7 Best Short Length Work Shorts for Men [8-9 Inch Inseam] | Workwear Command (2024)

Most work shorts typically have a 10 to 11 inch inseam, but if you want short length work shorts, you still have plenty of options. Short work shorts not only make sense for those who don’t have long legs, but they also allow your legs to breathe a bit in the summer heat.

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These are our choices for the best short inseam work shorts for men:

There’s quite a bit to consider when shopping for short work shorts. Perhaps the biggest decision you’ll need to make is the type of material you need. Do you need a heavy duty material, or will a lighter-weight, flexible material work for you?

A heavier canvas material can stand up to tougher work environments, but also won’t be quite as comfortable and flexible. If you prefer something ultra-lightweight and flexible, I’d recommend the Wrangler ATG Cargo Shorts (#3 on our list). Many shorts will have a gusset for extra comfort.

All of these short inseam work shorts listed above range from an 8 to 9 inch inseam with the exception of the Mountain Khakis shorts, which are offered in both a 7 and a 9 inch inseam. Let’s take a closer look at the best short length work shorts so you can find an option that fits your needs.

Best Short Work Shorts for Men

Wrangler Authentics Men’s 8″ Canvas Utility Shorts

These Wrangler shorts are made with 100% cotton. They feature easily accessible cargo pockets for storing essentials. These shorts have a relaxed fit and, yes, have a shorter length 8-inch inseam.

This is the current price of these Wrangler short work shorts available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shorts:

• Design – These shorts are made a sturdy 100% cotton canvas material. Yes, they have a shorter inseam length of 8 inches. Relaxed fit that won’t hug tight against your legs.

• Gusset – These shorts have a built-in crotch gusset for comfortable bending and crouching on the job.

• Waistband – The waistband on these shorts is partial elastic providing a snug, but comfortable fit around the waist.

• Pockets – One thing I like about these shorts are the front-side cargo pockets that are very easy to access while working. Great place to store essentials on the job. Six total pockets on these shorts.

Click here to buy these Wrangler short inseam work shorts available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, these shorts fit true to size.

Carhartt Men’s Lightweight Denim Utility Work Shorts

If you are shopping for short denim work shorts, these Carhartt shorts will be your best option. They are lightweight, which allows your legs to breathe a little bit in the summer heat.

Here’s what you need to know about these shorts:

• Material – Helping you keep your cool through the hottest days on the job, these Carhartt shorts are made with 11.75-ounce, 100% cotton denim that has been garment-washed for a soft finish. For more summer options, visit our article about the best summer work shorts.

• Pockets – These shorts have two front pockets, two heavy-hauling reinforced rear pockets, a left-leg ruler pocket and a double-tool utility pocket on the right leg. These shorts have a carpenter tool loop on the left leg.

• Inseam – Yes, these shorts have a shorter length 8.5-inch inseam that hits above the knee for most people.

• Fit – These shorts puts a premium on all-day comfort. Sitting at the natural waist, it offers an exceptionally roomy cut that provides a loose fit with generous space throughout the seat and thigh.

Wrangler ATG Men’s 9″ Asymmetric Cargo Shorts

If you are looking for a super lightweight, flexible work short, these Wrangler ATG shorts will be a great option. Wrangler ATG stands for “All Terrain Gear”, and is a line made by Wrangler built for outdoor environments.

This is the current price of these Wrangler work shorts available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shorts:

• Material – These stretch cargo shorts are made with a lightweight 96% nylon/4% spandex stretch fabric blend. Very easy to move around and work in these shorts. The elastic flex waistband offers a smooth fit with no digging.

• Pockets – One thing I like about these shorts is one of the cargo pockets is a zip cargo pocket, which provides a secure place to store essentials.

• Weather Protection – This short is rated UPF 30 to give you some protection from the sun. It also has a water-repellent finish to help keep you dry in light precipitation.

• Fit – This asymmetric cargo features a flexible fit that allows you to move through your day in total comfort. The regular fit through the seat and thigh aren’t restrictive and the gusseted crotch provides increased mobility. Yes, these shorts have a shorter 9-inch inseam.

These shorts have a very lightweight design. My size 32 weighs only 0.61 pounds:

The material is definitely designed for comfort, but it still has some toughness to it that makes these shorts usable for work and other outdoor activities.

Here’s a close-up look at the material:

These shorts have a standard cargo pocket down the left leg, and a zip pocket on the right leg:

For comfort, these shorts have both an elastic waistband and a crotch gusset so bending and crouching on the job is comfortable:

Click here to buy these Wrangler short work shorts available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, these shorts fit true to size.

Wrangler ATG Men’s Chop Pocket Utility Short

This is another Wrangler ATG option, but these shorts are made with a canvas material and are a bit more rugged that the Wrangler ATG shorts we just discussed above (but still have some stretch for comfort).

This is the current price of these Wrangler canvas shorts available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shorts:

• Design – These shorts use a cotton/spandex canvas blend which gives the material both toughness and flexibility. These shorts have a regular fit with an 8 inch inseam.

• Pockets – These shorts have oversized front pockets for extra storage space, and a zip-pocket in the back for a safe place to store essentials.

• Gusset – These shorts have a full-length running gusset which might make them perfect for those of you who need extra freedom of movement.

• Moisture Wicking – These are moisture wicking work shorts that are designed to wick sweat away from your body and distribute in a way that allows it to dry quickly to help you stay cool and dry in the summer heat.

These shorts have a durable stretch fabric that is comfortable, but still tough enough for a work site:

Here I am wearing these shorts. They have a full length crotch gusset for added range of motion:

Overall, thanks to the design and the 8-inch inseam, these shorts don’t weigh very much. Here’s the weight of my size 32:

Click here to buy these Wrangler shorter length work shorts available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These shorts are machine washable.

Other Shorter Length Work Shorts to Consider

• Wrangler ATG Men’s 9″ Side Pocket Utility Short – These Wrangler ATG shorts have a 9-inch inseam with a stretch canvas blend. Designed to wick sweat away. Very comparably to the Wrangler ATG Chop Pocket shorts we discussed earlier, only those shorts use a shorter 8 inch inseam. Click here to view these Wrangler ATG short work shorts available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

• Duluth Trading Co. Men’s DuluthFlex Fire Hose 9″ Cargo Shorts– Duluth Trading Co. is another trusted name in workwear, and they are well-known for making comfortable workwear. These shorts have the “Fire Hose” material for toughness, but have spandex added for flexibility. They have 11 total pockets and a relaxed fit that won’t hug tight. Yes, shorter length 9-inch inseam.Click hereto view these Duluth short inseam work shorts.

• Mountain Khakis Men’s Alpine Relaxed Fit Utility Shorts – These Mountain Khaki shorts come in varying inseam lengths, including both 7-inch and 9-inch. The 7-inch option makes these the shortest work shorts on this list. Made with a durable 100% cotton canvas fabric. Made with a relaxed fit with pockets that make it easy to slide your hand in and out. Click here to view these Mountain Khaki short work shorts (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

5 Things to Consider When Buying Short Work Shorts

Pockets

How many pockets do you really need? Having too many pockets can be overkill and just add bulk and weight to your work shorts. That doesn’t help anyone. But not having enough pockets can be a problem too.

Most work shorts will have utility pockets on at least one leg that can store basic work essentials, and even your phone. If you need to maximize the amount of pockets in your short inseam work shorts, I’d recommend the Duluth Trading Co. shorts that have 11 total pockets.

If you prefer cargo shorts, and want to explore options, visit our article about short length cargo shorts.

Material Weight

I discussed this throughout the article, but how durable do you need your work shorts to be? Canvas material is very durable, but sometimes a lightweight stretch work short just makes a tough work day feel easier.

I personally prefer more of a lightweight work short when the weather turns extremely hot, but which style is best for you will likely come down to personal preference and the demands of your job.

Waistband

Elastic waist work shorts can really take some of the stress off your waist, and allow you to bend and twist on the job with a bit more comfort. They don’t dig into your waistline like traditional cotton waistbands.

If you are interested in a flexible waist, visit our article about the best elastic waist work shorts.

Fit

Most of the short length work shorts on this list are relaxed fit shorts that won’t hug tight against your legs. This obviously helps on the job so you have plenty of room to comfortably bend and move while working.

If you prefer slim fit, your options are much more limited. To read more, visit our article about the best slim fit work shorts.

Crotch Gusset

A crotch gusset is extra material sewn into the crotch to add comfort and flexibility to your shorts. The size of the gusset can vary. Some shorts have a gusset that runs the full length, while other have a diamond-shaped gusset contained to only the crotch area.

Here’s a look at both types of crotch gussets in shorts that I own:

If you are shopping for short work shorts, buying a style that has a gusseted crotch can help increase your comfort and freedom of movement. To read more about gussets, visit our article about the best gusset work shorts.