How to Hang Shorts (4 Methods + 7 Best Hangers)

Shorts are small enough to fold and big enough to slip off most hangers. Two problems, two sets of solutions.

Below I walk through four hanging methods, then recommend the specific hangers that actually hold shorts in place without creasing them. Video walkthrough first if you’d rather watch than read.

4 Clever Ways to Hang Shorts (Step-by-step guide)

How to Hang Shorts On a Coat Hanger

The simplest method. Works on almost any regular coat hanger, avoids crease lines, holds reasonably well once the fold is done.

1. Lay the shorts flat, front facing up.
2. Fold the shorts in half from side to side.

1. Lay the coat hanger across the middle of the shorts at thigh level, with the hook facing up toward the waist.

1. Pull the waist of the shorts through the hanger and down, so the waistband nearly meets the leg openings.

1. Lift and hang. The balance should keep the shorts centered on the hanger.

This works for everyday shorts but not for slippery athletic shorts. For those, use a pant hanger with clips (method 3).

How to Hang Shorts So They Don't Fall Off Coat Hangers

The Seville fold is the fix. Same technique as the Seville fold for full-length pants, adapted for shorts: fold one leg back past the waist, position the hanger, thread the lower leg, then the upper leg, and the shorts lock in place.

I cover the full Seville fold technique in my pants hanging guide. Same steps, just with shorter legs.

How to Fold Short Denim Shorts

Short denim shorts are the tricky case. They’re heavy enough to slip off a regular fold, but short enough that pant hanger clips can crease them across the front.

1. Lay the shorts flat, front facing up.
2. Place a coat hanger in the middle of the shorts. Position the hook so it just barely doesn't touch the crotch.
3. Fold the shorts in half from side to side, over the hanger.
4. Lift the hanger. The shorts stay in place because the denim grips the hanger under its own weight.

Won’t work on slippery synthetic fabrics like running shorts, basketball shorts, or swim trunks. For those, use clips.

How to Hang Shorts on a Pant Hanger

The easiest method if you have clip-style pant hangers. The shorts can’t slip off and the fabric doesn’t crease.

1. Lay the shorts with the front facing up.
2. If the shorts are wide at the waist, fold them in half side to side first.

1. Position the pant hanger over the waistband. Adjust the clamps so they grip both sides of the waistband at the same point, as far out to the edges as possible.

1. Fasten the clamps. Check that both sides are level so the shorts hang straight.

This is my preferred method for any shorts I want to keep crease-free. Takes slightly longer than a coat hanger fold but the payoff is pants that look ready to wear straight off the hanger.

The Best Hangers for Shorts

Two camps on shorts storage: fold them into a drawer, or hang them with everything else.

I prefer hanging.

Drawer folding leaves crease lines that show when you wear shorts that have been folded for six months.

The hangers below cover three needs: saving space when you own a lot of shorts, keeping the cost down when buying in bulk, and getting premium durability if you want hangers that last a decade.

Best Shorts Hangers to Save Space

Shorts take up closet space disproportionate to their size.

Half a dozen shorts on individual hangers eats 6 inches of closet rod.

Multi-tier hangers fix that by stacking multiple pairs on one hook.

Two picks below: a premium 6-tier ZOBER and a budget 4-tier from MOONIGHT TIME.

Best Affordable Shorts Hangers

When you’re buying 10 or 20 hangers at once, price per unit matters. These two packs cost roughly half of what premium brands charge, without giving up the key features (metal clips, slim profile, non-slip grip).

Best Value Hangers for Shorts

Value hangers cost a little more upfront but hold up longer, work harder, or do more. These three picks each solve a specific problem beyond “hang shorts.”

Once your shorts are hanging properly, the next upgrade is folding the ones that don’t need to hang.

Soft cotton shorts and swim trunks can go in a drawer.

My shorts folding guide covers the technique.