Which New Balance Shoes are Made in the USA?
Some are. Most aren’t — but not because they’re made in America. The majority of New Balance shoes sold in the US are manufactured in Vietnam. A smaller number are made in China. And a specific subset, the Made in USA line, is manufactured at factories in Massachusetts and Maine.
The answer matters because New Balance is the only major athletic footwear brand still manufacturing significant volume in the United States. That story is real. But it applies to a specific set of models, not the full catalog.
The Made in USA Line
New Balance operates six manufacturing facilities in New England: two in Massachusetts (Lawrence and Methuen), three in Maine (Norridgewock, Norway, and Skowhegan), and a sixth that opened in Londonderry, New Hampshire in 2025 — a $70 million investment that added 150 manufacturing jobs.
The shoes made at these facilities carry a “Made in USA” label and must meet New Balance’s standard of at least 70% domestic content by value. The current Made in USA models are:
- 990 series (990v4, 990v6) — the flagship domestic model, first released in 1982 at $100, which was then the most expensive running shoe on the market
- 992 — made in Massachusetts, consistently one of the most sought-after Made in USA models
- 993 — made in Lawrence, Massachusetts
- 1300 — periodic domestic releases, check the specific colorway
These shoes retail between $185 and $220. New Balance releases new colorways on a rolling basis throughout the year. The Spring/Summer 2026 Made in USA collection, led by creative director Teddy Santis, includes the 990v4, 992, 993, and 1300 across nine drops from February through June.
What's Made in Vietnam and China
Everything outside the Made in USA line. That includes the 574, 550, 530, Fresh Foam 1080, and most of the running, training, and lifestyle models sold at mainstream retail. These are manufactured primarily in Vietnam, with some production in China.
New Balance is transparent about this. Their website separates the Made in USA collection from the broader catalog. The distinction is clear if you know where to look — less clear if you’re shopping at a retailer that doesn’t distinguish between them.
How to Verify Before You Buy
The Made in USA label appears on the tongue of qualifying shoes. The box also indicates country of origin.
On New Balance’s own website, the Made in USA collection is listed as a separate category. Every model in that section qualifies. Models outside that section do not.
At retail — Foot Locker, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and similar — Made in USA models may be mixed with imported models on the same shelf. Check the tongue label and the box, not the shelf tag.
Do not rely on the online retailer listings. Country of origin is frequently missing or incorrect on third-party listings for New Balance shoes.
A Note on the FTC Standard
New Balance’s Made in USA standard — 70% domestic content by value — is below the FTC’s “all or virtually all” threshold. The FTC standard requires that all significant parts and processing be of US origin. New Balance’s shoes include some imported components, primarily outsoles.
We list the Made in USA line here because 70% domestic content represents genuine American manufacturing investment, real New England jobs, and a product substantially different from an imported shoe. But buyers who want strictly FTC-compliant “all or virtually all” domestic manufacturing should note the distinction.
Bottom Line
For athletic footwear specifically, New Balance is the only major brand with domestic production at meaningful scale. No direct athletic shoe alternative exists at comparable volume.
New Balance Made in USA models are among the most practical graduation gifts not made in China — see the full list at Graduation Gifts not made in China.
We verify country-of-origin claims using manufacturer disclosures, product labels, and trade records. If something has changed, email us at webmaster@whybuyfromchina.com
Last verified March 2026.
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