Everyone needs a great pair of dress pants, whether you regularly report to an office, or need something nice for more formal settings. The best dress pants for men—including our top pick from Bonobos—prioritize style, comfort and practicality while also blending seamlessly with your existing wardrobe. After researching many different fits, styles and fabrics, our advice is to invest in the classics that you’ll reach for most often, and ideally, don’t require dry cleaning. Below, you’ll find all of the best men’s dress pants to fit every occasion.
The best dress pants for men are refined and sleek, they offer a great fit and they’re comfortable.
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Sizes: 28 to 54W, 28 to 36L | Colors: 20 total | Materials: 97% cotton, 3% elastane
What’s notable: This pair is wrinkle-resistant and machine washable and comes in many colors.
What could be better: Some say the sizing can be inconsistent.
Bonobos really excels in the dress pants field, and their Stretch Weekday Warrior Dress Pant strikes the right balance between dressy and smart-casual. With a huge size range and six fits from slim to athletic—plus an embroidery detail in the waistband—building your weekday wardrobe around these easy-to-care-for pants is simple.
Sizes: 28 to 40W, 30 to 34L | Colors: 6 total | Materials: Body: 53% elastomultiester, 47% recycled polyester; pocket lining 100% recycled polyester
What’s notable: These come in a nice selection of wearable neutral colors and three different lengths.
What could be better: Some say the waist and length sizing varies.
Lululemon takes the everyday work pant to the next level of comfort. The Commission Classic-Fit Trouser is breathable and made from the brand’s signature shape-retaining Warpstreme fabric, which has a unique, stretchy knit that feels smooth and light in warm weather, or if you just run hot. Other smart details include snap buttons on the back pockets to prevent gaping and an ergonomic gusset to provide a little extra room for movement and flexibility. If you prefer a 5-pocket pant, we also like the Lululemon ABC Classic-Fit 5 Pocket Pant.
Sizes: 28 to 38W, 30 to 34L | Colors: 3 total | Materials: 97% wool, 3% elastane
What’s notable: The subtle hint of stretch in this pant makes it stylish and comfortable, and it retains its structure well.
What could be better: If you need a longer 35- or 36-inch inseam, this pair won’t work for you.
Todd Snyder is known for classic-yet-modern styling, and this pant checks all the boxes. The fabric has a soft hand feel, it has the slightest bit of stretch and its weight is versatile for most seasons. This pant is also stylish and modern without being overly trendy: It has a flat front with a moderate rise—not too low and not too high—and the tailored fit falls straight through the hip and then tapers.
J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Pant In Irish Cotton-Linen Blend
Sizes: 28 to 38W, 30 to 34L | Colors: 7 total | Materials: 72% cotton, 28% linen
What’s notable: The Ludlow is a top-rated, well-fitting pant that accommodates a variety of body types well.
What could be better: The pant is only partially lined, which can make them potentially see-through in lighter colors, like white.
A contender for your summer dress pants wardrobe, this flat-fronted pant has the easy nonchalance of linen with a dressed up construction and slim fit. Wear this pair to the office, summer cocktail parties or an outdoor wedding with the suit jacket.
Sizes: 30 to 44W, 30 to 38L (unhemmed) | Colors: 4 total | Materials: 100% super 100s wool
What’s notable: This pant comes in both a classic and slim fit, and you can also get it custom hemmed for $18.
What could be better: If you have athletic legs, these may be too tight through the thigh.
Sometimes you need a pant that you can wear with loafers or Chelsea boots, and sometimes you want a trouser you can wear with lace-ups and a suit jacket. Enter this pant, which features classic styling and enough polish for the boardroom or a wedding. This flat front style has the slightest sheen—which makes it dressy but not overly so—and a soft feel to keep you comfortable no matter what the venue.
State and Liberty Clothing Company
Sizes: 28 to 42W, 28 to 36L | Colors: 12 total (additional made-to-order colors also available) | Materials: 56% nylon, 37% cotton, 7% spandex
What’s notable: This pant is moisture-wicking, lightweight and machine washable, which makes them easy to care for, since you don’t have to spend money on dry cleaning.
What could be better: The fabric can be clingy if you’re wearing a size that’s slightly too small, and the taper can be a bit much for some.
Think of these as a dress pant with the elasticity of a sweatpant. Cut from a four-way stretch performance blend, State & Liberty’s suit pants are for athletic guys who may need a bit of extra room through the seat and thighs. This pant is dressy enough for the office, but it can also transition to the golf course on a half-day summer Friday.
Sizes: 28 to 38W | Colors: 3 total | Materials: 60% wool, 38% polyester, 2% elastane
What’s notable: The fabric is a durable, breathable Japanese wool-blend fabric that’s brushed to make it extra soft.
What could be better: These aren’t sized by length, although the inseam is longer as waist size gets bigger. Some also say the weight of this pant makes them best for winter months.
Wills’ Stretch Wool Trouser is casual but has a great range—meaning, you can wear it for laidback hangouts and to dinner on weekends, but you can also dress it up with a blazer when necessary. It features two on-seam pockets and two welt back pockets with button closures, and the legs are lined in front down to the knees for wearability and durability.
Sizes: 28 to 40W, 26 to 36L | Colors: 10 total | Materials: Flex-knit performance fabric
What’s notable: This style comes in four fits—classic, slim, skinny or five-pocket.
What could be better: Some would like a button closure rather than a snap at the waist.
For days when you want pants with flexibility but still need to look pulled together, Rhone’s Commuter Pant gets you where you need to go in comfort and in style. This pair is low maintenance—it’s both wrinkle-resistant and machine-washable—and comes in a variety of wearable colors for the office or dressed-up events.
Sizes: 28 to 42W, 28 to 34L | Colors: 3 total | Materials: 63% polyester, 33% viscose, 4% other fibers
What’s notable: The slim fit through the thigh with a tapered leg is modern and polished.
What could be better: While the fabric is lightweight, some preferred it to be thicker.
This style is a top pick for affordability since it’s cut from a viscose polyester blend that’s wrinkle-resistant and machine-washable. Other style details include a hook and bar front closure with an interior button, front slant pockets and button-through back pockets.
Other Top Picks To Consider
While lots of guys look to Peter Millar strictly for golf year, the brand’s menswear styles have exploded in popularity for their fit, quality and modern design. This tailored fit pant looks great styled with an oxford shirt for days in the office or with a contrasting blazer for nights out. The lightweight construction means you can even get away with wearing them in summer. The Crosby comes in four core colors—charcoal, navy, iron and rye.
Elevated for everyday, this pant can be worn with lace-ups, loafers or fashion sneakers. Because it’s cut from a thicker twill, it can be worn all year round. Reviewers rave about the quality and accessible fit, which is slim and stylish, as opposed to overly roomy or skinny. The 484 pant comes in ten colors.
For a pant that’s as fitting for work as it is for elevated weekend days and nights, the Helmsman chino features fashionable and functional details: It has grippy silicone on the inside of the waistband so shirts don’t come untucked, the pockets have stretch and the back pockets are self-closing and the 13.5-inch leg opening works well with dress shoes. This pant comes in five colors and three lengths so ideally you shouldn’t need to hem them.
Winter weight dress pants look sharp paired with a blazer and loafers or a sweater and fashion sneakers. We love this style for its rich charcoal color and because it’s brushed for softness. The waistband is also elasticized, making these a comfortable dress pant for long work days or travel.
Billy Reid’s trouser is a departure from more basic styles due to its textured fabric options and less common style details such as a waistband watch pocket and rear welt pockets with button tabs. Try this slim fit straight leg style with an oxford shirt or unstructured blazer for a stylish look. This pant comes in five colors and fabric compositions.
Navy wool pants are versatile classics, and this style from American menswear retailer Buck Mason can be worn all fall, winter and spring. Cut in a fitted-but-not-skinny silhouette with a classic flat front and button tab waist, it’s both understated and slimming. Pair it with the matching Graduate Blazer if you need a full suit.
These pants marry all the fashion elements of a sleek dress pant with convenience and comfort. The modern slim fit fits closely through the leg to a slight taper at the ankle, it’s lined to the knee, and the fabric is wrinkle-resistant, breathable and stretchy for all day comfort.
While some dress pants feel restrictive and uncomfortable, this pair is cut from a cotton lyocell blend for a soft hand feel and comfortable wear experience. It’s slim and tapered at the ankle, and it has a concealed cell phone pocket.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’re experts on men’s fashion; we’ve made thoughtful recommendations on everything from men’s dress shirts to golf polos. Each one of our shopping guides is thoroughly researched and carefully curated to ensure you have access to the best picks in every category.
This story was edited by Forbes Vetted deputy editor Kari Molvar, our in-house style expert who holds a certificate in fashion styling from the Business of Fashion.
We regularly update our articles to make sure that all prices and product information is current; we also re-evaluate our selections for quality, value and availability. This story was most recently updated in September 2024.
How We Chose The Best Dress Pants For Men
When choosing the best dress pants for men, we sought out bestselling styles from brands with stellar reputations for creating high-quality clothing. Since “dressy” can mean something different to everyone, we considered specs such as material and fit to ensure our selections—from a comfortable and stretchy pair from Rhone to sleek Todd Snyder trousers—covered a wide range of professional needs. Price, too, was taken into account; there are wallet-friendly options you can stock up on as well as higher-end pieces that will last you for years to come. Finally, we read independent customer reviews for key takeaways and insights on each pair of dress pants.
What To Consider When Buying Men’s Dress Pants
Where You’ll Be Wearing Them
Many people consider dress pants to be something formal, while others think of them as anything other than sweats. First, consider your audience. If you need a corporate office dress pant—for instance, you work in a law firm or in banking—or you need a pair to wear to a formal dinner or special occasion, for got something sleek, like Bonobos Stretch Weekday Warrior Work Pants or Charles Tyrwhitt’s Natural Stretch Twill Suit Pants. If you have a slightly more casual office (or you need a nice looking pant you can wear on summer Fridays to work), an option like Lululemon’s Commission Classic-Fit Pant can be ideal.
Fabric
In general, a wool pant is dressier than cotton chinos, which are more casual. Depending on the construction, polyester performance blends can drape well but have the feel of a relaxed pant because of the stretch. Wool typically requires dry cleaning, which is a pain to some; alternatively, cotton or linen can require effort in a different way because you will likely need to iron your pants for them to look their best. Performance blends are usually the most low-maintenance because they can typically be washed and dried in a machine. Fabric weight also comes into play depending on the season and the climate in which you live. If you’ll be wearing wool in warm seasons, look for a summer weight. If the level of formality works for your office, we like Lululemon’s Commission Classic-Fit Pant for hot days due to its lightweight construction.
Fit
When it comes down to it, fit really just means something is comfortable and looks good on your body. To get the best fit, look for brands that offer multiple inseam lengths, such as Bonobos, Lululemon and Rhone. Also, pay close attention to the fit of the pant while considering your body type. If you’ve got muscular legs you may prefer an athletic fit, whereas if you have a wiry build, you may want a tailored or slim fit. Lastly, consider the size of the leg opening where your pant meets your shoes. Most straight leg pants have around a 16-inch circumference for the leg opening, but many dress pants have a taper to the leg—so they may feature a smaller opening that’s more like a 14 inches. This creates a sleeker, and often, dressier look.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Are Dress Pants Different From Suit Pants?
The terms are often used interchangeably; however, suit pants are intended to be worn as part of a suit. Dress pants are also referred to as trousers or slacks. But here’s where it gets confusing: Dress pants can be considered business casual or semi-formal, so a specific pant’s formality really depends on things like fabric, fit and how it’s styled. Wool and cashmere tend to be the most formal fabric when it comes to men’s dress pants. Cotton or performance fabric pants will skew more casual. Modern, tailored fits look smart and elevate a pant as opposed to more voluminous slacks, which can appear dated. And of course, you can also dress up pretty much any pant with a blazer.
What Are The Best Fabrics For Dress Pants?
The best dress pant fabrics are those that provide a flattering fit, have a stylish drape, are breathable and have good durability. A classic wool dress pant has a crisp appearance and has an element of formality. Summer weight or all-season wool—like the fabric for the Peter Millar Crosby Trouser—can be worn year-round in most climates. Brushed wool and cashmere are great for cold months because they are warmer and typically a heavier weight. Many men find that wool pants that have a half lining—from the waist to knee—are most comfortable.
Linen dress pants are great for summer because they’re breathable and lightweight, and they can also be tailored so that they’re more formal. Crisp cotton chinos—such as J.Crew’s 484 Slim-Fit Stretch Chino Pant—are breathable and appropriate for warmer months, but they trend toward being a less dressy dress pant. Polyester blends can have the appearance of an elevated pant with the functionality of a workout pant in that they’re typically stretchy, moisture wicking and quick dry, like the Rhone Commuter Classic Pant.
The fabric will also determine whether you need to dry clean your pants. Wool pants will need to be dry cleaned, while cotton, linen and poly blends can often be machine or hand washed. You’ll have to use an iron on cotton and linen, though.
How Should Men’s Dress Pants Fit?
That all depends on your preference, but in general, dress pants should be tailored to skim the shape of your leg without being clingy. Consider your body type when gauging which pants to buy. If you have more of a wiry frame, you may look best in a slim straight fit. If you have a more muscular frame, you may prefer an athletic fit. Certain brands, like Bonobos and Rhone, offer pants in a variety of fits and silhouettes. We also like that companies such as J.Crew and Charles Tyrwhitt offer dress pants in different lengths so you don’t necessarily have to take them to the tailor.
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