How Much Does It Cost to Rent Bowling Shoes?

In Europe, renting bowling shoes usually costs between one and three euros per pair. Some bowling centers charge more, and some lend their shoes for free – the price is up to each center. BOWLIO has been making rental shoes for bowling centers since 2003, and this is the range we have seen over more than 20 years.

How much does it cost to rent bowling shoes?

There is no fixed price for rental shoes. Each bowling center sets its own fee, and it is usually charged per pair and per visit:

• Europe: in most cases between one and three euros per pair.
• Sometimes more: some centers charge a higher fee.
• Sometimes free: some centers lend their shoes at no extra cost.
• Other countries: prices depend on the country and the center. The center itself can tell you the current fee.

At some centers, shoe rental is added for every guest automatically when you book a lane online. If you bring your own bowling shoes, ask the center before your visit whether the fee can be removed from the booking.

Why bowling centers rent out shoes

Bowling is played in special shoes. The slide sole lets your sliding foot glide into the release, and the approach – the area in front of the foul line – needs a clean, dry surface. Street shoes can carry dirt and moisture onto the approach and damage it, and they tend to grip too much, which can make you stop abruptly near the foul line. That is why bowling centers provide shoes for their guests.

Some bowling centers also hand out disposable socks made of polypropylene with their rental shoes. You pull them on over your own socks, which makes rental shoes more hygienic for players. For the center, it means less disinfectant spray is needed: the leather stays supple and the rental shoes last longer. More about disposable socks.

What rental fees add up to

For an occasional game, the rental fee hardly matters. If you bowl regularly, it comes back with every visit. A simple example: if you bowl once a week and pay between one and three euros for shoes each time, that adds up to between about 50 and 160 euros over a year.

Your own pair is a one-off purchase. With a little care, good leather bowling shoes last for many years – some of our customers still bowl in pairs they bought more than ten years ago.

Rental shoes or your own bowling shoes?

Rental shoes do their job, especially if you only bowl now and then. If you bowl every few weeks or more often, your own pair pays off – and the price is only one of several reasons:

• Hygiene: a rental pair is worn by many different guests. Your own shoes are worn by you alone, which is more hygienic. According to MedlinePlus, the health information service of the US National Library of Medicine, athlete’s foot can spread through direct contact and through items such as shoes. With your own pair, you also decide how it is cleaned and stored.
• A consistent slide: rental soles wear with use, so they can stick or slide unpredictably, and two pairs from the same shelf can feel quite different. Your own shoes wear in with your game, and you get to know how they slide.
• Fit and comfort: you choose your own shoes in your size. Leather uppers adapt: the more often you wear them, the softer and more comfortable the leather becomes.
• Personal style: you choose your own shoes to suit your taste – model, color and design. BOWLIO shoes, for example, combine a classic design of German-Italian origin with genuine leather.

We explain these points in more detail in why your own bowling shoes make a difference.

BOWLIO bowling shoes

BOWLIO started out making leather rental shoes for bowling centers, and our bowling shoes for players are built to the same standard. The upper and the full-length sole are genuine leather, with a slide sole under both shoes. The white heel with the embossed logo is non-marking. Since 2003, we have sold over 100,000 pairs.

There are three models: Nero in black, Torino in black and white, and Verona in dark blue and red. Every size is listed with EU, US Men, US Women and JP values – our bowling shoe size chart helps you find yours. See all models in the BOWLIO bowling shoe collection.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to rent bowling shoes?

In Europe, rental shoes usually cost between one and three euros per pair. Some centers charge more, some lend them for free – each bowling center sets its own price.

Are rental shoes included in the price of a game?

That depends on the center. Some include the shoes, others charge a separate fee, and some add the shoe rental automatically when you book a lane online.

Can I bowl in my street shoes?

No. Street shoes can damage the approach and grip too much for a safe slide, so bowling centers ask you to wear bowling shoes – either rental shoes or your own.

When is it worth buying your own bowling shoes?

If you bowl regularly – every few weeks or more often – your own shoes are worth it. You pay once instead of on every visit, and only you wear them, which is more hygienic. You also play in your own size, with a slide you know and a design you chose yourself.