The Levi's Jeans Guide

Here at Brag Vintage, we have one of the largest collections of used and vintage Levi's jeans, denim jackets, and denim shorts available online in a multitude of styles and colours.

Having experienced the challenges of identifying and defining the various Levi's styles—and noticing a lack of comprehensive guides online—we decided to create this guide to help you select the best pair for yourself. Or maybe you’re looking to sell one of your old pairs online and need more information.

The Guide

Due to the vast range of Levi’s model numbers, we have separated the guide into each series. Click on a series number below to see the detailed table guide for all the individual models within that series.

Included on this page:

A brief history of Levi's jeans
Explanations of some of the less obvious headings in the table guide

Please note: This is a work in progress. Some series numbers are still being updated or activated.

Series Overview

Understanding the Guide

This guide is not exhaustive but will be updated as we discover new information. It contains details of all the jeans we have come across while working in the vintage/second-hand jeans business.

If you have information we may have missed or spot inaccuracies, feel free to comment.

Disclaimer: This guide is based on our experience handling thousands of second-hand Levi’s jeans. We are not associated with Levi Strauss & Co. or any of its sub-brands.

Model Number

The model number identifies a pair of jeans. It is often printed:

On the back badge/tag above the back right pocket on the waistband
On inside labels of the garment

Leg / Cut / Style

The cut/style refers to the shape of the jeans. Here are the main styles:

Straight Leg: Consistent width from thigh to hem.
Bootcut: Slight flare at the lower leg to fit boots.
Tapered: Narrows toward the hem.
Loose: Baggy, often straight leg but wider than normal.
Skinny/Slim: Modern, tight-fitting cut.
Comfort: Looser than straight leg but not as baggy as loose fit.

Rise

The rise is the distance from the top of the waistband to the crotch seam:

High Rise: Worn high on the waist; largest proportional measurement.
Mid Rise: Sits lower on the waist; medium measurement.
Low Rise: Worn on the hips; smallest measurement.

Availability Score

Each series number is assigned an availability score (1–5) to indicate how easy the jeans are to obtain:

5: Still in mass production
4: Still available new, not mass produced
3: Production ceased but easily available second-hand
2: Production ceased, hard to find
1: Rare

A Brief History of Levi's

Levi Strauss was a German-born man who moved to America at 18 in 1847. In 1853, he became an American citizen and founded Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco.

Initially, he made rugged work pants using brown canvas. After exhausting local supplies, he sourced a French material called Serge de Nimes—later shortened to denim.
1873: Patented the riveting process with tailor Jacob Davis to strengthen pockets and stress points.
1890: Began using the iconic 501 trademark.
1936: Introduced the famous red tab on the back right pocket.
1960s–1970s: Massive global expansion during the “blue jeans craze.”
Acquired Great Western Garment Co., innovating stone-washed jeans.

As of 2010, Levi's is headquartered in San Francisco, with 16,500 employees, 470 stores, and over $4 billion in revenue. Levi's continues to innovate and shape American fashion, style, and culture.