We Tested 17 Callus Removers to Find the Options That Will Keep Your Feet Soft & Smooth (2024)

• Physical vs. Chemical Callus Removers

• Our Picks

• How We Selected and Tested the Best Callus Removers

• What to Look for In a Callus Remover

• Our Experts

• FAQ

• Why Trust Verywell Health

Key Specs

Type: Manual pumice stone | Ingredients/Material: Terracotta

Why We Recommend It

The best at-home callus remover is a pumice stone like this one, says Luke Sicilia, DPM, a podiatrist practicing in Montgomery, Alabama. Specifically, he recommends using a pumice stone after showering when the skin is soft and following up with a moisturizing cream. A pumice stone gives you more control, so it’s less likely to damage the skin.

With its ergonomic handle, we definitely felt in control of this pumice stone. It was easy and comfortable to hold, and though it looks abrasive, it was surprisingly gentle on skin. But don’t let that fool you—we noticed a difference after the first use. After a few more uses, it successfully softened our editor’s dry, thick heels. We also liked that this stone was easy to clean. It was easy to stand upright after getting it wet, allowing all sides to dry and preventing bacteria from forming.

Keep In Mind

After testing this pumice stone ourselves, there wasn’t anything we’d change. However, the price can be steep compared to other pumice stones. Since it’s designed to last at least five years, we could see the value, but it may not be in everyone’s budget.

Key Specs

Type: Manual pumice stone | Ingredients/Material: Porous stone

Why We Recommend It

Buying anything that comes in a multi-pack will save you a few bucks, so it’s no surprise that our budget pick comes with two in a pack. Each costs less than a large coffee, making them a small price to pay for soft feet. These also come recommended by podiatrists. Julie Schottenstein, DPM, a double board-certified podiatrist practicing at the Schottenstein Center in Miami, Florida, particularly likes that stones are gentle on the skin. When home treatments are too aggressive, you run the risk of irritation, wounds and infections, she adds—but not with this one. It was so gentle, you’d really have to apply a lot of pressure to do any real damage, our editor said.

There was no learning curve—it’s straightforward to use and doesn’t take long to notice improvements. It only took about three uses to start seeing results from this pumice stone, and we noticed smoother skin immediately after each use. We also liked that it comes with a hanging hook. It was convenient to hang in the shower as a visual reminder to use it, and it also came in handy for quick drying.

Keep In Mind

We noticed results fairly quickly, but they weren’t long lasting. We had to continue using the pumice stone on a regular basis to maintain the results. It’s also made from a porous material, so it’s prone to bacterial growth over longer periods of time. For this reason, we’d recommend replacing it often.

Key Specs

Type: Manual pumice stone | Ingredients/Material: Natural volcanic rock

Why We Recommend It

This pumice stone is shaped like a foot and designed for one, too. It’s also one of Schottenstein’s top picks for manual abrasion. “I like the JINSoon pumice stone because it’s not rough, and it’s made from natural stone,” she explains. “Natural stones do the best job, and they’re safe.”

When we got our hands on this pumice stone, our first impression (aside from the funny shape) was the rock-hard material. After all, it’s made from volcanic rock. Though it’s hard, it’s not sharp and never caused any pain or discomfort. When we did a foot soak first, this pumice stone was incredibly effective and gentle. We didn’t need multiple sessions to notice softer skin—it yielded soft feet after the first use. It’s also easy to clean and looks brand new after the testing period.

Keep In Mind

It’s often recommended to use pumice stones at the end of your shower because that’s when skin is soft, but that method didn’t work well for us when using this stone. Instead, we had better success soaking the feet in warm water and then using the stone. It’s not as convenient, but a pre-pumice foot soak can be relaxing.

Key Specs

Type: Electric foot file | Ingredients/Material: N/A

Why We Recommend It

The podiatrists we spoke to often recommend manual abrasion over chemical abrasion, but if you don’t want to put in the effort, an electric-powered file is your best bet. Schottenstein says this electric callus remover can file down rough skin for smoother feet. It’s an effective option for softening calluses at home, adds Jason Hymowitz, DPM, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon practicing in Hackensack, New Jersey.

As an electric tool, it’s got a few bells and whistles, including three changeable roller heads. Choose between three levels of coarseness—light, regular and coarse—as well as two speeds. It’s also equipped with a rechargeable battery, which takes up to three hours to charge. A full charge will last you about 45 minutes—enough to last for several sessions. Use it on both wet and dry skin for maximum convenience, and pack up all the accessories in the carrying case for exfoliating feet on the go.

Keep In Mind

Electric files can be somewhat abrasive. It could cause discomfort, especially on the coarser settings.

Key Specs

Type: Chemical exfoliant cream | Ingredients/Material: Urea and lactic acid

Why We Recommend It

Removing calluses at home requires both exfoliation and moisturization. The podiatrists we spoke to recommend using a pumice stone on wet skin and then applying a moisturizing cream. Specifically, Sicilia recommends using a urea cream after scrubbing with a pumice stone. There are many over-the-counter options, but prescription-strength urea creams are sometimes needed, he adds.

This cream contains 25% urea and lactic acid, which are two chemical exfoliants used to slough off dead skin cells and moisturize the skin. Urea is also a keratolytic agent. Since calluses are formed from a build-up of keratin, urea is especially effective at penetrating them. This one comes recommended by Schottenstein since it’s generally well tolerated by those with sensitive skin. And for those with diabetes, it’s ideal to be more gentle on the feet.

Keep In Mind

At just 3 ounces, the bottle is both small and pricey. Fortunately, a little bit goes a long way.

Key Specs

Type: Manual stone | Ingredients/Material: Pumice

Why We Recommend It

This set of pumice stones doesn’t have any bells or whistles, but after talking to podiatrists, we realized that you don’t need any to remove calluses at home. You just need a good pumice stone, and this set includes two at an affordable price.

Each stone is about the size of your palm, making it comfortable to grip. Though it’s on the smaller side, the size was perfect for having control and increasing or decreasing the amount of force when needed. It was lightweight and easy to use and worked well at exfoliating dry skin. It was never rough or irritating. In fact, it was extremely gentle on our editor’s sensitive skin. We felt the hanging cord was a nice touch for storing the stone in the shower and letting it dry off.

Keep In Mind

This pumice stone was so gentle we found ourselves wishing it was slightly more abrasive. We also don’t expect them to last long—maybe a month or two each, so the set only lasts up to four months.

Key Specs

Type: Chemical cushioned bandages | Ingredients/Material: Salicylic acid

Why We Recommend It

Unlike a pumice stone, these bandages require little effort to use—Sicilia says they can even go in your shoes. You can also cut them down to the size of your callus, making them a customizable option. To use them, trim the bandage to fit your callus, apply it to the lesion and leave it on for up to 48 hours. Then, remove and repeat as needed.

These work by dispersing pressure around the callus, effectively offloading the area to help prevent further build-up of skin cells, Hymowitz explains. He also likes that it contains salicylic acid, a chemical exfoliant that helps soften hard calluses. The high concentration of salicylic acid exfoliates the excess layer of skin that creates a callus, and it protects your skin from further friction.

Keep In Mind

These are advertised as lasting for multiple days in a row, but they’re notorious for falling off. If you find they don’t stay, you can try to secure them with surgical tape.

Key Specs

Type: Manual pumice stone | Ingredients/Material: Pumice

Why We Recommend It

After testing it ourselves, there’s a lot we liked about this pumice stone, and Hymowitz has similar thoughts. It’s safe, effective and convenient, he says. The handle made it intuitive to hold and use, and the string made it easy to dry and store.

Our editor used this pumice stone while pregnant and stated that her feet have never been smoother. We only needed to use it for a couple of minutes to notice an immediate difference, and though the stone itself is hard to the touch, it was never uncomfortable or irritating. There wasn’t anything we’d change about this callus remover, and the price isn’t bad either.

Keep In Mind

Our editor raved about this pumice stone, but in line with other porous materials, the pumice stone will likely only last a few months before a replacement is in order.

Key Specs

Type: Manual brush | Ingredients/Material: Vegan bristles, pumice stone, wooden handle

Why We Recommend It

This callus remover is dual-sided—something we hadn’t seen before in our testing. It has a pumice stone on one side and vegan-friendly bristles on the other, and we made use of both. The pumice stone effectively improved our editor’s rough heels, and the bristle side came in handy for brushing away the sloughed-off dead skin cells. Both sides were gentle—our editor with sensitive skin found it gentle yet effective.

Where this tool really shone was its ease of use. The wooden handle made it so much easier to operate than other options. This would be good for someone with less mobility—an older person, someone with balance issues, or a pregnant person like our editor who tested it. With a loop for hanging, it was also easy to store in the shower. Though it was stored in a moist environment, it dried quickly and never showed signs of mold.

Keep In Mind

The pumice side is a very fine file, so it requires some elbow grease to get a good exfoliation. Others we tested were more effortless, but it got the job done.

Key Specs

Type: Manual pumice stone | Ingredients/Material: Terracotta clay

Why We Recommend It

If you’re looking for a spa-like experience at home, this clay pumice stone will do the trick. We found it luxurious to use, and though it’s pricier than other options, it was worth the splurge. What’s more, it’s effective and quick. We noticed a difference after just one session, and after several days of consistent use, it noticeably reduced calluses and softened the skin on our editor’s feet. It was especially effective on the heels. Our editor could visibly see dead skin flaking off after using this tool.

This pumice has a circular shape, but what makes it easier to use than others is the handle placed behind the stone. It’s also uniquely designed with grooves, which lend themselves to the exfoliation. Our editor attributed its effectiveness and quickness to the grooves. Overall, we loved the design and appreciated that it was also easy to clean.

Keep In Mind

This stone was unlike any others we tried—in a good way. Our only gripe with it was the size. It’s perfect for larger areas, but we’d wish it came with a second, more narrow stone for exfoliating smaller areas like the toes.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I prevent calluses?

  The best way to prevent calluses is to wear properly fitted shoes, Sicilia says. This prevents the two main causes of calluses—friction and pressure.

• How often should I use a callus remover?

  It’s important to exfoliate frequently, but overdoing it can result in injury. You can use a callus remover up to twice per week.

• What’s the difference between a callus and a corn?

  Both calluses and corns can appear on the feet, but calluses often occur on the soles of feet while corns tend to occur on the tops or sides of the toes. Callus removers can often help improve corns by helping to remove the dry, dead skin.

• Are there any dangers associated with using callus removers?

  Using a callus remover at home may result in damage to your skin as it may introduce bacteria or cause infection. Some people, such as people with diabetes, should be particularly cautious when using these products.