Most men own two pairs of shorts and wear them for everything. The gym pair doubles as the errand pair. The khaki pair steps in when the invite suggests a little effort, weddings, beach bars, backyard cookouts. It works until it stops working, which is about the time you realize a single pair of cotton shorts is doing the job of five different garments.
Shorts have more range than most men give them credit for. The types of shorts for men span from tailored cuts that hold their own at a summer office to technical fabrics designed for a trail run in August heat. The differences matter. Inseam, fabric weight, pocket placement, and construction all change what a pair of shorts can do and where it belongs.
Sixteen styles cover the full landscape. Some overlap. A few surprise. All of them serve a purpose that justifies their place in a rotation.
Different Types of Shorts for Men
What are the different types of shorts for men? The main types of shorts for men are chino shorts, cargo shorts, denim shorts, linen shorts, Bermuda shorts, tailored shorts, athletic shorts, swim trunks, board shorts, running shorts, drawstring shorts, hybrid shorts, lounge shorts, golf shorts, seersucker shorts, and corduroy shorts.
Chino Shorts
A chino short is a flat-front short made from cotton twill, cut from the same cloth as full-length chinos you’d style for everyday wear. The fabric has enough body to hold a crease and enough softness to feel comfortable in warm weather. Most pairs land between a 7-inch and 9-inch inseam, which puts the hem just above the knee on an average frame.
Chino shorts are the most versatile men’s casual shorts in any rotation. They pair with a polo and loafers for a dinner reservation, a linen shirt for a beach town lunch, or a plain tee and sneakers for a Saturday with no plans. Khaki, navy, and olive cover the widest range of outfits. Stone and burgundy work as second-tier additions once the basics are handled.
Best for everyday wear, casual dates, warm-weather travel, smart-casual settings.
Cargo Shorts
A cargo short has bellowed side pockets stitched to the thigh, originally designed for military field use. The extra storage made them practical for soldiers and construction workers before they crossed into mainstream menswear in the 1990s.
The silhouette runs wider than a chino short, and the added pockets create bulk around the hip and thigh. Modern versions have slimmed the pockets and tightened the leg opening, which brings them closer to a functional warm-weather option than surplus gear. Stick to earth tones and a flat pocket style. The moment cargo pockets start ballooning, the proportions fall apart.
Best for outdoor activities, hiking, casual weekends, travel where pocket space matters.
Denim Shorts
A denim short is a casual short cut from denim fabric, available in the same wash spectrum as full-length jeans outfits. Light washes lean vintage and relaxed. Dark washes approach a chino short in formality.
Denim shorts had a rough decade in the 2010s when the fashion conversation dismissed them entirely. That changed. The return of relaxed denim silhouettes brought denim shorts back into legitimate rotations, and the jorts conversation went from punchline to legitimate style reference. A mid-wash pair with a 7-inch inseam and a straight leg is the safest starting point. Keep the fit relaxed but proportional.
Best for casual weekends, concerts, barbecues, any setting where jeans would work if the temperature allowed it.
Linen Shorts
A linen short is made from linen or a linen-cotton blend, and it handles heat better than any other fabric in a shorts rotation. The open weave lets air pass through the cloth, which keeps skin temperature lower than cotton can manage on the same day.
Linen wrinkles. That is part of the material. Fighting the wrinkle defeats the purpose of wearing linen in the first place. A drawstring waist or an elastic back panel often accompanies the fabric because linen drapes softer than twill, and a traditional waistband can feel stiff against that drape. Pair them with a linen shirt for a full warm-weather linen outfit, or a cotton tee to break up the texture.
Best for beach vacations, resort dressing, summer heat, linen outfits.
Bermuda Shorts
A Bermuda short is a longer short that falls at or just above the knee, typically with a 9-inch to 11-inch inseam. The name comes from the British territory where the style became a dress code staple, worn with blazers, knee socks, and dress shoes in professional settings.
The longer inseam works well for men who prefer more leg coverage or who find shorter cuts unflattering on their frame. The trade-off is that Bermuda shorts can look dated if the leg opening is too wide or the fabric too stiff. A slim straight leg in a medium-weight cotton keeps the proportions modern. Avoid pleats unless you are committing fully to a vintage Bermuda look with the accessories to match.
Best for conservative settings, men who prefer longer hemlines, business casual in warm climates.
Tailored Shorts
A tailored short is a dress-level short with details borrowed from trousers. That includes a hook-and-bar closure, a crease down the front of the leg, belt loops, and sometimes a lining. The fabric is finer than standard chino cotton, often a tropical wool blend or a high-thread-count cotton.
Men’s dress shorts fill a narrow but real gap in a warm-weather wardrobe. A summer wedding reception, a rooftop dinner, or a smart-casual office that allows shorts all call for something sharper than a chino short. The fit should be close to the body with a clean taper. Navy, charcoal, and cream handle the most occasions.
Best for summer weddings, upscale dinners, business casual offices, smart-casual events.
Athletic Shorts
An athletic short is a performance short made from moisture-wicking synthetic fabric, cut for range of motion. The construction varies by sport. Tennis shorts for men run slightly longer and often include a flat front with a clean finish. Basketball shorts sit below the knee with a wider leg. General training shorts split the difference.
The key distinction from other shorts is the fabric. Polyester, nylon, or blended synthetics pull sweat away from skin and dry faster than cotton. Mesh panels or perforations increase airflow in high-output situations. These perform well at the gym and on the court. A restaurant or any setting that expects a woven fabric calls for a different short entirely.
Best for gym sessions, pickup games, outdoor training, any activity that generates real sweat.
Swim Trunks
A swim trunk is a short designed for water, made from quick-drying nylon or polyester with mesh lining inside. The construction repels water absorption, which means the fabric stays light after submersion. Most swim trunks have an elastic waistband and a drawstring closure.
Length matters here. A 5-inch to 7-inch inseam looks current. Anything past the knee falls into board short territory, which serves a different purpose. Solid colors and simple prints age better than bold patterns. A well-fitted pair of swim trunks doubles as a casual short for a beach town where changing between activities is impractical.
Best for pool days, beach trips, lake weekends, resort wear.
Board Shorts
A board short is a longer swim short, originally designed for surfers who needed thigh coverage against wax rub from a surfboard. The inseam runs 9 inches to 11 inches, and the construction usually includes a lace-up fly and minimal hardware to avoid scratching a board surface.
Board shorts sit in a specific space. They handle ocean conditions better than swim trunks because the longer cut and heavier fabric resist riding up in waves. They also dry reasonably fast, though not as fast as a lightweight trunk. The longer silhouette works for taller men or anyone who prefers more coverage in the water.
Best for surfing, water sports, beach days where a longer cut is preferred.
Running Shorts
Running shorts are the shortest option in a men’s rotation, with inseams from 3 inches to 5 inches. The construction prioritizes freedom of movement above all else. Split-side hems, lightweight woven fabric, and built-in briefs are common features.
Short shorts for men have seen a cultural shift. A 5-inch inseam that felt aggressive five years ago is now standard in athleisure and summer casual. The shorter cut shows more leg, which changes the proportions of an outfit. Muscular legs fill the frame naturally. Slimmer legs benefit from a slightly longer 5-inch cut over a 3-inch. These are performance garments first, but the right pair with a clean tee has become an acceptable weekend uniform.
Best for running, training, warm-weather casual where a shorter cut fits the context.
Drawstring Shorts
A drawstring short has an elastic waistband with a fabric or cord tie at the front instead of a button-and-fly closure. The relaxed waist construction trades structure for comfort, which gives the short a softer silhouette than a chino or tailored cut.
The fabric varies widely. Linen drawstring shorts lean resort. Cotton jersey drawstring shorts lean lounge. Woven cotton drawstrings occupy the middle ground. Fabric and cut shape formality as much as the waistband does. A drawstring short in a mid-weight linen blend with a tapered leg looks appropriate at a seaside dinner. A drawstring short in jersey cotton belongs at home.
Best for resort wear, relaxed travel, casual summer days, low-structure outfits.
Hybrid Shorts
A hybrid short is engineered to work in and out of water, combining the quick-dry fabric of swim trunks with the structured look of a walk short. Most hybrid shorts have a standard waistband with belt loops, zip pockets, and a four-way stretch fabric that handles both a swim and a barstool.
The appeal is consolidation. One pair replaces a swim trunk and a casual short on a trip where packing light matters. A dedicated swim trunk still handles water better, and a dedicated chino short still looks sharper on dry land. Hybrid shorts occupy the middle competently. For travel-heavy summers or days that go from pool to lunch to sightseeing, that competence is enough.
Best for travel, beach-to-bar transitions, water parks, active vacation days.
Lounge Shorts
Men’s lounge shorts are soft-fabric shorts designed for home wear and low-key errands. French terry, jersey cotton, and fleece are the standard materials. The construction is minimal. Most pairs have an elastic waist, a drawstring, and pockets that sit flat against the leg.
Lounge shorts replaced sweatpants in warm weather. The same comfort, less fabric, lower body temperature. A clean pair in a dark color with a tapered leg can extend past the front door for a coffee run or a dog walk. The line between lounge short and going-out short depends on the fabric weight, the fit, and whether the shorts have visible pilling.
Best for home, weekend mornings, low-effort errands, lounging.
Golf Shorts
Golf shorts for men are performance shorts with a polished appearance, typically made from a polyester-elastane blend that stretches during a swing and resists wrinkles through eighteen holes. The cut mirrors a chino short in silhouette but adds moisture management and UV protection.
The fabric technology separates golf shorts from standard chino shorts. Wicking finishes pull sweat from skin. Stretch construction allows a full range of hip rotation. Wrinkle resistance keeps the shorts presentable from the first tee to the clubhouse. A flat front and a 9-inch to 10-inch inseam are standard. The look should blend with a polo shirt and clean sneakers or golf shoes.
Best for golf, country club settings, outdoor activities where performance fabric and a polished look both matter.
Seersucker Shorts
A seersucker short is made from seersucker cotton, a fabric with a puckered surface texture created by alternating slack and tight threads during weaving. The pucker lifts the fabric away from the skin, which allows airflow beyond what flat cotton provides.
Seersucker is a summer fabric with a specific personality. The texture has a preppy, Southern personality in most contexts, which narrows versatility compared to a plain chino short. Blue-and-white stripe is the classic pattern. Solid seersucker in white, blue, or stone offers the same cooling properties and a subtler appearance. Pair them with a solid shirt to keep the outfit grounded.
Best for summer events, garden parties, preppy style, warm-weather settings where texture adds interest.
Corduroy Shorts
A corduroy short is made from corduroy fabric, a cotton textile with vertical ridges called wales. The texture adds visual weight, which gives the short a different character than smooth-finish cotton. Fine-wale corduroy looks cleaner and dressier. Wide-wale has a casual, retro feel.
Corduroy shorts work best in transitional weather, specifically early fall and late spring when temperatures allow shorts but the visual weight of corduroy matches the season better than linen or seersucker. The fabric also pairs well with layered tops, which means a corduroy short and a lightweight knit creates an outfit that holds together in a way plain cotton shorts miss.
Best for transitional seasons, fall-casual settings, layered outfits, men who want texture beyond standard cotton.
Shorts Fabrics and Materials
Fabric determines what a pair of shorts can do as much as the cut does. The same silhouette in different materials serves different purposes entirely.
Cotton twill is the foundation. Chino shorts, cargo shorts, and most casual shorts use a twill-woven cotton that balances structure, breathability, and durability. Heavier twills hold a crease. Lighter twills breathe easier in heat. Cotton twill handles repeated machine washing better than any other shorts fabric.
Linen handles heat at the highest level. The open weave allows airflow that cotton twill restricts, and the fiber itself absorbs moisture and releases it quickly. The tradeoff is wrinkles. Linen-cotton blends (typically 55/45 or 70/30) reduce the wrinkling while keeping most of the breathability.
Nylon and polyester dominate swim and performance categories. Both are synthetic, both dry fast, and both resist water absorption. Nylon has a softer hand. Polyester holds dye color longer. Most athletic and swim shorts blend both with a small percentage of elastane for stretch.
French terry is a knit cotton with loops on the interior and a smooth exterior. The weight sits between a jersey tee and a sweatshirt, which makes it the standard lounge shorts fabric. It absorbs sweat well and feels soft against skin. Formal settings call for a woven fabric instead.
Seersucker is a woven cotton with a deliberate pucker in the surface. The raised sections pull the fabric off the skin and create micro air channels. Seersucker shorts stay cooler than flat-woven cotton of the same weight because more of the fabric is off the body at any given moment.
Corduroy is a woven cotton with vertical ridges. The added texture gives the fabric visual depth and a slightly warmer hand than flat cotton. It works in transitional seasons when linen and seersucker feel too light. Pinwale (thin ridge) looks dressier. Wide-wale has a casual hand.
How to Choose the Right Shorts
Inseam length defines the proportions of any short. The inseam is the measurement from the crotch seam to the bottom of the leg opening. A 5-inch inseam lands at mid-thigh. A 7-inch inseam sits just above the knee on most men. A 9-inch inseam reaches the knee or just below. Shorter men benefit from a 5-inch to 7-inch inseam that keeps the legs looking proportional. Taller men can push to 9 inches and still maintain balanced proportions. The 7-inch inseam works for the widest range of heights and body types.
Fit and rise determine how shorts sit on the body. A mid-rise waistband that lands at or just below the natural waist is the safest starting point. The leg opening should taper slightly from hip to hem. Shorts that flare at the bottom add visual width to the knee and look dated. A slim-straight or tapered fit keeps the silhouette clean. Leave enough room to sit and bend comfortably. Shorts are warm-weather garments and they should feel like it.
Occasion narrows the options. A backyard cookout allows cargo shorts or denim. A summer wedding calls for tailored shorts or pressed chinos. A gym session requires athletic fabric. Match the formality of the short to the formality of the setting. When in doubt, chino shorts in a neutral color cover the most ground.
Season matters beyond summer. Corduroy shorts and heavier cotton work in early fall and late spring. Linen and seersucker belong in peak summer heat. Athletic and swim shorts are warm-weather only. The fabric weight should match the temperature, and the texture should match the time of year.
Color follows the same logic as full-length pants. Start with navy, khaki, and olive. These three cover the majority of outfit combinations. Stone, charcoal, and white add range as a second wave. Bold colors and patterns work as accent pairs once the neutral foundation is solid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular types of shorts for men?
Chino shorts are the most worn type across age groups and settings because the cotton twill fabric works for casual and smart-casual occasions equally well. Athletic shorts rank second by volume, driven by gym use and the broader athleisure shift. Swim trunks complete the top three, with demand concentrated from late spring through early fall.
What length should men’s shorts be?
Men’s shorts should fall between mid-thigh and just above the knee, which translates to a 5-inch to 9-inch inseam depending on height. A 7-inch inseam is the most versatile length for the majority of body types. Shorter men benefit from a 5-inch to 7-inch inseam that preserves leg proportion. Taller men can extend to 9 inches comfortably.
What is inseam on shorts?
The inseam is the distance measured from the crotch seam to the bottom hem of the leg opening. On shorts, this measurement determines where the hem falls on the thigh or knee. A 5-inch inseam sits at mid-thigh, a 7-inch inseam falls just above the knee, and a 9-inch inseam reaches the knee on most frames.
Are cargo shorts still in style?
Cargo shorts came back into rotation alongside the broader workwear and utility trend in menswear. The modern versions that work are slimmer in the leg with flat pockets that sit close to the thigh. The baggy, below-the-knee cargo shorts from the early 2000s are a different garment entirely, and those remain out of favor.
Can you wear shorts in a business casual office?
Some business casual offices allow shorts during summer months, but the type matters. Tailored shorts or pressed chino shorts in navy, charcoal, or khaki paired with a collared shirt and loafers fit most definitions of business casual shorts. Athletic shorts, cargo shorts, and swim trunks fall outside that definition. Check the specific workplace policy before testing the boundary.
What type of shorts are best for summer?
Linen shorts handle peak summer heat better than any other option because the fabric breathes more than cotton twill. Chino shorts in a lighter-weight cotton serve as the all-purpose men’s summer shorts for everyday wear. Seersucker shorts offer a textured alternative that keeps airflow high. For days split between land and water, hybrid shorts consolidate two garments into one.
What shoes go with men’s shorts?
Sneakers pair with every type of short except tailored dress shorts, where loafers or leather sandals are a better match. Canvas sneakers and espadrilles work for casual settings. Boat shoes complement chino and Bermuda shorts. Slides and flip-flops stay at the pool or beach. The general rule is that the more structured the short, the more structured the shoe should be.
What is the difference between board shorts and swim trunks?
Board shorts are longer, typically 9 inches to 11 inches in the inseam, with a lace-up fly and minimal hardware designed for surfing. Swim trunks are shorter, usually 5 inches to 7 inches, with an elastic waistband and mesh lining designed for swimming and poolside wear. Board shorts offer more coverage and thigh protection. Swim trunks offer a more versatile silhouette that crosses over to casual wear.