How Much Does It Cost to Hem Pants? (Price Guide)

Shortening pants is one of the simplest tailoring jobs, and it is the alteration most people book. The tailor measures the length against your shoes, takes up the fabric, and sews a new hem. Price depends on the garment more than on the amount of fabric removed, since lined pants, cuffs, and jeans with a factory hem take extra steps.

This guide shows what shops charge to hem pants and jeans, what other pants alterations cost, and why two quotes can differ. Prices are for the service itself. Sales tax and any rush fee come on top.

A plain hem on dress pants is the baseline. A standard hem cuts the extra length and stitches a fresh edge. A cuffed hem folds the fabric into a cuff, which some shops price the same as a plain hem.

Jeans with an original hem cost more. Preserving the factory hem keeps the worn look of the bottom edge, but the tailor must cut the leg from above and reattach the original edge, which is more work. A regular jeans hem that does not keep the original edge is simpler and priced lower. Say which you want when you book.

Retail chains publish price lists, and independent tailors usually quote by garment. ThePricer lists a lower price when the garment was bought from the chain and a higher price for clothing bought elsewhere. Independent shops may list starting prices for common jobs, with an "and up" for harder fabrics.

Both models are normal. A starting price means the final total depends on what the garment needs. If a shop has a published price, compare the garment type, not just the number. For help choosing, ask the tailor how long the hem will take and whether the price includes pressing.

Pants often need more than a hem to fit properly. The same visit can include waist work or a taper.

A waist adjustment takes in or lets out the waistband. Tapering narrows the leg and costs more than a plain hem because it involves long seams. Bundling alterations into one visit can save a trip, but check whether the shop discounts multiple jobs or prices each separately.

The ranges below come from a tailor's cost guide and a published chain price schedule.

They differ because one source gives a range across common jobs, and another lists a price for a specific job in a specific chain. Regional labor costs and garment type also matter. The tailors' guide covers many shops and many fabrics, while the chain list covers its own stores.

• Garment type. Dress pants, jeans, and lined trousers each have a different price.
• Fabric. Heavy, delicate, or slippery fabric can cost more to sew.
• Hem style. Plain, cuffed, and original-hem jobs are priced differently.
• Lining and details. Lined legs, vents, and pockets near the hem add steps.
• Location. Tailors in expensive cities generally charge more.
• Speed. Same-day or rush service usually costs extra.

Wear the shoes you plan to wear with the pants and bring them to the fitting. The right length depends on the shoe, the cut of the leg, and whether you want a break at the ankle. The tailor will pin the pants while you stand, and you can check the length in the mirror before any cutting. Ask how much fabric is left in the hem, since a pair can only be let down again if enough fabric remains.

If you buy from a retailer with in-house tailoring, ask whether alterations for its own garments cost less. Group jobs for a single visit. Do not rush the order unless you need to. Some dry cleaners offer basic hemming at a lower price than a dedicated tailor, though results and skill vary, so look at examples first.