How many shorts should a man own

Wearing shorts is one of the best ways to stay cool and casual when its hot outside. Heres how to wear shorts properly (and how your shorts should fit).

How many shorts should a man own
polo shirt (similar) | shorts | sneakers

Shorts are perfect for weekend shenanigans, dog walks, the beach, the pool, barbecues, picnics, romantic walks in the park…you get the point.

Shorts are inherently casual, but that doesnt mean they have to look adolescent and sloppy. So why do most men look so bad wearing shorts?

How many shorts should a man own

Well, theyre just not wearing them correctly. Their shorts dont fit properly, and theyre not wearing the right styles.

This guide teaches you how to avoid these mistakes so you look amazing wearing shorts, just like the laid back, stylish gent you really are!

  • How Men’s Shorts Should Fit
    • Shorts Length: How Long Should Men’s Shorts Be?
    • Shorts Width (Leg Opening)
    • Slim Fit vs. Classic Fit Shorts
    • Make Your Shorts Fit Better
  • Men’s Shorts Styles & Aesthetic
  • Men’s Shorts Outfit Ideas
  • Where to Buy Men’s Shorts

To make sure your shorts flatter your body type, you need to pay attention to the length AND the width (the leg opening).

How many shorts should a man own

Lets start with the length…

Shorts Length: How Long Should Men’s Shorts Be?

Just like with swim trunks, its crucial that your shorts dont go past your knees.

They should stop at the top of your kneecaps (at the longest).

How many shorts should a man own
For most guys, 7″ shorts are the perfect above-the-knee length.

I like my shorts a little shorter, so most of my short stop 2-3 inches above my knees. This is a matter of personal preference, but I dont think any man looks good with shorts that go past his knees.

How many shorts should a man own
shoes | polo | shorts

Just like pants, the length of your shorts is measured along the inseam. The best length for men under 59″ is 7″.

Anything longer than that will most likely be too long, although you can get away with 9″ shorts if you like them a little longer.

If youre under 55″ or just want to show a little more thigh (highly recommended) you might want to wear 5″ shorts instead.

Shorts Width (Leg Opening)

After wearing shorts that are too long, the second most common mistake that guys make is wearing shorts that are too wide.

How many shorts should a man own
Kevin Smith is 58″ max, and his choice of long, wide shorts only makes him look shorter (no offense, Kevin…love your work!). Photo by s_bukley/Deposit Photos
How many shorts should a man own
Avoid this!

Just like pants, many mass-manufactured shorts will be too wide through the leg. Unless you have thick legs, youll need to look for slim fit shorts or get your shorts tailored.

You want to avoid the trapezoid silhouette - where your shorts are wider at the bottom than the top. This happens when the leg opening (or circumference) or your shorts is a lot wider than the circumference of your leg.

It creates a bottom heavy silhouette, just like when women wear loose skirts. Great for them, bad for us.

Plus it makes your legs look thin and weak because theyre being swallowed up by your shorts.

Instead, try to achieve a nice gentle taper that follows the line of your body:

How many shorts should a man own

Your shorts dont have to be skin tight. They should be fitted and comfortable, and you should be able to move around.

How many shorts should a man own

Make sure you theres a little wiggle room between the fabric and your skin, but not more than a couple of inches.

Slim Fit vs. Classic Fit Shorts

One easy way to ensure your shorts arent too wide is by looking for slim fit on the label. This difference in cut seems subtle, but it makes all the difference.

How many shorts should a man own
Classic Fit vs. Slim Fit Shorts

Unless you have big thighs and hamstrings, slim fit shorts will probably be your best option. Remember, most U.S. brands are making shorts for the average American guy (whos about 59″ and slightly overweight).

On top of that, most American men like looser fitting clothes, so classic fit (or straight leg) shorts are going to have plenty of room through the leg and a wider leg opening.

Slim fit shorts will have a slimmer thigh and a bit more taper down to the leg opening.

How many shorts should a man own
t-shirt | shorts | sneakers | watch

Remember: not all slim fit shorts are created equal. Theres no universal definition of slim fit, so different brands offer different silhouettes.

How many shorts should a man own
Amazon Essentials slim fit chinos shorts vs. Bonobos slim fit chinos shorts

The best way to figure out which brands work for you is to try them on. Most brands, like Amazon and Bonobos, offer free shipping and returns, so its easy to try on a few pairs at home, then only keep the ones you like.

Make Your Shorts Fit Better

Just like pants, shorts can be hemmed. Or, if you dont want to pay the tailor tax, you can also just roll your shorts up.

How many shorts should a man own
These 9″ chino shorts have been cuffed once to about 8″. If your shorts are too long, try cuffing them!

When trying on shorts, its most important that they fit in the seat and crotch. Everything else can be fixed (including the waist).

You can also get them tapered for $15-25 and have the waist adjusted by 1-2″ either way.

Men’s Shorts Styles & Aesthetic

You can wear whatever you like, but if youre going for a somewhat mature and timeless look, heres a quick list of what to avoid:

  • Cargo pockets
  • Large, bold patterns
  • Bright, saturated colors
  • Obvious branding/logos
  • Distressing (tears, rips, holes, stains)

Stick with solid colors and small scale patterns or prints. For example, if you like polka dots or floral prints, thats totally fine. Just make sure theyre small in scale (small dots or flowers).

How many shorts should a man own
Small scale houndstooth pattern; cuffed once for length

Solid colors like tan, khaki, black, navy, grey and olive are always a safe and classy choice. If youre not sure which colors work best, check out our guide to neutral menswear colors.

When in doubt, a pair of khaki chino shorts is a solid option that will go with almost any shirt.

Men’s Shorts Outfit Ideas

Need some stylish inspiration? Here are some examples of guys looking great in shorts:

How many shorts should a man own

How many shorts should a man own

How many shorts should a man own
Source: @thegentwithin
How many shorts should a man own
Source: @paulbinam

How many shorts should a man own

How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit

How many shorts should a man own

How many shorts should a man own
Source: @mrrlittle
How many shorts should a man own
Source: @modestmanstyle

How many shorts should a man own

How many shorts should a man own

How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit MFA
How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit MFA
How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit MFA
How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit MFA
How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit MFA
How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit MFA
How many shorts should a man own
Source: Reddit MFA

Now you know how shorts should fit and how to wear shorts, you might be thinking, Hmm, I could use a new pair of shorts…or three.

Ive got you covered!

Where to Buy Men’s Shorts

There are so many great places to buy mens shorts - especially chino shorts and tech shorts - its hard to list them all. Here are a few of TMMs current favorite brands:

  • Topman Skinny Chino Shorts - actual skinny fit shorts; only good for very slender legs
  • ASOS Skinny Chino Shorts - similar fit to Topman but much more affordable (and lower quality)
  • Amazon Essentials Slim Fit 7″ Shorts - super affordable; subtly slim fit
  • Amazon Goodthreads Slim Fit 7″ Drawstring Shorts - more comfortable and casual than most chino shorts
  • Outlier New Way Shorts (slim-straight; bulletproof)
  • Bonobos Stretch Washed Shorts - available in 3 different lengths and fits (I prefer 7″ slim fit)
  • J.Crew 7″ Stretch Short - tons of color options to choose from; subtly slim fit (not even close to skinny)
  • Goodfellow 7″ Slim Fit Chino Shorts - good quality for the price; not super slim
  • Bearbottom Stretch Shorts - many different lengths and styles to choose from; read our full Bearbottom review
  • Ash & Erie Shorts - limited color selection but great fit on my 5″6″ slender frame

If youre looking to revamp your shorts collection and find a new brand thats perfect for you, I recommend ordering a few pairs off this list.

Once you find something that fits, order a couple of different styles and colors, then youll be set for a while!

Whats your favorite pair of shorts? Leave a comment below!

How many pairs of pants should a man own?

Seven is a good number (excluding track pants, pajamas and shorts). Three pairs of jeans — dark blue, light blue and black or grey. Two pairs of chinos — one beige, one another shade. Two pairs of formal trousers.

How many clothes does an average man have?

Most survey respondents seem to have between 77 to 155 pieces in their wardrobe with a few outliers in the 300+ range.

How many shirt should a man own?

Generally, it is suggested that men own around 8-12 dress shirts if you wear them every day for work, or just 3 if you only wear them for special occasions. That includes button-down shirts that can be worn with or without a jacket, more stylish shirts with some tailoring or style, and a few different colors.

How many pants does the average man own?

Research cited by Fashion United found that on average women own 7 pairs of jeans and that men own on average 6 pairs, but despite this, we only really wear 4 pairs that we own.