Few items in your closet are as versatile as a great pair of jeans. Practical enough to be worn everyday, the best jeans for men are classic, comfortable and stylish. If you’re ready to refresh your wardrobe, we talked to stylists and menswear experts to find the pairs that consistently top their lists. Here, we’re sharing all of their recommendations, including Todd Snyder’s Slim Fit Stretch Jean, a crowd favorite that’s classic, rugged, extremely comfortable and built to last.
and comfortable to wear all day.ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: TODD SNYDER
But, there are several more worth a browse. For an affordable option, Levi’s is the reliable favorite; the 511 jeans cost just $70 (or less) on Amazon. If you’re looking for a stretchy pair you can dress up or down, you can’t go wrong with Bonobos’s Premium 4-Way Stretch Jeans, which come in dark washes and look equally great with a button-down or your favorite T-shirt. Ahead, we rounded up the best men’s jeans in a slew of different cuts, washes and fits.
MOST POPULAR
Waist sizes: 28 to 40 | Inseam lengths: 30 to 34 | Leg opening: 14 inches | Style: Slim | Colors: 4 total, including Indigo and Granite | Material: 85.5% cotton, 13.5% polyester, 1% elastane
For all around perfect jeans, Todd Snyder is the way to go, says Turner Allen, founder and lead stylist of Style Turner. “Its robust denim selection features lots of different washes and fits to suit almost anyone’s preferences, from novice to expert.” This particular jean features a modern, flattering slim fit with the comfort of stretch. It also comes in four washes, from a dressier indigo rinse to a weekend-friendly destroyed wash.
What’s notable:
Modern slim fit
Stretchy feel
Available in light and dark washes
What could be better:
Some customers say sizing is inconsistent between washes
Waist sizes: 28 to 46 | Inseam lengths: 28 to 36 | Style: Slim | Colors: 12 total, including Jet Black and Dark Ink | Material: 57% cotton, 21% modal, 17% polyester, 5% elastane
This versatile jean has a zip fly and five-pocket styling. It comes in five fits—slim, tailored, straight, athletic and slim taper—so you’re likely to find one that works for you. “The slim style has a slim straight leg and is extremely flattering on a guy with a more narrow frame,” says Megan Collins, founder of the men’s styling agency Style Girlfriend. “While blue is the most popular, it comes in other go-with-everything colorways.”
What’s notable:
Variety of fits to choose from
Wide range of washes to pick from
Ultra-soft and stretchy
What could be better:
Multiple customers say these jeans have a strong smell
Material is prone to shrinking in the dryer
Levi’s
Levi’s 511 Jeans (Always Adapt Wash)
Waist sizes: 25 to 42 | Inseam lengths: 27 to 36| Leg opening: 14.5 inces | Style: Slim | Colors: 63 total, including Blue Stone and Meteorite | Material: 79% cotton, 20% polyester, 1% Lycra elastane
Having a pair of Levi’s as part of your denim collection is kind of a necessity, especially given that denim jeans were invented by Levi Strauss himself in 1873. While the straight-leg 501s are a classic, these 511s are a slimmer mid-rise. These have just a hint of stretch, which offers give and allows for movement but won’t compromise structure after hours of wear. At such a budget-friendly price, you may just need to scoop up a few different washes.
What’s notable:
Dozens of washes to pick from
Classic, dependable brand
Available in big and tall sizes
What could be better:
Denim breakdown varies from wash to wash
Some customers say sizing is inconsistent between washes
AG Jeans
AG Tellis Modern Slim Jeans
Waist sizes: 28 to 44 | Inseam length: 30 to 36 | Leg opening: 13.75 inches | Style: Slim tapered | Colors: 5 total, including Stellar and 22 Years Viga | Material: 98% cotton, 2% polyester
Los Angeles-based AG Jeans was founded in 2000 and has become a brand leader in sustainable manufacturing processes. If you’re looking for men’s jeans in a variety of washes, the Tellis style from AG Jeans is consistently top-rated. It has a modern slim cut with a slightly tapered leg, five pockets and a comfort stretch that makes it an extremely versatile jean.
What’s notable:
Denim has all-direction stretch
Durable details ensure this pair will last
Slim but comfortable fit
What could be better:
Smaller and larger sizes tend to sell out quickly
Madewell
Madewell Athletic Slim Jean
Waist sizes: 28 to 44 | Inseam lengths: 28 to 34 | Leg opening: 13.5 inches | Style: Slim | Colors: 2 total, including Bainhart and Leeward | Material: 75% cotton, 23% polyester, 2% elastane
Madewell’s denim is hard-wearing and made to last without costing a fortune. This fitted-through-the-hip-and-thigh style is a standout, constructed from the brand’s “Everyday Flex” denim, which has a soft, moves-with-you feel. These particular jeans also feature Madewell’s Coolmax technology, which means they’re especially good at wicking away moisture and regulating temperature.
What’s notable:
Coolmax fibers wick away moisture
Muscle-friendly fit
Denim has a hint of stretch
What could be better:
Only two washes available
Amazon
Naked & Famous 11Oz Stretch Selvedge Jeans
Waist sizes: 28 to 38 | Inseam lengths: 32.5 | Leg opening: 14.25 inches | Style: Tapered leg | Colors: Indigo | Material: 98% cotton, 2% polyurethane
Canadian brand Naked & Famous is a cult-favorite for when you want rugged construction along with streamlined style. Its “Easy Guy” silhouette features a high rise, fitting loosely throughout the thigh before tapering sharply down to the ankle. “This is a go-to for almost all of my personal styling clients because it’s light enough to feel comfortable every day, yet hearty enough to withstand years of consistent wear and tear,” says Allen. “I also love the dark—slightly grey-toned—wash that these jeans come in.” The rope-dyed Japanese selvedge denim contains 2% polyurethane, which means it has good stretch recovery and won’t ever look rumpled.
What’s notable:
High-quality selvedge denim
Good stretch recovery
Cool contrast stitching
What could be better:
Only available in one wash
Not a lot of customer reviews on Amazon
DUER
Duer Performance Denim Slim
Waist sizes: 28 to 40 | Inseam lengths: 30 to 34 | Style: Slim | Colors: 7 total including Aged Gray and Tidal | Material: 70% cotton, 28% Coolmax polyester, 2% Lycra spandex
Originally launched in 2015, Vancouver-based lifestyle brand Duer creates denim from plant-based or recycled fibers. This technical pair is supremely stretchy yet still maintains a heritage denim appearance—meaning, it doesn’t look thin and the fabric is resilient. It’s also moisture-wicking and is treated with silver ions to help neutralize odor, so you could ride your bike to work in these and go straight into a board meeting.
What’s notable:
Over 4,000 5-star customer ratings on DUER’s website
Wide range of washes to pick from
Made of sustainable materials
What could be better:
Some customers feel the denim quality could be better
Waist sizes: 28 to 40 | Inseam lengths: 30 to 34 | Style: Relaxed | Colors: 3 total, including Dark Indigo and Black | Material: 94% cotton, 2% elastane, 4% other fiber
Everlane’s denim is beloved for its simplicity and quality. These jeans have lots of stretch through the warp and weft—the two types of yarn that are woven to create denim—for comfy range of motion. If you like a relaxed fit, these are the jeans that pair nicely with your favorite sweatshirt and sneakers.
What’s notable:
Backed by a 365-day guarantee
Four-way stretch denim
Made with organic cotton
What could be better:
Customers say the actual fit is slimmer than advertised
Waist sizes: 28 to 38 | Inseam lengths: 30 to 34 | Leg opening: 12.3 inches | Style: Skinny | Colors: 3 total, including Three Year and Deep Lake | Material: Cotton, elastane
Using J.Crew’s signature “Stretch On Demand” technology, these skinny jeans offer just enough give without feeling thin or flimsy. They have a zipper fly, traditional five-pocket styling and a narrow, tapered leg. There are three washes available: light, medium and dark. Pair them with simple tees, crewneck sweaters, blazers and more.
French brand A.P.C. has been renowned for creating effortlessly cool, minimalist styles since 1987, and this jean has been popular since the brand’s inception. “The A.P.C. Petit Standard is an easy-to-wear fit that’s never going to go out of style,” Collins says. This selvedge pair’s low-key sophistication makes it an excellent choice for the office as well as any happy hours you may be attending after work. The tailored, dark indigo denim will be stiff at first, but will break in beautifully over time.
What’s notable:
High-quality selvedge denim
Timeless, versatile style
Cool contrast stitching
What could be better:
Only available in one wash
They have to be broken in over several wears
Waist sizes: 26 to 44 | Inseam lengths: 28 to 36 | Leg opening: 7.4 inches | Style: Slim | Colors: True Black | Material: 43% cotton, 29% Tencel lyocell, 13% polyester, 13% Tencel modal, 2% elastane
Banana Republic’s denim just keeps getting better and better since the brand recently reimagined itself with a focus on modern menswear. The best-selling Luxe Traveler Black Jean is cut from lightweight denim with the right amount of stretch to retain its shape and allow for easy movement. They’re brushed for softness so they feel comfortable from the first wear, and the black color is rich and saturated.
What’s notable:
Variety of fits to choose from
Wide range of washes to pick from
Ultra-soft and stretchy
What could be better:
Several customers say these jeans run long compared to other Banana Republic pants
USA-Made
Waist sizes: 30 to 40 | Inseam lengths: 34 | Leg opening: 15 inches | Style: Slim | Colors: Blue | Material: 95% cotton, 5% polyurethane
Tom Ford jeans have everything you could want in denim: They’re well-tailored, cut from high-quality selvedge, fashionable and comfortable to wear. This pair is mid-rise with a button fly and relaxed slim fit that you’ll get a lot of mileage out of. In fact, if you consider the cost-per-wear, the price doesn’t sting quite so much.
What’s notable:
High-quality selvedge denim
Made in the US
Pre-faded for a worn-in look
What could be better:
Only available in one wash
Expensive
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted Team has researched and published dozens of fashion stories; co-author Molly Calhoun is a regular contributor with extensive experience covering men’s clothing and accessories. Co-author Jamie Ueda has specific experience in apparel and textiles, having worked in material development and technical design at Nike and other brands. To gain more insight into what makes a pair of jeans truly stand out, we also enlisted multiple experts:
Sydney-based stylist Josephine Eve and Los Angeles-based stylist Alison Deyette shared their top jean shopping tips from finding your ideal leg shape to selecting the right type of denim.
Turner Allen, founder and lead stylist of Style Turner, as well as Megan Collins, founder of the men’s styling agency Style Girlfriend, weighed in on specific denim brands they recommend to clients.
Grace Thomas, stylist of Builtgracefully, and fashion designer John Smith delved into how to take accurate measurements and pick out sizes and styles that feel good on you.
Aaron Gilbert, men’s denim designer at Lee talked us through how to find the best jeans for your body type.
Finally, we also tapped into our team’s internal expertise—deputy fashion editor Kari Molvar, who oversees the publishing of this piece, holds a certificate in fashion styling from the Business of Fashion.
This story is regularly edited for accuracy and was last updated in February 2024. During its most recent update, co-author Jamie Ueda added additional shopping tips from experts on how to find your perfect fit.
How We Chose The Best Men’s Jeans
To help you make the right purchase, we researched best-selling men’s jeans and looked at specific features like comfort, fit, style, stretch and quality of the denim. We also read dozens of reviews from customers who have actually worn the jeans themselves in order to find potential pros and cons of each pick. To ensure your jeans will last over time, we prioritized brands with an expertise in menswear and those that have an excellent reputation in the denim market, in particular. Finally, we made sure our final selections were affordable across a range of budgets.
The co-author of this piece, Molly Calhoun, also gathered denim recommendations from Turner Allen, founder and lead stylist of Style Turner, as well as Megan Collins, founder of the men’s styling agency Style Girlfriend. Since every body type is unique, this denim guide is geared toward different fits, from athletic to straight-leg. You’ll also find styles for different occasions, whether you’re looking for a pair to wear to work or more casually on the weekends.
What To Consider When Shopping For Men’s Jeans
While many jeans may look similar at first glance, they vary greatly in price, material, style and fit. Here, find our experts’ advice on what look for when you’re figuring out which pair to invest in.
Style
There are many styles of jeans out there—from skinny to tapered to straight to a more relaxed fit. Determining which one is right for you will always depend on how your legs are shaped and how you want to look. In general, fashion stylist Josephine Eve recommends the popular slim fit. “In my opinion, it’s the most flattering and suits a variety of body shapes,” says Eve. If you need a roomier fit, regular or relaxed fit will give you an inch or two of room in the thighs and calves. If you’re really athletic or a larger man, that extra room comes in handy and may even be form-fitting on your body. But the general rule holds: When in doubt, go with slim, at least to start.
Denim Type
If you want a pair of rigid, sturdy jeans that break in over time, opt for denim that consists of 100% cotton fibers. But if you want your jeans to have a little give, look for stretch denim, which is a mix of cotton and spandex, polyurethane or elastane. In addition, jeans that are blended with polyester or modal won’t feel as stiff as traditional cotton jeans; they tend to feel softer and have great stretch recovery.
Selvedge denim—which has self-finished edges that prevent it from unraveling—is a particularly high-quality option that holds up for years. It is, however, more expensive and less pliable than the aforementioned options. “Selvedge is something that you introduce to someone who’s really almost a denim connoisseur and has a bit of a denim wardrobe already,” says Alison Deyette, style expert and TV and digital host. If you’re not sure which is right for you, Grace Thomas, founder and lead stylist of Builtgracefully, recommends “looking for something with 1 to 2% elastane blended with cotton, which will still allow the jean to have structure, weight and hold its fit well, but has stretch to work with more body shapes and sizes.”
Price
Jeans range wildly in price, but whether you spend $30 or $300 (or more) is almost always determined by the quality of the denim. Deyette says you should think of a good pair of jeans as a small investment in looking great. “I call it the cost per wear ratio,” she says. “Most men are wearing jeans on a regular basis, so I break it down: You buy a pair of jeans. It should last in your wardrobe for 5-plus years if you haven’t changed size. So if you just spent $185 on these jeans, and [consider] the amount of times [you’ll be] wearing them, it becomes pretty cheap to wear them once you break it out by several years.” Regardless of the price, check the jean’s stitching and seams to make sure they are durable and well-constructed, especially in areas that may experience more wear and tear, such as the crotch and pockets.
The Best Men’s Jeans For Every Body Type
Body type is also a factor when shopping for men’s jeans. While there’s no hard and fast rule of what styles of jeans varying body types should wear, knowing your body type and how different styles of jeans fit your body can help make shopping easier. We spoke to Aaron Gilbert, men’s denim designer at Lee, on how different fits affect how you look.
“If you want to look taller, wear a slimmer fit. If you are shorter in stature, slimmer fits and tapered legs are a good option,” says Gilbert. “Anything too wide can make you look shorter.”
“Larger-framed individuals may prefer a regular or relaxed fit with either a straight or tapered leg,” he finds.
“For an athletic frame, a relaxed tapered or athletic fit has a slimming effect,” says Gilbert. “An athletic fit is more relaxed in the seat and thigh than a straight or regular fit.” Thomas also advises, “Men who hold more weight in their thighs or glutes may prefer a stretchier denim with a higher percent of elastane, which will give more room throughout the seat of the jeans.”
How Do I Take My Measurements For Jeans?
When it comes to fit, you need to know your measurements: “The key ones are waist, thigh, and inseam,” says Gilbert. In order to measure your waist, measure around your natural waistline, which is the smallest part of your waist. Waist measurements are usually in even numbers, so if you are in between two sizes, it’s best to round up.
The inseam is measured on the inside of the leg, from the crotch to the ankle, and is especially important to get this right since “it will make or break the fit of your jeans,” says Thomas. Gilbert recommends asking a friend to take these measurements or going to a tailor. Otherwise, measure the inseam on an existing pair of jeans that fits you well and go off that number.
Sizing can also vary from brand to brand since there isn’t a standard fit across clothing. John Smith, founder and fashion designer at Leather Skin Shop, advises, “If it’s your first time buying jeans from a particular brand, it’s important to try them on and see how they fit your body. Pay attention to the rise, waistband, and leg length to ensure a comfortable fit.” Check how the jeans sit on your waist and hips, making sure they don’t pinch or sag in those areas.
How I Can Prevent My Jeans From Sagging Or Losing Shape?
Go for jeans with more cotton and less elastane. Also, avoid excessive washing and drying, which can lead to shrinkage and make the fabric more vulnerable to sagging. Smith advises washing jeans in cold water and hanging them dry to keep jeans at their best.
What’s The Best Wash And Color For Jeans?
Jeans come in all different colors and wash types, from light to dark, distressed to faded, and everything in between. Similar to styles of jeans, there’s no right or wrong choice. “Most people just focus on the latest trends or how the jeans look on someone else, but you have to remember it’s more about what looks good on you,” says Smith. The beauty of denim is that it can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. Darker denim often creates a more polished look while lighter denim usually looks more relaxed. All of the experts we spoke with emphasize having your own personal style and sticking to what you look and feel good in.
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I am a New York City based consumer products writer, with specific expertise in apparel and textiles. I regularly test and write about anything apparel or textile based such as leggings, backpacks, sheets, towels, pillows and more.
I previously worked in product development and manufacturing for a home textiles company, leading their quality assurance efforts and holding positions in technical design and product development. I’ve also worked at Nike where I held leading roles in apparel product integrity and material development.
I have reviewed products for several years, and along with Forbes, I frequently contribute to Good Housekeeping Magazine, CNN Underscored, Wall Street Journal’s Buyside, USA Today’s Reviewed.com and other media outlets. I also have a passion for coffee and have completed SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) coffee course in coffee brewing, barista skills and sensory tasting, so I’ve been known to test many coffee-related products as well.
I grew up in Michigan where I earned my degree in apparel and textile design as well as mechanical engineering before coming to New York City where I have lived for over a decade.