Love it or hate it, but we can’t deny it: Shorts season is upon us. The hunt for shorts that fit well, don’t ride up, and are comfortable is a long and ongoing one—and, like clockwork, every summer I decide that I hate every pair I own and need new ones for the season.
Because of that, I tend to gravitate toward affordable shorts that I can wear and love for the summer, knowing I might be swapping them out next year. I scoured the internet for all of the best affordable shorts from some of our (and your) favorite stores—like Target, Gap, and Old Navy—along with some tried and true investment options from Madewell and J.Crew.
We found the best pull-on shorts that are perfect for running errands or a beach trip, denim shorts for looking a little more put-together and casual family outings, and lounge and athletic shorts for workouts and chill days at home.
Check out our favorite affordable and mom-friendly pairs of shorts for summer:
Pull-On & Utility Shorts
Denim Shorts
Lounge & Athletic Shorts
This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated for timeliness.
