Men's Secondhand Levi's 517 Bootcut Jeans Fit Guide

Start With The 517 Baseline

A men's secondhand Levi's 517 bootcut jeans fit guide should not treat the jean like a generic loose flare. Levi's describes the current 517 as slim through the thigh, sitting at the waist, with a bootcut leg made to fit over boots.

Use the published size-32 measurements as a reference point, not as a promise for every used pair. Levi's lists an 11 1/2-inch front rise, 17 1/4-inch knee, and 18 1/4-inch leg opening for the 517. Tractor Supply's 31x32 retail listing repeats the same measurement language and identifies the fabric as 100% cotton, non-stretch.

Measure The Used Pair, Not The Label

Secondhand denim adds uncertainty because the label size and the current garment can drift apart. Levi's SecondHand states that its sizing measurements reflect new items and that deviations may occur for used garments.

Ask for the waist, rise, thigh, knee, inseam, and leg opening from the actual pair. If the listing only says 31x32, treat the most important data as (not visible). The tag does not confirm whether the waist stretched, the inseam was shortened, or the opening still matches the bootcut proportion.

Check Thigh Fit Before Tailoring

WBestWind's current read is that the useful buyer question is not whether every 517 thigh has one universal tolerance. The available sources do not show an authoritative thigh-width cutoff.

Instead, compare the used pair to the 517 design intent. Because Levi's calls the 517 slim through the thigh, excess fabric should be judged by how it affects the knee and bootcut line. If the thigh pools, folds forward, or makes the knee look as wide as the hem, the shape may be too relaxed for a classic 517 look.

Do not assume a tailor can solve every upper-leg issue without changing the style. Levi's Tailor Shop confirms tapering exists, but the available sources do not prove that slimming only the thigh preserves the 517 bootcut shape. If thigh work is needed, get the tailor's plan before the return window closes.

Read Inseam With Boots And Sagging

Length is where 517 fit questions get misleading. Bootcut jeans are meant to sit over footwear, so they can be longer than a cropped or slim straight jean. If the back hem touches the ground, the pair is too long for regular wear.

There is no universal 5'9 inseam rule in the listed sources. Rise, sagging, footwear, and desired break all change the answer. A sagged waist makes a 32-inch inseam act longer; a boot heel can absorb more length than a flat sneaker.

Check the hem while wearing the shoes you expect to use. The back hem should not drag under the shoe. The front can have a deliberate break over boots, but the bootcut opening should still show the footwear instead of puddling around it.

Separate Hemming From Reshaping

A buyer can shorten length without making the same decision as reshaping the leg. Levi's Tailor Shop lists separate prices for Raw Hem at £16, Cuffed Hem at £20, Standard Hem at £20, Original Hem at £50, Tapers at £40, and Pant Leg Panel at £50.

For flare jeans men buy secondhand, the safer alteration is usually length-only when the thigh, knee, and opening already work. Once tapering or panel work changes the leg shape, the buyer is no longer just correcting inseam.

Price The Return Before You Cut

Return policy is part of fit, not paperwork. Levi's SecondHand policy was updated July 14, 2026 and gives buyers 60 days from purchase to start a return. It deducts a $10 return shipping fee and does not accept returns in stores.

That means the buying sequence should be simple: inspect first, photograph and measure second, try on with boots third, decide on tailoring fourth. Once a pair is altered, the listed sources do not show that return eligibility remains available.