For dry service calls in a customer’s home, keep a case of DuPont Tyvek 400 FC FC450S covers on the truck: they have a skid-resistant sole and go on over most shoes. If you want one pair that lasts months, the MyShoeCovers MSCBB reusable covers have a rubberized non-skid sole and go in the washer. For wet jobs, switch to Tingley Boot Saver latex covers or the reusable Tingley 1300 rubber overshoe. Take covers off before you climb a ladder or walk outside.
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Shoe covers protect the customer’s floor, not your feet. For the boots underneath, see our work boots for plumbers guide.
Shoe covers for contractors compared
Pick by the job: dry floor, wet floor, or a house where the customer watches every step.
| Check | DuPont Tyvek FC450S | MyShoeCovers MSCBB | Tingley Boot Saver 6330 | Tingley 1300 overshoe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Disposable | Reusable, machine washable | Disposable | Reusable |
| Material | Tyvek 400 fabric, serged seams | Polyurethane-coated nylon upper | Natural rubber latex | Rubber, seamless, unlined |
| Sole | Skid-resistant, friction-coated | Rubberized non-skid sole | Textured outsole | Cleated outsole |
| Wet floors | Not for wet use, per DuPont | Water-resistant, not waterproof | 100% liquidproof (maker claim) | 100% waterproof (maker claim) |
| Sizing | One size | 5 sizes, S to XXL | M to 2XL, fits footwear sizes 7 to 15+ | S to 3XL, men’s 6.5 to 15.5; fits over work boots |
| Pack | 200 per case | 1 pair | 100 pairs per case (Tingley) | 1 pair |
| Skip it if | The floor is wet | You want throwaway covers for dirty jobs | You or the customer has a latex allergy | You only work on dry, clean floors |
A step-in dispenser is covered below for techs who want covers on without bending over.
How to choose shoe covers for in-home work
- Disposable or reusable. Disposables are clean every time and go in the trash with the job’s mess. Reusables cut waste and feel sturdier, but you have to wash them and keep a clean pair in a bag.
- A real non-slip sole. Plain polypropylene booties slide on tile and hardwood. Look for a skid-resistant, rubberized or textured sole on every cover you buy.
- Waterproof for wet jobs. A leaking water heater, an overflowing toilet or a flooded laundry room soaks fabric covers. Fabric that is wet tracks water the same as a bare sole.
- Size over your boots. Measure against the work boots you wear, not your street shoes. Covers that stretch tight tear at the toe and heel. Tingley sizes its 1300 overshoe to fit over bulky work boots, including steel toes.
- Visible and professional. Customers notice covers. Put them on at the door, in front of the customer, and take them off at the door when you leave.
BEST DISPOSABLE · SKID-RESISTANT SOLE
DuPont Tyvek 400 FC FC450S: the everyday disposable
Choose it when you run dry service calls all day: faucet swaps, toilet repairs, under-sink work. DuPont’s data sheet lists Tyvek 400 fabric with serged seams and a skid-resistant, friction-coated sole. It is one size and 5 in. tall, sold 200 to a case.
DuPont is clear about one limit. These covers are not meant for use when they are getting wet, with liquid dripping or running on them. For splash, DuPont points to other fabrics. The sheet also notes the friction coating may contain silicone.
Skip it if the floor is wet. Use Tingley Boot Savers there.
BEST REUSABLE · MACHINE WASHABLE
MyShoeCovers MSCBB: one pair for months of service calls
Choose it when you want a sturdier cover you don’t throw away. The upper is polyurethane-coated nylon and the sole is a rubberized non-skid sole. The maker says they are machine washable and last 6 to 9 months on average indoors. They come in five sizes, S through XXL, so you can match your boots. On Amazon each size is its own listing; our link goes to the Medium.
They are water-resistant, not waterproof. The maker’s own store showed them sold out when we checked, so confirm stock and size before you order.
Skip it if your day includes sewer and drain calls. Throwaway covers are easier on those jobs.
BEST FOR WET JOBS · LATEX
Tingley Boot Saver 6330: disposable covers for wet floors
Choose it when you walk into a water heater leak, an overflowed toilet or a wet laundry room. Boot Savers are natural rubber latex. Tingley calls them 100% liquidproof and says the textured outsole grips wet and dry floors. Sizes run M to 2XL, to fit footwear sized 7 to 15+. Tingley sells them 100 pairs to a case, by the case only. The Amazon listing does not state the pack count, so check it before you order.
Tingley warns that they contain natural rubber latex, which may cause allergic reactions.
Skip it if you or the customer has a latex allergy. Use the reusable 1300 overshoe instead.
BEST REUSABLE WATERPROOF · FITS OVER BOOTS
Tingley 1300 Work Rubber Overshoe: over boots on wet jobs
Choose it when you need a waterproof cover you can rinse and reuse. Tingley sizes the 1300 to fit over bulky work boots, including steel toes. It is seamless for 100% waterproof protection, with a cleated outsole and a heel kick for hands-free removal. It resists acids, alcohols, bases and diluted solutions of most water-soluble chemicals.
Tingley says it is not for constant contact with petroleum and oil-based products. Rinse it after a job with cutting oil or fuel on the floor.
Skip it for clean, dry floors. A cleated rubber sole can track grit inside.
STEP-IN DISPENSER · NO ELECTRICITY
Bootie Butler KineticButler KBSM: covers on without bending
Choose it when you run a shop, a showroom or a large job where many people walk in and out. The KineticButler Small holds up to 55 pairs and needs no electricity. You step in and it fits a cover. The larger KBLG holds up to 110 pairs.
It loads Bootie Butler covers. The non-skid KBNS28 refills are spunbond polypropylene with a slip-resistant sole, one size up to men’s 15, 750 to a case. For wet entries, Bootie Butler also makes waterproof anti-skid KBSB covers.
We found no Amazon listing for the KineticButler or its KBNS28-750 refills on October 14, 2026. Buy both from a Bootie Butler dealer.
Skip it if you work alone from a van. A box of covers by the door is simpler.
Shoe cover safety on the job
- Off before ladders. Any cover makes rungs slick. Take them off to climb into an attic or onto a step ladder. Put on a fresh pair after.
- Careful on stairs. Use the handrail. Carry tools in a bag so you have a free hand.
- Off at the door. Covers that went outside track dirt back in. Keep a clean pair in the truck for each trip in.
- Bag the dirty ones. After a drain job, peel covers off inside out and bag them with the rest of the job waste.
- Covers don’t stop water. Lay a drop cloth or tool mat where you work, and have a shop vac ready for water on the floor.
If the water won’t stop, close the fixture stop or the main and call a licensed plumber. A toilet that keeps leaking at the floor is covered in our toilet leaking at the base guide.
Shoe covers FAQ
Why do plumbers wear shoe covers in a home?
Shoe covers keep job-site dirt, mud and water off the customer’s floors and carpets. They also show the customer you respect the house. Put them on at the door and take them off when you leave.
Are disposable shoe covers slippery?
Plain booties can be slick on tile and hardwood. Buy covers with a skid-resistant or textured sole, such as the DuPont Tyvek FC450S or Tingley Boot Saver, and take any cover off before you climb a ladder.
Are reusable shoe covers worth it for contractors?
They are if you do mostly dry service calls and will wash them. MyShoeCovers says its reusable covers last 6 to 9 months on average indoors. For sewer and drain jobs, disposables are easier to throw away with the mess.
Can shoe covers fit over work boots?
Yes, if you size them to the boot. Tingley sizes its 1300 Work Rubber Overshoe to fit over bulky work boots, including steel toes. Check the size chart against your boot, not your shoe size.
Are shoe covers waterproof?
Most fabric covers are not. DuPont says its Tyvek FC450S is not meant for use when it is getting wet. For wet floors, use latex covers like the Tingley Boot Saver or a rubber overshoe.
What is a step-in shoe cover dispenser?
It is a floor unit you step into that fits a shoe cover over your shoe without bending. The Bootie Butler KineticButler needs no electricity and the small model holds up to 55 pairs.
How we chose
This is a document-based comparison from a licensed plumber’s point of view. We read maker data sheets, product pages and catalogs for the exact linked covers and chose by the jobs service plumbers do in customers’ homes: dry repairs, wet floors and drain calls. We weighed the sole, water resistance, sizing over work boots and whether the cover is disposable or reusable.
The DuPont data sheet we read is the maker’s document hosted by a distributor. Sources were read October 14, 2026; sellers and availability change. We do not publish prices or claim hands-on testing. More about our selection method and Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- DuPont Tyvek 400 FC shoe cover technical data sheet (PDF, distributor-hosted) (maker page: www.mallory.com/ASSETS/DOCUMENTS/ITEMS/EN/DUPCO-FC450S.pdf): material, skid-resistant sole, size, case count, wet-use limit.
- MyShoeCovers Premium Reusable Shoe and Boot Covers (myshoecovers.com): material, non-skid sole, sizes, washable, life claim.
- Tingley Boot Saver Disposable Shoe Cover (tingleyrubber.com): latex material, liquidproof claim, sizes, case count.
- Tingley Work Rubber Overshoe 1300 (tingleyrubber.com): fits over work boots, waterproof, chemical notes, sizes.
- Bootie Butler shoe cover dispensers (ICP Medical) (icpmedical.com): KBSM, KBLG and EMLG models.
- Bootie Butler catalog (PDF) (icpmedical.com): dispenser capacity, no electricity, refill materials and counts.