Tailor's Bunion

Structural and Postural Conditions· Also known as: bunionette, little toe bunion, fifth metatarsal bunionUpdated Oct 2026

Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod, October 2026

At a Glance

A tailor's bunion (also called a bunionette) is a bony lump on the outer side of your foot, at the base of your little toe. It is less common than a bunion at the big toe. Some people have no symptoms and only find it by chance. For others, shoes rub on the lump and it becomes sore, red, swollen or covered in hard skin. Most people's pain eases when pressure on the lump is reduced, with roomier shoes and padding. These steps ease pain but don't change the shape of the bone. Surgery is an option if pain continues despite good care.

What is it?

A tailor's bunion is a bony bump on the outer side of your foot, at the base of your little toe. It sits over the end of the fifth metatarsal (the long bone behind your little toe). It is sometimes called a "reverse bunion" because it is on the opposite side of the foot from a usual bunion.

The bone can stick out, or the little toe can drift in towards the fourth toe. Either way, the foot gets wider at that spot. It is less common than a bunion at the big toe, and is often described as a smaller version of it.

Many people have no pain at all and only notice the lump by chance. For others, the lump is painful, especially in shoes.

Who does it affect?

It can affect adults and teenagers. It is reported more often in women and in people who play a lot of sport.

It tends to run in families. Other things that may make it more likely include an earlier injury to the toe joints, very flexible joints, getting older, inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis), tight calf muscles, and conditions that affect nerves and muscles (such as stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome). These are things that may play a part. Having one of them doesn't mean you will get a tailor's bunion.

Signs and symptoms

You may notice some or all of the following:

a bony lump on the outside of your foot at the little toe joint
your little toe leaning in towards the fourth toe
pain and swelling around the lump
red, swollen or hard skin over the lump, such as a corn or callus
trouble finding shoes that feel comfortable

The pain is usually worse in tight or narrow shoes and when you walk. In some people the skin over the lump thickens or blisters, or the small fluid-filled cushion over the joint (a bursa) becomes inflamed and sore.

What causes it?

The exact cause isn't known. It seems to come from a mix of things: the shape of the fifth metatarsal bone and an imbalance in the soft tissues at the front of your foot. The shape of your foot bones is largely inherited, which is why it can run in families.

Shoes don't seem to be the whole cause, but they matter. Tight or narrow shoes press on the joint, the bursa and the nerves nearby, and the rubbing can lead to hard skin, inflammation and pain. For some people, a foot that rolls inwards too much when walking may add to the strain.

How is it diagnosed?

Your podiatrist or doctor will usually diagnose it from your story and by examining your foot. They will ask which shoes bring on the pain and look at where the lump, rubbing, hard skin or swelling is. It helps if you have noticed this yourself before you go.

They may arrange X-rays taken while you stand. These show the shape of the bone and the angle between your fourth and fifth metatarsals, which helps plan treatment, especially if surgery is being considered.

Treatment

Treatment usually starts with simple steps that take pressure off the lump. These ease pain, but they can't correct the shape or size of the bone. Most people find their pain settles with them.

Looking after it at home

Choose shoes that are wide and deep, with a soft upper that moulds around the lump. Soft materials give more than stiff, shiny leather.
Avoid high heels and narrow or pointed shoes.
Use padding or a protective shield over the lump to cut down rubbing. A gel or silicone wedge between your toes may also help.
If the skin is red, inflamed or blistered, padding can reduce friction. Use a plaster if the skin is broken.
If one kind of activity brings on the pain, change it for a while.

Treatment from your podiatrist

Your podiatrist can safely remove hard skin and corns, which often take the pressure off. They can also show you which pads or shields suit your foot, and advise on shoes.

They may suggest insoles or orthoses (shoe inserts made to support your foot). These may be most helpful if your foot rolls inwards too much when you walk.

Surgery

Surgery is worth thinking about only if pain and trouble with shoes carry on despite good non-surgical care. It may also be considered if you are very active and the problem keeps getting in the way.

The usual operation is a fifth metatarsal osteotomy. The surgeon cuts the bone, moves it into a better position and holds it in place with screws, pins or plates. Any problem with the little toe can be dealt with at the same time. The aim is to make the foot narrower and the lump less prominent.

There are different ways to do the operation, and your surgeon will choose one based on the type and size of your deformity. Cuts near the end of the bone tend to have the fewest complications, and may suit people who don't need a large correction. Cuts further back along the bone have had the highest satisfaction scores, but it isn't clear yet which approach is better overall.

People who have surgery report less pain and less of the lump, more comfortable shoes and less hard skin. Possible risks include stiffness in the joint, pain in the ball of the foot, a little toe that sits out of place, a stress fracture (a small crack in the bone), problems with the screws or plates, and the lump coming back. With one common type of operation, about 15 per cent of people had a complication, and the most common was thick skin coming back on the sole of the foot.

Recovery

Without surgery, most people's pain eases once the pressure on the lump is reduced. The lump itself stays the same size and shape. For many people that is enough, as long as the shoes stay comfortable.

If you have surgery, the lump is made smaller. Hard skin can come back, and the bunion can return, especially if thick skin was your main problem. Your surgeon should talk to you about this before the operation.

Preventing it

There is no proven way to stop a tailor's bunion forming, because the foot shape behind it is largely inherited. If bunions run in your family, it is a sensible step to check your shoe fit early and choose wide, deep shoes.

If you already have one, keep wearing roomy, soft shoes and using padding, even once the pain settles. This helps keep the rubbing and soreness away.

When to see a podiatrist

Book an appointment if

You have a lump on the outside of your little toe joint that is painful or rubs in your shoes, or you keep getting hard skin, blisters or soreness there. If you have diabetes, see your GP or podiatrist about any foot problem, including a bunion.

Seek prompt assessment if

Call your local emergency number if your leg, foot or toes suddenly turn cold and pale or blue, with pain or numbness. Also call if you have a foot wound or infection and you feel very unwell, with confusion or slurred speech, severe shivering or muscle pain, severe breathlessness, mottled or discoloured skin, or little or no urine, as this could be sepsis. See your GP or another doctor today if you have diabetes and a new wound, a sore that won't heal, signs of infection, black or dead-looking skin, or a red, hot, swollen foot, with or without pain. Also see a doctor today if you get new pain in your foot while resting, or cramping in your legs when you walk, or if you think your toe may be broken. Don't treat a possible break yourself. If your GP can't see you today, go to an urgent care clinic or an after-hours GP. See your GP promptly if the skin over a toe joint suddenly becomes painful, hot, red and swollen, particularly if it comes and goes, because this can be gout or another cause of joint inflammation rather than a bunion. Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin, so check for heat and swelling as well. See your podiatrist or GP soon if your pain hasn't improved after a few weeks of home care (for toe pain in general, after 2 weeks).

Frequently asked questions

Is a tailor's bunion the same as a bunionette?

Yes. Tailor's bunion and bunionette are two names for the same thing. You may also hear "reverse bunion" or "little toe bunion". All of them describe a bony bump on the outer side of the foot at the base of the little toe.

How is it different from a normal bunion?

A usual bunion forms at the base of the big toe, on the inner side of the foot. A tailor's bunion forms at the little toe, on the outer side. It is less common and is often described as a smaller version of a bunion. Treatment is similar: roomy shoes and padding first, and surgery only if those aren't enough.

Do I need treatment if it doesn't hurt?

Not necessarily. Many people have a tailor's bunion that never bothers them. If it isn't causing problems, it may not need any treatment. Seek advice if it becomes painful, or if it starts to rub in your shoes or the skin over it gets hard, red or blistered.

What should I ask a surgeon?

Ask which operation suits the shape of your foot, and why. Ask how long recovery will take and how much time you will need off your feet. Also ask how likely the bunion is to come back and what the possible complications are, especially if thick skin on the sole is your main problem.