Identify shoes by photo
Shoe identifier: identify any shoe by photo
Sneaker AI is a shoe identifier for iPhone. Take a photo of any shoe and it tells you the brand, model, colorway and style code in seconds, with a reference resale price from recent marketplace sales.
It covers 500+ brands, from Nike, Jordan and Adidas to New Balance, Asics and luxury labels. Use it to check a listing, write one, or finally put a name to the pair in your closet.
Free download · iPhone- Instant AI scan
- 2-expert legit check
- Shareable certificate
How it works
How to identify a shoe by photo
Point your camera, get a name, then put it to work.
- 01
Photograph the shoe
Shoot the whole shoe from the side, or pick a photo from your camera roll. One shoe per photo gives the cleanest match. - 02
Read the match
Sneaker AI returns the brand, model, colorway and style code, plus a reference price from recent marketplace sales. - 03
Confirm with the tag
Compare the style code with the size tag or box label. Buying? Run a legit check next.
The readout
What a shoe identifier tells you
A good shoe identifier does more than guess the brand. Take the Yeezy in the photo above. Here is what a full identification of that pair looks like, and what each piece is for:
- Brand and model: Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2. The family the shoe belongs to.
- Colorway: “Zebra.” The nickname sellers and resale sites list it under.
- Style code (SKU): CP9654. The manufacturer’s code for this exact release, printed on the size tag and the box.
- Reference resale price: what the pair has recently sold for on resale marketplaces, so you can judge an asking price.
- Authenticity: the AI scan flags common replica tells. For a firm answer, two human experts can review the pair.
The style code is what turns a name into one specific shoe. Popular colorways are often re-released years later with a different shape, materials or box, and each release gets its own code. Search the code and you can find the release date, the original product listing and pairs for sale right now. Our Nike style code lookup guide shows how.
Coverage
Brands the shoe identifier recognizes
Sneaker AI recognizes 500+ brands. Here are the big ones and a few of the models in each:
| Brand | Example models |
|---|---|
| Nike | Dunk Low, Air Force 1, Air Max 1, Air Max 90, Air Max 95 |
| Jordan | Air Jordan 1 High, Mid and Low, Jordan 3, 4, 5 and 11 |
| Adidas and Yeezy | Samba, Gazelle, Campus, Yeezy Boost 350 V2, Yeezy 700 |
| New Balance | 550, 9060, 2002R, the 990 series |
| Asics | Gel-Kayano 14, Gel-1130, Gel-Lyte III |
| Converse and Vans | Chuck Taylor All Star, Chuck 70, Old Skool, Sk8-Hi |
| Luxury and designer | Sneakers from the major fashion houses |
Popular models and colorways are recognized most reliably. Rare samples, regional exclusives, custom pairs and unbranded shoes are harder. For those, the code on the tag is your best lead.
Shopping one brand? Our brand pages go deeper: Nike, Jordan, Adidas and New Balance.
Photo or code
Identify a shoe by photo or by code
There are two ways to identify a shoe, and they work best together. A photo tells you what the shoe looks like. A code tells you exactly which release it is.
| Method | Where to find it | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | Any shot or screenshot; the outer side shows the most | Shoes in a listing, a store or a post; pairs with no tag | Near-identical colorways can be confused |
| Style code (SKU) | Size tag inside the shoe or tongue; box label | Confirming the exact release once you have the shoe | Tags fade on old pairs |
| UPC barcode | Box label, under the barcode | Matching a box to a size and colorway | Only works if the original box is there |
Where the code lives depends on the brand. Nike and Jordan print it on the size tag as six characters, a dash and three digits; the last three usually stand for the colorway. Adidas uses a six-character article number on the tag inside the tongue. New Balance codes usually contain the model number, so a 550 code includes “550.”
One caution: a code proves which model a shoe is meant to be, not that it is real. Replica makers copy tags and box labels too. To read every line on a tag, see Nike shoe tag explained.
Who it’s for
Who uses a shoe identifier
Buyers checking a listing
A listing says “Jordan 1 Chicago,” but is it the original colorway, a later retro, or a different model in similar colors? Scan the listing photos to confirm the model, then compare the asking price with the reference price. A price far below recent sales is a warning sign. Before you pay, run a legit check.
Sellers writing a listing
Buyers search by model, colorway and style code. Getting all three right puts your listing in front of the right people and heads off “wrong shoe” disputes. The reference price helps you set a realistic ask; our guide to what your sneakers are worth covers the rest.
Collectors cataloging a rotation
Scan each pair once and you have the exact name and code for every shoe you own. That makes it easy to track what you have, what it is worth, and which colorways are missing.
Thrift, outlet and resale finds
Thrift racks and outlet shelves rarely label shoes well. A quick scan tells you whether a pair is a common general release or something worth a second look, before you reach the register.
Only have a screenshot of a mystery pair? Start with what shoe is this? Curious how the AI actually tells shoes apart? See how a shoe recognition app works.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is a shoe identifier?
A shoe identifier is a tool that tells you what a shoe is from a photo. Sneaker AI returns the brand, model, colorway and style code, plus a reference resale price based on recent marketplace sales.
How do I identify a shoe by photo?
Open Sneaker AI, take a photo of the shoe or pick one from your camera roll, and the result comes back in seconds. A clear side view of a single shoe gives the best match. If you have the pair, check the style code on the size tag or box label to confirm it.
Can I identify a shoe by its style code or barcode?
Yes. The style code on the size tag or box label identifies the exact release, so searching it on Google or a resale marketplace shows you the model and colorway. The UPC barcode on the box works too. A photo is faster when you don't have the shoe in hand or the tag has worn off.
Can it identify old, worn or vintage shoes?
Often, yes. Popular models are recognized even when the pair is worn, as long as the shape, logos and sole are visible. Very old, rare or heavily customized shoes are harder. For those, the style code on the size tag is your best lead.
Does the shoe identifier tell me what my shoes are worth?
Sneaker AI shows a reference resale price for the model it identifies, based on recent marketplace sales. Treat it as a starting point: size, condition and whether you have the original box all move the real price.
Do I need the box to identify a shoe?
No. A photo of the shoe is enough to get the brand, model and colorway. The box label is useful as a second check, because it lists the style code, size and UPC for that exact pair.
Keep going
Related tools and guides
What shoe is this?
Snap or upload a photo and get the exact model, colorway and style code.
OpenAuthenticateSneaker authenticator
AI legit check plus two human experts and a shareable certificate.
OpenBrand guideNike shoe identifier & authenticator
Identify any Nike by photo or style code, then legit check it.
OpenFree download · iOS
Put a name to any pair.
Download Sneaker AI, point your camera at a shoe, and get the brand, model, colorway and style code in seconds.