11 Best Linen Shorts for Men 2026, According to GQ Editors

Even the shortest of shorts can’t save you from soul-crushing heat. But the best of the best linen shorts for men will help you survive, nay, thrive in the middle of summer. Linen is prized for its durability, breeziness, and rakish rumpled texture. How it keeps you cool is essentially Mother Nature’s tech. Linen fibers are actually hollow, which acts as a kind of insulation against the heat. Designers use it to summer-ize everything from suits to shirts—and shorts are no exception.Beyond sheer temperature regulation, a good pair of linen shorts does a lot more than just keep you from melting into a sweaty puddle. Linen’s tendency to rumple and wrinkle, and its feathery drape, adds tons of textural intrigue to your warm-weather outfits. As the temps rise and we shed our layers, every piece of clothing needs to work a little harder, so texture is key. Linen shorts are great when paired with a breezy linen shirt and chic sandals—but don’t limit yourself. Try them with a graphic tee and beat-up canvas sneakers for a grungy SoCal vibe, or dress them up with a polo, classic loafers, and a matching linen blazer.The point? Linen is surprisingly versatile, which is why we’ve done the heavy task of wading through the sea of linen shorts to find the best of the best. From the uber breathable, uber sophisticated pairs to the ultra relaxed, laid-back options and everything in-between.The Best Linen Shorts Overall: Banana Republic 7” Pleated Linen Shorts, $90 $65The Best Budget Linen Shorts: Uniqlo Linen-Blend Easy Shorts, $40The Best Upgrade Linen Shorts: NN07 Aden Linen Shorts, $195The Vacation-Ready Linen Shorts: Todd Snyder Linen Mylos Short, $178The Best Everyday Linen Shorts: Alex Crane Bo Shorts, $88The Best Linen Shorts Overall: Banana Republic Pleated Linen ShortsBanana Republic7" Pleated Linen ShortProsClassic, versatile designGreat pricepointAvailable in different inseam lengthsConsOnly available in pleated versionsWhat we look for in a great pair of linen shorts comes down to materials, construction, fit, versatility, and pricepoint. Banana Republic has it all. The all-linen material is silky, lightweight, and drapes elegantly. Construction is solid as a rock. Fit is roomy but classic and hits right at the mid-thigh (and is available in a shorter, non-pleated version). While we love a free-and-easy, elastic waist for linen shorts, it can be limiting, stylistically. That’s why we prefer the fixed waist of these Banana Republic shorts (not to mention the pleated front). It allows them to be styled with dressier items like button-up shirts or even with a light blazer. And for well under a hundred bucks, there ain’t a better linen short.Best Budget Linen Shorts: Uniqlo Linen Blend Easy ShortsUniqloLinen Blend Easy Shorts 5"ProsSuper comfortableSuper affordableDouble as house shortsConsElastic waistband is a little casualMaybe you’ve got your wallet on a strict diet or you just don’t see the need to invest too deeply into something as seasonal as linen shorts. Whatever your reason, budget is higher on your priority list and we’ll point you straight over to Uniqlo’s Easy Shorts which are a whopping forty bucks. They fit like a classic pair of Patagonia Baggies, which is to say perfect. They have an elastic waistband, two front pockets and a single rear pocket (everything you need, nothing you don’t). We would prefer it if these were made of 100% linen, but for such a low price point, Uniqlo makes them in a cotton-linen blend and that’s a compromise we’re willing to make.The Best Upgrade Linen Shorts: NN07 Aden Linen ShortsNN07Aden 1454 Straight-Leg Linen ShortsProsQuality linenClean design that’s great for everyday non-vacation wearDecent color rangeConsNo patterned versions :(Linen, contrary to popular belief, is best when it’s not so thin. A weightier, more substantial linen is often a better sign of quality—and accumulates softer, more pleasing wrinkles. NN07’s linen shorts are made from 100% European linen that’s noticeably heftier without dragging you down in the summer heat. The fit is spot on, too. While most dudes are out here in too-tight, too-thin linen shorts, NN07’s shorts add room where we desperately need it. What results is a classic, relaxed silhouette with a natural rise and a length that hits just above the knees—not too short, not too long.Best Vacation-Ready: Todd Snyder Linen Beachcomber ShortTodd Snyder8" Mylos ShortProsTailored lookElegant colorDressy drawstringConsLonger length may take some getting used toHolidays are meant for relaxing, not worrying, and rather than packing eight different pants for every possible situation, it’s a whole lot less stressful to bring a pair of shorts that can do as much as possible. Todd Snyder’s all linen Mylos shorts are the platonic ideal of a vacation short. The elastic waist let’s you know they’re made for bumming out on a beach, the drawstring loops let you dress them up should you need to fit in at a nice restaurant, and the luxe linen has more structure than other linens, meaning they’ll actually wrinkle less. Rarely has a garment embodied the beach to bar lifestyle as well as this one does.Best Everyday Linen Shorts: Alex Crane Bo ShortsProsQuality linen materialsWide variety of colors and patternsGreat price pointConsNot available in other silhouettesJust because gym shorts are technically “casual shorts” doesn’t mean you should wear them as part of your day-to-day fits. Now, linen shorts are inherently casual, but if you don’t need your shorts to pass muster at a fancy establishment, Alex Crane’s Bo shorts are the perfect everyday linen shorts. These drawstring-waist joints are a no-frills option that does away with any extraneous details like pleats, extra pockets. They’re made of 100% French linen which has an incredible drape and lightness. They hit right at the mid-thigh and are relaxed without veering into Y2K baggy territory, so they’re right at home with a tee or a button-up in equal measure. Oh, and they come in just about every shade imaginable, which means you can find something that works with your personal style.More Linen Shorts We LovePolo Ralph Lauren6-Inch Polo Prepster Linen ShortWhat's in a name? In this case, a lot. For no other short on this list embodies the totally formal, yet still totally casual prep magic trick as well as this 'Prepster' pair.BatherSage Linen Leisure ShortHAVENAtelier ShortMelding its forward-thinking and technical design language with the practical needs of the Canadian landscape, these shorts from HAVEN are high on form and function.RubinacciStraight-Leg Pleated Linen ShortsDressy linen shorts are a bit of an oxymoron. Formal shorts? With hella wrinkles? Leave it to the Italian tailoring gods at Rubinacci to make an oxymoron the most sensible, stylish thing.StòffaWide-Leg Belted Pleated Linen ShortsNew York outfit Stòffa's precarious position as the most relaxed dressy brand is one that only they could pull off. When it comes to linen shorts, its take is a gleaming white pair that's offset with a very swanky self-fabric belt for some panache.Billy ReidLinen Moore ShortCoin pocket? Horn buttons? Presenting, finally, a pair of (linen) shorts for all the guys who think shorts are for slackers.