Can shorts go below the knee?
Sophia Vance
Published Jan 18, 2026
Ideally, your shorts should hit between 1 and 3 inches above your knee. Any longer and you're approaching dangerous manpris territory.
Should shorts go below the knees?
As a general rule, shorts should extend to either right above or right below your kneecaps—regardless of body build—based on your personal preference. “When it comes to fit, remember this credo: if it's skin tight, it's not right. Do a pinch test to ensure that you have enough space between you and the fabric.”What are shorts just below the knee called?
Generally, these shorts are called long shorts or Bermuda shorts. When it comes to length, both women's long shorts and men's bermuda length shorts usually fall about one inch above the knee.Can shorts go past the knee?
I still recommend testing out all lengths to find what you're comfortable with. The only rule you MUST obey: Shorts should never go past the knees. Ending on your knee about halfway is ok. Anything past that is too long.How far down your legs should shorts go?
A good rule of thumb is that shorts should end approximately two inches above the top of the kneecap. This tends to be a sweet spot for men who want true shorts, but not short shorts. This placement is also a good place to start when considering a client's body type in a conversation about shorts.How Long Should Your Shorts Be? A Visual Guide to Men's Shorts Length
How short can shorts be?
But unlike pants, shorts come in much smaller lengths! Generally, the most popular length for shorts are 5 inches, 7 inches, 9 inches, and 11 inches. Some places may carry other sizes, such as 6 inches or 10 inches, but the four listed above are the standard shorts lengths that are available pretty much anywhere.Are 5.5 shorts too short?
There is one appropriate short-length option, and it's 5 inches. Fine, 5.5-inch shorts are good, too. While 5-inch inseams aren't new, they've often been avoided, and this new wave of vigorous encouragement from women is evidence of that previous hesitancy.How high should you wear your shorts?
There's a reason competitive swimmers wear tight trunks and speedos, right? We think shorts should end just above the knee or a little higher. If you want to go a few inches above the knee, that's totally fine too. For most guys, this means no longer than 9” shorts.What size shorts should I wear if I'm 5 7?
Men from just under 5' 10” to a few inches over 6 feet are an ideal height for 5 to 7-inch inseam shorts. The 7” inseam is more so the universal length for men's shorts. Men are most likely to buy this inseam length in their shorts because they will fall in the right spot above the knee.What are shorts above the knee called?
Bermuda shorts, also known as walk shorts or dress shorts, are a particular type of short trousers, worn as semi-casual attire by both men and women. The hem, which can be cuffed or un-cuffed, is around 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the knee.Should shorts be above the knee?
Ideally, your shorts should hit between 1 and 3 inches above your knee. Any longer and you're approaching dangerous manpris territory. Any shorter and things get a little risky, but hey, if you've got the confidence and the legs to pull it off, go for it.What means Mom short?
Mom shorts, aka Bermuda shorts, vary in length, but they're most often cut just above the knee and are sometimes belted at the waist. Vogue pointed out the trend and came up with the cheeky name, but longer length shorts in general have been around for a while.What are really short shorts called?
Other alternative names included "les shorts", "short cuts", "cool pants", and "shortootsies", with "booty shorts" as an early 21st-century term. Today, the term hotpants can be used for casual as well as fashion-wear short-shorts made in any fabric.Are 7 inch shorts too short?
Why? It's that perfect in-between length for most heights, so it's not too long and not too short. You can avoid excess fabric and the risk of showing too much leg. The 7-inch short usually hits above the knee.How do I know if my shorts are too small?
Your shorts are riding upOne of the easiest ways to tell your shorts are too small is to look at your upper inner thighs. If the shorts' hem is falling straight across your legs, they fit perfectly. However, if the hem is riding up, they're way too tight.