12 Most Comfortable Men’s Dress Shoes for Business and Formal Affairs

Best for: Making a statement. Wearing to a board meeting. Anyone who needs top-line shoes and has high arches.

The key here is the ultra-breathable mesh and super comfortable leather upper. That gives you two distinct advantages you don’t get anywhere else:

If you want to make a statement and need something a little more stylish for work, the Allen Edmonds are the best shoes money can buy.

The Tilden Cap Oxford’s look like high-end dress shoes but cost up to 10x less. And, they make you feel like you’re walking on clouds.

OK, that was a bit dramatic, but they were ultra comfortable (due to orthotics…we’ll explain why in a second) and we really couldn’t tell the difference between them and many of the $200 dress shoes we’ve got lying around.

Best for:  Budget, business-casual shoppers

These are perfect for interns, new joiners, or anyone else on a budget that needs to look professional but still save money for a special “ramen noodle” night every Friday.

The best part is the Ortholite footbed, an ultra-comfortable, durable, and moisture-wicking material that keeps your feet pain-free and dry. You won’t have to buy another pair of shoes any time soon.

Comfort, breathability, affordability, and class all in one—if you need something decent to look professional and don’t feel like spending hundreds of dollars, just grab these. Nobody will know the difference.

Do you walk thousands of steps a day at work? These shoes were made for you.

They’re among the only men’s dress shoes approved by the American Podiatric Association for promoting good foot health. They’re designed specifically for anyone who walks a lot in an office setting.

Best for:  High-intensity jobs requiring nice footwear

Busy managers, airport support staff, hotel staff, 5-star restaurant employees—or anyone who has to look great while still breaking a sweat—will LOVE these shoes.

The comfort gel insert and EVA foam sock lining are literally life-changing. If you’re suffering from sore feet, blisters, or other nasty issues from being on your feet all day, you’ve found the answer. You could walk a full day at work and still feel great WITHOUT icing down your feet at night.

If you’re looking for decent narrow width business shoes that you can slip on and off in 2 seconds, you’ll love these loafers.

The leather upper means they fit right in at the office, but you still get a super soft lining and OrthoLite footbed for maximum comfort.

Best for:  Budget shoppers looking for a casual, out-of-the-box shoe. Warning: this is not a wide width shoe. It’s got a narrow toe box (not for wide-toed people)

Since they’re slip-ons, they require almost zero break-in time. Most other shoes require some time to feel like they fit right (think of it like breaking in a baseball glove). Not these. You can slip them on right away and not feel any chaffing or rigidity.

If you want something you can slip on and off easily and works perfectly at the office, any restaurant, or a pub on weekends, this is the perfect fit.

The Tinsley Wingtips look more at home in a Tombstone reenactment than they do in the office, but this level of old-school fashion, comfort, and durability had to be on this list.

The memory foam insoles conform perfectly to the bottom of your foot and provide extra shock absorption, so you’ll get all-day comfort if you’re on your feet often. However, the thin sole and heavier construction mean it’s not ideal for everyday use. If you see yourself moving around a lot, consider a lightweight shoe instead.

Best for:  Anyone who needs a classic, traditional style shoe for special occasions

We recommend it for weddings, funerals, official functions, or anything else requiring a “dress shoe” rather than a comfortable business shoe.

It checks all the boxes you’d want in a classic dress shoe:

Going to a wedding and need an affordable shoe with a classic look? This has you written all over it.

The Florsheim Medfields offer next-level comfort and support. They are perfect for busy medical staff, high-end restaurant staff, and anyone who is constantly moving around at high speeds or on slippery surfaces.

Best for:  Busy environments, slippery surfaces, and anyone with foot pain who needs maximum comfort

If we had to sum up these shoes, it would be with the word “MAX”:

When you combine all of that with the added style and high-class look, you’ve got the perfect dress shoe for busy-but-professional settings.

We just wanted to mention these Rockport slip-ons to give you an alternative to the Clarks slip-ons.

Rockports’ slip-ons are another super comfortable, durable, and moisture-wicking shoe with pretty much the same features as Clarks. The only difference here is that Rockport’s are more expensive. We couldn’t rank them higher on the list, since there’s really no difference besides the price.

If we had to give it one advantage, it would be style. Rockport shoes look great, but it doesn’t justify the higher price.

Have a look for yourself. If you like the style, it isn’t that much more expensive. Be our guest!

ECCO is a relative newcomer to the footwear industry, but that does not mean they don’t offer comfortable and high-quality men’s dress shoes. One splendid example is their New Jersey Oxfords. The New Jersey lace Oxfords are made of full-grain leather, have a stacked heel, detailed stitching throughout the shoe, and boast a bicycle toe.

The bicycle toe style allows the shoe to have a look that makes it great for business suits, formal attire, or casual clothes. Leather makes the shoes durable, the stitching and bicycle toe make the shoes fashionable, and the lining and insole make the shoes a dream to wear.

The outsole will give you two benefits. It will give you great traction so you can feel confident that you will not lose your footing on wet surfaces, and it also acts to absorb shock. Both of these benefits are necessary if you will wear these comfortable shoes to work and have to be on the go all day. The New Jersey Oxfords are available in black and mink.

Another dress shoe that flawlessly compliments professional men is the Stacy Adams Dunbar-Wingtip Oxford. This shoe is made from antiqued leather, so you can rest assured that it will serve you for years. The sole is made from synthetic to offer you superior stability and support while preventing you from skidding on slippery floors.

This dress shoe has an excellently cushioned footbed which provides you unsurpassed levels of comfort all day long. It also has a breathable interior which effectively absorbs moisture, sweat and perspiration inside the shoe keeping your feet fresh and cool. The rounded toe design at the front of the shoe allows your toes to move around freely inside the shoe.

You’ll definitely appreciate the fact that the shoe is available in a variety of colors including cognac, black, indigo and brown. It is also non-slip to protect you from accidents when walking on oily and wet floors. Everything said, this shoe is definitely one of the best men’s dress shoes for work.

Up first is the best, most comfortable synthetic upper shoe available. If you need a beautiful, classic style for strict office use or special events, Dream Pairs is exactly what you’re after. And they’re half the price or less than traditional leather shoes.

These shoes are ideal for weddings, banquets, graduations, and even everyday use at an office with a stricter dress code than “business casual”. They’re a bit too “dressy” for a casual environment though.

Best for:  Classic business footwear/formal wear and special events.

The synthetic insole provides extra ankle support, greater breathability than many dress shoes, and soft comfort without the high price tag of traditional leather.

The only complaints online were that users claimed the bottom of the shoe wore down quickly, but that’s common with most non-leather shoes. For this price, you can’t be too picky.

If the Dream Pairs shoes are a bit too formal, Deer Stags Greenpoint shoes are a more casual version that’s perfect for more relaxed work environments.

They’re nearly as comfortable as the Dream Pairs and come with roughly the same features. The only real difference is how they look.

Best for:  Dress casual/everyday use non-leather shoes

If you want something that’s really “dressy” for a formal occasion, get the Dream Pairs dress shoes. But if you need something casual for work or heading out with friends, Deer Stags Greenpoint shoes are perfect. They’re comfortable, durable, and super easy to clean, and you wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb if you wore them out to a restaurant. The plain design means they fit with just about any outfit, even a nice t-shirt and dress pants.

Bruno Marc’s Dress Loafer had too many great reviews to pass up, so we added it here at the end of the list. The only major difference between these and the Deer Stags shoes is that these are a bit easier to slip on. And there weren’t any complaints about durability that we could find.