Design & Style

How to Cuff Jeans: 5 Ways to Cuff Your Jeans

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Feb 9, 2022 • 3 min read

Cuff your jeans to shorten the length of your jeans, show some ankle, or bring a smart casual outfit together.

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4 Reasons to Cuff Your Jeans

There are many times when it’s fashionable to cuff your jeans or chinos. Consider these reasons why you may want to cuff your pair of jeans:

  1. 1. Show off footwear and socks. Socks and shoes can be fashion statements unto themselves, and cuffing brings greater focus to your footwear. Roll jeans up once or twice to show off quirky socks, Chelsea boots, a favorite pair of sneakers, or other kinds of footwear.
  2. 2. Go for a slimmer look. Cuffing can help bring greater definition to your legs, especially straight-leg jeans. Try cuffing twice to mimic more of a slim fit. 3.__ Maximize comfort__. If you are walking around in baggy jeans, the material may trip you up—try a double cuff for a DIY hem.
  3. 3. Protect your pants. If you are walking on the beach or grass and don’t want your nice denim jeans to get dirty, you can also roll them up. When biking, you might cuff your pants to protect your clothing from bike grease.

5 Ways to Cuff Jeans

Follow these style tips to discover versatile ways to cuff your jeans or chinos:

  1. 1. Single cuff: This is perhaps the most casual and straightforward cuff. To achieve the single cuff, fold your pants up just once at the hem, exposing the inside of your pants and creating a textural (and sometimes colorful) contrast between the cuff and the rest of your jeans. You can do this cuff with many different types of jeans.
  2. 2. Double cuff: The double cuff is the single cuff repeated once more, folding your jeans up twice. The double cuff is tighter and works well with straight-cut or tapered styles.
  3. 3. Pinroll cuff: The pinroll is a simple and popular cuff that works most cleanly with slimmer-fitting pants. Pinch the inseam of your pants, and fold it to the back of the pant leg. Then roll the bottom of your jeans up about two inches until snug. The pinroll shows off your ankle and draws attention to the top of your shoes.
  4. 4. Bicycle cuff: This cuff is for outdoor activities, like biking or hiking. Do the double cuff, and then pull your legs up toward your knee to expose more of your calf. This cuffing style helps you avoid getting grease from your bike chain on your pants.
  5. 5. Mega cuff: The mega cuff, or the deep cuff, gets its name from the greater amount of denim you will fold up in your cuff. This cuff is very similar to the single cuff, but instead of only folding up by an inch or so, you’ll fold up about four inches, making for a more fashion-forward statement.

How to Double Cuff Your Jeans Step-by-Step

Double cuffing your jeans is a simple way to create a trendy casual look and shorten the pant leg. Follow these steps to double cuff your jeans:

  1. 1. Put on your pants and socks. Slim pants and skinny jeans are easy to cuff and style—wider pants, like boyfriend jeans and bootcut jeans, can be more challenging to cuff. Putting your socks on before cuffing will be easier than doing it afterward.
  2. 2. Choose your cuff style. You can fold or roll a cuff. For the sake of ease, try a double cuff, one of the most popular styles that go with many different outfits.
  3. 3. Fold the bottom of your pants. Fold your pants up once at the hem, and use your thumb to slide around the cuff to make sure it is smooth and even.
  4. 4. Fold up again. Fold up once more to achieve the double cuff, which will be a tighter, snugger cuff that should hug your ankle and show off your socks.
  5. 5. Put your shoes on. You can now put on your footwear. Boots work well with the double cuff, and if you are going sockless, sandals work nicely, too, as the cuffs will highlight your ankle.
  6. 6. Uncuff after wearing your jeans. Cuffing can lead to more wear and tear, particularly for raw denim. To protect fragile pants, limit the number of times you wear your pants with a cuff. You can also wash or iron them to help remove the creases.

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