Best Men's Shorts - How Long Should My Shorts Be?

The best men’s shorts are in direct correlation with their inseam. To this day, there are still men wearing shorts too long for their stature. On the flip side, I rarely see shorts too short on men, unless I am at an on-trend pool party in Palm Springs, in which case, I wouldn’t dare call them too short since it is absolutely appropriate for that scene. Despite the availability of shorter short inseams, we are still at a skin deficit with you guys. If only you fellas knew how much women want to see your legs.

How Long Should My Shorts Be?

how long should my shorts be

Unless you are doing a specific slim cut, cuffed capri look, your shorts should be no longer than 1 inch above the top of your knee, but even this can be too long for a modern look. When aiming for a modern and versatile short length, a good rule of thumb is to have your shorts end about halfway between the bottom of your groin and the mid-point of your knee, as my graphic shows above.

If you are looking for numeric advice, the exact inseam of your shorts depends on your readiness to show skin and your height — or to be more specific, your leg length. Two men of the same height may have very different thigh lengths if one has long legs and a shorter torso while the other man has shorter legs and a longer torso. On the other hand, two men could have a seven-inch difference in height and possess the same inseam measurement, as is the case with Olympians Michael Phelps and Hicham El Guerrouj.

Pictured above is a model that is 6’2″ in height, but visually I can see most of his height is in his torso, so his inseam could be 31 inches. But that is an exception, and since most people know their height and not their inseam, here is a conservative breakdown of how long your shorts should be according to your height:

5’0″ – 5’4″: Can wear a 5-6 inch inseam short for everyday use
5’5″ – 5’10”: Can wear a 7-inch inseam short for everyday use
5’11” – 6’3″: Can wear an 8-9 inch inseam short for everyday use
6’4″ – 6’7″: Can wear a 10-11 inch inseam short for everyday use

Keep in mind if you are on the higher or lower end of a height recommendation you can wear the inseam length assigned to you as well as the next recommendation closest to you. For instance, someone who is 5’11” can wear a 7-inch inseam as well as a 9-inch inseam. I just wanted to give a general recommendation list for those trying to keep their head above water style-wise.

How Long Should My Swim Shorts Be?

Goodlife $98

Your swim shorts should be shorter than your everyday shorts. Show me leg, gosh darn it, and get some vitamin D on those thighs. I don’t care how pale your legs are right now. This is how you are going to get that melanin. I want to see 5-inch inseam shorts on my shorter men, and a 7-inch inseam if you are taller. You might upset me if you wear an 11-inch inseam and you are not 7 feet tall.

How Should Men’s Shorts Fit?

Men’s shorts should be a slim fit. Do not buy baggy shorts. This is a big no-no. This doesn’t mean as a bigger fella you will be buying skinny-leg shorts. If you are a muscular or larger man, a “relaxed fit” can actually look quite slim on you because you will fill out the pant legs, whereas a lean man will really struggle with anything wider than a slim or skinny cut short.

If you’re looking for some tees to pair with your shorts, check out my post on the Best T-Shirt Colors.

Most Comfortable Shorts for Men: Vuori Ponto Shorts

Vuori $78

Every single one of my clients who I put this Vuori short on is in awe of the comfort. They are the coziest of lounge shorts for home, but stylish enough to wear out and about in the world — casually of course. These shorts are available at Nordstrom and Vuori.

Inseam Length: 7 1/2″

Fabric Content: 89% recycled polyester, 11% elastane

Best Men’s Hybrid Shorts: Peter Millar Men’s Shackleford Performance Hybrid Shorts

Peter Millar $98

This short truly looks like a regular every day short, unlike some hybrid shorts that look more like swim shorts. These shorts are available at Nordstrom and Peter Millar.

Inseam Length: 10″

Fabric Content: 88% polyester, 12% spandex

Best Men’s Chino Shorts: AG Men’s Wanderer Poplin Chino Shorts

AG $135

I have been putting AG chino shorts on my clients for over a decade. At one point I took a break because I felt their leg openings were too wide, but it appears they have remedied that with this gorgeous poplin chino short.

Inseam Length: 8″

Fabric Content: 98% cotton, 2% elastane

Best Men’s Khaki Shorts: AG Men’s Wanderer Poplin Chino Shorts

AG $52.97-135

Well, hello AG, once again. The right color khaki short is essential. Too light feels too preppy and doesn’t pair with much besides white. Too dirty and it can wash out most skin tones. AG solves this conundrum by providing two lovely khaki short colors: Dry dust (prettier than it sounds) and sulfur wheat fields, which is a brighter khaki color without being too bright. If you have brighter summer tops, go with the “sulfur wheat fields” shade of khaki. If you have an earthier collection of summer tops, opt for the “dry dust” shade.

Inseam Length: 8″

Fabric Content: 98% cotton, 2% elastane

Best Plus Size Shorts For Men: Johnny Bigg Cameron Knit Shorts

Johnny Bigg $65

Johnny Bigg has done a great job of creating 5-pocket shorts for my bigger clients. Five-pocket means they have curved pockets instead of slanted pockets, which are always flaring on my larger men. These shorts have zero flare at the hips and the legs are cut beautifully. My clients are in love. Let me know in the comments if you have tried them.

Inseam Length: 9.5″

Fabric Content: 98% cotton, 2% elastane

More Comfortable + Stylish Shorts For Men…

We will update our post on the best men’s shorts every summer and continue to add new shorts regularly as I come across them for my clients. I drop all new additions below for your browsing pleasure. Feel free to mention in the comments if you have tried any of my recommendations and what inseam you have found that flatters your height and stature. Our community of readers would love to know how it worked for your specific body type and needs.