Folding, rolling up or ‘cuffing’ your jeans isn’t just practical—it’s a style move.
Whether you’re adjusting the length, showing off your selvedge, or trying to look effortlessly put together, cuffing is how many denimheads personalise their jeans.
In this guide, we break down eight of the most common ways to cuff your jeans—from simple folds to cuffing techniques borrowed from Japanese street style. But first…
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Why Cuff Your Jeans?
Cuffs—also called turn-ups—are the folded-over sections at the hem. They let you adjust the length of your jeans without cutting or sewing, and they can add shape, contrast, and character.
They’re also a great way to showcase selvedge details or clean hem finishes.
Cuff #1: The Single Cuff
The simplest—and most classic—way to cuff your jeans.
How to do it: Fold the hem up once, around 5 cm (2 inches). That’s it.
Best for: Straight or slim jeans that are the right length or slightly long. Avoid with flares or bootcuts.
Style tip: Make it neat for a clean look, or go slightly uneven for casual flair. You can even pair it with stacking.
Cuff #2: The Double Cuff
Double the height, double the utility.
How to do it: Fold the hem up once. Then fold again. Simple.
Best for: Taking off more length than a single cuff allows—ideal if your jeans run long.
How high should you cuff your jeans?
Cuffing rule #1: The cuff shouldn’t sit higher than at the top of your shoes.
Cuffing rule #2: The cuff should correspond with the fit of your jeans. That means loose fit jeans can have bigger cuffs while slim and skinny fit jeans should have more smaller cuffs.
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Cuff #3: The ‘Skinny’ Double Cuff
Want the look of a double cuff without the bulk?
How to do it: Make a single cuff, then fold the hem edge downward so it’s hidden. Clean and minimal.
Best for: Shorter inseams or slimmer silhouettes.
Cuff #4: The Mega Cuff
Big, bold, and definitely a statement.
How to do it: Fold once—over 10 cm (4 inches). Let the denim speak for itself.
Best for: Heavyweight denim, looser fits, and rockabilly style. Not ideal for shorter frames.
The mega cuff is a hard one to pull off with style; it usually requires a looser fit and some relatively heavy denim that’ll stay up. And it’s not recommended for shorter guys as it makes your legs look shorter.
The mega cuff is often seen in the rockabilly subculture. It can also look great on girls wearing boyfriend-fit jeans.
Cuff #5: The Japanese Cuff
A two-step cuff with heritage appeal. The so-called Japanese cuff is a favourite among denimheads. It’s perfect when you have plenty of extra length or you want a slightly cropped look.
How to do it: Start with a large single cuff (8–10 cm), then fold once more to just below the hem stitching.
Best for: Showing off chainstitching and selvedge ID. Works best with extra length.
Ideally, you’d want the top edge of the single cuff to line up just below the stitching of the hem. This cuff is often used to show off the hem stitching, especially when it’s the chain-stitched kind.
Cuff #6: The Summer Cuff
The summer cuff is ideal for a casual look, and when you want to show off your ankles and calves.
How-to: Roll up the jeans twice, three times or even four times in an uneven manner.
This is a casual cuff that’s meant to look a little messy. Like you just got out of bed. It works best with roomier fits, and it’s fine for lightweight denims too.
With this cuff, you’re allowed to deviate from the general rule that cuffs shouldn’t sit higher than the top of your shoes; you want your ankles exposed.
Cuff #7: The Inside-Out Cuff
A tailored twist that hides the inside.
How to do it: Cuff once inward, then once outward. No selvedge visible—just clean lines.
Best for: Slim jeans and darker denim where you want polish over contrast.
This is one of the most uncommon cuffs, so it’s a chance for you to really stand out.
Unlike all the other ways to cuff, you don’t see the inside of the denim with the inside-out cuff. You get a clean and more tailored look, and it works great with slimmer fits and darker denims.
They’re also a great way to showcase selvedge details or clean hem finishes.
Cuff #8: The Pin Roll
The sneakerhead’s go-to cuff. The pin roll tapers in your jeans and makes them slimmer from the knee down. It helps you show off your shoes.
How to do it: Pinch the inseam, fold it flat, then cuff over it two or three times.
Best for: Slim or tapered jeans. Highlights footwear and slims the lower leg.
For this type of cuff, you need jeans that have a little extra length. And it works best with slimmer and tapered fits.
Warning: Prevent Premature Breaks
Wearing your jeans with the same cuffs for a long time increases the risk of premature breaks where the denim is folded.
The fabric will get more wear along the creases, which makes it wear out quicker than the rest of the garment. This is especially the case with unwashed, raw denim.
The easy fix to prevent this is to change up your cuffs every once in a while. Try something else for a change, and your jeans will last a little longer.
Stacking: The Cuffing Alternative
An alternative to cuffing your jeans is to let the fabric ‘stack’ on top of your footwear.
Letting the fabric stack naturally around your shoes can produce killer fades. It works best with slimmer fits and a little extra length.
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