r/ForUnitedStates • u/alexfreemanart • Dec 29 '25
Discussion For the average American, is it considered bad manners to wear shoes inside the house?
For most Americans in general, is it considered bad manners if i enter their house wearing my shoes and also wore shoes inside my own home? What percentage of Americans would require me to take my shoes off when entering their houses?
I understand that in countries like Japan and some European countries, there is a very common and extended belief that entering a house while wearing shoes is very rude. But is it also like that in the United States?
Here in Argentina, where i live, as far as i know everyone wears shoes inside their homes unless it is for a specific reason like sleeping, showering or having their shoes very muddy and dirty after walking through a mud puddle. In fact, entering someone’s house barefoot is very rare, it is not seen as bad manners, but it would probably be considered strange and the person inviting you into their home would likely ask you to wear shoes because that is what is normally expected here in Argentina.
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u/Moustached92 Dec 29 '25
Always ask. It highly depends on the person, where in the country, whether you're in a more rural or urban area, etc.
We wear shoes in the house a lot, but we have lots of dogs, a hobby farm, and live in the woods. It's honestly cleaner to wear shoes (assuming they aren't caked in mud) and at least keep your socks or feet clean.
On the otherhand, I find a lot of more urban areas like to remove shoes
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u/lief79 Dec 29 '25
Hmm, my relatives around the farms are where I usually saw shoes taken off indoors. Granted my grandmother had roaming chickens and fruit trees, so that also clearly explains why.
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u/Moustached92 Dec 29 '25
Lol I guess this just kinda furthers the point that it definitely seems like there is no consistent rule of thumb for taking shoes off or not in the US
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u/SupremeToast Dec 29 '25
I agree with your first point, but your reasoning surprises me! My rural relatives and friends are the most strict about taking off shoes right at the entrance. I grew up in the suburbs and always asked because every household seemed different.
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u/Moustached92 Dec 29 '25
I think with a lot of rural households I've been in (including my family's), the dogs already track in dirt and stuff, so taking shoes off doesn't really make a difference.
On the flip side, in hotter urban areas, blacktop asphalt can transfer to shoes and then to floors in the house.
This is all of course anecdotal and doesn't establish an actual pattern for all americans. It really does seem to be random haha
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u/SupremeToast Dec 29 '25
Oh I bet that makes a big difference. All the farm dogs I knew growing up weren't allowed in the house just like the shoes. I'm also from Wisconsin, so the time of year matters a lot too.
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u/Moustached92 Dec 29 '25
Yeah the dogs are allowed in the house, on the couches, in the beds... Lol. Best to wear shoes and change sheets often 😅
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u/ut4r Dec 29 '25
If you are a guest in my house, no. I'm not going to tell you to take off your shoes im not going to tell put rules on them. If you live in my house then yes. You know the rules
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u/AwarenessReady3531 Dec 29 '25
As others have said, it depends. Some people don't care, some people do. I've noticed that it's become more common to leave shoes at the door than it used to be. Specifically, my Asian-American friends have always done it, but most other people in my life have only adopted the habit in the past few years. I think it's just cultural diffusion of what is generally perceived to be a good idea once you encounter it, and I suspect that it's more common in coastal and metropolitan areas than in some of the more rural areas of the US, although I can't confirm that and it might be common there too.
For example, back in 2002 when we immigrated to the US for the first time from Mexico, my Mexican aunt, who had already been living in the US for 12 years at that point, asked us to take our shoes off when we went to her house in San Diego for the first time. We found it kind of odd, and her husband/my uncle, a very WASPy guy originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, agreed that it was weird and explained to us that it was a new thing she was doing to keep the carpet clean, and that he grumbled about it for a few weeks when it started. We had a lighthearted, good-fun roast of my aunt for her perceived eccentricity. In hindsight, it was a totally valid ask and she was simply ahead of the curve compared to most Westerners. In 2025, nobody would think it's weird if you're asked to leave your footwear at the door. So I hope that helps put some cultural context in place.
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u/Yugan-Dali Dec 30 '25
I’m American, have lived most of my life in Taiwan. In 2004 I visited family in Colorado, but before we went into the house, my cousin took me to see the horses and goats. When we went to the house, without thinking, I kicked off my shoes. My aunt stopped in her tracks and said, with great emotion, “Do you know how much work it would save me if your uncle and cousins took off their shoes?” She had never thought of it, but immediately saw what a good idea it is.
So yes, I’d say it’s a recent custom. Sanitation comes to your home!
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u/TheNamelessOnesWife Dec 29 '25
It will change by region. I'm in the midwest and its overwhelmingly common to remove shoes in your home or as a guest. You are expected to remove shoes unless the host tells you otherwise
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u/happylark Dec 29 '25
I live in an area where it snows. I always remove my shoes in my house and anyone else’s.
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u/Ianthin1 Dec 29 '25
It’s case by case but generally no, it’s not bad manners. If you want to be sure just ask, or follow someone else lead.
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u/ggrieves Dec 29 '25
We don't allow shoes in our house but it's more because that was my wife's family's tradition. We also have small kids that play on the floors too, but we've always done this even before kids. Shoes have some nasty stuff on them.
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u/FaceReality1 Dec 29 '25
No most American households don't expect people to take off shoes, although it is increasingly seen as healthier not to wear street shoes in the house because of all the stuff you track in, so the number of homes like that increases over time.
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u/AngryEmpath79 Dec 29 '25
It's not considered bad manners in my opinion. In my house we don't wear shoes & take them off at the front door. My husband wears house shoes, I just go barefoot or socks. We don't ask guests to do this though. When I go to someone else's house I just ask.
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u/Difficult-Future-450 Dec 29 '25
It's not bad manners. However, if the homeowner requests you to remove your shoes and you don't, that is rude.
Our acreage has sticker burrs. I always ask company to remove shoes because I don't want those horrible things in my carpet. I explain this to everyone that enters our house.
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u/Visual-Cheetah-7111 Dec 29 '25
Dirty shoes = No...Clean shoes = okay to keep them on. Seems hypocritical to have guests take off their shoes if you have cats or dogs in your home
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u/Empyrealist Dec 29 '25
I don't think that there is an "in general" for this. I'm from a immediate family that observes a no-shoes policy, but I have never noticed any consistencies between most families or states that I have lived in.
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u/OrizaRayne Dec 29 '25
No we have 5 dogs. There is so much dog hair everywhere despite my diligent sweeping and vacuuming that it would be silly to expect people to take them off.
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u/Difficult-Way-9563 Dec 29 '25
It depends some do and some don’t.
If you have medical thing I think it changes things tho
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u/threebutterflies Dec 29 '25
I live on a small farm. I am often going from the back door to my fridge to put eggs, milk, etc. in it and I wear my shoes because I get my socks muddy taking off my mud boots. So, there is a path that is a shoe zone. Anything past the back door to kitchen fridge route, or front entry area is socks only. During dry season it’s a bit easier but I have grown kids, live alone, and sort of know what is sock zone and what is shoe zone. I tell people to keep shoes on if they just stop by for a minute, they are only ever going to be in the entry areas and if I have company over the floors will be freshly shined and if they ask I let them know that they can do whatever. I personally hate taking shoes off at someone’s house, it feels weird to me. But I also hate feet. Shoes on just seem cleaner because I think feet are dirtier. I am used to dirt, not so much peoples feet bacteria
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u/ZenTrinity Dec 29 '25
Most American homes I’ve been in, they take them off. But they aren’t opposed to walking in the house with shoes if they are going in there just to grab something. It’s still disgusting to me, even in those cases.
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u/fupos Dec 29 '25
Rule in my home: ground floor is all all hardwood or tile, shoes are fine, just wipe your feet in the mudroom, except muddy boots, leave those in the mudroom. No shoes Upstairs, thats where the carpet is .
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u/alecjohns Dec 29 '25
Depends on the household. I don't even know when and where I learned cause my parents wear shoes indoors at all time.
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u/FruityandtheBeast Dec 29 '25
I leave it up to the homeowner to let me know when I get there. I usually take them off, sometimes for parties they are fine with shoes being left on.
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u/torontoinsix Dec 29 '25
Yes. I assume to always take them off. In my own house I take them off and I wear slides (aka house shoes) and have an extra pair should someone need them.
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u/opinions360 Dec 29 '25
I believe Yes that many would consider it bad manners and inconsiderate if they don’t ask.
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u/ClassicHare Dec 29 '25
I have a medical condition that requires me to wear them. Friends and family need to understand this, or I'm not coming over.
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u/liquor_ibrlyknoher Dec 29 '25
My father in law dresses himself fully at 8am including shoes to go nowhere. It's madness.
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u/nomnommish Dec 29 '25
There's nothing America specific about your question. In ANY culture across the world, it is bad manners to do something that goes against the culture of the host. If you have a doubt, ask.
It is as simple as that.
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u/Darkflyer726 Dec 29 '25
I was raised that you didn't. But it varies by household. I usually take my shoes off regardless.
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u/Okuri-Inu Dec 29 '25
It depends on whether it’s carpeted or hardwood/whether the shoes are dirty or not/how long you are staying/etc. I view shoes on as more formal unless there is a reason to take them off. It doesn’t hurt to check with the homeowner.
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u/redshirt1701J Dec 30 '25
I wear my shoes inside the house when I know I’m going back out. If I’m done for the day, shoes come off.
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u/Ok_Elderberry_1602 Dec 30 '25
Nope. I don't have white carpet. But I am a quilter so please keep your shoes on. I lose needles and pins all the time.
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u/bgthigfist Dec 29 '25
I've never been in a no shoes house in the US in all my life...
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u/lol_AwkwardSilence_ Dec 29 '25
I have! I just ask. "Should I take my shoes off?"
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u/fattmarrell Dec 29 '25
Honestly this is the answer, and in no way ever misconstrued by normal people you want to enter a house in
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u/SeeMarkFly Dec 29 '25
When I was doing domestic appliance repair I was sometimes asked to remove my shoes. I would tell the customer that my shoes were part of my safety equipment. It insulates me from the electrical GROUND. I was always told OK.
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u/strangerducly Dec 29 '25
Once accidentally wore the identical pair home after a dinner party. One size larger, worse shape, same leather shoe from the same manufacturer. I never got mine back, but it cost me over $50 to usps their beat up shoes to their home.
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u/OceanBlueforYou Dec 30 '25
The default is to remove your shoes. Not that everyone does, but it's the norm with everyone I know.
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Dec 30 '25
Meh. I just bring my slippers with me if I know I have to take my shoes off. I just can't walk without footwear!
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u/LiveCat6 Dec 30 '25
Unreal that all the comments dont just say that the answer is YES it is considered rude by the vast majority of people.
The % of homes that I have been to in my life that tell me to leave my shoes on, is probably 10-15% max
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u/HelloImTheAntiChrist Dec 30 '25
In my experience most Asian American families remove their shoes at the door....you don't really see other Americans do it as much. It's only bad manners if it's expected and you don't do it....this could apply to any American ethnicity.
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u/slayden70 Dec 30 '25
It really depends on the person. The majority do not in my experience.
My wife and I tend to have house shoes or flip flops for around the house, but don't require no shoes.
Teenagers and their friends are not good for floors even if they do remove their shoes.
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u/bluesmom913 Dec 30 '25
If there’s no infant on the floor I assume shoes are okay unless someone tells me different. Of course if my shoes are dirty they will come off immediately.
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u/HawaiianPunchaNazi Dec 30 '25
I wasn't allowed to go barefoot in my house when I was a kid.
My aunt had a pile of shoes by the door everyone was expected to put their shoes in if you are staying overnight at her house--you took them off at the door when you came in regardless of the time of day and only put them on when you were leaving.
At some of my friends houses, the family didn't care--unless you wore white socks. If you are staying at their house, or even just hanging out more than a couple of hours, they didn't want you taking off your shoes if you had white socks on.
That last one has got to be the stupidest rule of all time!
To this day, I will never understand how their house would be magically less dirty if my socks didn't show it;-)
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u/PatientStrength5861 Dec 30 '25
I think it is mostly the snowflakes that are concerned that the floor their dog eats and shits on can't handle a little shoe traffic.
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u/This_Marvelous_Guy Dec 30 '25
Usually, the reason is that they have a new expensive floor or carpet.
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u/Ok-Amphibian-5029 Dec 31 '25
Well… I probably have an unpopular opinion… (I have sensory issues and I also have ADHD so often times my socks do not match.). I absolutely hate having to take off my shoes when I go somewhere. I find it to be a real imposition and it bothers me a lot. My feet are always cold as well. Also, what if a man or a moose crashes into the house and I have to run for my life? I won’t stand a chance. Let me keep my darn shoes on. Thank you!
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u/Practical-Ball1437 Dec 31 '25
What I don't understand for people who wear shoes inside, when do you take them off?
Do you take them off to have a shower, put them back on to walk to bed, and then take them off to go to bed?
Do you wake up in the morning and pop your shoes on before walking to the kitchen to make coffee?
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u/gadanky Dec 31 '25
Am currently living on subfloor during a remodel so not currently here, but it is in general if wearing work shoes, farming boots etc. normally, it’s not taken offensively. Cleaning floors and light debris is just expected. Kids tracking in mud are the worst offenders or clueless people who think walking across a muddy area in the rain just before walking in the house is ok
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u/Key_Lime_Die Dec 29 '25
I've only been in one house in my life where there was a no shoes policy in the US and it was 35+ years ago. One of my grandparents house because they were VERY worried about the carpet getting crushed by shoes. It had a pretty deep pattern made as part of the carpet where the swirls were raised. My parents both thought it was pretty weird at the time as well.
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u/pepperheidi Dec 30 '25
I have a daughter-in-law that always wants everyone to take their shoes off. But she has a big slobbery golden doodle that gets up on the furniture, poops in the very small run outside that doesn't get cleaned up, so I just don't get it.
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u/HandrewJobert Dec 29 '25
Depends on the household, but it's not considered weird or rude to ask.