My 5 Favorite Business Casual Jeans For Men
A good pair of business casual jeans is a must-have for anyone going into the office in 2026. They’re no longer just for Casual Fridays. Denim is officially part of the business casual uniform.
The fact that jeans have made it to offices all around the world doesn’t mean you’ll show up wearing ripped, skinny, or baggy jeans. There are still some minimal requirements for jeans to be business casual.
These jeans meet all—or at least most—of the unofficial requirements for denim to be considered office-appropriate.
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TLDR: My top picks for business casual jeans
- The OG of Jeans: Levi’s 501 ($84.95) (Dark Wash)
- Best For Big Thighs: Old Navy Athletic Taper Tech Stretch ($35.99)
- Best Vintage Denim: Abercrombie 90s Straight Jeans ($64)
- Best Budget Straight Jeans: GAP Straight Jeans ($39)
- Best 100% Cotton: Madewell 1991 Straight Leg Jeans ($142.50)
What makes jeans business casual?
Even if your office dress code allows jeans, there’s very little information or official guidelines on what makes a pair of jeans “business casual.”
To help with this, we’ll go with more general recommendations when it comes to having a pair of jeans that’s more formal.
The perfect fit for the office
When it comes to fits, jeans have the widest variety of all pants; you can go from ultra-skinny to ultra-baggy (please avoid both).
The best fits for formal jeans are either straight or slim-fit. If you are a guy with big thighs like me, then an athletic fit pair is the best solution.
Choose Neutral Colors
Business casual jeans should preferably be medium to dark wash with minimal distressing.
Minimal Contrast Stitching
Contrast stitching can reduce the formality of a pair of jeans, especially with darker pairs. For black or dark pairs, opt for no contrast stitching at all. Some minimal contrast stitching is acceptable for indigo or medium-wash pairs.
Avoid Crazy Backpocket Designs
Backpockets are another point of contention. Opt for jeans with minimal contrast stitching and a subtle design on their back pockets.
The Best Jeans for the Office: Levi’s 501
- Available in multiple washes.
- Levi’s level of quality and price-performance ratio.
- A good introduction to straight-leg jeans.
- You can find them everywhere
- $84.95
Levi’s needs little to no introduction. The 501s are considered the first pair of blue jeans ever made. They evolved from a piece of workwear to offices all over the world.
If you are a guy like me who has been wearing slim-fit jeans for years and you want to try a straight pair, then 501s might be the answer you are looking for. They are my first pair of straight-leg jeans, and they are quickly becoming my favorite pair.
Here’s me wearing the jeans for TikTok.
What I like about the Levi’s 501:
- A straight pair with a lot of room in the thighs.
- Made from 100% cotton.
- They look great when paired with a slim-fit top.
- They are something to discuss with friends to show you’re knowledgeable about history.
Downsides, but not dealbreakers:
- They have the most contrast stitching of all the jeans that you’ll see here.
- I had to hem 3 inches with my tailor, and they still look longer than the same 30×30 pair from Old Navy.
- They have buttons instead of a zipper.
Best Budget Slim-Fit Pair: Old Navy
- Generous room in the seat and thigh for guys with big thighs.
- They look good with slim shoes like loafers and minimal sneakers.
- Unbeatable price-to-performance ratio. They are usually at $27.
Old Navy may be a hit or miss for some, but this pair of jeans could be a hit for you. I’ve had this pair for almost a year now, and I’ve been wearing them at least once a week.
They help make slim shoes look good, which is why I included them in a business casual breakdown.
I started trying many fits at the store and decided to buy this pair because of the extra room on the seat and thigh, and being tapered below the knee. They’re also quite comfortable and have a good stretch.
Definitely go true-to-size with them.
Downsides, but not deal breakers:
- They may start to feel too slim for 2026.
- They have some distress.
Best Vintage Denim: Abercrombie 90s Straight Jean
- Classic straight fit: Not skinny or baggy.
- The Dark Rinse wash is a great fit for the office.
- As an Abercrombie best seller, they usually have a lot of them in stock.
These jeans come in plenty of washes, but the dark rinse one is a great fit for the office if you want a medium-wash pair with minimal contrast stitching and overall just a classic pair of jeans.
What I like the most about these jeans, aside from the wash and the classic straight fit, is that they work with any shoe. They are not too baggy or slim, and the length barely touches the top of the shoe.
Consider going true-to-size unless you have bigger thighs.
Potential dealbreaker:
- If you are a guy with big thighs, this may definitely be too tight for you and mess up your proportions.
- If this is the case, an athletic-fit pair from Old Navy or Levi’s 501 may be better for you.
Best Budget Straight Jeans: GAP Straight Jeans
- Available in many waist and length sizes.
- Available in plenty of washes that are great for the office.
- Unbeatable price and quality for a $39 pair of jeans.
- Made of 98% cotton and 2% elastane.
They have plenty of washes that will qualify as a business casual jean, but the one I want to highlight is the resin rinse one.
As someone with a 28 to 29-inch waist and 30-inch inseam, I do appreciate all the different waist and length sizes that they have available.
If you’re coming from slim-fit, they may feel too baggy even though they are a straight-leg fit pair.
Potential dealbreakers:
- They have a slightly bigger break than I expected on the shoes.
- Consider sizing down on length.
Best 100% Cotton: The 1991 Straight Leg Jean
What I like about this pair of jeans:
- No contrast stitching.
- The perfect wash for the office: Betty Wash.
- A classic straight fit: not too baggy and not too tight
- As a classic straight fit, they have the perfect length to make any shoe shine (except boots).
This jean is certainly an upgrade. It may be the best business casual jean on the list.
Potential dealbreakers:
- Chronically out-of-stock.
- The price: $142.50
- They have a decent amount of room in the seat and thigh, but it may not be enough for some.
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