How much does it cost to take up trousers?
A plain trouser hem starts at £28, VAT included. Turn-ups, heel tape and jeans with the original hem cost a little more. Here is what each finish involves and what it costs.
Trouser hem prices at a glance
All prices include VAT and are confirmed after pinning:
- Plain blind-stitched hem: from £28
- Turn-up re-made to depth, or hem with heel tape: from £34
- Jeans with the original hem retained: from £32
- Taper from knee to hem, often done with a hem: from £36
Plain hems
A plain hem is the most common alteration of all. The trouser is shortened and finished with a blind stitch so nothing shows on the outside. On suit trousers, the length is set to the shoes you wear with the suit; on chinos, a slightly shorter, cleaner line often works better.
Turn-ups and heel tape
Turn-ups have to be unpicked, re-measured and rebuilt to the depth you choose, which takes longer than a plain hem — from £34. The same price applies to a hem finished with heel tape, a strip sewn inside the back of the hem to stop the cloth wearing where it meets the shoe.
Jeans with the original hem
For jeans, the original hem is cut away and re-attached at the new length, so the factory stitching and fading look exactly as they did. This is from £32. Where the shortening is very large, the fitter will tell you at the visit whether it is still possible.
Why the length is pinned on you
The right length depends on the shoe, the cloth and how you stand. Every pair is pinned on you, in the shoes you will wear, standing and sitting. If you are unsure between two lengths, the fitter can pin both so you can see them side by side.
The visit fee and several pairs
As a fitter comes to your address, there is a £30 visit fee, credited in full when confirmed work reaches £120, and a £60 minimum order per collection. In practice, most people have several pairs done at once — two or three pairs with a taper or a waist adjustment soon reach the level at which the visit fee is credited.
Standard turnaround is 7–10 working days; hems are eligible for express (about 72 hours) in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast.
Common questions
How much is it to shorten trousers?
A plain hem is from £28, a turn-up or heel-tape hem from £34, and jeans with the original hem from £32, all including VAT.
Is there a minimum order for one pair?
Yes. The minimum order is £60 per collection, plus the £30 visit fee, which is credited in full when confirmed work reaches £120.
Can trousers be lengthened?
If there is enough cloth turned up inside the hem. The fitter checks at the visit before anything is confirmed.
We reply to every request by email within one working day. Or email the desk at hello@cavendishatelier.com.