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The Best Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Last updated on October 9, 2023

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If you want something that falls between regular- and loose-fit jeans in terms of bagginess, you might want to consider a relaxed-fit style. Especially popular for casual wear, these jeans offer extra room throughout to provide comfort and offer flexibility during everyday activities and work. And while they may look bulky on slimmer men, these jeans can provide a slimming effect on men with thicker midsections. 

Regardless of which style of relaxed-fit jeans you choose, you can expect extra space in the legs, seat, thighs and crotch areas. However, you’ll find different variations when it comes to the jeans’ rise and leg style. These choices affect both the look of the jeans on your body and your comfort.

Relaxed-fit jeans usually have a mid or high rise rather than a low one. A mid rise is a good option if you’d like to tuck your shirt in and don’t want to feel too constricted. A high rise offers you more coverage and can help provide a slimming effect, but they’re usually not designed for tucking your shirt in. If you go with low-rise jeans, these provide a very casual look and best suit men who are at least average height.

It’s most common to find men’s relaxed-fit jeans with a looser leg style that can easily fit over a pair of boots. However, you can find some with a flared leg for an even wider leg or go with a straight leg if you want something slimmer that opens wider near the ankle. Some tapered options also exist.

You’ll want to consider the denim type. You can always go with jeans made of 100% cotton denim for durability. However, you instead might prefer stretch denim for extra flexibility, raw denim for additional stiffness or washed denim for extra softness and less shrinkage. Some denim will have special features such as rips or distressed areas for a unique style.

Relaxed-fit jeans for men will come in all kinds of colors and washes as well. You can choose classic options like light to dark shades of blue or go with other colors such as white, black or gray. If you want something that stands out, you can consider options like acid and bleach washes that add some whitening to parts of the denim.

Our Picks For The Top Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

Levi’s 550 5-Pocket Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Levi's

550 5-Pocket Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Available in 21 washes, these jeans feature a mid-rise waist and a straight-leg style. They're made entirely of cotton and come in 129 sizes including regular and big and tall options.

Overall Take

Huge SelectionIf you need a hard-to-find size or color, these jeans come in 21 washes and over 100 sizes to fit your needs.

 Runner Up

Nautica Zip Fly & Button Closure Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Nautica

Zip Fly & Button Closure Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Made of a mix of spandex and cotton, these jeans are a good choice if you like flexibility. The relaxed fit provides comfort while the legs are tapered. You can choose from 11 washes and dozens of size options.

Overall Take

Flexible MaterialConsider these jeans if you prefer a little spandex in your denim for flexibility.

 We Also Like

Lee Straight Leg Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Lee

Straight Leg Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Sleeker than other options that have wider legs, these pants look fashionable to suit various occasions but still have enough looseness to keep you comfy. You can choose from 15 washes and sizes from 28W x 30L to 42W x 36L.

Overall Take

Fashionable and VersatileThese jeans offer you extra room but have straight legs for a fashionable and versatile look.

 Strong Contender

Silver Jeans Co. Zac Stretch Denim Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

Silver Jeans Co.

Zac Stretch Denim Relaxed Fit Jeans For Men

These jeans feature sturdy stitching and are made of cotton with some slight stretch to allow for easy movement. The legs are a straight style. There are 13 wash options and sizes from 18W x 30L to 44W x 36L.

Overall Take

Made to LastYou'll find that these stylish, comfy and flexible jeans hold up well to frequent wear.

What to Look For

  • You’ll want to make sure that your relaxed-fit jeans fit you appropriately. As you’re shopping, have both your waist and inseam measurements in mind and be aware that the size selection can vary by brand. In addition, some brands will run small or large and can require slightly adjusting your sizing. Therefore, it helps to look at whether customers say the particular jeans are true to size.
  • If you find a must-have pair of jeans that fit slightly too large, you can consider options such as hemming the cuffs, taking in the waist or doing some tapering. You’ll usually want a professional to help with this unless you’ve got significant experience tailoring clothes.
  • Darker jean colors especially come with the risk of extra dye bleeding when you go to wash the pair for the first time. That dye can harm other clothes in the wash. The good news is you can help prevent this issue if you hand wash your jeans in some white vinegar before you first wear them. Alternatively, you can throw them alone in your washer and dryer a few times to get any excess dye out; using hot water helps speed up the process. 
  • You don’t want your relaxed-fit jeans to shrink and lose their comfort and fit. The manufacturer often washes them first to help reduce further shrinkage, but you can help in the future if you stick to using cooler wash and dry settings or just letting the jeans hang dry. These preventative tips are especially important if your jeans contain stretchy materials.
  • Don’t panic if your new relaxed-fit jeans feel a bit too stiff and not as comfortable as you expected. This is common for new jeans until after you’ve worn them for some time so they can soften up. If you’d rather not wait, try washing them to see if it helps. As a next step, you could try using fabric softener. 
  • To make your favorite pair of relaxed-fit jeans last longer, try to limit how often you have to wash them. When they do need to be cleaned, make sure you turn them inside out first.

More to Explore

Have you ever heard of the practice of freezing your jeans? Some jeans wearers believe that the freezing temperature will help get rid of the bacteria that cause smells. At the same time, they believe the practice won’t affect the fit or feel of the jeans like frequent washing can. 

However, the truth is that your freezer’s temperature is far too high to do any proper sanitization. Instead, this practice won’t make your jeans clean and can even lead to fungal issues that affect your skin. So rather than throwing your jeans in the freezer, wash them only when necessary and use the proper care instructions to keep them in good shape.

More to explore