AIWB Holster Wedge, Holster Wedge Guides, Holsters and Gear Recommendations, IWB Holster Wedge
Where to Put a Wedge on Your IWB Holster
What is a wedge on a holster?
A holster wedge is a small pad that attaches to the body side of an inside-the-waistband (IWB) or appendix holster, usually on the lower part of the shell. By pushing the bottom of the holster away from your body, it tilts the grip in toward you, which reduces printing and keeps the gun steadier against your body.
Where Should You Place a Holster Wedge?
Short answer: Put the wedge on the body side of the holster. Start low on the holster and adjust to taste; there is no fixed spot. From there it pushes the holster away from your body so the grip tips in and stops printing.
- Appendix (AIWB, 12–2 o’clock): start low. Lower gives more grip tuck; higher gives a steadier holster.
- Strong-side IWB (3–5 o’clock): start low and adjust to taste, with the thickest part against your body.
- Muzzle pokes when you sit: move the wedge up, toward the trigger guard.
- Holster digs into the crease of your thigh: use less fill, or move the wedge up half an inch.
- Adjust in half-inch steps, and wear each change for a day before you judge it.
Holster wedge placement determines whether your wedge actually improves concealment or just adds bulk. The wrong position can push your grip out further, create pressure points, or do nothing at all. The right position tucks the grip into your body, eliminates printing, and makes all-day carry comfortable.
This guide covers exactly where to mount a wedge on your IWB holster based on your carry position, body type, and the specific problem you are trying to solve.
How Holster Wedge Placement Works
A holster wedge works by creating a pivot point against your body. When mounted on the back of the holster shell, the wedge pushes the bottom of the holster away from your body. This leverage tilts the grip inward, pressing it flat against your torso. The National Shooting Sports Foundation recommends always practicing safe handling when adjusting your carry setup.
The location of the wedge on the holster shell determines where this pivot happens and how much the grip tucks. Moving the wedge even half an inch up or down changes the angle and pressure distribution.
Key Placement Principles
- Lower placement creates more grip tuck but less muzzle stability
- Higher placement provides less grip tuck but better overall holster stability
- Centered placement balances concealment and comfort for most carriers
- The wedge should contact your body directly — if there is a gap, it is not working
Holster Wedge Placement for AIWB Carry
Appendix carry is where wedge placement matters most. The holster sits in the natural crease between your abdomen and thigh, and the grip tends to cant outward when you sit or bend.
Standard AIWB Placement
Start low on the holster and adjust to taste; there is no fixed spot. Starting low puts the thickest part of the wedge near where the holster meets the bend point of your body.
Step-by-step:
- Hold the holster with the muzzle pointing down and the body side facing you
- Start near the bottom of the shell
- Attach the wedge so the thickest edge sits at the very bottom of the shell
- The wedge should taper toward the middle of the holster
- Put the holster on and check grip tuck in a mirror
AIWB Placement Adjustments
| Problem | Adjustment | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Grip still prints | Move wedge lower toward muzzle end | Increases pivot leverage for more tuck |
| Muzzle pokes when sitting | Move wedge higher toward trigger guard | Tilts muzzle closer to body |
| Holster digs into thigh crease | Take some fill out, or move the wedge up slightly | Reduces pressure at the fold point |
| Wedge feels too bulky | Trim the wedge width or switch to a tapered option | Less material means less pressure |
| Holster shifts during movement | Add a second small wedge higher on the shell | Two contact points stabilize the holster |
Holster Wedge Placement for Strong-Side IWB (3-5 O’Clock)
Strong-side IWB carry has different geometry than appendix. The holster sits along the curve of your hip, and the grip tends to push outward at the beltline rather than at the abdomen.
For strong-side carry, also start low on the holster and adjust to taste; there is no fixed spot. The goal is to push the holster tighter against the curve of your hip and reduce the gap between the grip and your body.
- The thickest part should face the body side, not the bottom
- You may need a wider wedge than for AIWB since the contact area along the hip is broader
Holster Wedge Placement by Body Type
Body type changes where the wedge feels best, which is why there is no fixed spot. Start low on the holster and adjust to taste. For larger body frames we recommend sizing up.
Thickness: thickness is set by how much fill you use. Add or remove fill until the comfort and the rotation that reduces printing are right; the pillow molds and contours to the body, shaping itself between body and holster.
For a deeper dive into body-type-specific setups, read our guide to choosing a holster wedge for your body type.
Placement for Specific Firearms
Still choosing a wedge? See which one wins head-to-head in our best holster wedge comparison.
Compact Pistols (Glock 19, Sig P320, S&W M&P 2.0 Compact)
Compact frames have enough grip length to benefit from a wedge started low on the holster. The Glock 19 AIWB setup guide walks through it.
Subcompact and Micro Pistols (Sig P365, Glock 43X, S&W Shield)
Smaller guns produce less grip printing, so the wedge can be thinner. Start it low on the holster and adjust to taste. See our Sig P365 wedge setup guide for specific instructions.
Full-Size Pistols (Glock 17, Sig P320 Full, 1911)
Full-size guns need more aggressive grip tuck. Mount the wedge at the very bottom of the shell and consider using a thicker option. A purpose-built wedge like the Cloudster Pillow handles the extra leverage better than DIY foam for larger firearms.
Common Holster Wedge Placement Mistakes
- Mounting the wedge too high on the shell: This reduces the pivot effect and barely changes the grip angle. The wedge needs leverage, which comes from distance between the wedge and the grip.
- Using the same placement for different carry positions: AIWB and strong-side have completely different geometry. What works at 1 o’clock will not work at 4 o’clock.
- Ignoring the wedge taper direction: The thick end should always face toward the muzzle end for AIWB. Reversing it creates pressure in the wrong spot.
- Permanent adhesive before testing: Always use Velcro first so you can reposition the wedge. Once you find the right spot, you can switch to permanent adhesive if you want.
- Not re-checking after belt changes: A different belt thickness or stiffness changes how the holster sits, which can shift your ideal wedge position.
How to Test and Dial In Your Wedge Placement
- Start with the wedge at the bottom of the holster shell — this is the default starting position for most setups
- Wear the holster for 30 minutes around the house — sit, stand, bend, and walk to test comfort in real positions
- Check concealment in a mirror — look for grip printing from the front and side
- Move the wedge up or down in 1/2 inch increments — small changes create noticeable differences
- Test again for another 30 minutes — repeat until the holster feels stable and the grip stays flat
- Lock in the position — once you find the sweet spot, mark it with a pencil on the holster shell for reference
If you have tried multiple positions and still cannot get the concealment or comfort you want, the issue may be the wedge material itself. A DIY foam wedge compresses over time and loses its shape. Upgrading to a purpose-built wedge like the Cloudster Pillow, with shredded cooling-gel memory foam in a soft fabric cover (bamboo on White, a cotton blend on Dark, cotton on Camo), provides consistent performance regardless of placement.
How to Attach a Wedge to Your Holster
Take the gun out of the holster before you work on it.
The Cloudster Pillow attaches with hook-and-loop, so you can move it until the placement above feels right. It works on Kydex, leather and hybrid holsters. Each pillow ships with two hook-and-loop strips and alcohol wipes for this step.
- Clean the body side of the holster shell with one of the alcohol wipes and let it dry.
- Stick the adhesive strip to the holster where the placement guide above puts the wedge: off to the side of the slide or optic and below the muzzle, so the pillow can hang over the edge a little.
- Press the pillow onto the strip.
- Wear it, and move it if it needs adjusting. Because it’s hook-and-loop, you can reposition it as often as you like.
Once you have found the spot, some owners make the strip semi-permanent: a small dab of glue at the corners and center of the adhesive, or a light scuff with very fine sandpaper where the adhesive goes. Both change your holster, so check its warranty first, and do this only after you’ve settled on placement, since a semi-permanent strip is harder to move.
Setting up a second holster? Extra hook-and-loop strips are sold on their own. To wash the cover, see how to clean your Cloudster Pillow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to put a holster wedge?
Start low on the holster and adjust to taste; there is no fixed spot. Starting low gives the wedge the most leverage to tuck the grip into your body.
Does holster wedge placement change by gun size?
Yes. Larger firearms like the Glock 17 or Sig P320 Full need the wedge placed lower and thicker to compensate for the longer grip. Subcompact pistols like the Sig P365 need thinner, narrower wedges since there is less grip to manage.
Can I use two wedges on one holster?
Yes. Some carriers use a primary wedge at the bottom for grip tuck and a smaller secondary wedge higher on the shell for additional stability. This is common with longer holsters for full-size pistols.
How do I know if my wedge is in the wrong spot?
Signs of incorrect placement include: the grip still prints after adding a wedge, the holster creates a pressure point that causes pain, the muzzle pokes outward when sitting, or the holster feels less stable than without the wedge.
Final Thoughts
Holster wedge placement is not one-size-fits-all. Your carry position, body type, and firearm all affect where the wedge should sit on the holster shell. Start low on the holster for any carry position, then adjust to taste until the grip sits flat and the holster feels comfortable all day.
If you want a wedge you can tune, the Cloudster Pillow is built for this: add or remove fill to set the thickness, and it attaches with hook-and-loop to any IWB or AIWB holster.
Ready to get your wedge placement dialed in? Browse our holster wedge collection and start carrying more comfortably today.
