Santa's boots are black. In the classic image of Santa Claus, he wears a red suit trimmed with white fur, a broad black belt with a buckle, and black boots. Red boots appear in some modern costumes and stage shows, but black is the traditional color, and the one most people picture.
Here's how Santa got his look, and how to choose the right boots for your own Santa suit.
Where Santa's look came from
Santa's outfit was built up over about a century.
1823: "Dressed all in fur." Clement Clarke Moore's poem A Visit from St. Nicholas ("'Twas the Night Before Christmas") describes Santa as "dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot." It gives no colors, which left illustrators free to invent them.
1860s to 1880s: Thomas Nast. The cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa for Harper's Weekly for decades. Before Nast, Santa was often shown in tan. Nast was the first to draw him in a red suit, though he sometimes used green as well.
1931 to 1964: Haddon Sundblom. Sundblom painted Santa for Coca-Cola's Christmas advertising, starting in The Saturday Evening Post in 1931. His warm, plump Santa drew on Moore's poem and fixed the image most people know today: the red suit, the broad black belt, and black boots.
Why black boots work
Black boots aren't only tradition. They make practical sense for a Santa suit:
- They match the belt. Black boots and a black belt frame the red suit and tie the outfit together.
- They let the red stand out. A red suit with red boots runs into one block of color. Black boots give the eye a finish line.
- They hide wear. Snow, mud, and grotto floors show far less on black leather.
- They read as real. Polished black leather looks like something Santa would actually wear on a rooftop, not a costume.
When red boots make sense
Red boots have their place:
- Pantomime and stage shows, where a bold, playful look reads from the back row
- Mrs. Claus costumes, which often pair red boots with a red dress
- Elf and helper outfits
- Themed events where Santa is meant to look fun rather than traditional
What kind of boots does Santa wear?
The traditional Santa boot is tall, made of black leather, and worn with the trousers tucked inside. Many have a white fur cuff at the top that matches the trim on the suit. Some have a buckle across the front or side.
The height matters: a tall shaft keeps the trousers neat and stops the outfit from looking like pyjamas.
Does Santa have bells on his boots?
Not in the classic paintings, but bells have always been part of Santa's world through his sleigh. Many professional Santas now add jingle bells to the side of their boots. Children hear Santa coming, which adds magic at parades and grotto entrances. For filming or theatre, boots without bells are the better choice.
Choosing Santa boots for your suit
- For a traditional Santa: black leather boots with a white fur cuff, matched to a black belt.
- For parades and events: black patent leather for shine, or side jingle bells for sound.
- For stage and pantomime: red leather, or black boots with bold gold embroidery.
- For Mrs. Claus: red leather boots.
Whatever the color, real leather lasts many seasons, and boots made to your measurements stay comfortable through long shifts.
Quick answers
Are Santa's boots red or black? Traditionally black. Red boots are a modern variation used mostly on stage and for Mrs. Claus.
Does Santa wear black boots? Yes. The classic Santa wears black boots that match his broad black belt.
What are Santa's boots made of? Traditionally leather, often with white fur trim at the top.
Handmade Santa boots in black or red
Noirtide makes professional Santa boots by hand in full-grain leather, in black or red, to your exact measurements. Browse the Santa boots collection or read our guide to the best professional Santa boots. Order by 1 December for delivery before Christmas Eve.