15 Breezy Linen Shorts to Chill Out in 24/7 (2024)

These comfortable pull-on style shorts are designed for all-day wear, featuring a lightweight linen-blend fabric that keeps you cool, and a relaxed-fit silhouette for ultimate comfort. We love how the fabric even comes with a tad of stretch for easy movement, and we’ve had no problem with mobility while wearing these shorts to run errands, commute, or travel.

The 6-inch inseam is the perfect versatile length for a pair of everyday shorts. On my 6-foot frame, it looks casual and easygoing, but on shorter guys, it still reaches just above the knee to keep the laidback look going.

The durability is also awesome. After putting them through the wash-and-dry cycle at least six times, no thread or seam has been undone and the fabric still feels smooth and light.

Prepare for all sorts of warm-weather days with Banana Republic's line shorts that are ready for all. Made for the hottest climates, these shorts have a full linen-made fabric to offer unbeatable breathability and comfort, keeping you cool and crisp with lightweight and airy construction. In our testing, we love how versatile these shorts are for all kinds of summer escapades, whether we were strolling along the beach, traveling during vacations, or spending a day in the office.

With a 9" inseam, they provide the perfect balance of coverage and freedom of movement, and we love how these shorts can be rolled up if you’re not into the long inseam look.

Out of all the linen shorts from Amazon we’ve tested, this pair has the highest linen material percentage in its linen-cotton-blend composition, which we’ve found to have rendered the fabric much more breathable than the other pairs. We also love how lightweight it feels. Although it says its inseam is 11-inches, we found that the fit is actually not as loose or low-hanging as we thought, which is a relief. And I’ve found that you could easily roll up the hems to get a cuffed look.

These budget linen shorts are comfy and relaxing, but the quality won’t wow you—the thread construction just isn’t top-tiered we did notice a few seams undone after our fourth wash.

Looking for casual linen shorts that offer both comfort and style for you to wear daily? Look no further than Katin! Made from a breezy cotton linen blend, we love wearing these shorts to stroll in the park, by the beachside, or during road trips on a summer day. With front welt side seam pockets and rear welt pockets, you'll have plenty of space to stash your essentials. And we love how the elastic waistband with drawcord helps ensures a perfect fit every time.

These shorts are also built to last, with internal diagonal pinstripe binding that enhances durability. The fit is also great: the 7” inseam falls just above our knees, and on a guy with beefy thighs like myself, it still feels roomy around the thigh and seat areas.

Looking for a pair of comfortable-yet-cool shorts for a day by the sea? This totally easygoing style approved by stylists and Bloomingdale’s Men’s Fashion Director, Justin Berkowitz has let me stay sharp with an inseam that hits the perfect length just above the knee. But, of course, I had to test out its linen fabric, which is extra soft and breathable. With a comfortable drawstring waistband nonetheless, you’ll feel as good as you look in these seriously flattering summer shorts. The only thing is that there's no stretch; coupled with a slim fit, they're thus better for lounging, vacationing, and relaxing instead of traveling or commuting.

What Do Experts Say? "The shorts, made from 100% French linen will be breathable during the hottest days. Dyed with natural dyes, you don't have to worry about harsh chemicals on your body when wearing this garment. With a 6.75" inseam, these are a modern cut, still with a classic style," says personal wardrobe stylist Grace Thomas.

Win in hassle-free style with these linen shorts. Made from a blend of polyester and linen, they offer all the breathability of linen without the worry of wrinkles. And what we love most about them from our testing is that because of the polyester, the fabric of these shorts is also moisture-wicking and quick-drying, making them a handsome performance choice for any warm-weather outfit.

We also found them super easy to pack for a day or overnight trip because of their durability. Whether you're preparing for a vacation or stowing them away during the colder months, these shorts won't lose their pristine look. With elastic sides at the waist, we found that they move with our thighs effortlessly as well. All in all, we recommend these linen shorts for active, outdoorsy guys.

I’ve dealt with meh linen shorts before, which is why when I first put these Buck Mason shorts on, I was blown away by the instant coolness my thighs felt—I could still feel the air touching my skin as if I were wearing nothing. Now that’s a good pair of linen slacks.

And I love that its airy weave is washed to sport a softer, vintage feel that looks handsome and is versatile to style. They do come with a looser-than-normal fit—which helps the air circulating inside the fabric—so I often have to tighten the drawcord when wearing them, but that’s no biggie.

Get ready to beat the heat and give your knees some well-deserved breathing room with Line of Trade’s linen-blend shorts. Crafted from a lightweight and airy blend of cotton, linen, and polyester, we’ve found the fabric to be extra performance-friendly: it feels smooth and ready-for-action like workout shorts, offering breathability as well as quick-drying and moisture-wicking to keep our thighs crisp and dry. The elastic waist with a drawcord provides a customized and comfortable fit, so we have had no trouble moving freely all day long in these shorts.

Overall, with their airy fabric and versatile, athletic design, you'll find yourself reaching for them every time the temperature rises.

You can never go wrong with this lightweight, breathable summer-style staple of linen blend. When trying on Todd Snyder’s version I've come to love its roomy straight-leg fit which allows me to move comfortably, and its just-above-the-knee length for showing some skin off appropriately.

Our favorite part is that while its tailored look does lean on the smart casual side, with the right styling tricks on footwear and short-sleeve shirts, we were able to wear it to semi-formal occasions in a business casual fit.

What Do Experts Say? "These are newly added to my summer short collection, as I was looking for a pair that could either be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. You can easily tuck in a button-up to head to dinner, then wear them more relaxed to go to the beach for sunset," says lifestyle influencer Steven Fingar.

Made from a lightweight blend of cotton and linen, these shorts are perfect for those warm-weather days wherein you still want to look a bit classic. The cotton, for instance, keeps the overall fabric from getting too wrinkly, while the linen still keeps the airflow pumping in and thus your coolness going hot.

Polo Ralph Lauren’s shorts have got you covered in the practicality department too, with multiple pockets to stash your essentials—a back left buttoned pocket, a back right welt pocket, two front angled pockets, and even a handy right hip coin pocket. Overall, we love that these shorts are all about convenience and easy wear.

We’ve found Tommy’s linen shorts perfect for lounging and going out, thanks to the genius blend of linen and polyester. In my experience of wearing these shorts to run errands or stroll in the dog days, the linen plus a relaxed fit help maximize the airflow to keep my thighs cool, while the polyester does its magic to wick away moisture, keeping my thighs dry as well.

While the casual drawstring style means that you probably won’t wear them to the office, for lounging at home, or just for a weekend outing, they’re a no-brainer.

Introducing the ultimate linen shorts for men. Crafted from garment-dyed linen, this lightweight wonder adds a touch of elegant flair with its subtle herringbone pattern. Billy Reid’s short is also all about the details—horn buttons, a handy coin pocket at the right waist—it’s the little things that count.

We also love that it can be dressed up or down effortlessly, thanks to its slim fit through the hip and relaxed thigh, and a comfortable 8" inseam.

Fabric: The best linen shorts for men should be made from a high-quality linen fabric that is woven tightly to score high on durability. If you're looking at a linen-blend fabric, the higher the linen percentage is, the more breathable and linen-y it'll feel.

Fit: Men's linen shorts come in various cuts, such as slim-fit, regular-fit, or relaxed-fit. Choose a style that flatters your physique and aligns with your desired aesthetic. Additionally, pay attention to details like the rise, inseam length, and leg opening to ensure a well-proportioned look.

Waistband: More often than not, linen pants have an elastic waistband with either a drawstring or a button closure. Drawstring linen pants are often more casual and paired with a low-rise waist; on the other hand, buttoned-closure linen pants are your office-friendly slacks for dressing up since they often look more elevated than the drawstring ones.

What Are Men's Linen Shorts Good for?
Thanks to the lightweight, breathable nature of linen, linen shorts are foolproof and highly versatile for hot weather outfits in summer, or warmer days in the spring and fall. Providing softness and coolness, men's linen shorts are ideal for casual occasions—beach vacations, rooftop parties, tropical destinations, etc. With their relaxed style and ability to be dressed up or down, you can also wear linen shorts to the office—a pair that is high-rise and comes in a chino-short style with a button waistband. Lastly, their lightweight nature and travel-friendly properties make them a practical choice for packing.

How Should I Wear Men's Linen Shorts?
Linen shorts are all about casual and looking laidback, so naturally, styling with them should be just as such. Some of our editors' favorite ways to wear linen shorts include sporting them with camp collar shirts or Hawaiian shirts and sandals, slides, or even flip-flops. I personally love to wear men's linen shorts beneath an unbuttoned short-sleeve shirt (with a tank top underneath, but that's optional). Of course, the ritual of casual t-shirts worn tucked into linen pants is a no-brainer.

Should you like to dress up in men's linen shorts—and you in fact can—then topping them off with polo shirts is the best way to go about that. Dress shirts and button-downs will look equally elevated in linen shorts if you have the right pair—just make sure to tuck them in. And for a full casual but still formal look, consider wearing linen shorts with loafers or boat shoes.

To find the best men's linen shorts, our editors and writers have personally tried on over 30 options since 2021, and tested each of them for at least two weeks on different real-life occasions, such as wearing Todd Snyder's Hudson shorts to the office, lounging in Abercrombie & Fitch's pull-on linen shorts, or commuting and traveling in Wills' wrinkle-free linen shorts.

Read more: Learn How Men's Health Tests Products

To get a feel for how these men's linen shorts really felt and how they held up, we vetted them by taking notes of their style, comfort, price point, versatility, and performance such as stretch and breathability. We examined whether they fitted well, whether they were easy to move in, whether they provided comfort all day long, and whether they stayed intact after a few wash cycles.

In addition, our tested selection focuses not on trendy or trend-chasing men's linen shorts; instead, our picks of the best linen shorts for men all fits, including athletic, buff guys. Our best line shorts are also curated to ensure great value and performance at reasonable price points, and come in styles that will look great years from now.

At Men’s Health, our testing editors and writers always make sure to actually test and use the products ourselves before considering whether to include them. Therefore, rest assured that our product recommendations derive from first-hand experience, and you can read more about our testing process here.

For instance, we have a fashion closet in our NYC office dedicated to calling in, trying out, and selecting the best as well as the newest products in menswear. We put them on stylish, fit guys to hear what their opinions are and see how the items look on them before making our final decision. And as style editors, we constantly go into the fashion closet to feel a product’s fabric or materials—even put it on ourselves for a spin—to test it.

Lastly, you can trust our opinions on shopping recommendations, whether it’s the products, styling tips, or trends. Not only do we have Fashion Director Ted Stafford and Deputy Editor, Commerce Christian Gollyan who actually know that polyester isn't a breathable material, but we also have a panel of style experts—including stylists, fashion influencers, and designers—that we regularly seek shopping guides from. Therefore, our product recommendations and buying tips are all driven by professional, expert opinions.