How Long Does A Relace Take?? It’s not that simple….let me tell you why!
If you’ve ever sent in your glove for a relace job, you’ve probably wondered: “How long should this really take?” The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some relaces fly by in an hour, while others can stretch into a full day or more. Let’s break down why.
1. Condition of the Glove
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Newer gloves with clean leather and intact structure: quicker relace.
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Older gloves with dry, cracked, or stretched leather: slower process since care and prep are needed before lacing even begins.
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Did the glove get mold on/in it ?
2. Type of Relace Requested
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Partial relace (just a web, pocket, or fingers): 30–60 minutes.
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Full relace (entire glove): 2–4+ hours I would include the Cleaning and Conditioning in this. When most companies do a full relace, they usually do a clean and condition of it as well
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Custom color lace or mixed patterns: adds time, since alignment and style matter.
3. Level of Customization
Want your glove to stand out? Two-tone lace, tighter knots, or even running into additional problems with the glove as well.
4. Technician’s Experience
A seasoned relacer who’s done hundreds of gloves will move quicker than someone still perfecting their knot patterns.
5. Queue & Turnaround Time
Even if your glove itself is a fast project, remember that many shops work on a first-come, first-served basis. If 20 gloves are ahead of yours, expect longer turnaround. And with the limited number of people doing this type of work and them being good at it can play a huge roll in this as well
So, What’s the Average?
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Quick fix: 1 hour
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Standard full relace: 3–4 hours
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Custom or restoration projects: A full day or longer (and this really depends on type of restoration you are looking for)
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This is even a more specialized type of tech that is very very limited across the USA
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And the people that do these type of repairs can have a long , long waiting list
👉 If you’re sending your glove in, always ask about estimated turnaround time—and be upfront about any special requests.
BUT what is Actually NORMAL?
Some people/companies can get some projects turned around in a day or so BUT this is not normal from my experience actually doing the repairs for over 15 years. There are many variables that come into play when working on a glove and then the turnaround time as well. I feel, if there is no shipping involved, 7 days is Normal. But that’s my opinion. Some times it can be done quicker, typically with a rush upcharge, but it “could” happen. Realistically, I would look at 14 days as a normal turnaround and then go from there. The workflow of the people or company really depends and with not that many people across the US doing this type of work comes into play a lot. The ones that have experience and are good, might not be as accessible as what some customers would expect but this is just truth unfortunately. When your glove is broken or just needs some love we think that we should have it done yesterday, but thats not a realistic ask in most cases.
Final Thought
A relace is more than just threading leather. It’s about preserving the glove’s integrity and making it game-ready again. Don’t rush it—because a properly relaced glove can extend its life by years.
Check out our full guide to glove care here.
summary bullets
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A glove relace can take 1 hour to a full day
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Factors: glove condition, type of relace, customization, technician skill, backlog
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Quick fixes = faster, full restorations = longer
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Always confirm turnaround before sending in your glove
**The information and opinions shared in this article are based on over 30 years of personal experience working with baseball and softball gloves. While these methods have worked well over time, they reflect individual experience and may not represent the views of everyone at JB Gloves. Glove care can vary, and players often develop their own preferences over time.**