory +more | Toe Style: Square

Best Ballet Flats

FitFlop Allegro Soft Leather Ballet Flats

4.8

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Fitflop.com

While reviewer Shanon Maglente does say that this shoe had less arch support and cushion than she was expecting, she still notes that the shoe was comfortable for everyday, all-day wear.

“The leather is soft and not too constricting. My fiance is actually a physical therapist and said he likes to recommend this brand to his patients because of the comfort, and I could see why,” Maglente said, noting that she usually has a hard time finding shoes in her size (5.5) and were pleased to see that FitFlop had options for her.

While she also noted that the price point might be slightly higher than some expect to pay for flats, she said that the comfort is worth the cost. And as an added bonus, “they look better than the pictures and seem to hold up well.”

Price at time of publish: $60 for Silver

Material: Leather upper | Size Range: 5-11 | Colors: Black, Blush, Stone, Sunshine Yellow, Dark Blue, Rose +more | Toe Style: Rounded

Best Chunky Loafer

Reformation Agathea Chunky Loafer

4.3

View On Reformation

Of all the flats I tested, these were the pair that I was most excited to style and wear with outfits (here is one way I styled them for winter). They provide an on-trend, street style feel with the chunkiness but the classic penny loafer details make them feel timeless, too. 

Though they do feel snug initially, they very, very quickly start to stretch out and mold to your foot. The material feels high quality, and though they do make a very loud squeaking noise when you first break them in, it goes away after an hour or so of wear. Even with the short breaking-in period, though, I think these chunky loafers would be worth it for anyone looking for a trendy pair of work flats for spring.

Price at time of publish: $268 for Black

Material: Bovine leather upper | Size Range: 5-11 | Colors: Black, Dark Forest, Lime Snake Emboss, Russet Croc-Effect, Serenade | Toe Style: Rounded

Best Sandals

Aerosole Jasper Sandal

4.5

View On Aerosoles.com View On Dsw.com View On Kohls.com

These are the ultimate work-appropriate sandal for summer—I can’t imagine a more comfortable, cushioned, cloud-like flat. The bright colors offer some options for experimenting with different looks in the warmer months, and the classic black pair would be great to transition between seasons. 

While I did find the sandal a bit narrow, I imagine it may stretch out a bit over time, and the cushioned sole makes any initial snugness worth it. Plus, the construction of these sandals is solid. These aren’t your regular pair of beach flip-flops.

Price at time of publish: $99

Material: Faux leather upper | Size Range: 5-12 | Colors: Black Vegan, Bone, Lemon Ice, Berry Vegan | Toe Style: Rounded open-toe

Best for Wide Feet

Birdies The Starling

4.8

View On Nordstrom View On Birdies.com

Though she was unsure at first, VP of Commerce Dwyer Frame had a hard time finding a flaw when it came to these ultra-soft, warm loafers. “I was skeptical because I always have to break a pair of flats in. At first, they were very cushy and felt more like slippers, but my foot got adjusted and they felt supportive after time. I did not get any blisters after a day of walking 10,000 steps in urban terrain.”

In addition to a lack of blisters, Frame noted that these flats would be great for those who live in colder climates. “I typically have sweaty feet (even in the cold!),” Dwyer wrote. “These kept my feet dry but also provided some warmth when I was outside in 40-degree weather.”

With tons of helpful (and positive) customer reviews and a fairly inclusive size range that includes wide-fit options, Birdies would be a good place to start if you’re looking for an affordable, ultra-comfortable flat in wider sizes.

Material: Vegan velvet | Size Range: 5-13 (with wide options) | Colors: Black Velvet, Ocean, Taupe, Antique Rose Faux Fur +more | Toe Style: Rounded

Best for High Arches

Everlane The Italian Leather Day Glove

4.8

View On Everlane.com

One flat that did have a sky-high rating was Everlane’s Day Glove, which scored 4.8/5 by reviewer Danielle Ransom. 

Ransom said that, “true to their name,” these flats “fit like a glove” snugly against their heels and that the Italian leather material was soft and supple.

“The shoes even fit while wearing stockings and thin, low-cut plain socks so you could wear either as a buffer while breaking in the flats," she said. "The footbed was solid and the cushioning was modestly thick. Usually, the arches of my feet are sore after wearing flats all day due to the lack of support but I didn’t experience that with this pair. I will say there were slight indents on top of my feet when I took the flats off, which could easily be remedied by going up a size. But I didn’t experience any rubbing or blistering, nor did my heels slide up or down.” 

While loving almost all aspects of these flats, Ransom did note that there is a break-in period with these shoes before they’re completely comfortable. 

Price at time of publish: $125

Material: Italian leather | Size Range: 5-11 | Colors: Black, Caramel, Cream, Toasted Almond +more | Toe Style: Round

Best Pointed Toe

Sarah Flint Natalie Flat

4.8

View On Sarahflint.com

For tester Danielle Ransom, these versatile flats are worth the investment. “Unlike other pairs of flats that fit tighter, this pair struck a decent balance of not being too tight to the point my feet felt like they’re stuffed," she said. "They fit snug but not uncomfortably so. My toes did not feel pinched and I could still wiggle them around.” She also noted that the fats do have a pointed toe that ends in a triangle tip, which could be uncomfortable for people with wider feet. “Another thing to note is that the material is fairly rigid and stiff. The heel fits comfortably without chafing. The body of the shoe didn’t contour to the shape of my feet or have much give, though that could change with time.”

Price at time of publish: $495

Material: Vegetable-tanned calf leather upper | Size Range: 4-13 | Colors: Black Vachetta, Chocolate Leopard Haircalf, Sand Calf, +more | Toe Style: Pointed