Hem Price List: How Much Does it Cost to Hem Pants or Dress
It may be a bit costly to get your clothes hemmed just right. There is a lot of work involved in correctly hemming different clothing items. Be prepared to pay top dollar when your pants or shirts need some hemming done.
How Much Does it Cost to Hem Pants or Dress? Be prepared to pay about $10 a pair if you want your pants hemmed by a professional. Of course, your geographical location may be cheaper or it may be more expensive than that. You are going to need to shop around to get the right price for your budget.
If you want to know the approx. Price of hemming your clothes, just continue to read our article. It gets as close to the average as it can. Exact pricing for all areas is not possible but this will give you an idea of what to expect to pay to hem your clothes.
Hem Price List 101
How Much Should a Hem Cost
What it should cost and what it does are two different things. If you are like most people, the cost of hemming should be as cheap as possible. But the reality is there are a lot of factors involved when calculating the price of hemming.
First, the type of clothing influences the price, as does the second factor, the fabric style. Then the size of the hem and the complexity of the hem style add to the cost of hemming. One final factor is the person doing the hemming and their expertise. (check our custom sewing price list)
Average Cost to Hem Pants
Again we will remind you that the average price is going to change with the city you live in, and the talent of the person doing the sewing. Friends tend to be cheaper than professionals and their talent may also demonstrate that lack of expense.
But on average, you can expect to pay between $5 and $20, give or take $5. Some people have had jeans hemmed and it cost them between $10 and $22.
How Much to Hem a Bridesmaid Dress
A bridesmaid’s dress may not have the elaborate fabric a wedding dress has but hemming them can be expensive because of the time involved and the complexity of the task.
To get a bridesmaid’s dress hemmed you are looking at paying between$15 and $45.
Hem a Wedding Dress
Wedding dresses are far more difficult to hem but you are not looking at paying much differently on average than a bridesmaid’s dress. Some places may charge more so the average price for a wedding dress can range between $15 and $100.
Hem a Shirt
Shirts can be a little cheaper than a wedding dress but a little more expensive than pants. It will depend on the style of the shirt and its size. Larger men sizes may not be as cheap as smaller men’s shirt sizes.
On average, you can pay about $15 to $25 depending on the fabric and so on.
Hem a Formal Dress
Formal dresses for proms, etc. Can cost you very little in some areas. Maybe as low as $5 but don’t trust the quality of the hem. Standard prices range between $30 and $65 with some formal dresses reaching $95 or $20 to $40 per layer.
Hem an Evening Gown
An evening gown is almost the same as a formal dress so do not expect much difference in the pricing for hemming. It is highly unlikely that you will get the job done for under $20 but you may be lucky.
You can expect to pay between $30 and $65 but if a bodice is involved then you should expect the price to double. Alterations have their own price list and range according to what needs to be done and how much fabric needs to be used.
Hem a Skirt
Skirts are not that difficult to hem and usually do not require a lot of fabric or any additional work. When a stitch starts to unravel then you are looking at paying between $10 and $14 to get the hem repaired.
The price may be higher if you take it to a very classy dressmaking shop to get the work done. You should shop around to make sure you get the right price for you.
Hem Jacket Sleeves
Jackets come with a variety of options that can be done prior to hemming. For shortening and lengthening the sleeves you are looking at paying between $12 and $20. Hems can range between $15 and $25 and slim sizes may be as high as $35.
Your cost will depend on the fabric of the jacket and what all has to be done to it.
How Much to Hem a Coat
Coats are usually made from heavier fabric. That means you need to do more work, have a better sewing machine and needles and thread. To get a coat hemmed for you when you do not have those items is going to start at about $30.
If the coat is made from leather, then expect to pay around $30 and $40 for a hem.
How Much Fabric Needed For a Hem
The amount of fabric you use for a hem will depend on what type of material you are hemming and what that material is going to be used for. For curtains, you are looking at adding 8 extra inches just for the hem. 6 at the bottom and 2 at the top.
For pants, shirts, and dresses you need about 2 to 2 1/2 meters of fabric to make the shirt. That amount of fabric would include enough for the hems unless a mistake is made in cutting the fabric.
Generally, you only need about 2 to 8 inches of fabric to hem any piece of clothing.
How Much to Hem Curtains
The cost to hem curtains is on the moderate to low side of the scale. You are only looking at paying between $15 and $35 to get a nice set of curtains hemmed the way you want.
Don’t be surprised if the cost goes up if you bring in heavier more decorative fabrics to get hemmed. The more work involved means the price will go up. Plus the skill level of the seamstress will also add to the overall cost.
How Much Hem to Put on Curtains
The amount of hem needed for a set of curtains will depend on their style. Not all curtains are the same and different styles do require different sized hems. You can get away with a very short 1/2 inch hem on delicate fabrics that are not that large.
Or you may have to extend the size of the hem to cover both the top and the bottom of the curtain. The rule of thumb is 6 inches for the bottom and 2 inches for the top.
Where to Get a Dress Hemmed
Usually you do not go to a tailor to get a dress hemmed. Those shops normally cover men’s clothing items. The best place to go would be a dressmaker's shop. They specialize in all sorts of sewing needs and can help you with your dress.
If one is not in your neighborhood, you can try the local dry cleaners as they may offer this service for you. If the dress is a wedding dress, then it may be best to go to a bridal shop as they will specialize in those types of dresses.
How Much is a Hem at David’s Bridal
David’s bridal shop has over 300 locations around the country. But that doesn’t mean you will save money going there to get your hemming needs taken care of. The minimum you can expect to pay will be about $90/ Other people have been quoted upwards of $300 or the exact cost of their dress.
How Long Does it Take a Tailor to Hem a Dress or Pants
If the hem is simple, it should only take a good tailor about an hour or less to do the hem for you. If it is not simple, and the tailor is busy, then you will need to give the tailor more time to complete the job.
You should talk to your tailor to make sure how long you will have to wait to get your pants or dress back after you drop them off for hemming.
Some Final Words
If you need a hem done, it is always easier and cheaper to run to your mother or grandmother, if they know how to sew, and get the job done for free or a nice dinner, etc.
But there will be those times when your relatives or friends are not available to help you. Then you will have to hire a professional and their charges will take a variety of factors into account before they give you a final price.
The best advice we can give you is to shop around first. Make sure the person you hire has the right skills to do the job correctly and give your clothing items a professional look.
