The 11 Best Petite Jeans of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Why I Love It: This pair of jeans is the best example of why you’d invest in petite sizing. It fits me beautifully from top to bottom: the waist is perfectly mid-size (and hits at exactly the right spot on my torso), the crotch and knee placement are exactly accurate for my smaller frame, and the inseam (27.5 inches) is that nice balance of short, but not too short. The length is a bit more cropped than I normally prefer; I usually opt for a bit longer to elongate my legs. But these jeans hit me just beyond my ankle bone and are thus perfect for showing off a chic pair of flats without having to roll them up. I purchased a pair of non-petite black wide-leg jeans from Madewell last year, but I prefer this pair. 

The Details: There hasn’t been any fading or color transfer, even after a few washes; the brilliance of this denim is that the pockets are already “pre-faded” (the edges are just a tiny bit lighter than the rest of the fabric), which is where you usually see the dye start to come off. They’re also extremely comfortable; there’s 22 percent recycled poly, but you’d never know except for a bit of roughness right after you wash them—and a brief trip to the dryer after they’d dried on the line got rid of that quickly. I feel the 3 percent elastane only because the jeans move with my body and don’t pinch or chafe anywhere—a problem I’ve had with other jeans. There’s a tiny bit of gaping in the back after a few washes, but that doesn’t bother me.

Who It’s For: If you’re short and looking for a wide-leg jean to try, this is a perfect option for a structured, not overwhelming, investment piece.

Material: Cotton, recycled cotton, recycled polyester, elastane | Inseam: 27.5 in | Size: 23–33

Why I Love It: I sometimes forget that Gap does better-than-average denim, especially considering the cost. This pair, in particular, is a great example of how budget denim doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality or shape. These looked awesome on me right out of the box, and the longer inseam (29 inches) meant that I could easily wear these with heels or flats—in the latter case, the jeans went to the floor but didn’t drag. Fit-wise, these looked like they were made for me: the crotch and knee placements were perfect, the mid-rise was placed well, and the waist wasn’t too tight, even with my smaller waist-to-hip ratio. 

The Details: The darker rinse and thick hem on the bottom made for a classic, chic look; it both elongated my frame and made me feel svelte. The jeans only have 1 percent elastane, and felt comfortable for the whole testing period—it only felt rough after it had been line-dried. Wide-leg jeans already work better for me than other cuts, because the width of the leg means less chafing, but this was nicely fitted through waist and hips and thus felt secure instead of loose and baggy. This will be a staple in my fall/winter dressing because it goes with various tops and shoes.

Who It’s For: This one gives the Madewell pair a run for its money—and, if you’re wide-leg jean-curious, this is a good inexpensive pair to dip a toe into the trend. 

Material: Cotton, elastane | Inseam: 29 in | Size: 24–30

Why I Love It: I wasn’t super familiar with Ayr before this, and so it was a nice surprise to love its best-selling flare denim as much as I did. There were three potential inseams; I chose 29 (because I like my flares to be long), and these landed exactly at the bottom of my foot. When I wore heels, they made me look long and lean; when I wore flats, they “pooled” a little, bunching up at the bottom of the shoe—which is, by the way, a very ’90s look I love. The frayed hem is a nice touch, as is the lighter wash around thighs and knees. Wide flares can look a little too extreme on smaller bodies, but this is a nice, subtle flare that made my legs look longer without making the rest of my proportions look strange.

The Details: Because this fabric is stiffer and substantial (only 3 percent polyester and 2 percent elastane), the flare at the bottom retained its wider shape even after several washes. The frayed hem didn’t start showing stray threads even after I wore them many times, which is an issue I often have with distressed denim. FYI, the care instructions on the site tell you to bag your jeans and throw them in the freezer to prevent color transfer; I didn’t do that but didn’t see any issues either before or after washing. There’s a tiny bit of whiskering (deliberate fading via horizontal lines at the hips to make the pants look more “distressed”); I don’t love that detail, but it’s minor enough that it doesn’t bother me when I have them on. The pockets are small, but I usually carry a bag, so I didn’t notice the difference when I was out and about.

Who It’s For: Those looking for an evergreen pair of jeans with an elongating effect. The fabric is midweight, so it straddles warm and cold weather easily.

Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Inseam: 25, 27, 29 in | Size: 23–34

Why I Love It: Honestly, I didn’t think I would like a crop style—my legs are very short already, so I don’t want to truncate them further. But these have a little flare at the bottom and hit right at the ankle bone (the shortest length I like), helping me feel slim through the waist, hips, and thighs and then more balanced towards the bottom. The deliberate fading around the knees and the visible vertical lines in the knit of the material both contributed to making my legs look longer. These were incredibly flattering and showed off all my shoes beautifully. 

The Details: This had incredibly soft material; it’s made with 16 percent modal and 4 percent polyester, and (like other Mother jeans) the tummy and hip support isn’t quite as high as other pairs on this list. This wouldn’t necessarily be my pick if I was going out to a restaurant to enjoy a bigger meal, in other words. It also felt like the material stretched a bit over time—although washing them helped them snap back into shape. I don’t mind a raw hem—I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but these didn’t feel too extreme, and they held up even after multiple wears (I will keep an eye on them after I’ve had them for several months). Honestly, this was the biggest surprise for me: a pair I didn’t expect to like but really, really do.

Who It’s For: If you like cropped jeans, this is a no-brainer.

Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Inseam: 26 in | Size: 23–34

Why I Love It: Even when they were popular, I never really loved the look and feel of skinny jeans on me—so I was delighted and surprised when this black pair looked and felt so great. They’re a streamlined, almost cigarette style (à la Ashley Olsen), and hit me right at the ankle for an excellent shape. Unlike other skinnies, this was a pair that I put on and immediately felt elevated and cute, which made them perfect for business meetings or drinks with colleagues. FYI, this runs large, so I sized down for the best fit. 

The Details: It felt like there was a greater percentage of stretch in these jeans (in reality, there was only 3 percent), which meant they felt almost legging-like. I did feel somewhat held in at the belly and waist, but the jeans did slide down my (thinner) hips after about an hour. I spotted a little color transfer at the pockets, so I might hand wash these in the future to preserve their dark color. They shrank a bit in the wash but stretched out again after I’d worn them; these might not be the highest quality, but the shape and fit are good enough that I will happily wear these in the cold months in place of black leggings.

Who It’s For: Skinny jeans enthusiasts who aren’t looking to spend hundreds of dollars on a new pair of jeans for their workwear rotation should look here.

Material: Cotton, elastane | Inseam: 25.5 in | Size: 00–16

Why I Love It: I like straight-leg jeans, but they don’t always hang as well on me as flares or wide legs (because of my larger shoulders and chest combined with my shorter-than-average legs). I really loved how these felt and looked; they’re wider throughout instead of tapered, giving me a long, straight up-and-down shape. The fabric is 100 percent non-stretch cotton, so (even though this model ran large) I took my true size, knowing there would be no stretch. As I suspected, they fit amazingly. I especially like them cuffed with heels to add a little more visual interest and length.

The Details: This was my first pair of Agolde jeans, and the quality was exceptional. The little touches of distressing around the pockets and bottom hem were delightful. I did notice the level of distressing increased with a wash, particularly with the hole in the back left pocket. I don’t normally use that pocket anyway, though, so I would just make sure not to put anything in it.

Who It’s For: This is much more comfortable than many other non-stretch denim I’ve tried, so I think they’d appeal to straight-leg lovers looking for everyday jeans. The price-per-wear here will be really, really low, which I imagine might appeal to you, too.

Material: Cotton | Inseam: 25.25 in | Size: 23–34

Why I Love It: This pair had a 26.5-inch inseam, but they hit me right at the ankle bone because I’m on the shorter side. This had good construction for crop denim but a little less tummy control than others on this list. Other pairs of Frame denim I’ve had in the past were rigid, so this one by contrast (with 5 percent elastane) felt very soft and stretchy. I liked how they felt, and I enjoyed the flare’s shape from calf to ankle. The waistband felt tight to start but stretched out slightly over time. This might not be the pair I’d use for a long day with the kids, but they work well for a weekday.

The Details: These jeans retained their shape and structure well, even after multiple washes (and a few stains after I wore them to cook dinner). The bootcut shape was extremely flattering on my short body, although if I were to get this pair again, I might go for a slightly darker wash. I would have also preferred a longer inseam, but this is a good pick if you like crop jeans.

Who It’s For: Those looking for an elevated pair of jeans for every day.

Material: Organic cotton, cotton, recycled polyester, elastane | Inseam: 26.5 in | Size: 23–34

Why I Love It: These jeans were soft and supple right out of the box and only got softer with multiple washes. Uncropped, they fit me just beyond my ankle and held up well after wearing them during the week. This would be an incredible work-from-home denim, in part because of the softness and in part because there was a good amount of room in the leg.

The Details: This pair also has a lot of whiskering that doesn’t work for my body type (it angles down diagonally, drawing the eye downwards), and it doesn’t flatter my shape like others on this list did. It looked cool when cropped, too, which means it’s more versatile than it might first appear.

Who It’s For: It would be great on someone who likes a slimmer leg—someone who doesn’t have wider shoulders, for example, or wants to emphasize their hips.

Material: Cotton, polyurethane | Inseam: 27 in | Size: 22–32

Why I Love It: NYDJ (Not Your Daughter’s Jeans) specializes in denim that helps you feel supported. And, indeed, this straight leg—which flared a little towards the bottom and almost felt like a narrow boot-leg—was very supportive in the waist and hips. It was soft and stretchy throughout, and the longer inseam (30 inches) meant I felt long-legged and tall wearing them. The darker wash looked and felt high-quality; in hindsight, I might go with a lighter color to feel a bit more classic straight-leg.

The Details: The jeans started to lose some of their shape from the calf downward after washing; the material felt a bit rougher and also shrank a bit. It’s made of 8 percent elastomultiester polyester and 2 percent Lycra, so this pair would need to be washed even more gently if I wanted it to maintain its quality.

Who It’s For: This pair feels like it’s made with moms and parents in mind, thanks to the stretch and support throughout, which makes it snug without feeling tight.

Material: Cotton, elastomultiester, Lycra | Inseam: 30 in | Size: 00P–18P

Why I Love It: I opted for a 30-inch inseam and a lighter color in these jeans; if I had to do it again, I would stick to the same inseam but opt for a slightly darker color with more fading. The color is a bit flat and one-dimensional throughout, although that did make my lower half look wider and longer (which, since I’m heart-shaped, is a plus). 

The Details: This has a higher percentage of polyester than I’m used to; perhaps this is why the fabric felt rougher than a rigid, non-stretch cotton option and lost some of its stretch after a gentle wash. But the overall fit was flattering and chic. It started to look more naturally weathered after more washes, which is a nice feature, but there’s not as much tummy control.

Who It’s For: Shoppers who like an effortless look may like these best. The small flare at the bottom is great for sandals, heels, and all styles of boots, so this pair is versatile, too.

Material: Cotton, polyester, Lycra | Inseam: 30, 32, 34 in | Size: 23–34