17 Best Jeans for Men 2026, As Worn By Our Editors Daily

Since their invention, jeans have helped mold some of the coolest guys in history, from James Dean to Kendrick Lamar. Today, the best jeans for men follow in that great lineage and can even fold a plebe like you into the annals of style history, as they’ve done for countless fashion greats.But let’s get this straight: The jeans we know today—rugged, riveted, rendered in inky-blue cotton—were invented way back in the late 1800s in Reno, Nevada by a Latvian immigrant and tailor by the name of Jacob Davis. Davis sold his hard-wearing trousers to tradesmen, factory workers, and gold miners who liked his product so much that he asked his fabric supplier, Levi Strauss, for financial backing and help with applying for the patent for his rivet invention. On May 20, 1872, the two were awarded the patent and the rest, as they say, is menswear history.Jeans have been barred from hotels, smuggled into countries, and, above all else, remixed and riffed on by every generation discovering them anew—which, in this day and age, makes finding the right pair for you all the more difficult. Add to that having to navigate things like stretch, skinny jeans, light wash, dark wash, and finding the perfect fit may as well be impossible. That’s where we come in.The Best Jeans for Men, According to GQLevi's 501 Original Fit Men's JeansRead moreWrangler 13MWZ Cowboy Cut Original Fit JeansRead more3sixteen CS-100x JeansRead moreOrSlow 105 JeansRead moreGap 90s Loose JeansRead moreUniqlo x J.W. Anderson Selvedge Straight JeansRead moreMore Jeans We LoveHow to Buy a High-Quality Pair of JeansHow We Test and Review ProductsHow We Make These PicksBest Jeans Since Jeans Were Invented: Levi’s 501 Original Fit JeansLevi's501 Original Fit Men's JeansProsClassic and versatile silhouetteGreat quality for the priceConsBest we got is that the button fly isn’t for everyoneSometimes, the easy, obvious answer just so happens to be the right one. And when it comes to denim, the easy, obvious, and unquestionably right answer is the Levi’s 501, the most influential silhouette from the most influential denim brand. Levi’s invented blue jeans, so you’d expect its flagship silhouette to be halfway decent. More unexpected, though, is how well the 501 has held up decades after it first hit the market. The denim is still substantial and sturdy, the details are still near-perfectly dialed, and the silhouette is still the prototypical straight-leg fit. Plus, the sheer amount of washes and sizes it’s available in means there’s an option for almost everyone.That being said, 501s have rarely ever worked for this particular writer. My knocked knees and Filipino calves make the iconic jean look more like a tapered fit, so I have to look to wider options for the same effect. But consider me the minority because for countless folks across literal generations, the 501 does the trick just fine. And while we dig the sheer variety of washes, colors, and fabrics it comes in, we’d strongly recommend the all-cotton versions over the stretch-infused joints.Best yet? At around $80, they’re already a solid value. But with a little patience, you can reliably snag them on sale.Best Budget Jeans: Wrangler Original Cowboy Cut JeansWrangler13MWZ Cowboy Cut Original Fit JeansProsGreat cutUnbeatable valueWide range of sizesConsThough the denim is heavy, the quality could be betterWashes lack nuanceAlong with Levi’s and Lee, Wrangler makes up one-third of the denim world Big Three; its pedigree is beyond reproach. So don’t let its affordable prices fool you into thinking its jeans are second rate—they represent some of the best value denim money can buy. Not sure where to start? Go west, young man, to the brand’s bread-and-butter Cowboy Cut line, the official jeans of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. (How’s that for authenticity?)Yeehaw-certifications aside, the Cowboy Cut line features a slew of heavy-duty denims, some of which tip the scales at over 15 oz. The Original Cowboy Cut jeans boast a high rise that sits at the natural waist, a flattering seat, and enough leg room to wear with a pair of boots. For just about fifty bucks, they’re one of the best-fitting jeans around. Are they selvedge? No. Does that matter? Also no.Beyond their legitimately beefy feel, Wrangler’s Cowboy Cut jeans looked shockingly good on the GQ staffers across the board. GQ associate commerce editor Tyler Chin especially loved the longer rise and range of inseams, designed to accommodate a broader array of body types. And when they fit this well, that granularity in sizes is the cherry on top. “They’re great at hugging the glutes for a more toned look,” Chin notes. “Maybe Beyoncé should’ve penned an ode to Wrangler instead.”Best Upgrade Jeans: 3sixteen CS-100x JeansProsGreat qualityFabric is available in range of silhouettesConsSells out quicklyWash variety is limitedSingle length means you’ll need to have them hemmedIn the past 20 years, Japanese denim went from fringe obsession to hot topic (not that Hot Topic). Menswear’s reverence for Japan stems from the country’s surfeit of artisanal makers, who practice their craft with a fastidious approach to quality and detail. Thanks to a glut of specialty denim boutiques stateside, though, you don’t have to book a flight to Tokyo or enlist a proxy service to snag a pair of true-blue Japanese jeans. In fact, one of our favorite riffs on the genre comes from 3sixteen, a brand with ties to denim’s OG home and its modern-day stomping grounds.3sixteen has been refining its selvedge denim since the early 2000s, crafting its first pair of California-made jeans using custom denim from Kuroki, the storied Japanese mill; two decades later, its jeans continue to sell out. Each pair comes equipped with plenty of details to nerd out over, from the hardware to the leather patches to the top-notch stitch quality and dialed-in silhouettes, which helps explain why they’ve become as revered in Japan as they are in the states.3sixteen’s take on the perennial straight fit (dubbed the CS, or Classic Straight) features a mid-high rise with a relaxed thigh and an ultra-subtle taper. That might sound like a carrot fit, but the deft patterning resulted in one of our favorite straight-leg jeans ever. The single downside: Specialty denim of this caliber usually comes in one long inseam, so unless you’re 6’4” you’ll probably want to get them hemmed.Best Japanese Jeans: OrSlow 105 Straight-Leg JeansProsHigh qualityFantastic washesConsWon’t play nice with your walletThe end of your denim goose chaseThere are plenty of brands that push denim to its limit, but OrSlow is the brand that tends to stick to the rules. Its painstakingly accurate reproductions of vintage jeans has made them legendary in denimhead circles as well as quiet luxury spheres. The 105 cut is a riff on vintage Levi's jeans and comes in a beautifully rinsed denim that ages like the old stuff and fits like a dream.Our dutiful model and associate commerce editor Tyler Chin already has a pair of these same jeans and says they’re his favorite pair. We can see why. The silhouette is damn near perfect with its classic true mid-rise and straight leg that reminds us why vintage Levi’s are the gold standard (even if they’re made by another brand). The wash is shockingly convincing, too. If you could pin jean fades to artists, most would fall under Picasso while OrSlow’s are more like Chuck Close.Best Baggy Jeans: Gap ‘90s Loose JeansProsHeavy fabricFantastic washes and subtle distressingBBaggy but not sloppy fitConsWe’ll have to get back to you on thatPeople forget about Gap’s denim origins, but the Bay Area brand hasn’t lost sight of its roots. And we have to admit that we were among the forgetful because we were genuinely surprised to try Gap’s ‘90s Loose Jeans. The denim is hefty with a tight weave that reminded us of jeans in higher price brackets. The wash of the particular pair we tried was one of the most natural we’ve seen at this price, with realistic fading throughout. Whiskers and honeycombs (those fade lines that occur at the lap and behind the knees) are hard to get right without looking too manufactured. Gap manages to hit the nail on the head with whiskers and honeycombs that are subtle and far from over-the-top.As for the fit, these had a mid-to-high rise with a full top block and a straight silhouette down to the hem—the ideal baggy fit. Because of the higher rise, these are easy to wear both at the natural waist and sagging near the hips for multiple styling options. And if you’re a denim-obsessed freak like this author, small details like filled belt loops, two-prong buttons, and non-felled inseams will make your indigo-heart pitter patter.Best Entry-Level Selvedge Jeans: Uniqlo U Straight Selvedge JeansUniqlo x J.W. AndersonSelvedge Straight JeansProsComfortable, lightweight denimOn-trend relaxed fitCompetitive price pointConsLightweight denim isn't necessarily confidence-inspiringUniqlo's continued collaboration with fashion phenom JW Anderson has helped to keep the Japanese label on the lips of many stylish folks, and these selvedge denim jeans are part of that conversation. They've got the bells and whistles of many higher-end selvedge denim jeans, plus a great relaxed straight fit that this writer's been waiting ages for.As you would expect, however, there are some compromises with a $60 pair of selvedge jeans. The fabric does have the coveted selvedge ID and the sartorial capital that comes with it, but the denim is the lightest of this superlative bunch. If you're expecting the satisfying crunch of a thick, starchy Japanese denim, you'll be disappointed. If you're unsure about the entire premise of selvedge denim, these make for a great toe-dipper into the insanely deep indigo waters, not to mention a great lightweight jean for the warmer months.Best Designer Jeans: Celine Kurt JeansCeline's denim has quietly been seeping into the wardrobes of every cool guy we know. It's tempting and warranted to write off designer jeans as a cash grab by a fashion house with no real bona fides in denim. But Celine's jeans put up the goods, and even hardcore denimheads have taken notice. Each pair is made in Japan using hefty and artisanal denims, cut with seductive and extremely dialed-in silhouettes. Sure, they're not for the raw denim purists, but what's amazing about each pair of Celine jeans is its extremely nuanced washes and fades. It's clear that Celine's team left no stone unturned, making sure to get its jeans fades to such a high fidelity that one could easily mistake them as true vintage jeans.More Jeans We LoveDickiesRegular-Fit 5-Pocket JeanDickies regular-fit jeans fit shockingly well, especially just for $33. Though the denim itself leaves a little bit to be desired, the silhouette is one of the best we've tried and worth copping if you're on tight budget.Abercrombie & FitchBaggy JeanYou may remember Abercrombie for their knit polos and cargo shorts, but you should also add their denim to your mental list. We've been surprised by The Moose's output in recent seasons and their jeans are perhaps the most underestimated category. The denim is satisfyingly dense yet soft, and the silhouette is properly baggy.TenderType 136 Oxford JeansTender's approach to clothes balances madman patterning, artisanal craftsmanship, and a healthy degree of unpreciousness. For this particular pair of jeans, that means literally flipping the denim-making process by swapping the traditional warp and weft threads, while also dyeing the fabric using woad, a cousin of the indigo plant. Safe to say this is for the guy who's far from his first pair of fancy jeans.Carson WachThe Original 333This indie darling of small-batch denim making is hip to the creative crowd thanks not only to its dialed-in silhouettes but also its solid denim. The construction quality and distinctive rear pockets make Carson Wach jeans enviable for even the most in-the-know fashion heads.How Do You Buy a High-Quality Pair of Jeans?1. Know a brand's strengths. You can break down the denim world into two spheres: brands that specialize in jeans, and brands that make jeans as part of a larger offering. Quality jeans can come from anywhere, but the specialists tend to be unassailable, and they exist at all ends of the price spectrum. According to Andrew Chen, owner and founder of New York-based 3sixteen, one benefit of denim-focused brands is their relentless devotion to making better jeans. "Companies that make the same jeans year-in and year-out are always making tweaks—sometimes imperceptible—to improve the product,” Chen points out.On the flip side, the sheer ubiquity of big-box brands lets you try their jeans on with ease (and zero shipping fees). “Every Detail matters when crafting a great pair of jeans! Fit and Fabric are at the top of my list followed by trim qualities such as size of the zipper to the metal shanks as well as thread quality and construction details. All these components are essential for a great pair of jeans that will stand the test of time.2. Consider the construction. Janine Chilton-Faust, Vice President of Men’s Design says that every detail matters, but there are a couple standouts. “Fit and Fabric are at the top of my list,” she says, “followed by trim qualities such as size of the zipper to the metal shanks as well as thread quality and construction details. All these components are essential for a great pair of jeans that will stand the test of time.” Jeans’ long-term quality mostly comes down to their fabric, stitching, and hardware. Jeans from the big names tend to be made from mid-weight denim (generally “12 oz.” denim, calculated as weight-per-yard of fabric).Speciality denim retailers usually start there and carry heavier artisanal selvedge denim, probably woven in Japan, the last bastion of high-end raw denim manufacturing. Heavier denim is meant to last longer (or so the theory goes), but isn't necessarily better. Lighter denim (9 to 11 oz.) is nice in the summer, but also more delicate. Chen reminds us to pay attention to details that are often glossed over. “For construction, look at pocketbag material, look at whether the finishing is clean.” While denim is the main focus, it’s the finer details like these that are often a better indicator of a jean’s quality.You might have heard of Japanese denim. There’s a great deal of reverence for the stuff and for good reason. Chilton-Faust says it’s one of the highest quality denims you can get, since they’re made on shuttle looms with ring-spun cotton yarns.”These yarns are softer, stronger and more durable, giving the fabric an authentic look with natural slubs. This denim molds to your body, and the less you wash the better it becomes.3. Explore your fits. Jeans, like snowflakes and Haribo candy, come in a mind-melting array of seemingly-minute variations: high-rise vs. low-rise; flares vs. straight vs. taper; and so many more. So take a deep breath. Ultimately, it comes down to two things for Chilton-Faust. “The right fit in a pair of jeans can enhance comfort and confidence.” Remember that big-box brands like J.Crew and Uniqlo—and the affordable OGs like Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler—usually offer a much wider range of sizes than their indie counterparts. (We'll spare you a lesson on the economies of scale.) Those brands also tend to have plenty of brick-and-mortar outposts to try on different styles IRL if you're wondering about the recent relaxed-fit revolution or find yourself high-rise-curious.On the flip side, smaller companies experiment more, and aren't afraid to roll out new silhouettes. “Buy them from a brand or a retailer that can give you good feedback on how they will break in, how much they will stretch, how much they might shrink on their first wash,” Chen says. He also mentions that the amount of details a brand’s website dishes out or how knowledgeable a sales associate is are good indicators.One thing to keep in mind? Jeans should get better with age…if they’re any good. Chen keeps it simple: “The good stuff looks better the more you wear it and the bad stuff looks worse.”How We Test and Review ProductsStyle is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.How We Make These PicksWe make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)