Buckle Up: The Best Men's Belts of 2024 for Jeans, Dress Pants, and More

Belts might seem purely utilitarian. The accessory's history goes back to the Bronze Age, when it was used to carry tools and weapons. Now, belts are mainly meant to hold up your pants. You should always wear dress belt to formal events, and while you should feel free to ditch them at more casual affairs, the best belts subtly complete any outfit.

Consider the other ways a belt, especially in summer, can contribute to your style: wear a rugged leather belt for most days, a patterned buckle belt for the beach, a fun braided belt for happy hours, and even a cowboy belt for nights out singing along to Chris Stapleton or Zach Bryan.

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We rounded up the best belts for men with help from expert stylists and fashion writers. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re going for a subdued look or doing a bit of peacocking. Our favorite belt is the Tanner Goods Classic Belt, which, true to its name, is a wonderfully sturdy staple that comes in multiple colors. You can wear it just about anywhere, and look the right level of put-together—especially with a dress shirt and Chelsea boots or even moc toe boots and a T-shirt.

Related: Best Dress Shoes for Men That’ll Impress at Any Occasion

Best Belts for Men at a Glance

• Overall Best Belt for Men: Tanner Goods Classic Belt

• Best Affordable Belt: Banana Republic Leather Chino Belt

• Best Braided Belt: Abercrombie & Fitch Braided Suede Belt

• Best Upgrade Braided Belt: Reiss Elmont Woven Belt

• Best Western Belt: Lemaire Minimal Western Belt

• Best Bejeweled Cowboy Belt: Our Legacy 2 CM Card Deck Belt

• Best Designer Belt: Comme Des Gar?ons Wallet Square-Tip Leather Belt

• Best Casual Belt: Todd Snyder Guanábana Buckle Belt

• Best Dress Belt: To Boot New York Leather Belt

Best Belts for Men in 2024

Overall Best Belt for Men: Tanner Goods Classic Belt

For a no-nonsense leather belt that will last you a lifetime, you can’t do better than the Tanner Goods Classic Belt, which is the perfect medium width at 1.25 inches and available in four colors, from dressier cognac to a light and breezy natural shade. The Portland-based Tanner Goods is known for exceptional leather wares and made right here in the U.S.

“I like the simplicity and quality of Tanner Goods belts,” says Nic Screws, a stylist who has dressed Rami Malek and Russell Westbrook. You won’t be making a loud statement. You’ll simply look sharp.

Best Affordable Belt: Banana Republic Leather Chino Belt

“I’m loving the revitalization of Banana Republic and their options,” she says. Krista Roser, a stylist who works with rapper Jelly Roll, among others.

Our budget-oriented leather belt pick, Banana Republic Leather Chino Belt, is ideal if you appreciate the versatile look and ruggedness of the Tanner Goods Classic Belt above but want to spend less than $100. Roser appreciates the texture and color of this belt, which is sleek yet solid. If you don't like the cognac brown pictured here, it's also available in dark brown.

Best Braided Belt: Abercrombie & Fitch Braided Suede Belt

In addition to a standard go-anywhere leather belt, every man should have at least one braided (or woven) belt—a slightly more fun and casual category. And you know what else is fun? Suede. Abercrombie & Fitch Braided Suede Belt is a “good, cheerful” option, according to Screws, at a delightfully accessible price.

Best Upgrade Braided Belt: Reiss Elmont Woven Belt

If you want to invest in a fancier braided belt, check out the Reiss Elmont Woven Belt, recommended by Screws. The nicely textured khaki belt with a buckle fastening is refined but approachable enough to easily go from a beach day to a cocktail party.

Best Western Belt: Lemaire Minimal Western Belt

Country music is really having a year, whether it’s Post Malone and Morgan Wallen at the top of the charts or Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album. And, unsurprisingly, the cowboy aesthetic is also experiencing a surge in the men’s fashion world. That doesn’t mean you should go full honky-tonk, however.

"I’ve been noticing slimmer belts, leather, and often with a metallic tip, which has a Western tinge to it, without being too yee-haw,” says Max Berlinger, a style journalist who has written for The New York Times. He likes the leather Lemaire Minimal Western Belt, which has charming flourishes like stud details while being subtle enough for weddings.

Best Bejeweled Cowboy Belt: Our Legacy 2 CM Card Deck Belt

There’s nothing wrong with a man who likes to get playful, even a little peacock-y, with his style. You know who you are if you’re eyeing this Our Legacy 2 CM Card Deck Belt, which hits the “slimmer vibe” and cowboy aesthetic popular these days, Berlinger says.

Made with sumptuous Italian bridle leather, it also provides plenty of flash with distressed metal card deck rivets (think clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds) for the truly confident cowboy.

Best Designer Belt: Comme Des Gar?ons Wallet Square-Tip Leather Belt

It doesn’t get much classier than Comme Des Gar?ons, and luckily, you can snag the Paris-based brand’s Square-Tip Leather Belt at an everyman price. Stylist Michael Fisher, who has worked with the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal and Bowen Yang, loves this belt year-round in both dark brown and black (the rectangular silver-tone buckle helps keep things buttoned-up).

“It’s smooth and sturdy and the perfect width for dress or casual at 1.25 inches,” Fisher says. “It keeps everything in place, and punctuates a look without overpowering it.”

Best Casual Belt: Todd Snyder Guanábana Buckle Belt

If your pants fit properly, you don’t technically need a belt. But even a casual hangout may warrant accessorizing for the sake of smart style. "[Todd Snyder] has so many great options for causal belts, from boho to preppy to Western,” Roser says.

We’re especially fond of the Todd Snyder Guanábana Buckle Belt in Storm Grey, designed in Spain and handwoven by Wayuu artisans from Colombia. It features a fetching, colorful pattern that can easily go from the yacht to the dive bar.

Best Dress Belt: To Boot New York Leather Belt

If you get invited to a black tie event, or just your friend’s ultra-fancy wedding, this is the belt to choose. The elegant, straightforward To Boot New York Leather Belt is made with top-notch leather and available in black as well as two brown shades that make it “easy to match your belt with your shoes,” Roser says. In other words, it’s a no-brainer.

How to Style Your Belt

There’s a broad range of men’s belts out there to suit every style. Some options you can wear with your favorite pair of jeans and others are perfect for dressing up with a handsome suit. Ideally, you should have a mix of both. At the very least, you'll need a reliable everyday belt, a dress belt for formal occasions, and another more casual option to mix things up.

Of course, your belt should match your shoes, or at least get quite close—this is especially important when wearing a suit. For an everyday belt, be sure to select a color and material that’s versatile enough to work with multiple pairs of shoes. One belt won't work with all your outfits, however, so having multiple belts in different colors and materials is crucial.

What to Look for When Choosing the Best Belts

A belt can be just a belt: After all, they were invented to hold things, as well as hold up our pants. But a stylish man knows to wear properly fitting pants, with no belt needed.

So the best belts are more about putting the finishing detail on your outfit, with an accessory people may or may not notice but will add a certain oomph. You may want a standard leather belt, which can generally go anywhere. Or, go for an especially formal option if the event demands it.

But feel free to have fun looking through more casual belts, whether they’re braided, made from other materials like suede, or feature rounded buckles and thoughtful flourishes.

Why You Should Trust Us

I’ve been covering men’s style and grooming for over a decade, whether rhapsodizing about how I learned to love my bushy eyebrows (and why you should, too) or chasing down the best Air Jordans. Over the years, I’ve learned from men’s fashion aficionados and tried out belts and other accessories from numerous brands in my own life, whether it’s for a birthday party, a wedding, or a backyard cookout.

To assemble this list of the best belts for men, I consulted experts from the worlds of men’s style, including stylists whose job involves dressing famous men in their most flattering looks. In particular, I talked to the fashion journalist Max Berlinger and stylists Nic Screws, Krista Roser, and Michael Fisher to get their thoughts on great belts. I also researched the huge variety of men’s belts out there, from black tie-appropriate to beach-ready, and from well-established brands as well as smaller labels, to whittle down the very best.

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