Men’s shorts are measured by the inseam—the length from the crotch to the hem. The most common shorts inseams are as follows:
- 5-inch: 5-inch shorts usually rest at the mid to upper thigh. These breathable shorts are great for the hot summer months.
- 7-inch: The perfect middle ground length, 7-inch shorts tend to land between the middle of the thigh to just above the knee.
- 9-inch: 9-inch shorts typically land right at the base of the thigh to the top of the knee. They’re the standard length of most athletic shorts.
- 11-inch: The longest common length for men's shorts, 11-inch shorts fall between the top and middle of the knee.
There are plenty of shorter and longer variations of shorts available for men. For example, men’s booty shorts can have as little as a one-inch inseam, while skate shorts are sometimes as long as 16 inches.