Finding jeans that fit like a glove is a daunting task, especially when you’re five foot nothing and under 120 pounds – coming from one petite woman to another. About five years ago, I took it upon myself to find the best petite jeans for women after battling unsightly waist gaps, absurdly baggy fits, and limited style options in my size. After trying dozens of brands and hundreds of styles, I’ve finally determined the eight best jeans for petite women that will make you look and, most importantly, feel your very best every time you slip them on.
Keep reading to discover the best jeans for petite women in various styles, washes, and price points.
Key Takeaways
After visiting too many sites to count and reading what felt like a million customer reviews, my picks are in! The top petite jeans for women are Nudie Jeans Breezy Britt style. These tapered jeans come in different lengths and washes for the ultimate personalization. The slim fit is especially flattering for petite women, and the brand offers free lifetime repairs, which also covers hemming to ensure the perfect fit every time. For a more budget friendly option, the Levi’s Wedgie Straight Jeans are a classic pick with a high waist and cropped ankle, suited to shorter women.
Top Picks
Best Overall: Nudie Jeans Breezy Britt
Best Budget: Levi’s Wedgie Straight Jeans
Best Luxury: Joe’s Jeans Provocateur Petite Bootcut Jeans
Best on Amazon: Madewell Perfect Vintage Jeans
Best Cropped: Frame Le Crop Mini Boot Cut Jeans
Best Everyday: Everlane Super Soft Relaxed Jean
Best Curvy: Abercrombie Curve Love Low Rise Baggy Jean
Best Mid Rise: Gap Mid Rise Split Hem Jeans
Best Overall: Nudie Jeans Breezy Britt
Why they’re great: My life – and entire closet – changed when I bought my first pair of Nudie Jeans in London last year. The brand has a straightforward, no-fuss approach to denim, with seven signature fits for women (at this point, I own four different pairs). Available in multiple inseam lengths that range from 26 to 36 inches you can easily achieve personalized fit in every pair of Nudies. Even if the jeans are a bit long off the rack, as part of the brand’s lifetime free repair policy, they can be hemmed in-store or at a repair partner free of charge. I’ve found Nudie to have the most dependable, customizable fits for petite women, and the denim quality is second to none.
Who are these for? Nudie’s Breezy Britt style is the perfect petite jeans for women looking for wear-everywhere pants. The slim tapered design is easy to dress up or keep casual, with a high waist and a durable, rigid feel thanks to the 100% cotton construction. If you prefer a bit more give to your jeans, the Mellow Mae and Rowdy Ruth styles include 1% elastane for a touch of added stretch.
Flaws but not deal breakers: At a price point between $150 and $200, Nudie Jeans are definitely on the higher end of the cost spectrum. However, given the free lifetime repairs and tailoring, they’re a super solid investment designed to last a lifetime. And hey, $200 for a pair of jeans made to withstand 80 years of wear is a pretty decent deal.
Material: 100% cotton | Sizes: 24 – 38 | Colors: 11 | Care: Wash inside out at 40° with similar colors
Best Budget: Levi’s Wedgie Straight Jeans
Why they’re great: Levi’s can be hit or miss when it comes to petite jeans for women, but the Wedgie Straight style is a consistent winner. The slim, high-waisted design is slightly cropped with an inseam length of 28”. This means that if you’re under 5’3”, these jeans will hit around the top of your shoe. They’re definitely a snugger fit while hugging all the right places, and in my experience, they sit flat on the back without any hint of a waist gap. Since these are some of Levi’s most popular women’s jeans, they come in fifteen colors, with a few hues that feature distressing down the legs.
Who are these for? If you like the idea of Levi’s, this is the ultimate style for petite women. While most people gravitate towards the brand’s famous 501s, I’ve found they can look awkward on smaller bodies (namely, my own), with too much material around the crotch area, so I recommend the Wedgie Straight instead.
Flaws but not deal breakers: The one issue I have with these jeans is that they have a button fly rather than a zipper. I’ve found this to be a bit uncomfortable, especially when sitting down. The jeans also tend to ride up when sitting, so halfway through dinner, I always need to stand up to readjust them. The guy at the Levi’s store promised they’d stretch significantly, but after nearly two years of wear, they’re just as rigid as the day I got them.
Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Sizes: 26 – 32 | Colors: 15+ | Care: Machine wash cold inside out
Best Luxury: Joe’s Jeans Provocateur Petite Bootcut Jeans
Why they’re great: Specially designed for petite women, the Provocateur style by Joe’s Jeans is a foolproof choice for smaller gals. Focused on a figure-hugging design with flared ankles, these jeans have a touch of stretch to really form to your physique. They’re also the ideal length if you’re between 5’2” and 5’4” while still maintaining the classic bootcut feel.
Who are these for? These are really fun dressy jeans, great if you’re looking for pants to wear with heels or booties. That said, you can also keep them casual by wearing them with sneakers – though you may find that the absence of boots (or at least a little platform from heavier footwear) may give the jeans a longer length.
Flaws but not deal breakers: Joe’s Jeans is a premium denim brand with price tags to match. The true draw to these jeans is the special petite sizing, but you can find similar styles and quality from brands like Banana Republic for a significantly lower cost.
Material: 98% cotton, 2% spandex | Sizes: 23 – 34 | Colors: 10 | Care: Machine wash
Best on Amazon: Madewell Perfect Vintage Jeans
Why they’re great: Madewell is a denim powerhouse with several styles that suit petite women. The Perfect Vintage jeans live up to their name and have a nineties-inspired fit that actually works for smaller women, considering most 90s jeans were ultra baggy and can make for a sloppy-looking outfit. Instead, these offer a flattering cropped fit with a high waist. They’re the ideal pair of black jeans and hug you in all the right places.
Who are these for? If you constantly tug at the waistband of your jeans, you’ll love the stretchy fit this Madewell pair offers. They have a touch of elastane to give you a better range of motion, and the acid-washed colorway will stand out from the rest of the blue jeans in your closet.
Flaws but not deal breakers: Women hovering around five feet may want to cuff these jeans for a more flattering length.
Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Sizes: 23 – 33 | Colors: 8 | Care: Machine wash cold
Best Cropped: Frame Le Crop Mini Boot Cut Jeans
Why they’re great: I have a love affair with Frame Denim, though it does serious damage to my bank account. But when it comes to white jeans for summer, this cropped bootcut pair is second to none. First of all, how often do you see a cropped bootcut fit? Second, the shorter inseam (26”) is exceptional for petite women, making these some of the best jeans for summer, especially accentuated by the white colorway.
Who are these for? For the petite woman hankering for the perfect pair of white jeans, these are it. The backbone of any warm-weather wardrobe, these are so easy to style and have a timeless allure that will carry you from the country club to the beach with ease. Just do us all a solid, and don’t wear them after Labor Day.
Flaws but not deal breakers: These jeans run small, so it’s recommended to size up. Also, the 26” inseam will look cropped if you’re over 5’3” but will hit right around the ankles if you’re any shorter. Finally, at over $200, these jeans for petite women are definitely a splurge.
Material: 92% cotton, 6% polyester, 2% elastane | Sizes: 23 – 33 | Colors: 1 | Care: Machine wash cold
Best Everyday: Everlane Super Soft Relaxed Jean
Why they’re great: If there’s one thing Everlane does well, it’s basics – especially their jeans. This pair features a slightly relaxed fit with plenty of breathing room without looking sloppy. They have a shorter inseam than most Everlane jeans, making them extra suited to petite women. They’re also designed to feel broken in as soon as you put them on, so you will never feel constricted like you might with other denim pants.
Who are these for? Dare I say these are the perfect jeans for summer? They have a significantly looser weave than typical denim, which gives them a light and airy feel, stellar for the hottest months of the year. Considering how soft they are, you might even be tempted to sleep in them.
Flaws but not deal breakers: Made from organic denim, these jeans don’t have any stretch to them. However, this is also a huge benefit because it helps them keep their form much better than jeans that include elastane. The length is also perfect for women who are around 5’3”, but might need to be cuffed if you’re any shorter.
Material: 60% organic cotton, 40% tencel | Sizes: 23 – 33 | Colors: 4 | Care: Machine wash cold inside out
Best Curvy: Abercrombie Curve Love Low Rise Baggy Jean
Why they’re great: Abercrombie is no longer for the teenie boppers, and if you’ve tried on Abercrombie jeans recently, you get it. The brand has some of the most extensive denim options, completely customizable to your unique frame. Abercrombie’s Curve Love line is especially noteworthy, and these jeans provide a figure-enhancing fit that never has a waist gap. You can take the customization even further by choosing from five lengths – extra short to extra long – to ensure you have the exact fit you’re hunting for.
Who are these for? Baggy jeans normally swallow me whole, but this pair is absolutely perfect. For any woman craving a looser fit that still hugs your curves, these are the best petite jeans.
Flaws but not deal breakers: Low rise jeans are making a massive comeback, as seen in this pair. But if you want a bit more support and coverage, you may want to stick with a mid or high rise option.
Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Sizes: 23 – 37 | Colors: 8 | Care: Machine wash cold
Best Mid Rise: Gap Mid Rise Split Hem Jeans
Why they’re great: Available in regular, tall, and petite sizes, these are some of the nicest petite jeans for a more unique look. I know what you’re thinking… Gap, really? Yep, the Gap is back and better than ever with trendy, modern options and a killer denim selection. With a cropped ankle and very stretchy denim, the petite option has a 25” inseam and finally gives the short girlies a chance to wear a split hem. The medium wash is super versatile, and the jeans are flattering with a mid-rise and slim form before splitting at the ankles.
Who are these for? Since split-hem jeans are typically made for women of average height, if you’re under 5’4”, they normally extend way past where you’d want them to fall. These are the best jeans for petite women to embody the split hem style without a dragging cuff in sight.
Flaws but not deal breakers: Gap denotes these jeans as a mid-rise, but they have more of a high rise fit. If you’re curvy, they’ll also have a skinnier (as opposed to slim) feel.
Material: 86% cotton, 7% recycled cotton, 6% recycled polyester, 1% elastane | Sizes: 24 – 35 | Colors: 1 | Care: Machine wash
Buying Considerations for the Best Petite Jeans
Inseam Length
The main consideration when choosing the top petite jeans is the inseam length, which denotes where the hem of the jeans will fall. 30” is a standard inseam, but if you’re under 5’5”, the hem of the pants will touch the ground. For reference, I’m 5’4”, and I get a generous cuff out of jeans with a 30” inseam.
When searching for the top petite jeans, choose an inseam of 28” or less, which will hit the top of your shoes without touching the ground if you’re under 5 ‘4″. The best petite jeans brands generally have multiple inseam lengths to choose from, so you can get a personalized fit with every pair.
Fit and Rise
It’s also worth considering the fit and rise of the jeans you choose, as they can look significantly different on petite women than on average body types. Typically, slim-fit jeans look the best on petite body types as they accentuate the legs rather than swallow them up. You may find that straight or baggy fits are way less flattering if you’re under 5’4”.
The rise also makes a difference, with mid and high-rise jeans generally being the most complimentary to petite body types. In my experience, low-rise jeans can often have extra material around the crotch area, especially if you have a slimmer silhouette.
Material Composition
Finally, the material composition contributes to the overall look and feel of the jeans. Pure denim jeans made from 100% cotton with a classic weave tend to have a rigid, structured feel. This can be a huge benefit for petite women as these jeans will hold their shape over a long period of time instead of becoming stretched out. That said, jeans with a touch of elastane have more give to them for an easier range of motion – they also tend to be more comfortable off the rack. However, these jeans may lose their form faster than pure denim.
How We Chose the Best Petite Jeans for Women
Many brands claim to make petite jeans, but few actually hit the mark. The jeans on this list were chosen based on personal experience, from one petite woman to another. They all come from reputable brands, most of which allow you to choose an inseam length or a specialized petite fit for a truly personalized pair of jeans. Covering a range of styles, washes, and price points, the jeans on this list are designed especially for petite women, offering flattering silhouettes that will make you wonder how you lived so long without them.
Fit and Sizing: Petite jeans must offer an impeccable fit, tailored to shorter leg lengths and rises. I prioritized options catering to petite individuals’ unique proportions, ensuring a flattering and comfortable fit.
Brand Reputation: I considered brands’ track records, favoring those with consistently positive feedback for their petite lines. This includes assessing customer satisfaction and the brand’s commitment to addressing petite-specific fashion needs.
Price and Value: While price points varied, my focus was on ensuring that each pair of jeans delivers value for money, balancing quality and cost to suit a range of budgets.
Why Trust Us?
As an experienced fashion writer and denim connoisseur, there’s no better person to present the best jeans for petite women. Jane Elmets spent nearly a decade collecting jeans, always searching for the perfect pair. After years of denim trials and tribulations and amassing hundreds of pairs, she’s finally determined the top petite jeans for women that offer a flattering fit for all miniature body types. Whether you’re rocking curves or have a ruler-like figure (looking at myself here), Jane has done the testing so that you don’t have to.
Final Verdict
The very best petite jeans for women are the Breezy Britt style by Nudie Jeans. This slim fitting pair of jeans is made from high quality denim with a shorter inseam length to cater to petite women. They also come with lifetime repairs, making them a very worthy investment. Since they’re on the pricier side, if you’re not looking to break the bank, try the Levi’s Wedgie Straight Jeans which have a cropped ankle and flattering fit for petite body types.
FAQs
What jeans are best for petite?
The best jeans for petite women have an inseam length of 28” (or shorter) and a slim fit to accentuate a smaller figure. You can find these types of jeans from brands like Nudie, Levis, Abercrombie, and Gap.
Should petites wear high waisted jeans?
High-waisted jeans are particularly flattering for petite body types. They can help show off a smaller figure and draw attention to all the right areas. They also reduce the chance of a waist gap, sitting snugly against the midsection.
Can petite wear straight leg jeans?
Petite women can wear straight jeans, but you may find that they swallow you up if they’re not designed for smaller body types. The Rowdy Ruth style from Nudie are the perfect straight jeans for petite women. They offer a less fitted silhouette while still being plenty flattering on smaller frames.
