• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Modest Man

  • .
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • About
  • Free Guide
Home / Clothing and Style / Clothing Alterations / Alterations 101: Men’s Dress Pants, Trousers and Slacks

Alterations 101: Men’s Dress Pants, Trousers and Slacks

Published on June 30, 2012 by Brock · Clothing Alterations

May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

How Can a Pair of Men’s Dress Pants Be Altered, and What Is It Going to Cost Me?

As with dress shirts, a man’s trousers should be altered to fit the individual as well as possible. It’s important to know how exactly your slacks can be tailored to fit your shape and size. Otherwise, you might discard a pair of pants that are too tight.

Or, for example, you might be too concerned with buying pants that are the right length when you should be paying attention to the seat and rise, as these are much harder to fix.

What Aspects of Dress Pants Can Be Changed?

The first post I ever wrote for this site – The #1 Most Important Fashion Tip for Short Men – you know how easy and cheap it is to get your pants hemmed. Most guys understand that their slacks can and should be adjusted to the proper length.

But do you know what else can be adjusted? This graphic explains what’s possible and how much you’ll have to spend:

Pants Alterations Cost
Pants Alterations Cost

With any alterations, the most important thing is your tailor. Be sure to find an experienced tailor who you can trust.

If you are in need of the “basic” alterations – hemming pants for length or taking in the waist – your dry cleaner can probably help. If you need anything more advanced, definitely go to a real tailor.

More in this series:

Alterations 101: Dress Shirts

Alterations 101: Suit Jackets and Blazers

Download the "Tailoring 101" PDF Guide

Get all three clothing alterations infographics - dress shirts, jackets and trousers - in one convenient PDF file. Print it out or keep it on your computer/phone so you can reference it anytime. Oh, and it's totally free!

Success! Go check your email...

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. Powered by ConvertKit

Clothing Alterations Filed Under:alterations, pants, trousers 42 comments

Related Posts

Hem Dress Pants 1
How to Hem Your Own Dress Pants (Without a Sewing Machine)
Hem-pants-step-3-1024x576 ft
How to Hem Casual Pants (Jeans and Chinos)
Men's Suit Jacket and Blazer Alterations
Alterations 101: Men’s Suit Jackets and Blazers
Dress-Shirt-Alterations1-1024x813 ft
Alterations 101: Men’s Dress Shirts

About Brock

Founding editor of The Modest Man, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his wife and family, traveling and creating great content. You can follow Brock on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. William in DC says

    February 3, 2013 at 10:47 am

    I know this is old, but would you or anyone know if the “seat” of mens dress & suit pants can be adjusted separate from the waist? I have a profile in which often the waist is fine, but the butt is a little snug, so the pants keep ripping at the crotch.

    Reply
    • Brock says

      February 5, 2013 at 8:33 am

      William,

      To my knowledge, there is no way to “let the seat out”. Meaning you could fix it if it were too baggy, but not if it’s too snug. Your best bet is to find pants that fit well in the seat and get them adjusted in the waist and legs. These alterations are easier and inexpensive. When you’re in the dressing room, pay attention to how the seat feels, and remember that the waist can be adjusted by a couple inches very easily.

      -B

      Reply
      • Staff says

        March 22, 2016 at 8:59 pm

        Actually yes, you can let out the seat. It depends on how much seam allowance is used. If the normal half inch is used the seamstress can come in half of the what is there and then reinforce with seam binding. Have them look at the seat of the garment.

        Reply
      • Zack Pyle says

        June 17, 2016 at 1:17 am

        Zack here, from some of the DIY alteration posts Brock has shared. Agreed with “Staff.” It all depends on the pants. See my picture here. You just have to see how much fabric inside the pants you have to work with, and where you need it.

        Reply
  2. Rose says

    February 12, 2013 at 3:56 pm

    My husband wears a size 56 waist and I get him the right size. However, many of his pants bunches up in the crutch, thus rising up in the hem as well. When he pulls his pant legs down, it goes back to the proper look. What can I do to fix this, if any?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      February 12, 2013 at 11:21 pm

      Rose – what is his inseam?

      Reply
  3. Rose says

    February 12, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    You talked about dressing well regardless of a man’s height. How about regardless of a man’s weight? I find it hard to make my 300-lb man when his tummy a foot beyond his chin level. Is there some rule of thumb to follow?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      February 12, 2013 at 11:20 pm

      Hi Rose,

      I won’t claim to be an expert in style for men who are less than svelte, so I will humbly point you toward a website that will likely be very helpful – Chubstr.

      -B

      Reply
  4. Jenny says

    March 7, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    Hi there,

    My boyfriend is 6″3, 250 lbs. He wears a size 38 in suit pants. He’s running into a problem where all of his suit pants are ripping in the crotch area after just a few months of wear. We spoke to someone who told us to look for low rise/low crotch pants in order to avoid this problem. Do you agree with his suggestion, and if so, do you know where we could find pants like this? Or, is this an issue that could be resolved with tailoring?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      March 8, 2013 at 9:32 am

      Hi Jenny,

      I don’t think low rise pants are necessarily the solution. Does your boyfriend have really long legs? What kind do of body shape? For formal pants (like suit pants) you shouldn’t be wearing them below the waist (low rise). I would suggest one of two things:

      First, buy pants that are slightly too big but that feel okay in the seat/crotch area, and have them tailored. Don’t worry about length or waist…these are easy fixes (as long as the waist isn’t too far off, like within a couple of inches). Remember, you can shorten pants and take them in, but you can’t add extra material.

      Or, go custom. Start with an inexpensive online clothier like Indochino and order a pair of made-to-measure trousers. I imagine your boyfriend won’t ever want to buy off the rack again after he experiences custom.

      Hope that helps!

      -B

      Reply
  5. Shane says

    June 15, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    Brock,

    You mentioned about taking in the pant’s waist. How about expanding it by 1 or 2 inches ? Would that be possible at all ? I am interested in a Kenneth Cole 2 piece suit, but I don’t get to pick the pants size separately. My 38R would come with a 31″ pant, but I usually wear 32″. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Brock says

      June 20, 2013 at 11:27 am

      Hey Shane – most pants can be let out by a couple of inches. When buying pants, ask a sales associate about this. Or, look for an extra strip of material at the seam of the seat and waist band.

      -B

      Reply
      • Luke McComb says

        July 20, 2013 at 12:55 am

        can a pair of dress pants be altered from a 39W to a 34W or is that just not possible? everywhere I look online they say 2 inches MAX

        Reply
        • Brock says

          July 20, 2013 at 11:16 pm

          2-3 inches max is a good rule of thumb. Any more than that, and you’re doing major reconstruction. Changing the waist by that much would throw off other aspects of the pants.

          Do these pants fit really well everywhere else? Might want to try a different brand….

          -B

          Reply
  6. Bryce says

    October 8, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    Hello,

    I am a little lost. I have a number of different pants/slacks/khakis. I have one pair that I LOVE the most because of the fit. Can a tailor use those as a “go by” and match my other pants to them in every way if there is enough material?

    I say this because I recently compared the length (from waist to the bottom) and width of the pant legs and they are identical. However, they feel like high waters when I put them on.

    I am 5’4 about 200 lbs. I normally wear a 36-38 waist, with a 29 inseam.

    Thanks,
    B

    Reply
    • Brock says

      October 8, 2014 at 2:24 pm

      Bryce,

      Yes, you can use your go-to trousers as an example for your tailor. BUT, if they’re fundamentally different (for example, if they’re low rise, and you’re trying to tailor a pair of medium rise trousers), only so much can be done.

      I use “go-to” trousers for basic measurements – hem length and leg opening. Sounds like your pants may be the same length, but they have different lep openings and/or rise.

      Hope that helps,

      -B

      Reply
  7. Rey says

    December 8, 2014 at 11:56 am

    I feel that hemming pants alone can make the cut look worse on short men. Leg openings seem to expand and swallow up my shoes. Are there any ways to minimalize the leg opening from expanding from a hem? Or would I require a taper to go along with a hem to keep the overall shape?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      December 8, 2014 at 11:59 am

      Rey,

      I usually get my pants hemmed and tapered from the knee down at the same time. But there are many brands these days that are making slim leg openings that need no tapering, even after hemming. For me, that means less than 8″ across.

      -B

      Reply
  8. Abaku says

    February 2, 2015 at 3:08 am

    You know what, if you are lucky to be reading this, then you better start doing what it takes for you to look stunning no matter your height.

    Abaku

    Reply
  9. tommy says

    March 22, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    Can pants be let out in the thigh?

    Reply
  10. Jack McMurray says

    July 26, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    Hi,
    I’m 6ft 4 and play rugby. I find it impossible to find trousers that fit around my thighs. And go through so many pairs that it’s costing a fortune. I tried getting a larger size and getting them tailored but the tailor did an awful job and now I’m apprehensive of going in to a tailor and getting alterations done. Could recommend any websites where they carter for both tall and might and not tall or mighty?

    Reply
    • Dave Halpern says

      December 17, 2016 at 11:43 am

      Are you wearing dressy pants while playing rugby? Try sweatpants or shorts.

      Reply
      • Brock says

        December 17, 2016 at 11:45 am

        I think he “trousers” he just means pants, not dress pants or slacks.

        Reply
  11. Rosemarie [email protected] says

    October 29, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    Why are you only showing men i am a woman who Breda pants altered

    Reply
    • Brock says

      October 29, 2015 at 8:40 pm

      I think the same alterations apply to women’s pants too!

      Reply
  12. Pat says

    November 9, 2015 at 12:26 am

    I am hemming new, unhemmed dress pants for a man. He wants the heel to be about 1″ lower than the toe. I had to cut off about 5″ of fabric. I turned them up about 1.5″ and let the seams out on each side. What I have run into is that the front still does not have enough turned up fabric to and the heel now has a little too much turned up fabric. Is there somewhere online you can direct me so I can learn how to hem these smoothly? When I simply turn up and hem evenly I don’t run into this problem. Thanks

    Reply
  13. manic1 says

    November 21, 2015 at 11:21 pm

    So can you remove excess pleats from dress slacks and if so how much would that be?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      November 22, 2015 at 1:34 pm

      Not sure how much it would be. Probably not worth it unless you really love the pants.

      Reply
  14. Cathy says

    September 15, 2016 at 4:52 pm

    My husband has a condition that causes us to buy him pants that are very wide in the legs. The men’s store we go to for his suits seems to measure the pants from the back of his knee. I usually hem his other pants and would like to know how to do this so I don’t have to get on my hands and knees. I thought I figured it out by watching him but I’m not sure. Could you explain how it’s done?

    Reply
  15. Lynn Kaufman says

    December 14, 2016 at 10:34 am

    is it possible to take 3 to 4 inches on a pair of dress pants or men or is that too much

    Reply
    • Zack Pyle says

      December 14, 2016 at 10:54 am

      It sounds like a lot to me, but I’ve never tried that much.

      Reply
    • Brock says

      December 14, 2016 at 5:57 pm

      I think you could, but you’d want to be aware of losing any taper the leg might have.

      Reply
  16. James says

    January 5, 2017 at 3:59 am

    Is it at all uncouth to narrow the pants from the knee down? I have long and skinny legs and I think it may look better but may also not be proper etiquette???

    Reply
    • Brock says

      January 5, 2017 at 4:08 am

      Nah it’s okay!

      Reply
  17. Alex ODonnell says

    February 27, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    It is possible to loosen the waist so it isn’t tight…. About less than an inch ? I don’t need much , I like the pants ! It’s just a little tight.

    Reply
    • Zack Pyle says

      February 27, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      Depends on how much fabric is left on the inside. You can just look on the inside to see

      Reply
  18. Ray says

    May 5, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    I have size 38 pants
    Want to take them out to size 40
    So 2 or 3 inches is that possible?
    I see there is room inside the fabric exactly 3″ of extra fabric

    Reply
  19. scott mcgregor says

    February 17, 2018 at 3:47 am

    I’m looking at a suit on ebay but I am 34 length and the trousers are 40. Can I rehem that large a difference or will the taper be wide?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      February 17, 2018 at 10:32 am

      You’ll probably have to get them tapered at the same time. It’s pretty standard. I almost always get pants hemmed/tapered simultaneously.

      Reply
  20. Ren says

    May 28, 2018 at 1:02 pm

    Can I go from a 34 waist to a 36 for the waist. I want a 40 regular suit with 36 pants

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download).

No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Top 5 Favorites for Fall/Winter 2021

  1. Oliver Cabell Chelsea Boot – 3oz suede upper, Italian crepe sole, made in Spain, under $250
  2. Everlane Performance Chino – looks like a chino, feels like a travel pant (comfy but not too tech-y)
  3. Smartwool Light Crew Hiking Socks – not cheap, but some of the best wool socks to wear with boots (at any price)
  4. Seiko SNK809 – the best automatic watch under $150 you can buy (perfect for someone’s first mechanical watch)
  5. Ash & Erie Henley – finally, a long sleeve henley shirt that fits properly on shorter men (and shorter arms)

Most popular posts

The 10 Best Fall Shoes for Men (2021 Guide)

Ready to Wear vs Bespoke

Bespoke vs. Made-to-Measure vs. Off the Rack: What’s the Difference?

Seiko 5 SNK805

25 Great Watches For Small Wrists (Updated for 2021)

Business casual style for men

The Complete Guide to Business Casual Style for Men [2021]

ClipperLever ft

A Beginner’s Guide to Cutting Your Own Hair at Home

Topics

  • Clothing & Style
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Fitness
  • Product Reviews
  • Dating & Confidence
  • Grooming
  • Men of Modest Height
  • Income Reports

Footer

The Modest Man logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Home • Blog • Resources • Contact • Advertise

 

Privacy Policy & Affiliate Disclosure • Terms & Conditions

 

Copyright © 2020 The Modest Man (Registered Trademark)