Give or take a wash here or a rip there, jeans tend to look suspiciously similar on the first take. Affordable jeans are just jeans, right? They go with everything, whatever the price tag. Can’t go wrong.

Not true.

Unlike a bad piece of knitwear, which instantly looks alien if it doesn’t suit you, a bad pair of jeans has the sinister ability to sartorially cockblock you, rendering all your outfits unsuccessful – but they do it on the down-low. The same pair that looked promising on the shelf can instantly bestow bow legs on their wearer the moment the zip’s drawn up and the button fastened. Sneaky.

But that doesn’t mean you have to spend $500 on Japanese raw selvage jeans to avoid dodgy denim. Affordable jeans retailers have enough fits, washes and styles at their disposal to make sure the trousers you live in on the weekend don’t sabotage your style.

In a hurry? Here are our top picks for affordable jean brands that combine style with unbeatable value.

Established in 2015, Wax London has taken their time debuting a denim line, and now we understand. Their Slim Fit Jeans have been carefully and sustainably designed to last, with the close fit to the body giving it a modern and stylish look. Made with premium denim that is soft to the touch, these jeans will sit comfortably on your body, making it the ideal pair of jeans for daily use. And with the dark rinse wash giving it a colorway that can easily be dressed up or down, this can truly be your reality.

Wax London is also committed to sustainability, meaning these jeans were made using environmentally-friendly processes that leave the planet a better place while gifting you with a lasting style for your closet. Now that’s a win-win.

We don’t know about you, but the dad jean is a favorite in our closet. And who does Dad jeans better than M.C. Overalls – they were around for the actual inception of dad jeans before they were nicknamed dad jeans! Their slim leg denim jeans are made with 100% cotton, making them an extremely comfortable and breathable pair of jeans for daily wear.

The black denim is also insanely iconic, giving you a classic and timeless look that goes with everything, whether it’s a blazer and boots, t-shirt and sneakers, or even throwing them on for date night!

These jeans are also fit true to size with enough ankle room for you to roll up or down depending on the vibe of the day.

Sometimes, the best cheap jeans to get can be found on Amazon – and these Wrangler Regular fit jeans are no exception. Created in the classic style, they are both comfortable and modern, with a traditional five-pocket styling, regular rinse, and a straight leg. They are also made with 100% cotton, and come in a variety of washes for whatever you need. And with that price point, you can really stock up on a few versions of this timeless style.

Sometimes you only really need a solid and dependable pair of jeans to keep you looking your best for longer.

Denim doesn’t mean you need to skimp on comfort and movement. The Everlane stretch jean finds the perfect balance for the active jean-wearing man, creating their 4-way stretch jeans using high-performance Italian fabric blend designed for comfort and movement. With a slim fit and athletic cut, this jean will keep you comfortable all day and won’t constrict your movement, giving you the freedom to be as active or lazy as you want.

Machine washable in a way that is truly machine washable, the dark indigo colour of these jeans under $100 go with everything and allow them to easily integrate into your daily wardrobe cycle.

Asket forgoes the traditional retail mark-up on their products and provides full transparency when it comes to its pricing. Because of this model, their Japanese raw denim is a fraction of the market price, as are the rest of their affordable jeans. Talk about a sound investment.

Japan and denim go together like cheese and wine, but if your budget doesn’t stretch (unlike these great ripped jeans) to artisanal brands, head to Japanese retailer Uniqlo for high-quality jeans under $50.

The brand’s precisely cut, hardy denim (raw and selvedge included) will quickly form the backbone of your weekend wardrobe, and leave you with enough spare cash to actually spend on the weekend, too.

Stating the obvious klaxon: you can find just about anything to wear in H&M and none of it will require a diet of beans and toast to afford. The Swedish juggernaut’s cheap jeans offering is no exception, clocking up a dizzying array of designs that offer that fabled mix of quality, affordability and style. Look out for innovative stretch jeans for men and real selvedge denim for less than $50.

We’re continually surprised at just how huge (and financially friendly) ASOS’ inventory is, so if you don’t know where to start, we’d suggest having a look at the e-tailer’s ever-evolving jeans edit. In typical ASOS fashion, there’s no style missing; if you can see a blind spot, we’ll eat our raw denim jeans.

Gap made its name on denim, chinos and hoodies, so it stands to reason that those jean-etics are still the lifeblood of this stateside store’s offering. Divided into five shape blocks and multiple washes, the budget-friendly brand has got its sights set on the denim gap in your wardrobe, and produces selvedge for the most discerning legs.

If there is one pair of drawstring jeans that should become a must in your wardrobe, it’s the Tanner Pants from The Frankie Shop. This French-inspired New York fashion store uses a high-quality blend of cotton and elastane to create this comfortable, soft, and stretchy design that will last for years on end.

Not only does it flatter almost every body type, but it’s easy to style. Whether it’s with a simple white tee for a casual day out or dressed up with a blazer or cardigan, these jeans will become a go-to staple for any and every outfit.

Also, who can ignore the level of comfort these jeans will give? In a world of super tight fits, these wide-legged jeans snap us back to a time when comfort and ease were the style. Stay cool and collected in an indigo wash pair. One drawback, while this style is hard to get for this price these aren’t the best affordable jeans for men if you’re on a tighter budget.

The Rest Of The Best Cheap Jeans For Men

Yes, we appreciate a strategically placed zip and a perfect enzyme wash as much as the next denimhead, but first and foremost we’re always on the lookout for jeans made from tougher stuff. In keeping with its reputation for producing durable, functional clothing, Carhartt’s collection of robust jeans is our first port of call for styles that will stand up to some rough and tumble.

Recognizing the fact that denim is the workhorse of any modern wardrobe, the international brand Urban Outfitters set out to create jeans that are designed to be lived in through their in-house denim label BDG. The result is solid all-rounder styles that will quietly upgrade your everyday looks without requiring half a month’s rent upfront.

For much of the past decade Topman was the undisputed king of super-skinny denim, which may have been eye-watering to wear but didn’t carry an eye-watering price tag. You’ll still find reasonably priced slimline shapes in its roster, but now there’s a lot more diverse denim trends to dig into, too, including wider legs.

Any man who’s a fan of non-boring, accessibly priced menswear will be familiar with River Island. While the retailer’s trend-led pieces may catch the eye, don’t overlook its sturdy denim collection, which punches well above its price tag thanks to its diverse design and reliable quality.

A lesser-known retailer in the US, the best affordable jeans from River Island might just have a mysterious effect on the on-lookers. Nothing quite like looking like a million dollars on a shoe-string budget.

Style-conscious but cash-strapped? New Look’s got your legs covered with its denim range under 100 USD, which ticks off pretty much every taste, fit and colour. So whether you’re looking to rock pared-back or pumped-up jeans, you’ll still have enough change to stick in your five pockets.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Cheap Jeans

It’s hard to pin down specifically what makes the perfect pair of jeans, given that there are a lot of body variables at play, especially when you’re looking for the best budget jeans. Carl Malmgren, creative director at Swedish denim brand Cheap Monday, has some universal advice that applies in all cases though. He says: “The fit should come before everything else. When you try on jeans, you instantly feel that they fit or they don’t.”

If you’re shopping the old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar way you’ve got no excuse, and if you’re shopping online, order multiple options and send the bad ones back. In overused reality TV cliche catchphrase speak: go with your gut. Are they just right at the waist or are they mercilessly cutting into your hips? Are their hems kissing the tongues of your shoes or are puddles of fabric where your feet once were? You know best.

Once you’ve got the perfect jeans for your body type, look for hallmarks of quality, starting with those metallic rivets, which aren’t just for decoration. They’ll increase the strength of your denim’s wear, so make sure the pointy stubs are on all of your front pockets. Check the care label too. The fabric composition should be as close to 100 per cent cotton as possible, allowing for a small percentage of elastane for stretch varieties. An increase in non-natural fibres usually means a decrease in lifespan.

The weight of your denim (how much each yard of fabric used for the jeans weighs) is key for a long and happy life, too. Lightweight denim is around 12oz whereas heavyweight denim clocks in at 16oz (or more). Heavier denim won’t wear as easily and is less likely to lose its shape – provided you’re not attempting Tough Mudder in your jeans.

For our money, these are the places where you’ll find cheap jeans that require low spending power but offer plenty of staying power. So there’s absolutely no excuse for leg twinning with your dad.