The 13 Best Under-$100 Shorts You Can Unearth on Amazon

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BAR NONE, shorts are the best-of-both-worlds wardrobe essential for summer: they let us return to a normal dress code that is not just sweatpants and loungewear while still blessing us more than a modicum of the comfort that we've come to rely on. Less constricting and more calves-flattering than jeans or chinos, the right pair of shorts unites style, comfort, and budget in one to have you looking put-together in no time. Where can one find that goldilocks pair of men's shorts, you ask? Amazon, no doubt.

Read more: Learn How Men's Health Tests Products

So we've scoured through countless styles of shorts available on Amazon—from standard sweat shorts and classic khakis to sleek jean shorts and performance gym shorts—and hands-on tested more than 25 pairs (read more about our product review process if you'd like) to find the 13 best shorts for men on Amazon that won't require you to sacrifice the comfort you've become accustomed to in the name of summer style. Oh, and did we mention that all of our tested Amazon shorts for men are under $100?

Best Chino Shorts | Best Board Shorts | Best Swim Trunks | Best Athletic Shorts | Best Running Shorts

Classic Fit Perfect Short D3

I've been wearing these Dockers shorts since 2020, and I've always loved how they're just like a pair of chino shorts but with more breathing room to let me move comfortably. They're also a longer cut (10-inch inseam, to be exact), which has made me recognize their potential for aligning with office dress codes at first sight.

In addition, these shorts have a bit of texture worked into their finish to look rugged and make me look rugged. For just $28, you have to admit these are good.

Mako Short

The versatility of these shorts comes from their durable four-way stretch and lightweight fabric, making them a favorite of fit-fluencer and online coach Jason Pak. “It’s stylish and also has a durable four-way stretch fabric that is comfortable enough to lounge around in, and tough enough to withstand the most challenging of workouts.”

Personally, in the last two years of wearing Rhone’s Mako shorts, I always like to sport the unlined option on days I don't need the extra support. I felt that the lined option offered great underwear-like support for more active leg days. Outside of the gym, however, I’ve worn the unlined Mako to weekend hangs or even the office quite a few times. Really, these shorts look incredibly subtle ad elevated—in short, they're the jack of all trades.

Also available in 7".

Classic-Fit Stretch Golf Short

I've been wearing these golf shorts since the summer of 2021 as my go-to formal shorts and travel shorts, so I can confidently say that these are meant for off the green course as well. My favorite part is that they come with a roomy straight leg and a tad of stretch for a foolproof budget golf fit. However, I did notice that because the fabric is mainly in polyester, they're thus not naturally breathable so I don't wear them when the days are too hot.

Also available in slim fit.

Goodthreads Men's Slim-Fit 7" Flat-Front Comfort Stretch Chino Short, Khaki Brown, 33

Frickin Elastic Waist 19" Chino Short

Somewhere between chinos and activewear, Volcom's adjustable elastic shorts are super comfy. They're made using recycled fibers collected from single-use plastics, too, so you will feel good about your purchase.

After testing these shorts in our fashion closet, what we love most about them is their performance—stretchy, lightweight, and quick-drying. And if you hide the drawstring, they look just like chino shorts.

550 Short

Sometimes you just need a pair of denim shorts that's easy to throw and looks decent enough in public for those last-minute errands, or can work great into your more elevated warm-weather fits. Having worn Levi’s classic jeans bottoms since 2019, I can say the 550 style gets the job done. The relaxed fit especially at the thigh and hip areas actually does justice to my quads and glutes, and the foolproof cut and look have allowed me to style with anything from t-shirts to polo shirts to even dress shirts.

vineyard vines mens 9" Inch Stretch Breaker Shorts, Stone, 33 US

Lands' End Mens Quick Dry 9H Inch Cargo Short No Liner Sunwashed Red Regular Medium

Columbia Mens PFG Backcast III Water Short, Gulf Stream, Medium Regular

Lee mens Dungarees New Belted Wyoming Cargo Shorts, Cement, 32 US

Nike Dri-FIT Icon, Men's Basketball Shorts, Athletic Shorts with Side Pockets, College Navy/White, M

Under Armour Mens Rival Terry Shorts , (781) Opal Green Full Heather / / Onyx White , Medium

Billabong Men's Standard 73 Pro Boardshort, 4-Way Performance Stretch, 20 Inch Outseam, Dark Navy, 33

What Type of Shorts Should a Man Wear?

Athletic shorts: your active lifestyle requires a few pairs of go-to moisture-wicking shorts for the gym, running, cycling, hiking, and all kinds of sports or sweat-inducing fun. Made with performance materials, these shorts will keep you cool, dry, and comfortable while you sweat it out.

Swim shorts: looking for athletic shorts specifically meant for water activities? Swim trunks and board shorts are a no-brainer. Better yet, most can be worn out of the water as everyday moisture-wicking shorts, easily.

Leisure shorts: if your focus is more on R&R over PRs, you still need some cool, casual stunners that have the versatility to be worn in both daytime and evening scenarios, from your sofa to perhaps a bar. Sweat shorts and lounge shorts will keep you cool and comfy while you beat the heat. On the other hand, denim shorts and utility/cargo shorts let you embrace the outdoors in sharp style.

Dressy shorts: for your office days, dinner plans, summer or beach weddings, and any formal or business casual occasions, chino shorts, Bermuda shorts, khaki shorts, and any pleated shorts—especially those built with a hint of stretch and a comfortable waistband—are foolproof.

How We Selected

To curate the best shorts for men on Amazon, Men's Health's editors and writers have personally tried on and tested a range of shorts in different styles from the site, on different occasions. For instance, we’ve worn Rhone's Mako shorts and Nike's basketball shorts to the gym and sported Vineyard Vines and Nautica's chino shorts to the office.

Then, our testing editors narrowed down the selection by evaluating these tried-on shorts based on their style, fit, price point, performance, and versatility. In addition, our selection focuses not on trendy or trend-chasing (such as too short, too baggy, too many holes, or too graphic) shorts; instead, our picks of the best Amazon shorts for men all fit great athletic guys, provide great value and performance at reasonable price points, and come in styles that will look great years from now.

Read more: Learn How Men's Health Tests Products

Why Trust Us

A product review story that doesn’t actually test anything hands-on or in person isn’t worth your precious time. Thankfully, we at Men’s Health don’t produce any of that nonsense: we 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.

More importantly, at Men’s Health we have a whole fashion closet located 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 the difference between undershirts and T-shirts or that polyester isn't actually breathable, but we also have a panel of style experts—including stylists, fashion influencers, designers, etc.—that we regularly seek shopping guides from. Therefore, our product recommendations and buying tips are all driven by professional, expert opinions.

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