A custom boot takes shape on the last.
Custom cowboy boots start at $1,500 to $2,200 at the three makers that publish a current price: Olsen-Stelzer, Little's and Republic. Stated waits run from 8 weeks to as long as 3 years. Six of the nine makers here publish no current starting price, so ask before you commit.
We compared nine custom makers on starting price, wait, deposit and how each one measures you, using what each says on its own pages. A second table shows what eight of them say about where they build boots. Prices checked October 11, 2026. For boots you can buy now, see the best cowboy boots and brands.
Our picks at a glance
- Best for the lowest starting price of the three makers that publish one: Olsen-Stelzer, from $1,500.
- Best for a free fitting before you commit: Rod Patrick Bootmakers, a free fitting of 15 to 30 minutes.
- Best for a remote fitting from a foot scan: Republic Boot Co., a remote fitting from your own foot scan.
- Best for a shop that dates to 1915: Little's Boot Company, from $2,000.
- Best for a pressure imprint and foam mold: Allens Custom Boots, seven measuring points on each foot and calf.
- Best for a design-first order: Rocketbuster, every custom pattern starts with a rough sketch.
- Best for an Arizona bootmaker: Paul Bond Boots, handcrafted in Nogales since 1946.
- Two more ways to be measured: Mandujano Bootmakers (a custom last) and J.B. Hill Boot Company (a fitter boot by mail).
Custom cowboy boot makers compared
Rows run by published starting price, then in a fixed order for the six with no current price.
| Maker | Price | Wait | Deposit | How it measures you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olsen-Stelzer | $1,500 (Cowhide, shoulder, goat, buffalo; $3,000 full quill ostrich (foot and top); $5,500 alligator belly (foot and top)) | 2 to 3 months in most cases (home page); 8 to 12 weeks (history page) | 50% non-refundable deposit to start any pair | Paper foot tracing (legal size paper if your shoe size is 10 or larger); you can also send a well-fitting boot |
| Little's Boot Company | $2,000 | About twelve to fourteen months | Not stated | Foot trace and key measurements |
| Republic Boot Co. | $2,200 (Smooth leather from $2,200; exotic $3,000; premium exotic $3,500; rare exotic $4,000; tooling, extensive inlay and other designs cost extra) | About a year | Not stated | Measured by a master boot fitter; picking hides and designs and getting measured takes about an hour |
| Rod Patrick Bootmakers | Not stated | 6 to 12 months | Not stated | Free fitting: measures over 20 parts of your foot, calf and ankle (15 to 30 minutes); you leave with a sizing passport |
| Rocketbuster | Not stated | 5 months to 3 years, depending on the level of difficulty | Half or third deposit puts you in the queue (non-refundable) | Foot tracing form you print, fill out and mail |
| Allens Custom Boots | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Full tracing; measurements at 7 points on each foot and calf; then a pressure imprint and foam mold |
| Mandujano Bootmakers | Not stated | No number given; its process page says custom boots "may take a few weeks to be completed" | Not stated | Detailed measurements and foot tracings for each foot, then a custom last prepared from them |
| J.B. Hill Boot Company | No current price (a 2013 article on its site cites an older one) | Not stated | A deposit is processed before the fitter boots ship; the amount is not stated | A standard 'fitter boot' is sent to you (at your expense) to verify your size; boots can then be made to measure by customizing your last |
| Paul Bond Boots | Not stated | Not stated | Deposits made for custom boots are non-refundable (amount not stated) | Print its order form and trace and measure both feet on paper |
Prices checked October 11, 2026.
Not stated means no current page we saved says it. Three of the nine print a current starting price, five print a wait, and two print a deposit amount; all nine say how they measure you.
We count a wait when a page puts a number of weeks, months or years on it, so Mandujano's passing "a few weeks" is shown but not counted. Rocketbuster estimates cost from a rough sketch.
What each maker says about where it builds boots
| Maker | Made in |
|---|---|
| Little's Boot Company | Handmade in San Antonio, TX |
| Republic Boot Co. | Handmade in our Houston bootshop |
| Rod Patrick Bootmakers | Not stated |
| Rocketbuster | El Paso, Texas: 'right here in our eclectic brick warehouse building in the historic Union Plaza District of downtown El Paso' |
| Allens Custom Boots | Made in its own facility in El Paso, Texas |
| Mandujano Bootmakers | Handcrafted entirely in-house in Texas (its process page) |
| J.B. Hill Boot Company | Names its El Paso factory; does not say outright where the boots are made |
| Paul Bond Boots | Nogales, Arizona: 'handcrafting every pair of custom boots right here in Nogales, Arizona' |
Five of the eight say outright that they build boots in Texas: Little's, Republic, Rocketbuster, Allens and Mandujano.
Rod Patrick's saved pages leave place of make blank. This table leaves Olsen-Stelzer out, so ask the maker where your pair is made. For ready-to-wear brands, see where cowboy boots are made.
Best for the lowest starting price of the three makers that publish one: Olsen-Stelzer
Olsen-Stelzer is one of our three house brands. Its published starting price is $1,500 for cowhide, shoulder, goat or buffalo, the lowest of the three makers that publish one, ahead of Little's at $2,000 and Republic at $2,200.
Its home page says boots can be delivered in 2 to 3 months in most cases, and its history page says 8 to 12 weeks. The two pages give different spans, so no slot on this page rests on a wait.
Olsen-Stelzer calls its prices reference figures and replies to your order form with an exact price and estimated delivery date. See Olsen-Stelzer at Bespoke Western, the Olsen-Stelzer collection, its history and its own custom order form.
We found no owner reviews of Olsen-Stelzer's current boots, so this slot rests on its published price.
Pros
- A price list by leather, up to $5,500 for alligator belly (foot and top)
- Measuring from a paper tracing or a boot that already fits
Watch out for
- A 50% non-refundable deposit starts any pair
- Its home page and history page give two different waits
Skip it if you want the maker to measure you outside Texas: its home page says it provides custom measurements within the State of Texas, and its history page says it may have a representative near you who can help.
Best for a free fitting before you commit: Rod Patrick Bootmakers
Rod Patrick Bootmakers measures over 20 parts of your foot, calf and ankle in a free fitting of 15 to 30 minutes, and you leave with a sizing passport. Its page says, "Your fitting is on the house."
The fitting happens in its Fort Worth store, or through a dealer. It is the only one of the nine whose saved pages call the fitting free.
George's take: I think the first worry for a new buyer is that a boot will be uncomfortable and hard to get on and off. Rod Patrick says its fitting shows you what the perfect fit feels like.
Pros
- A free fitting with no obligation to buy
- A sizing passport that records your measurements
Watch out for
- A custom build takes 6 to 12 months
Skip it if you want a price before you ask: Rod Patrick's saved pages leave the starting price blank.
Best for a remote fitting from a foot scan: Republic Boot Co.
Republic Boot Co. fits you in person in Houston Heights or Johnson City, or from your own foot scan sent to its team. It is the only one of the nine whose saved pages mention a foot scan.
Republic prints four prices by leather, from $2,200 for smooth leather to $4,000 for rare exotics, with tooling and extensive inlay extra. Its FAQ puts a custom pair at about a year; its made-to-order line, a different product, estimates about four months.
George's take: I think construction is the value of a boot: a well-built pair, looked after, lasts a lifetime. Republic says its master craftsmen stand behind their work for life.
Pros
- Four published prices by leather, from $2,200
- In-person fittings in Houston Heights and Johnson City
Watch out for
- Its FAQ says custom products cannot be returned, and its refund policy asks you to call about custom work
Skip it if you want custom boots inside a year: Republic's FAQ puts a custom pair at about a year.
Best for a shop that dates to 1915: Little's Boot Company
Little's Boot Company says its boots are handmade in San Antonio, and its about page dates the shop to 1915. You trace your foot and take key measurements at a fitting appointment there.
Custom boots start at $2,000, and its page puts the wait at about twelve to fourteen months. Little's resoles only boots it made, with new outsoles, welt and heels.
George's take: I think you can spot handmade construction in a second.
Pros
- A published $2,000 starting price and a published wait
- Resoling for the boots it made
Watch out for
- The saved pages leave the deposit blank
Skip it if you need boots inside a year: Little's page puts the wait at about twelve to fourteen months.
Best for a pressure imprint and foam mold: Allens Custom Boots
Allens Custom Boots does a full tracing, measures 7 points on each foot and calf, then takes a pressure imprint and foam mold of your foot. It is the only one of the nine whose saved pages describe an imprint or a mold.
You book a custom consultation or walk in at the South Congress (Austin) or Fredericksburg store. Its FAQ asks you to call to discuss pricing and availability.
George's take: I think a boot is built by stretching leather over a last, the foot-shaped form, rather than just cutting leather.
Pros
- Seven measuring points on each foot and calf
- Fittings by appointment or walk-in at two stores
Watch out for
- Custom and special orders are final sale
Skip it if you want a posted price or wait before you call: the Allens FAQ asks you to call to discuss pricing and availability.
Best for a design-first order: Rocketbuster
Rocketbuster, in El Paso, starts every custom pattern with a rough sketch, and its order page says, "There are NO RULES!" You print its foot tracing form, fill it out and mail it, from anywhere in the world.
It uses the sketch to estimate the cost, and a half or third deposit puts you in the queue. The clock starts on deposit.
George's take: I think people who make the leap into boots want it flashy, a boot that tells a story, a one of one.
Pros
- A mail-in tracing form that works from anywhere
- A fit guarantee, and resoling when your boots have mileage
Watch out for
- The price is an estimate from a sketch
- Deposits on custom orders are non-refundable
Skip it if you need a fixed price or date: Rocketbuster says the wait runs 5 months to 3 years depending on difficulty.
Best for an Arizona bootmaker: Paul Bond Boots
Paul Bond Boots says it handcrafts every pair of custom boots in Nogales, Arizona, and its custom page dates the company to 1946. You print its order form and trace and measure both feet on paper, with a measuring video to guide you.
After you submit your details, its team provides a custom quote.
Pros
- Boots handcrafted in Nogales, Arizona, the one Arizona address on this page
- A printable order form and a measuring video
Watch out for
- Custom orders may be ineligible for return, case by case
- The saved pages leave the wait blank
Skip it if you want a posted wait or price: Paul Bond's custom page asks you to submit your details for a quote.
Two more ways to be measured: Mandujano and J.B. Hill
Mandujano Bootmakers, in Weslaco, takes detailed measurements and foot tracings for each foot, then prepares a custom last from them. Its custom-only product page says to contact the shop for pricing.
J.B. Hill Boot Company, in El Paso, sends you a standard fitter boot, at your expense, to verify your size once a deposit is processed. A company-history article posted on its site in 2013 cites a starting price, which we do not count as a current price.
How we picked
To me, fit comes first: a good pair is extremely comfortable once it fits and has settled in. Every slot rests on a maker's own pages, read on October 11, 2026 and saved in our catalog.
A fact the current pages we saved do not state shows as Not stated, which marks a gap in our reading. We saved no owner reviews of these makers' custom boots from outside their own sites, so no slot rests on owner opinion. Texas Monthly ran 25 Top Custom Bootmakers in June 2002, and we use none of its prices or waits.
Bespoke Western makes and sells Alvies, Hevias and Olsen-Stelzer boots. Olsen-Stelzer holds one slot, earned on its published starting price. Alvies and Hevias are ready-to-wear, so they are not on this list.
What should you look for in custom cowboy boots?
Look for five things in a maker's own words: a starting price, a wait, a deposit, a way of measuring you that you can do, and a place of make. The first four are columns in the first table.
- Starting price. Only three of the nine print a current one, so ask the others for a range in writing.
- Wait. Rocketbuster says the clock starts on deposit.
- Deposit. Olsen-Stelzer and Rocketbuster print an amount, and both call it non-refundable.
- Measuring. Methods run from a paper tracing to a foot scan, an imprint and mold, a mailed fitter boot and a free in-store fitting.
- Place of make. Ask every maker, including ours.
Who is the best custom boot maker in Texas?
That depends on the job, and this page ranks no maker. Seven of the eight makers other than Olsen-Stelzer have a shop in Texas, and Paul Bond is in Nogales, Arizona. Pick Rod Patrick for a free fitting, Republic for a foot scan, Little's for a shop that dates to 1915, Allens for an imprint and mold, Mandujano for a custom last and Rocketbuster for a design-first order.
How much do custom cowboy boots cost?
The three makers that publish a starting price print $1,500 to $2,200. Exotic tiers reach $5,500 at Olsen-Stelzer and $4,000 at Republic, where tooling and inlay cost extra.
Of the six others, four say how they quote: Allens by phone, Mandujano by contact, Paul Bond by order form and Rocketbuster from a rough sketch. For one maker's full price list, see custom cowboy boots explained. For ready-to-wear tiers, see how much cowboy boots cost.
Quick answers
Can you order custom cowboy boots from out of state?
Makers that fit you from a distance include Rocketbuster by a mailed tracing form, Paul Bond by a printed form and your own tracing, J.B. Hill by a mailed fitter boot and Republic by your own foot scan.
Is a custom boot deposit refundable?
Where a page says, no: Olsen-Stelzer, Rocketbuster and Paul Bond call custom deposits non-refundable. J.B. Hill takes a deposit before it ships the fitter boots, with no amount stated.
Can you return custom boots?
Republic, Allens, Mandujano and J.B. Hill say custom orders cannot be returned. Paul Bond says custom orders may be ineligible, case by case. Olsen-Stelzer lists a 100% satisfaction policy and a non-refundable deposit, so ask what it covers.
Is custom the same as made-to-measure?
Not always. For the difference between the terms, see our guide to bespoke versus made-to-measure boots.
When ready-to-wear is the better route
For boots you need now, shop ready-to-wear: our boots collection carries Alvies and Hevias. See also American-made cowboy boots, Mexican cowboy boots and the Cowboy Boot Index 2026.
Bottom line
Fit first, then published terms: I think a boot can be built to fit comfortably out of the box, and a good pair settles in like a good baseball glove. Then decide what matters to you. For a price on paper, three makers print one: Olsen-Stelzer, Little's and Republic. For a fitting you can try before you commit, Rod Patrick's is free. For a fitting from a distance, Republic works from your foot scan. Ask every maker the same five questions.
