Top Prefabricated Orthotic Recommendations – Update 2025
Off-the-shelf orthotics (often called “arch supports” or “prefabricated orthotics”) are non-custom devices designed to provide gentle support to the arch of the foot and help spread weight more evenly along the bottom of the foot.
Prefab orthotics are not as supportive as well-made custom orthotics but they can work well for a lot of people at less cost then custom. Prefabricated orthotics can be found in retail stores, doctors offices and online.
There are many different arch supports on the market. Like everything else, some are better than others. And one brand might work well for your feet while another brand works well for your friend’s feet. Quality off-the-shelf orthotics usually cost $40.00 – $70.00.
Below are the arch supports we recommend to our patients. These are affiliate links so we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if your order from the link.
Our Recommendations for Over-the-counter Arch Supports
Best Arch Supports for Athletic and Walking Shoes
FootChair Adjustable Arch Orthotic
For the most support in full-size athletic and walking shoes use the FootChair Adjustable Arch Orthotic. This unique orthotic has a very supportive arch along with an adjustable arch via pads that can be inserted under the cover. For lace-up shoes this arch support is the most supportive and the best choice for heel pain, arch pain, ball-of-foot pain and big toe joint pain. These OTC orthotics incorporate many features otherwise found only in custom orthotics and run usually under $39. We can also modify these in our clinic to make them work even better for your specific foot problem.
Best Arch Supports for Soccer Cleats, Bicycle Shoes and Women’s Casual Shoes
For smaller shoes such as soccer, bike shoes, men’s dress shoes or women’s causal shoes, we recommend the FootChair Slim Orthotic with adjustable arch height. The FootChair Slim has excellent arch and heel support and are available in the $40 range. These are also recommended for women’s flats or heels (see below).
Best Arch Supports for Flat and / or Wide Feet
For
people with flat or wide feet, the PowerStep Wide Full Length Orthotics are the widest prefabricated orthotics we have found. If you have a foot above a D width, you may want to give these a try. If your feet are extremely wide, however, custom orthotics are usually a better option. We also recommend this arch support for people with very flat feet as flat feet almost always splay significantly and standard width orthotic thus tend to be too narrow.
Best Over the Counter Arch Supports for Women’s Heels and Flats
For dress shoes, including high heels, the FootChair Slim Orthotic with adjustable arch height provides the best dress shoe support we have found in a prefabricated orthotic that will fit in women’s dress shoes. It has excellent arch support but is cut very slender and it even flexes in the heel so it can adapt to many different heel heights. About $40.
Best Arch Supports for Plantar Fasciitis
The best research on the use of orthotics to treat plantar fasciitis has shown that orthotics that conform close to the arch of the foot are most effective at reducing tension on the plantar fascia. Thus, in general, higher arched orthotics are most effective at reducing tension on the plantar fascia to allow healing and reduce pain.
Higher arched orthotics, however, are also more likely to cause arch irritation.
For this reason we recommend the FootChair Adjustable Arch Orthotic as the best choice for most people with plantar fasciitis and other causes of heel pain. The adjustable arch height allows the arch to be adjusted to maximize tension off of the plantar fascia without causing so much arch pressure that the orthotic is painful.
Best Arch Supports for Over 200 lbs and Narrow Feet
This one is a little specialized, but we did find this rather unique arch support that is robust enough to support those over 200 lbs without collapsing. The only issue with it is that it tends to run narrow. So, if you weigh more than 200 lbs and have a narrow foot, the EasyFeet 220+ Plantar Fasciitis Arch Support would be worth trying. If you have a normal or wide foot we recommend against it as the inside edge is likely to cause irritation.
Best Arch Support for Fat Pad Atrophy
As we age many people experience thinning of the fat pad under the ball of the foot and the heel. This fat pad provides natural cushioning. If you find that you fit in this category, one of our favorite prefabricated orthotics is the Cadence Orignial Insole.
The Cadence device has a moderately rigid shell to transfer pressure off of the ball of the foot and the heel plus an extra thick layer of cushioning using Poron – which studies have shown to be one of the best and longest lasting cushioning materials.
One warning is that the extra cushion does take up more room in your shoes. So, if you don’t have fat pad atrophy we recommend avoiding the Cadence and choosing a device such as the FootChair Orthotic instead.
Best Arch Support Sandals and Slippers
Our recommended flip-flops and sandals with arch support are from Vionic. Vionic Sandals and Vionic Slippers offer exceptional arch support in a wide variety of styles. All of them have a well-shaped arch designed by a podiatrist. They are a great choice for wearing around the house, particularly if you have hard wood or tile. The arch will reduce tension on plantar 
fascia, transfer pressure off of the heel and the forefoot and help reduce painful forces in the big toe joint.
You can find Vionic sandals and flip flops here and Vionic slippers here.
Arch Supports to Avoid
There are several arch supports that we think you should avoid because they are either not very supportive or don’t offer good value.
Avoid any arch supports that are recommended by a “foot mapping computer”. These “arch support machines” are simply sales tools. For the most part the arch supports that are recommended are very flimsy and are far too expensive. You can learn detailed information about these types of arch supports and the “foot mapping units” here.
For the most part, avoid arch support stores that advertise heavily on radio and TV. These arch support stores sell what they call “custom fit orthotics”. These are not custom orthotics and are simply over-the-counter arch supports – but they charge well over $100 for them. Don’t get ripped off – avoid these places at all costs.
You should never spend more than $70 for any arch support unless it is a custom orthotic made by a medical professional. We have detailed information and a review of these heavily advertised arch supports here.
