The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need (2024)

By Alex Assoune


Denim jeans currently are one of the top-selling clothing items worldwide, especially tight jeans that shape an elegant silhouette and make the lower body appear slimmer. But how many pairs of jeans should you own?

Youshould aim for 4 to 5 pairs of denimjeans, excluding shorts. It is a good number to meet your everyday needs, even though a woman own 7 pairs on average, and men 6.

The number of jeans you should own is much lower than you think. It depends on how big your closet is, how often you can do your laundry, and your fashion style.

However, jeans can quickly become uncomfortable if you wear them for too long. And they aren't suitable for everyone's fashion style. With the right selection of clothes, you can keep looking and feeling your best.

Most people own too many pieces of clothing and still have nothing to wear, particularly in developed countries. This led the fashion industry to become one of the largest polluters globally.

Conventional denim manufacturing is one of the most polluting processes in the textile and apparel industry. It requires tons of water and chemicals with long-term disastrous effects on human health and the environment.

To help you spend less money on clothing, get dressed much easier, and improve your fashion style over time, here is the truth about how many pairs of jeans you should own.

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Closet size

The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need (1)

Ask yourself how much room you have at home before buying any new pair of jeans. Do you truly have enough room in your closet for another pair of jeans?

It's an excellent idea to try to keep your wardrobe simple with only essential pieces that you love. You will make every garment you own a winner.

Having an encumbered closet is never fun. So, find out how many pairs of jeans you should own, take a closer look at how much free room you have at home.

It's fun to buy new stylish pairs of jeans and try various styles to improve your look and accentuate your best features.

It's also difficult to resist when they are so many different styles to choose from, between boyfriend cut, slim, skinny, tight, straight, regular, loose, flared, white, black, and more.

But if you have no space left for them, it doesn't make sense to buy more. Try to dress realistically with wardrobe essentials without being too complicated. And you'll have an easier time getting dressed in the morning.

If you want to reduce your wardrobe budget, purchase new pairs of jeans only if you have space left in your house.

If you like to have more options, make sure you have enough room at home to store your denim jeans. Be sure to like and wear them all. It's good to be extra picky about what you keep.

if you want to spend less money overall on unnecessary fashion items, make an effort to own fewer clothes and adopt a more sustainable and ethical approach to fashion.

Make space in your closet before buying new pairs of jeans. Go through your clothes to get a better picture of what kind of jeans you already own, what you wear regularly, what you don't need anymore, and what you should buy next.

You may even find garments you didn't remember owning in the back of your closet when you declutter your wardrobe. Avoid an oversized wardrobe as it's often overwhelming and stressful.

For most people, 40 to 50 items are plenty enough, including 4 to 5 pairs of casual pants or denim jeans. Follow my ultimate guide on how big your wardrobe should be for inspiration.

Only keep the jeans that you truly need and love to wear so you have more time, space, and money for the things you enjoy the most.

Laundry time

The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need (2)

Next, if you want to find out how many pairs of jeans you should own, think about how many times you can wash them during the week. It's one of the biggest things that can help you figure out your wardrobe's ideal size.

If you can do your laundry often enough, you can wear the same pair of jeans regularly. And you won't need that many in your closet, saving you time, space, and money.

Depending on your laundry schedule, you might need more than 5 pairs of jeans. But for most people, 4 to 5 pairs of casual pants, including denim jeans, are all that is needed to look stylish and well dressed.

Keep in mind that you don't need to wash your denim jeans too often. You should wash them only when you need to. And don't wash clothes that you don't wear.

How many times you should wash your clothes depends on a lot of factors. Your lifestyle, your environment, the climate, the types of jeans you like to wear, their quality, and durability.

Casual clothes such as denim jeans can last up to five times wearing them before they need cleaning. It depends on their materials, how dirty they are, how much you sweat, and how active you are during the day.

Wash your clothes at the right moment and only when necessary. Washing denim jeans too often risks damaging the fabrics.

Take good care of the jeans you already have to make them last longer. You will save time and money in the long run, reduce your water and energy consumption, and protect the planet's natural resources.

Fashion style

The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need (3)

One of the biggest reasons that most people own so many pairs of rarely-worn jeans is that it's difficult to find flattering pants. Not all pairs of jeans look good on everyone and fit into every fashion style.

Think of your current dressing style and lifestyle to find out how many pairs of jeans you need, if any. It can be that jeans aren't for you at all and you should wear something else to look and feel your best.

Knowing your fashion style is crucial to express your creativity, enhance the way you look, and highlight your best features. List what your clothing essentials are and see if denim jeans fit into them.

Keep nothing superfluous in your wardrobe to save time and money and make space in your life for what is the most important to you.

If you don't know what your preferred clothing style is exactly, you can get inspiration from this definitive list of fashion styles and create stylish outfits every day.

Once you know how you like to get dressed, think of what you normally do during the day.

What activities do participate in daily? When do you go to work? How often do you work out? How many times do you meet with friends? Do you go out regularly during the evening?

These are the questions you should answer to find out how many pairs of jeans you need. You cannot wear denim jeans for every occasion so make sure you build your wardrobe accordingly.

Sustainable denim jeans

The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need (4)

Regular denim production requires vast amounts of resources, chemicals, water, and energy. It creates massive amounts of pollution, waste, and greenhouse gases every year.

By changing your shopping habits, you can save time, space, and money, reduce your environmental footprint and also push the denim industry to care more about the planet and the people behind your clothes.

Shop for affordable and sustainable denim jeans that protect the planet and help you look stylish without breaking the bank. The best pairs of jeans are eco-friendly, versatile, and durable.

They are ethically-made with recycled or organic materials to enhance your style and grow your confidence with a good conscience.

Thankfully, many sustainable denim brands make consistent efforts to offer inexpensive and ethical options that make dressing well and sustainably very easy for you.

They are leading the denim jeans revolution and pioneering sustainability with eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton, lyocell, hemp, and linen.

Discover our selection of the most affordable and sustainable denim brands that produce jeans under the highest social and environmental standards.

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need (5) Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need (2024)

FAQs

The Truth About How Many Jeans You Really Need? ›

You should aim for 4 to 5 pairs of denim jeans, excluding shorts. It is a good number to meet your everyday needs

needs
In other words, a need is something required for a safe, stable and healthy life (e.g. air, water, food, land, shelter) while a want is a desire, wish or aspiration. When needs or wants are backed by purchasing power, they have the potential to become economic demands.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Need
, even though a woman own 7 pairs on average, and men 6. The number of jeans you should own is much lower than you think.

How many pairs of jeans does the average person own? ›

Let's Start With How Many Jeans or Pants People Own

Fashion United in the UK and MagForWomen (US) both report that, on average, Women own 7 pairs of Jeans and Men own 6 pairs of Jeans, with about 2 pairs of jeans purchased per person per year (Source).

How many pairs of pants do you really need? ›

Depending on your laundry schedule, you might need more than 5 pairs of pants. But for most people, 4 to 5 pairs of casual pants, including denim jeans, are more than enough to meet everyday needs. Keep in mind that you don't need to wash your casual pants too often.

How many jeans should I own minimalist? ›

Two or three pairs of jeans. Only keep the ones that make you look and feel good. Three or four tank tops. For layering, and when the weather gets nicer, for wearing alone.

How many wears should a pair of jeans last? ›

"Denim is a thick fabric (unlike your average T-shirt) so you can get away with more wears between washes. We recommend washing after 10 or so wears—or whenever jeans smell stale or unpleasant.

Are you supposed to wear jeans multiple times? ›

Jeans can typically be worn 3 times before washing. Leggings and tights should be washed after every wear to get rid of the baggy knees. Suits typically can be worn several times during normal use before dry cleaning (3-4 times for wool and 4-5 times for synthetics).

How much is the average pair of jeans in the US? ›

Men's and women's jeans pricing in the United States as of 2018. This statistic shows the average price of men's and women's denim jeans in the United States as of 2018. As of quarter three in 2018, the average price of a pair of women's jeans was 165.44 U.S. dollars.

Is it OK to wear the same pants everyday? ›

As long as you maintain cleanliness and do not allow bacteria to grow, it is okay to wear the same pair of pants for one week. Make sure your pants dry when you come home from work before wearing them again.

What is a reasonable amount of clothes to own? ›

The researchers found that a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total. As an example, they've suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.

Should you always buy jeans a size smaller? ›

Any good denim expert worth their weight in gold will tell you to “always take the smaller size when you can”. The reason is that denim stretches up to half a size, even if it says otherwise on the label.

How often should you wash jeans? ›

A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.

What percentage of the population wears jeans? ›

New CivicScience polling data finds that jeans are still a staple for more than half of U.S. adults, as 57% report wearing jeans regularly – 26% say they wear them a few times per week and 31% wear them every day.

Is it OK to wear the same jeans 3 days in a row? ›

Yes! Wear them if they are not dirty or if they don't smell. But when they do get dirty or smell, wash it with cold water and hang dry them to preserve the fit. Also try not to wash jeans too much so the quality and colour can last longer.

Do jeans get better with age? ›

But why do quality jeans seem to get better with age? Well, according to Jill Guenza, the VP of Women's Design at Levi's, it's got to do with the unique characteristics of denim fabric. “The weight and weave of denim fabric has a molding effect, conforming to the particular contours of your body,” Guenza said.

Do jeans fit better over time? ›

When buying: Will new jeans really stretch a whole size? All jeans will stretch to varying degrees over time, explains Dean Brough, academic program director of QUT's school of design. "Jeans by nature actually do stretch. The fabric is meant to morph and form to the body which is why we love them," he says.

Can I wear the same jeans for a week? ›

It's fine to wait weeks — even months, experts say. Jeans come in all manner of styles, but there's a divide among jean-wearers as to how much to wash them. If you're washing your jeans after every wear or two, you're likely washing too much.

How many times should you wear your jeans before washing them Levis? ›

The more specific guideline is to wash them once every 10 wears at most to keep them fitting correctly and make sure you minimize sagging. We're not saying you can go even longer between washes—but we are saying some people wait until their jeans start to smell before they wash them.

How often should you wash bras? ›

How often you need to wash your bras isn't an exact science. But dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says that as a general rule, you should wash them after every two to three wears.

How to look expensive wearing jeans? ›

Jeans can easily be made to look more expensive through some basic styling. Pair your jeans with a tailored jacket and heels and stick to classic washes. Distressed denim is the one denim to try to avoid – it can look a little more casual and might not give off the ultra-luxe look you are striving for.

Who sells the most jeans in the US? ›

Levi Strauss, who reported about 6.17 billion U.S. dollars in sales in 2022, is one of the best-known brands on the jeans market.

What is the average jean size for American woman? ›

By comparison, the average height of a U.S. woman is 63.6 inches, or 5 feet 3 inches. The average weight for women is around 170 pounds. With these measurements, the typical American woman wears a large to extra large pant size, or between a size 18 and 20.

How many times should you wear pants before washing? ›

Here are some basic guidelines on how often to wash clothes: Shirts and blouses: after 1-2 wearings. Dress pants or slacks: after 2-3 wearings. Jeans: after 4-5 wearings.

What is it called when you wear the same clothes everyday? ›

Uniform dressing: a guy who wears the same thing every day explains - Vox.

Why did Steve Jobs always wear the same outfit? ›

It so happened that Steve Jobs had asked Miyake to design a uniform for his employees working at Apple. The idea behind designing the uniform was to create a sense of camaraderie among the employees who don't have to feel embarrassed about not having cool outfits to wear daily.

How many jeans should a woman own? ›

You should aim for 4 to 5 pairs of denim jeans, excluding shorts. It is a good number to meet your everyday needs, even though a woman own 7 pairs on average, and men 6.

How many pajamas should a woman own? ›

Depending on your laundry schedule, you might need more than 5 pajama sets. But for most people, 3 to 4 pajama tops and bottoms are more than enough to meet everyday needs. Keep in mind that you don't need to wash your pajamas too often. You should wash them only when you need to.

How many clothes does the average woman own? ›

How many clothes does the average woman own? In a recent survey from ClosetMaid, the average American woman has 103 items in her closet.

How many clothes is too much for a woman? ›

Though the number of clothes in your closet is a personal choice, the topic has become controversial. With the increasing popularity of minimalism and capsule wardrobes, many influencers suggest that a woman should not have more than 50 pieces of clothing (including shoes and accessories) in her closet.

How long does the average person keep their clothes? ›

According to the International Fair Claims Guide for Consumers Textiles Products, assuming normal wear, you can expect most of your clothes to last somewhere between two and three years. Here is a list of garments and their life expectancy (in Years).

How many clothes does the average person wear? ›

People own an average of 148 pieces

Most survey respondents seem to have between 77 to 155 pieces in their wardrobe with a few outliers in the 300+ range.

Is it better for jeans to be tight or loose? ›

Ideally, your waistband should fit tightly enough that you don't need a belt, but not so tight that it feels constricting. For raw denim this means you can fit maybe two fingers into the waistband, but for stretchier styles that number goes up a bit to maybe four.

How long should jeans be without shoes? ›

Generally, jeans should be long enough to reach the tops of your feet with a little extra fabric, but short enough that the hems aren't dragging on the ground.

Should jeans show ankle when sitting? ›

If you've cuffed them so that they still graze the top of your foot when you're standing, then it's okay for your ankle to slightly peak when you sit.

How often should you wash bedsheets? ›

How Often You Should Wash Your Sheets (And How to Get Them Really Clean) Experts recommend washing or changing sheets once a week.

How long do jeans last on average? ›

The average lifespan for a pair of jeans, according to the International Fabric Institute Fair Claims Guide, is 2-3 years. But there are a few factors that can either make jeans fall short of that standard or outlast it by years. How long a pair of jeans lasts depends on three variables: Quality.

Should you always wash jeans after 1 use? ›

How often should you wash jeans? First things first: Generally speaking, you shouldn't wash your jeans after every wear. It's not necessary, and it can actually cause them to break down faster. Instead, a good guideline is to wash them between every three to ten wears.

Which country wears the most denim? ›

The US represents the biggest consumer of denim jeans worldwide and has the largest per capita consumer of jeans in the world.

Does each person in America own an average of 7 pairs of jeans? ›

Research cited by Fashion United found that on average women own 7 pairs of jeans and that men own on average 6 pairs, but despite this, we only really wear 4 pairs that we own. So why is that so many of us have more jeans that we actually need or actively wear?

What is the oldest brand of jeans? ›

This essentially makes Levi the first denim brand ever. 1873 – On May 20, Latvian emigrant and tailor Jacob Davis and his fabric supplier Levi Strauss patent and manufacture the “XX” pants, which would later become known as the Levi 501. These are perhaps the world's first pair of jeans.

Is it weird to wear the same pair of jeans Everyday? ›

It's quite common! In fact, when you first get a new pair of jeans, you're supposed to wear them often in order to break them in. Also, echoing Richie, you're not supposed to wash jeans often, as that causes them to fade and wear faster.

Can you wear the same clothes everyday without washing? ›

There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.

Will people notice if I wear the same jeans two days in a row? ›

The answer is yes, but try not to go over the two days mark. It's easier for dark color pants such as black or navy. Change your shirt, tie, and shoes as well, then people will not be able to see that you didn't change your pants.

Should a 70 year old woman wear jeans? ›

She's also right on board to proclaim high and wide that we are never too old to wear jeans! For a casual, everyday look go for medium-colored jeans and pair them with matching accessories. Darker denim can be worn to semi-formal events by pairing them with elegant and chic items.

Can a 60 year old wear jeans? ›

If you're in your 60s, you might be wondering if you're already too old to wear jeans? We shout “No!” Simply choose a style with the right fit, fabric, wash and proportions for your body, then, pair it with a top that matches your style and preferences. Discover the four best ways to wear jeans after 60!

Why are black jeans tighter? ›

The Dyeing Process

And the final issue that is caused by the manufacturing process, is the dyes used to color your jeans black. Remember that almost every garment is dyed, but not all dyes are alike. Some cause shrinkage, and so by the time you wear those new black jeans, they fit a lot tighter than expected.

How tight should jeans be? ›

Overall fit: Your jeans should fit your waist without needing a belt. It should fit close to your body but not be skin tight.

Do jeans get tighter after washing? ›

In general, expect up to 3–4% shrinkage, which on a pair of jeans with a 32″ inseam would mean shrinking about 1″–1¼” in the length. The width is much less prone to shrinkage because there is less applied tension in that direction during fabric construction. This can vary from brand to brand and style to style.

How many pairs of jeans do you own men? ›

How many pairs of jeans does an average man own? According to a study by Fashion United, the average man owns about six pairs of jeans but only uses around four of them frequently. The general number can be given allowances, but generally, most men indeed own more jeans than they wear.

How many pieces of clothing does the average person own? ›

People own an average of 148 pieces

Most survey respondents seem to have between 77 to 155 pieces in their wardrobe with a few outliers in the 300+ range.

How many pairs of clothes should the average person have? ›

The researchers found that a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total. As an example, they've suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.

How many pairs of shoes should I own? ›

The traditional rule of elegant dressing recommended seven pairs of shoes, that is, as many pairs as there are days of the week.

How many pairs of jeans make a load? ›

If washing a load of only jeans, put no more than 5 pairs in a load set on full at one time. Jeans are heavy and too many in one load can cause the washing machine to run slower and not wash them properly. Additionally, too many pairs of jeans can cause damage to the fabric.

How many pajamas should I own? ›

Depending on your laundry schedule, you might need more than 5 pajama sets. But for most people, 3 to 4 pajama tops and bottoms are more than enough to meet everyday needs. Keep in mind that you don't need to wash your pajamas too often. You should wash them only when you need to.

How many pairs of pants should a man own? ›

Let's start with pants. Seven is a good number (excluding track pants, pajamas and shorts). Three pairs of jeans — dark blue, light blue and black or grey. Two pairs of chinos — one beige, one another shade.

How many T shirts does a man need? ›

My advice is get the basics, make sure they fit and get the best quality you can afford. Anywhere between 8-12 dress shirts should be more than enough to get you started.

What does the average person have in their closet? ›

How many clothes does the average woman own? In a recent survey from ClosetMaid, the average American woman has 103 items in her closet.

What brand sells the most jeans? ›

Leading brands

Levi Strauss, who reported about 6.17 billion U.S. dollars in sales in 2022, is one of the best-known brands on the jeans market. 87 percent of Levi Strauss's sales were made through the company's Levi's brand in 2022.

Are jeans on the decline? ›

Coresight Research analyst Sunny Zheng expects the U.S. jeans market to decline slightly this year. Euromonitor also estimates the market will grow a modest 3.8% between 2022 and 2027, after a 12.5% expansion over the last five years.

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