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Knowing how to hem jeans can help you get a comfortable, well-fitting length without taking your pants to a tailor. With a few basic sewing supplies, you can mark, cut, fold, and sew a neat hem at home. The same method works for many styles of jeans, but take your time measuring before you cut—the length cannot be added back once the fabric is removed.
How to Hem Jeans: Supplies and Preparation
Gather your jeans, fabric scissors or a rotary cutter with a ruler and cutting mat, straight pins, and a sewing machine. You will also need a fabric pen or another suitable way to mark the fabric, plus an iron for pressing the finished hem.
If the jeans are new, wash and dry them first according to their care label. This allows any shrinkage to happen before you choose the final length. Try them on with the shoes you expect to wear with them, then check the length while standing naturally.
Four Steps to Hem Jeans
1. Mark the desired length
Put on the jeans and fold the existing hem under until the legs reach your preferred length. Use straight pins to hold the fold in place. Check both legs and use a ruler to make sure the folded hems are even. Once the length looks right, take the jeans off and turn them inside out.
Helpful tip: Check the length from the front and back before cutting. A careful fitting check helps prevent one leg from ending up shorter than the other.
2. Cut the excess fabric
Use a fabric pen to mark a line 1 inch below the folded hem. Cut along the marked line with fabric scissors or a rotary cutter. Keep the cut as straight as possible around each leg opening.
Take care: Make sure you are cutting below the new hemline, leaving the 1 inch needed to create the double-fold hem in the next step.
3. Fold and pin the hem
Fold the cut edge under by 1/2 inch, then fold it under another 1/2 inch. Pin the folded fabric in place all the way around each leg opening. This encloses the raw edge and creates a clean finish.
Before sewing, check that the fold is even and that the pinned hem still matches the length you marked. Remove or reposition pins if the fabric bunches.
4. Sew and press
Sew around each leg opening, removing the pins as you go. Stitch 1/4 inch from the top edge of the folded hem. When you have finished, trim the loose thread ends and press the hem flat with an iron.
Follow the care instructions for your jeans and use an appropriate iron setting for the fabric. The finished hems are ready to wear once they have been pressed.
Can You Hem Jeans Without a Sewing Machine?
No-sew option
For a quick no-sew finish, cut the jeans 3/4 inch below the desired hem length. Fold the 3/4 inch of fabric under, then use iron-on hemming tape in the fold to hold it in place, following the tape’s instructions. This option is convenient when you do not sew, though it will not create the same sewn finish as the method above.
Hand-sewing option
You can also hem jeans by hand. Mark, cut, and fold the fabric using the same measurements, then secure the hem with a needle and thread using a simple running stitch. Hand sewing takes longer than using a machine, but it does not require special equipment.
Raw-edge option
If you prefer an unfinished look, cut the jeans to the length you want and leave the edge raw. The cut edge may fray; after washing, you can trim loose threads or leave them for a more visibly frayed finish.
Final Tips for Hemming Jeans
Hemming jeans is manageable when you measure carefully and check the fit before making the first cut. Wash new jeans beforehand, keep the two leg lengths even, and press the finished folds for a neater result. Whether you sew by machine, sew by hand, or choose a no-sew method, learning how to hem jeans gives you a practical way to adjust pants that are too long.
— Laura
