Transforming a pair of jeans into shorts costs exactly zero cents and takes less than an hour. Whether you're aiming for a classic denim short or riding the bermuda comeback wave, a stick of chalk, a ruler, and a pair of fabric scissors are all you need to reinvent what's already hanging in your closet.
Summer is the season of reinvention, and your wardrobe doesn't have to follow. Instead of buying new pieces, the smartest move is to look at what you already own. That old pair of jeans sitting at the back of the closet, the one that still fits at the hips but feels too heavy for July? It's about to become your most-worn piece for weekends and vacations.
The technique is simple, but a few details make the difference between a clean, flattering result and a cut that goes wrong.
Choosing the right jeans matters more than the cut itself
Before picking up the scissors, the choice of denim is everything. Not all jeans transform equally, and the fabric directly determines the final silhouette.
Stretch vs. vintage: two very different results
A stretch jean will cling after cutting, creating a form-fitting short that hugs the thighs. That can be intentional, but if you're looking for something more relaxed, it's not the right starting point. A vintage jean, with its stiffer, less elastic weave, naturally gives a looser, more effortless result. The fabric behaves differently under the scissors, and the finished piece drapes rather than clings.
For a bermuda, the fabric choice becomes even more decisive. A narrow or slim-cut jean turned into a bermuda will squeeze the legs and create an unflattering silhouette. The bermuda comeback, which is very much a trend this season, works precisely because it's built on wide-leg or relaxed denim. The shift away from slim-fit styles has been building for a while, and cutting a wide jean into a bermuda is one of the most direct ways to embrace that movement.
Always check that the jeans still fit comfortably at the hips before starting. A pair that gaps at the waist or pulls across the seat won’t become flattering just because the legs are removed.
How to cut jeans into a short: the step-by-step method
The process is straightforward, but precision at each step prevents a crooked hem or uneven legs.
Marking the cut while wearing the jeans
Start by putting the jeans on. This is non-negotiable. Marking the cut length while wearing the denim ensures the line sits exactly where you want it on your body, accounting for how the fabric shifts when you move. Use chalk to mark the desired length directly on the leg. If you plan to add a cuff or a turned-up hem, add 4 extra centimeters to your mark. That margin disappears into the fold and gives the finished short a polished, intentional look.
Cutting with precision
Lay the jeans flat on a hard, even surface. Use a ruler to draw a straight chalk line across the leg at your mark. Then cut along that line with fabric scissors, which grip the denim cleanly rather than chewing through it like household scissors would. Once the first leg is done, fold the jean in half to align both legs perfectly before cutting the second one. This is the step most people skip, and it's the reason one leg ends up shorter than the other. Take the extra thirty seconds.
For the finishes, the options are three: a clean hem sewn or ironed flat, a rolled cuff using those extra 4 cm, or raw edges left to fray naturally for a more casual, worn-in effect. The frayed look works particularly well with vintage denim and pairs easily with white sneakers or flat sandals.
extra length to add if you want a folded cuff on your DIY denim shorts
Cutting jeans into a bermuda: a slightly different approach
The bermuda follows the same basic logic but demands more attention to length and fit. This season's bermuda comeback is built on a specific silhouette: relaxed through the thigh, hitting just above or at the knee, with clean or lightly frayed edges.
Selecting the right base and marking the length
Start with a wide-leg jean. Put it on, then use chalk to mark the desired length on both legs. The bermuda sits longer than a classic short, so the marking point is typically just above the knee or at mid-thigh, depending on preference. Remove the jeans before cutting.
Cutting and finishing the bermuda
Cut carefully along the chalk mark. Because the bermuda is longer, any unevenness in the cut is more visible, so the ruler step is especially useful here. Finish the edges with a sewn hem for a cleaner result, or leave them raw for a more relaxed texture. A lightly frayed edge on a wide-leg bermuda reads as deliberate and current rather than unfinished.
Avoid cutting a bermuda from slim or straight-cut jeans. The resulting shape will be tight around the thighs and visually heavy at the hem, which works against the relaxed aesthetic the bermuda trend is built on.
The tools that make the difference
The transformation costs nothing, but the right tools make it significantly easier. Three items are all that's required:
- Chalk: marks the cut line without damaging the fabric and brushes off cleanly afterward.
- A ruler: guarantees a straight, even line across the leg, preventing the slight diagonal drift that comes from cutting freehand.
- Fabric scissors: designed to cut cleanly through thick denim without fraying the edge prematurely or straining the hand.
These are basic sewing tools, and most households already own at least two of the three. The investment is minimal, the result is immediate, and the pair of jeans that was gathering dust becomes a summer staple. With new denim silhouettes dominating the season, working with what you already own is both a practical and stylish choice. And if the cut doesn't turn out perfectly on the first try, denim is forgiving: a slightly longer short can always be trimmed, and raw edges only improve with a few washes.
