A beautiful new pair of leather boots are a closet staple. With genuine leather, you're getting a high-quality pair of shoes — but, of course, brand-new leather can be stiff. If you have a pair of boots that are just a tad too tight, that's a combination that your feet aren't going to like. This is why you may find yourself wondering how to stretch out leather boots.

Fortunately, it's possible to stretch leather boots. You could take them to a cobbler, or you could try to do it yourself. The below DIY methods are pretty easy to do. Just keep in mind that you want to take care of your leather, so stretching the boots should be a gradual process.

It's also worth noting that you probably can't stretch your leather boots more than one shoe size without compromising the leather. If you grabbed a pair of beautiful boots that are two sizes too small, these techniques likely won't help.

However, if you just need a little extra room, keep reading for a few suggestions on how to stretch leather boots at home.

How to Stretch Leather Boots

Use a Stretching Spray or Oil Conditioner

There are sprays and conditioners designed to stretch out your leather boots, like FootMatters Professional Boot & Shoe Stretch Spray — which you could get on Amazon. If you prefer an in-person experience, you could also head to a local cobbler or shoe store to grab something similar.

If you're using an oil conditioner, you'll want to rub a small amount of it onto the outside of the leather and let it soak in. This substance will help the leather relax a little bit so it stretches.

A stretching spray works similarly — though, depending on which type you get, you may need to apply it inside or outside the shoe. Remember to carefully read the instructions before using so you don't accidentally ruin the leather.

You don't have to buy a stretching spray — you can actually make your own concoction at home. To do this, mix equal parts alcohol and water. From there, mist the liquid inside the boot before attempting to stretch.

Use a Boot Stretcher

This is another product you can easily find online to help stretch leather boots. Boot stretchers like FootFitter 2-Way Shoe Stretcher Set are inserted into the shoe and can quite literally stretch out the leather, especially around the toe area. Should you need the ankle or calf stretched, use a contraption like the Coralpearl Boot Tree Shaft Shaper.

If you plan on using this method, you'll want to be very careful not to damage the leather. Leave the boot stretcher inside the shoe for a few hours before removing it. You can always stretch a little less than you think you need and then go through the process again, as this is better than overstretching and damaging your shoes.

Wear Thick Socks

We've used this method to break in shoes and protect our feet from blisters, but wearing thick socks to fill out your shoes can also help soften the leather so that it stretches out. If you're able to manage wearing thick socks without putting yourself in pain, it's an easy way to stretch the leather.

Warm the Leather

If you warm up the leather, you can gently stretch it out — but you'll have to be really careful. Try placing a heat source inside the boots, like a hairdryer, to warm up the leather. Then, insert either a shoe form or balled-up socks inside the boot to hold the shape. Make sure whatever you put in the boot will keep the leather slightly stretched out; this way, when it cools off, it's more likely to stay that size.

You can also put your boots on while wearing thick socks and warm them up from the outside with a hairdryer. Once again, just be careful with this method, especially when blowing the hot air directly on the leather. Otherwise, you could damage the material if the heat gets too close or too intense.

Freeze Them

Conversely, you can skip the heat, doing the exact opposite and freezing your leather boots. Fill sandwich bags with water and tuck them inside your boots. Make sure the bags are sealed so the water doesn't damage the leather, and then put the boots in the freezer. As the water freezes, it expands, slowly stretching out the leather.