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One of the most popular questions I get from readers is what is the proper length to hem pants? Years ago, there was a cut and dry answer, but these days even hemlines get caught up in fashion trends. However, there are some classic guidelines to follow if you’re looking for a traditional cut or how to hem your trousers for the office.
The proper length of pants will make you look polished, your clothing will look more expensive, your figure more balanced. Too long of trousers and the effect is sloppy, too short and you can ruin the line of your look.
You should always get your pants hemmed while wearing the shoes you plan on wearing with them. This will get a better feel for how the pants actually hang on you and will ensure a proper length hem. This is a big reason why I recommend keeping your shoes around two different heights – a flat height, and a heel or wedge height. This way, you can switch around shoes while your pants still hang correctly.
Hem Length for Classic Trousers
When I state classic trousers, these are work pants that aren’t fitted, not overly wide of a leg, no flared bottom, or cropped style. A straight, slightly wide, faintly bootcut, or menswear-inspired pant, whether it is part of a suit or a pair of ponte knit you wear on the weekends the back of the trousers should be ½” off the floor. This is enough to be sure you don’t step on them, there’s usually a bit of a “break” (when the drape has a bend near the hem), and they have great drape. When wearing pumps, only the front of your shoe should be showing.
Hem Length for Wide Leg Pants
Wide leg jeans and pants, and extreme flares look best with a longer length. For these, you almost want your shoe hidden; the back of the pants or jeans should be ¼” off the floor. This length will keep them from dragging but will give a modern, clean look. Only a peek of your toe should be showing.
Hem Length for Bootcut Jeans and Trousers
A bootcut is between the classic and the wide leg styles, so you can go with ¼” to ½” from the floor. If you know you need to hem a lot from a bootcut or flare jean, I recommend going with petite or trying a different style as you may end up losing or ruining the actual silhouette with the alterations.
Hem Length for Skinny Jeans and Pants, Jeggings, and Leggings
Skinnies are the easiest. They should end at the top of the ankle, but if they gather or pool a bit it’s okay. Also because they are to be shorter, they can work equally well with heels and flats
Hem Length for Straight Leg Jeans and Pants
Since straight length pants won’t always fit over shoes and don’t “break” well when longer, they can be shorter than other styles of pants. Near the bottom of the ankle, before your foot starts is a good point for the hem. However, if you desire a longer pant and the fabric works you can go longer. Just don’t go too short, a straight pant can easily look like a too-long ankle pant or “highwaters” when too short.
Hem Length for Ankle Pants
Every season, it seems that ankle pants are a different length. Like skirt hem lengths, the best choice is to have the ankle pant at a length to highlight the slimmest part of your ankle. To show these are ankle pants and not too-short straight or skinny pants, you need to show some skin. The pant should end somewhere around the ankle bone; I find being short with thick legs I do better near the bottom of the ankle bone, while someone with thin or long legs may like a shorter pant. An ankle pant should never be skimming your shoe, no matter the style of footwear there should be skin between them and your hem. Since this is a shorter pant and you’re not worrying about a “break” you can wear the same length with heels and flats.
Common Questions Regarding Pant Lengths
My commuter shoes are flats, but my work shoes are heels. How do I get to work without my pants dragging?
You need a way to raise up the pants for your commute; there are many gadgets on the market that accomplishes this without damaging your trousers. The Scotch brand has adjustable hem tape that is easily removable and only around $5. Hollywood Fashion Secrets also has a version that is less than $10. Style Snaps can also be found on Amazon and I know many women who have and love them. Cityclips are another alternative that temporarily clip up your hems.
What length should my pants be to work with both flats and heels?
Unless the pants or jeans are ankle length they rarely work with both flats and heels. Again, I recommend sticking to around the same height of heels so you can easily mix and match pants and shoes. If you have a beloved pair of pants you wish to wear with flats and heels… consider purchasing two pairs. I have been known to buy the same jeans and have one pair tailored for flats and the other for heels. It may seem excessive, but it may prevent you from destroying your favorite pants or buying “not quite right” pants.
If you would prefer to stick with one pair of pants (I don't blame you), consider an ankle-length with a straight leg. This is a style that will work with a 3″ pump, a kitten heel bootie that slips under the hem, or even your favorite pair of sneakers.
My weight constantly fluctuates, what length should I make my pants?
When I was pregnant and looking for maternity pants, it seemed every pair was several inches too long. A wise friend told me to maybe hem one or two pairs for now, but the longer length will work once I reached third trimester. That friend was right; in fact, some of the miles-long pants ended up too short. Since then, my weight has fluctuated and I will find that while the waist will still fit well enough, depending on where I sit on the scale my pants and jeans can be dragging on the ground or just too short for comfort (or style).
I find if the pants still fit elsewhere but your length is an issue, hem your pants for your regular heel height at your smallest size, and switch to flats or kitten heels when you’re heavier. Instead of replacing all your suits and trousers, if you maintain this larger size consider buying a pair or two of shoes with a heel an inch shorter.
I’m plus size, should I have a longer hem on my pants?
To look polished, it’s even more important for those of us who are soft and overweight to be aware of hems and proportion. While too short pants look even more awkward when you’re larger, too long pants look sloppy and can make us look as though we don’t care about our appearance. I do feel that it’s more flattering to not have any skin showing between your pant hem and shoe; while slim women can have a bit of foot show with work trousers and pumps, it’s a cleaner look to have a continuous line from waist to floor. The above hem guidelines should work no matter your size, height, or figure.
What are the best flats to wear with work trousers?
A structured flat, meaning a shoe that keeps its shape even if your foot isn’t in it. One with a proper sole and maybe a tiny sliver of a heel to show it’s a shoe and not a slipper. An elongated or pointed toe is a nice touch and makes the shoe look more professional and is sure to peek out from your pant hem.
This post was originally published in 2016, and updated for a new decade with new products and style trends.
Shop Tools to Hem Your Pants without Sewing:
You inspired me. Spending the morning picking out stitches to hem up two pair of slacks. Also taking a pair in at the waist, because they actually fell down one day. Procrastination overcome. Thank you.
I’ve been thinking about emailing in a question, but I may as well ask here since we’re more or less on a related topic. How should one wear ankle boots with jeans? And specifically, how should one wear ankle boots with straight or skinny jeans when it’s really, really cold? Temperatures well into the negative digits are typical where I live in winter, but often there’s little or no snow or it’s been shoveled and a person can wear ankle boots safely. But most fashion blogs chirpily opine that one should simply roll up or cuff one’s skinnies either to the top of the ankle boot or bootie or an inch or so above… and leave one’s ankles bare. Okay, no, it’s ten below. What to do? Wear a tall sock matching the color of one’s pants? Of one’s boots? Buy additional skinnies that are long enough to tuck into the boots? But so many jeans aren’t truly skinny all the way to the bottom hem and “blouse” unattractively if tucked into shorter boots or booties. I struggle with this every winter. As for straight leg jeans, can I just wear them over the top of ankle boots or booties if the leg opening of the jeans is wide enough? Or will I look like I’m stuck in the seventies? (It’s possible I’m overthinking all this, but with taller boots more or less out of style, I’m at a loss.)
Can you also comment on maxi dress lengths? I’m so confused as to what’s best with my petite, curvy bod, and the thought of dress dragging on the filthy ground sleeves me out! Thanks!!
I don’t understand exactly where you mean on skinnies. Top of the ankle is where? How is that different from ankle pants, which I thought were shorter, yet you say they can go down anywhere along the ankle bone?
Allie,
Looks like the link in the email is broken or missing. I’ve clicked several times and the response is that the page is missing.
Yes, I am so sorry there was a technical glitch and the link changed itself around 9am ET. I sent a follow-up email apologizing and offering the correct link but from what I am reading it went into spam folders. The issue has been remedied it shouldn’t happen again, thank you Jacqueline!
No problem and I’m glad you were aware. I just knew to go to the web version, but I thought to tell you in case you didn’t know. Great post, btw, I just bought some straight leg corduroys from j.crew and now think they may be a bit too short as they are above my ankles by about 3 inches! If they shrink they’ll look like high-waters!
Do you ever hem pants on an angle so there’s a slight break in the front but not too short in the back? I do this frequently. It seems like all my pants really need this. Classic cut. Not overly wide. 1 1/2 heel.
Binder clips work well for commuting hems…
I second binder clips. I haven’t tried the City Clips but none of the other stuff listed work for more than one time.
This is one of my questions, too! I also wanted to ask (or did I?) about how to hem – do you use needle and thread or that sticky stuff (less permanent?) or what? Esp important if the pants shrink in the second/third washing – etc. I am SO AFRAID to hem pants!! How wide of a hem is ok? I like to cut as little as possible in case of errors, shrinking, etc.
Always launder a pair of pants before altering them. They shouldn’t keep shrinking after one wash, if so you should be washing in a different manner (no dryer, gentle cycle or dry clean). I take my pants to my dry cleaner to hem because when I have tried on my own they have never been even no matter how many times I measure. Also, having someone else do it you’ll get a more accurate length with your shoes because you’re standing upright. Too wide or thick of a hem and you can end up affecting the drape of the pant and the hem will be obvious. More than 2″ can look wonky; lighter-weight fabrics can sometimes handle 3″. You don’t want to just cut and hem; some fabrics you’ll want bias tape. Heavier fabrics you can foldover and hem, others you’ll want to serge the edge to prevent fraying. A hem seam is an invisible one too, which is tough to do on your own. I’ve used Stitch Witchery before and it’s not bad for basic suiting trousers, but won’t hold with heavier fabrics like ponte, and will be stiff/obvious on lighter weight fabrics. Depending on whether the pants are stretchy or lined, getting my cleaner to hem pants starts around $12 which really is a good deal to get a custom fit!
Thanks! Yeah, I figured a wide hem was probably not advised. Maybe I will just take to my tailor/dry cleaner….
I have trouble getting Stitch Witchery to adhere properly without burning my fingers.
Three heights for me, so I stay perpetually confused – flats, low boot, and heels.
This is a great guide, thanks!
To the commuter question: I wear a pair of dress socks with my flats, fold the socks them over at the ankle, fold the bottom of my pants under and catch the hem of the pants in the fold of the socks at the back only. It stops the backs of pants from getting stepped on, but is subtle and doesn’t leave marks or creases in the pants. It won’t really work if your pants are hemmed for 6 inch heels….but more modest lengths will work.
What a great hack, thank you Mallory!