33 Best Jeans for Men and How to Find the Right Pair for You

Jeans.

In the ‘50s, they were so cutting edge, Soviets would pay a month’s salary just to get a single pair. And American students could fund European summer travels just by selling blue jeans.

Even though the world has caught up to the rugged, relabut both styles play visual tricksxed nature of denim, having a great pair of jeans is still a must for every guy.

There’s a reason why jeans are so popular. And it’s all down to that ‘V’ word. No, not that one, you creep.

Versatility.

Think about it—what other styles of pants work at cocktail parties, concerts, and weddings?

But finding the perfect jeans is a bit like pulling Excalibur from its stone. There’s one pair out there meant for you. Find them, and you’ll wield untold power (actually, you’ll just look nice—but that’s powerful).

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to find a killer pair of jeans that you’ll want to wear every day.

My Recommendations

3 Best Slim Fit Jeans for Men

Slim fit jeans are our favorite. Trimming down on the fabric in the thigh and calf area creates a leaner, taller profile—something we could all go for.

Slim fit will cling to larger thighs, but that’s not a bad thing. You’ll still have all the room you need in the crotch and through the calf.

1. Mugsy Fultons (Mugsy Fit)

2. Mott & Bow Oliver Slim

3. Nudie Jeans Lean Calvin Dry 16 Dips

3 Best Straight Fit Jeans for Men

The standard cut—no frills. Straight fit jeans have no taper, so you won’t get any slimming effect.

That being said, a straight fit is perfect for guys with bulkier legs and bigger backsides.

1. The Perfect Jean Athletic Fit

2. Mott & Bow Norfolk Straight

3. Levis 501

3 Best Skinny Jeans for Men

Skinny jeans are difficult to pull off. They really only work for guys who are—you guessed it—skinny.

If you’re average weight, or even slightly under-average weight, we recommend skipping skinny jeans and going to slim.

If you’re still here, well, we envy your metabolism. These skinny jeans are made by some of the most trusted brands in the business.

1. Everlane The Skinny Fit Jean

2. rag + bone Fit 1

3. Paige Croft

3 Best Relaxed Fit Jeans for Men

Relaxed fit is a great option for guys on the larger side.

These brands have more style than your run-of-the-mill jeans, but they carry extra room in the back, crotch, and thigh.

1. Dearborn Denim Relaxed

2. Mott & Bow Straight Broome 

3. Liverpool Jeans Regent Relaxed

3 Best Jeans for Older Men

When looking for jeans as an older guy, you may want to try a higher rise.

High-rise jeans come up above the waist. This can flatten the stomach and give more length to your legs, giving you a slimmer, streamlined look.

1. Freeman’s Sporting Club Japan Blue Denim

2. Paul Fredrick 5-Pocket Flat Front Jean

3. Levi’s 505

3 Best Jeans for Tall Men

Tall guys who don’t buy the right pair of jeans are destined for chilly ankles.

It can be hard finding jeans in stock that have 36, 38, and even 40” inseams. A lot of tall men we speak to say they just get the longest inseam length they can find relative to their waist fit and suffer in short-pants hell.

Luckily, a few brands have stepped up and pitched in some extra fabric.

1. American Tall Carman Tapered-Fit

2. ASOS Design Tall Slim Jeans

3. Old Navy Relaxed Slim Built-In Flex Max Never-Fade Jeans (Tall)

3 Best Jeans for Short Men

Shorter gentlemen have had to learn plenty of tricks to get around long inseams that never fit their body type. A few brands have stepped up and solved the need to hem and cuff every pair of pants once-and-for-all.

Besides a fitting inseam, the most important thing for shorter guys to watch for is the waist rise. Low-rise jeans take off a lot of extra fabric in the seat and crotch and can fit better for men of modest height.

That being said, with certain brands, a low-rise can make short guys seem shorter and stockier.

1. Peter Manning Jeans Slim Fit

2. For The Fit Jack Denim

3. Ash & Erie Essential Jean

3 Best Jeans for Overweight Men

Too many overweight guys try and squeeze into their ill-fitting jeans, but the truth is there are plenty of options out there for the huskier gent.

For everyday jeans, bigger guys should opt for a relaxed-fit. For nights on the town, a straight-cut jean will slim down your profile.

Larger guys should look for high-rise jeans. The extra length in the fly gives more room in the crotch and seat and also flattens the stomach.

1. Wrangler No. 23 Relaxed-Fit

2. Levis 502 Taper (Big and Tall)

3. Nautica Relaxed Stretch

3 Best Jeans for Men With Big Thighs

Been hitting the squat-rack? Some brands are coining a new style called athletic-fit. Jeans in this category have more room in the seat and some extra space in the thigh area.

If you’re a guy with buff thighs, avoid the urge to wear skinny jeans. You may think it shows off muscle, but it more likely makes you look crammed into tiny pants.

1. Mott & Bow Jay Straight

2. Carhartt Rugged Flex Relaxed Fit

3. Joe’s Jeans Folsom Athletic Fit

3 Best Jeans for Men With a Flat Butt

If you’ve got a flat (or nonexistent) butt, you can use some visual trickery to add a little more to your derriere.

You’ll have the best luck looking for jeans with widely spaced and smaller back pockets. Both of these features make that booty look fuller.

1. DL1961 Nick Slim Chamber

2. Outerknown Ambassador Jeans

3. Revtown Taper

3 Best Cheap Jeans for Men: Our Top Picks Under $100

Denim shopping on a budget? These might be inexpensive, but they aren’t cheap.

1. Dearborn Denim Slim Fit

2. Mott & Bow Mosco

3. Levi 511

8 Things You Should Consider When Buying Jeans

1. What’s Your Budget?

Jeans run anywhere from $40 and $1,200 (and beyond).

Good quality jeans live on every part of that spectrum, including the low end. You know your budget more than anyone, so don’t go overboard.

At the same time, jeans are naturally durable and can last many years. If you invest a little money into a perfect pair, you won’t regret it.

2. What’s Your Body Type?

Skinny? Athletic? Plus-sized?

Certain cuts in jeans make a big difference. We’ll get into the specifics of what to look for based on your body type below, but with denim, it’s not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ game.

To get a better looking pair of jeans, we almost always recommend slimming the fit down. A lot of guys out there are wearing relaxed fit jeans when a pair of slim fits or straight-cuts would do them more justice.

Skinny Body Type

Skinny like a board? You’ve got options.

Try the aptly named skinny fit jeans. Go too tight though, and it’ll only make you appear thinner.

If that’s the case, bump up to slim fit jeans. They’ll stay sleek while a bit of visual weight to your bottom half.

Athletic Body Type

The athletic body type is characterized by its square shape. You have wide shoulders and wide hips.

Slim fit and straight-leg jeans work best for the athletic body type. Choose which cut works for you based on your style and the size of your thighs. Slim fit is the best choice for most athletic guys, but if you have exceptionally large thighs, you may want to try straight-legged.

Muscular Body Type

You’re like a Dorito. Broad shoulders and narrow hips. Some muscular guys want to show off all that hard work in the gym by wearing skinny jeans. Don’t be tempted.

You’re better off with straight-legged jeans. You can give slim fit a try, and you might even find a suitable pair of relaxed fit jeans.

Leave some room for the imagination. If you’re muscular, people know. You don’t need to wear a pair of tights all day to show it.

Wide Hips Body Type

If your hips are wider than your shoulders, stay away from slim and skinny jeans. You’ll have better luck with straight-cut and relaxed jeans.

If you want a bit of taper, make sure that the taper only starts after the knee. Too much taper and you’ll begin to look top-heavy. Anything too tight in the hips will give you a feminine silhouette.

With straight and relaxed fits, the visual line running down the seam will balance your mid-section with your upper and lower body.

Plus-Sized Body Type

Plus-sized guys do well with a higher rise. When wearing a high-rise jean, you’ll be able to fit a larger stomach because you wear it just under your belly button. Wearing a medium-rise jean will accentuate your stomach if you tuck in your shirt.

Relaxed fit and straight-cut jeans both work for the plus-sized guy. The straight line provided by the seam helps balance body proportions and keeps a plus-sized guy looking dapper.

3. How Should Jeans Fit?

The vocabulary of denim can be confusing. What’s the difference between slim fit and skinny fit? What does ‘relaxed fit’ actually mean?

Finding which cut looks the best is a journey. You’re looking for balance. If the fit is too small, it’s like you’re wearing denim tights. Too much room and you’re swimming in a sea of fabric. Neither is flattering. Find the balance.

The five main jeans fits are:

1. Skinny
2. Slim
3. Regular
4. Relaxed
5. Loose

Skinny jeans fit tighter around the thighs and butt. They’re skinny from the waist down with a tapered leg. If you’ve got thin legs—the kind that no amount of squat-deadlift supersets will bulk—skinny jeans might just be your thing.

Beware, though. The tighter they are, the thinner you look. There’s nothing wrong with the long and lanky look. In fact, many women prefer it. But any extra weight on your upper body is pronounced. An ill-fitting shirt or extra ten pounds will make you look top-heavy.

If you aren’t sure whether your legs are skinny or just average, bump up to a slim fit.

Slim

Slim fit jeans are our number one recommendation for most guys.

They strike a nice balance between straight-leg, which can appear too loose on some guys, and skinny jeans.

Not too tight, not too loose. Slim fit is straight through the hip with narrow thighs and a taper to the leg opening.

If you’ve never tried on a pair of slim fit jeans, drive out to the mall, now. You’ll be surprised at how much baggage a simple taper sheds.

Regular

Also known as straight-leg. Regular fit jeans work well for athletic guys or anyone with larger thighs and butt. You can find straight-leg jeans that taper toward the bottom, which keeps your profile slimmer while still giving you some room up top to breathe.

Relaxed

Relaxed fit is larger in the hips, thighs, and seat. If you prefer your jeans with plenty of space, relaxed fit will work. Skinny and slim guys should steer away from relaxed fit as it looks too bulky.

If you’ve got an athletic body with hips as wide as your shoulders, you’ll rock relaxed fit jeans in any casual setting. That being said, if you’re looking for jeans that can also fly in a formal setting, go for the straight-cut jeans.

Loose

Wide everywhere. These are a fashion statement. Just like your crazy uncle discussing his plans to storm Area 51, not all statements should be listened to.

Unless you want the “I went into a coma in 1993 and just woke up. Where can I buy a flying car?” look, no loose jeans.

This is especially true for bigger guys. Loose jeans add too much bulk to your lower half. The effect is only magnified for average and smaller guys.

4. The Purpose of the Taper

Taper refers to the cut below the knee down to the leg opening. There are three main types of taper to look at—narrow, regular, and boot-cut.

Narrow Taper

The narrow taper cuts down the amount of fabric and adds an overall slimming effect. You’ll find this style of taper on many pairs of slim fit jeans.

The narrow taper works well with loafers, Chelsea boots, sneakers, and just about any shoe that has a small profile.

Regular

Regular taper, or no taper, is the standard for straight fit and relaxed fit jeans. It works well for athletic guys or anyone with larger calves.

The standard taper works well with sneakers and boots.

Boot-Cut

Boot-cut taper has the most flair. The opening opens below the knee to accommodate any sort of high-ankle boots.

It’s better to stay away from boot-cut unless you know you’ll be wearing your jeans with bulkier shoes. The boot-cut is perfect for larger work boots, motorcycle boots, and even a pair of cowboy boots.

5. Which Style of Denim Should You Go For?

Distressed jeans. It’s a polarizing topic.

Some women love jeans on a guy that are beat to shreds.

Other women despise the look.

So what does a man do?

Before we go any further, we want to make something clear. We don’t think you should ever wear jeans that look like you’ve narrowly survived a shark attack.

But there is a level of distress that looks good.

The best way to find a great pair of distressed jeans is to do the wear-and-tear yourself.

That’s right. Wear ‘em until they rip and shred on their own. It’s rugged, yet shows you care about what you buy.

Ladies love that.

The fact is, gentlemen, if you want to boost your style but you’re not sure what to do—ditch your old ideas about what looks ‘good’ on you. Step out of your comfort zone and into something you’ve never tried before. It’s not only true for jeans, but for your whole wardrobe.

For more on stepping out of your fashion comfort zone, check out Peter Nguyen’s post “16 Essential Style Tips” over at The Essential Man. He breaks down how you can start safe and build from there.

6. Know Your Rise

The rise refers to the distance from the top button to the bottom of the crotch. High-rise come just under the belly button, medium-rise sit at the waist, and low rise sit on the hips.

Medium-rise is perfect for most guys. High-rise and low-rise jeans can look great, but both styles play visual tricks so you should know what you’re getting into before buying.

High-rise jeans flatten your stomach and lengthen your legs, which work well for both larger or older dudes.

Low-rise jeans shorten your legs and lengthen your torso, which isn’t ideal for the average guy. It can work for shorter guys, but it’s a dangerous game. Some low-rise jeans work, others make short guys look shorter. Brands that specialize in clothes for shorter men will nail the rise just right.

Low-rise also works for the total studs out there with washboard abs looking to show off that awesome chisel. If you look like an underwear model, give a low-rise pair of jeans a shot.

7. Does the Wash Complement Your Wardrobe?

Most jeans go through a ‘washing’ process that softens and styles the fabric. You’ve probably heard of stone-washed jeans or acid-washed jeans. Mostly, wash is just for style. But there are practical reasons behind the washing process, too.

You can find jeans that haven’t gone through a washing process. They’ll be marketed as “raw denim.”

The deep indigo, stiff fabric, and strong lines work well for dressing a pair of jeans up. Paired with a blazer and a button up, raw denim is a great choice for most business-casual meetings.

Stone-washed jeans are the most common type of jean. You’ll find some light fading in the thighs and around the seat. Some brands take it to the extreme and will stone-wash until the jeans are nearly ruined.

The acid-wash trend has been dying a slow and painful death since the ‘80s. Even the Levi’s blog promoting acid-wash jeans has a hard time getting excited about them. (“Ready to try it out again?”) Now that’ll inspire confidence, right? No.

Here are our guiding principles for jeans wash, specifically related to color:

• Dark wash denim is more suitable for more formal occasions, while light is more  casual.

• Light wash denim is more suitable for summer and spring, while mid-wash works better for fall fashion, and black and and dark wash for winter.

8. Don’t Forget the Weight

Lastly, you need to consider the weight of the denim in your jeans. Denim weight refers to how thick and heavy the fabric is which determines how your jeans fall.

Denim comes in anything from 4oz to 30oz weight. For practical purposes, we recommend staying between 8oz and 20oz.

For a light, summer jean 10oz is great. Be careful not to wear them too often, though. 10oz jeans distress easily. 12oz-14oz weight is a great balance of durability, style, and value.

Anything beyond 20oz weight is for the self-proclaimed denim-heads. Niche denim? You better believe it.

If you’re interested in learning more about denim weights, check out this great guide over at Heddels.

What’s The Difference Between Jeans and Pants?

Are jeans pants? Are pants jeans? Is there such a thing as denim pants that aren’t jeans?

Yes. Not always. And yes, they exist—just ask your grandpa if you can borrow his.

The difference between jeans and pants is in the construction. Jeans are made from denim fabric and have a double-sewn seam running down the leg. They also have metal rivets reinforcing the hip pockets and sometimes the back pockets.

“Pants” is the overarching term for any sort of trouser, jeans included. A square is a rectangle, but a rectangle isn’t always a square. Jeans are pants, but pants aren’t always jeans. Geometry.

Chinos, dress pants, and khakis are all pants, but you certainly wouldn’t mistake them for jeans.

How To Wash And Care For Your Jeans

This might surprise you, but you don’t need to wash your jeans after every time you wear them. Now, gents, don’t take this as an excuse to skip laundry day.

Washing often will damage your jeans and they’ll wear out faster. One of the beautiful things about denim is that it contours to your body over time. The better you care for your jeans, the better they’ll fit you.

You can go months without washing your jeans. Hard-core denim-heads will sometimes go an entire year, wearing the same pair every day without washing.

You may not be that extreme, and we don’t blame you. That stink can be powerful.

We personally wash every five to seven wears. Jeans also pick up bar-smells, so we’ll wash after a night on the town.

When you’re ready to clean those bad-boys, follow a few rules to preserve your jeans and get more out of your investment.

Skip the washing machine—it’s too violent for jeans. They just want to be worn, not tossed around.

Fill your bathtub (or a large sink) with warm water and a little detergent. Let your jeans absorb the sudsy water and agitate with your hand. No need to scrub like crazy here—just basic agitation will do. Your jeans can soak for 15-20 minutes.

You’ll notice the water turn yellow. That’s all that dirt and grime you’ve been collecting. Remove your jeans and drain the dirty water.

Fill your tub with cold water and let your jeans sit in the rinse for another 15-20 minutes.

After the rinse, hang your jeans to dry. Avoid the dryer—you’ll risk undoing all that work you’ve put in.

Once they’re dry, you’re ready to wear them again for another two weeks (or two years).

Our Final Word on Jeans

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A post shared by Ryan | Mens Fashion (@ryancraig.mk) on Nov 19, 2019 at 9:57am PST

If you haven’t found your dream-jeans yet, don’t give up hope.

Great jeans are such a universal staple, you can find a pair that fits your body type practically anywhere. You just need to know what to look for.

Follow our advice, and we’re pretty sure you’ll find your match somewhere on this list. After you’ve found them, take care of those blue-beauties. Every bit of effort comes back in the form of a pair of jeans looking like it was custom made just for you.

So now you’re armed with knowledge. Go forth and find your soul-jeans.

The perfect pair is out there, like a mythical sword, just waiting to be worn by you.