Running shorts can cost anywhere from $15 to $90. After three and a half decades of running, I can tell you the gap in actual performance is nowhere near as wide as the gap in price.
A good running short does a handful of simple things well: it wicks sweat, it doesn’t chafe, it carries the few things you need, and it stays out of your way. That’s the whole job. Everything above $30 or so tends to buy you marginally nicer fabric, a slightly better liner, and a brand name on the hip—not a fundamentally better run.
So let’s talk about what actually matters, and which of the best budget running shorts under $30 get the fundamentals right.
What Makes a Good Running Short
Before looking at specific options, it helps to know what you’re actually evaluating. After decades of running in everything from cotton gym shorts (a mistake) to technical race shorts, here’s what genuinely matters.
Moisture-wicking fabric. This is non-negotiable. Cotton holds sweat, gets heavy, and rubs you raw on anything longer than a few kilometres. You want polyester, nylon, or a poly-spandex blend—the same fibres that make a good running sock work. Nearly every purpose-built running short clears this bar now, even the cheap ones. Cotton is the only real trap.
An anti-chafe solution. Chafing on the inner thigh is one of those problems you only need to experience once before you take it seriously. Shorts solve this two ways: a built-in brief liner, or a “2-in-1” design with a compression undershort sewn in. Either works. Which you prefer comes down to personal taste—some runners find liners restrictive, others won’t run without them.
Pockets that actually hold a phone. Plenty of runners want their phone along, and a secure, zippered pocket that fits a modern phone without bouncing is what makes that work. I’m not much of a phone-on-the-run person myself—I’ve carried one in a pocket only occasionally, including purpose-built pockets like Baleaf’s, mostly to see how it rides. But if you like having your phone with you, it’s worth checking that a pair actually has a secure pocket, because not all budget shorts do.
The right inseam. Running shorts run from about 3 inches (racing flats territory) to 9 inches (basketball-adjacent). For most runners, a 5-inch or 7-inch inseam is the sweet spot—5″ for more freedom and airflow, 7″ for more coverage and usually more pocket room. Personal preference, but if you’re unsure, 7″ is the safer first buy.
A waistband that stays put. A drawstring you can actually cinch, and a waistband wide enough not to dig in or roll. Cheap shorts sometimes skimp here, and a waistband that won’t stay put will ruin an otherwise fine pair.
Premium shorts ($50-90) refine all of this—lighter fabrics, more supportive liners, smarter pocket placement, better moisture management on long efforts. Budget shorts ($15-30) cover the fundamentals with simpler construction. The question, as always, is whether the refinement is worth two to four times the price for how you actually run.
Four Budget Running Shorts Worth Considering
Based on reviewer consensus, specifications, and a read of where the running community keeps landing, these four options represent the best value under $30. (A note before we start: two of the four are Baleaf, and that’s not an oversight. They’ve quietly become the default budget running shorts brand, showing up as the value pick in nearly every expert guide I came across. When one brand keeps winning the category, it’s worth paying attention.)
A quick note: one of the two pairs I run in these days is a Baleaf, so I can speak to that brand from experience—light, comfortable, and no chafing, which lines up with why they top so many budget lists. I haven’t personally logged miles in every specific pair below, though, so where I’m leaning on reviewer testing rather than my own experience, I’ll say so.
1. Baleaf Men’s 5″ Running Shorts — ~$22
The best overall budget pick.
Specifications:
- Inseam: 5 inches
- Liner: built-in brief
- Pocket: zippered rear pocket (fits a large phone)
- Fabric: lightweight, quick-dry poly blend
The Baleaf Men’s 5″ Running Shorts are the pair that show up at the top of nearly every budget running shorts list, and the reasoning is consistent across reviewers.
What testers report: GearJunkie calls them the best bang for your buck under $20, noting lightweight fabric, a liner with moderate support, and a rear-zip pocket large enough for an oversized smartphone. iRunFar found the fabric stays light even once you’re sweating and dries quickly.
The one catch: They run large—consistently flagged across reviews as nearly two sizes too big. If you’re normally a large, order a medium. (This is the single most common complaint, and it’s a sizing fix, not a quality problem.)
Best for: Just about anyone who wants a no-nonsense running short that covers the fundamentals for around twenty bucks.
2. Pudolla Men’s 2-in-1 Running Shorts 5″ — ~$22
The best 2-in-1 for anti-chafe protection.
Specifications:
- Inseam: 5 inches
- Design: 2-in-1 with built-in compression liner
- Pockets: phone pocket in the liner, plus a zippered rear pocket
- Features: split-hem design, reflective logo, elastic waistband with drawcord
The Pudolla Men’s 2-in-1 Running Shorts are built around a compression undershort, which is the more thorough answer to chafing than a standard brief liner—and they fold in a clever phone pocket while they’re at it.
What the design delivers: The built-in compression layer (a soft poly-elastane blend) prevents inner-thigh chafe and offers light support, while the lightweight nylon outer layer wicks and moves freely thanks to the split hem. The phone pocket sits in the liner so your phone rides close and doesn’t bounce, and a back zip pocket handles keys and cards. For a 2-in-1 short around twenty bucks, that’s a lot of function.
The trade-off: 2-in-1 shorts run warmer than a single-layer lined short—there’s simply more fabric against your skin. In peak summer heat, some runners find them too much. If you run hot, this might not be your pick.
Best for: Runners prone to chafing, or anyone who likes the secure, supported feel of a compression layer—with the bonus of a bounce-free phone pocket.
3. Baleaf Men’s 7″ Running Shorts with Mesh Liner — ~$26
The best for carrying a phone (and more coverage).
Specifications:
- Inseam: 7 inches
- Liner: built-in mesh brief
- Pockets: 3 total—one rear zip (fits a 6.7″ phone) plus two side pockets
- Features: side mesh panels for ventilation
If carrying your phone, keys, and a gel matters to you, the Baleaf Men’s 7″ Running Shorts are the storage champion of this list. Three pockets at this price is genuinely uncommon.
Why the extra coverage helps: The 7-inch inseam gives more thigh coverage (welcome if 5″ shorts feel too brief), and the side mesh panels offset the extra fabric with better ventilation. The rear zip pocket is sized for a modern large phone, and the two side pockets handle keys, cards, or gels without everything living in one bouncing pouch.
The trade-off: More fabric and more coverage means slightly less airflow than a minimalist 5″ short, and the side pockets can carry a bit of bounce if you load them up.
Best for: Runners who want to carry a phone comfortably, prefer more coverage, or just want the most pocket real estate they can get for under $30.
4. Gaglg Men’s Running Shorts (2-Pack) — ~$26 for two
The best value for building a rotation.
Specifications:
- Inseam: 5″ or 7″ (your choice of model)
- Style: unlined, lightweight quick-dry polyester
- Pockets: zippered side pocket sized for a large phone, plus a second concealed zip pocket
- Features: side and gusset mesh panels for ventilation, elastic waistband with drawcord
- Value: two pairs for roughly the price of one mid-tier short
The Gaglg Men’s Running Shorts 2-Pack takes the same approach that makes budget sock multipacks such good value: buy in quantity, pay less per pair, and never be caught with everything in the wash.
The multipack logic: At around $13 a pair (and sometimes less when they go on sale), you can build a rotation for the price of a single name-brand short. If you run several times a week, having multiple pairs on hand matters more than any single premium feature. The mesh ventilation panels and zippered phone pocket cover the essentials, and the quick-dry poly does its job.
One thing to know: These are an unlined short—no built-in brief. That’s a feature, not a flaw, if you prefer to wear your own underwear or a separate compression short underneath (and it makes them run cooler). But if you specifically want a liner, go with one of the picks above instead.
The trade-off: Smaller, less-established brand than Baleaf, so quality control can be a touch less consistent pair to pair. But at this price, with two in the package, that’s an easy trade for most runners.
Best for: Frequent runners who’d rather own several solid pairs than one fancy one, prefer an unlined short, or are furnishing a running wardrobe from scratch.
(Note for women runners: this list reflects men’s shorts, since that’s what I run in and can speak to honestly. The good news is that Baleaf, Pudolla, and most budget brands here make women’s equivalents at similar prices, and the same buying principles apply—wicking fabric, anti-chafe liner, real pockets, right inseam.)
Budget vs Premium: What You’re Actually Giving Up
Here’s the honest comparison between budget shorts ($15-30) and premium options ($50-90).
Fabric quality. Premium shorts use lighter, silkier, often more durable fabrics—the kind iRunFar describes as “silky-smooth” on high-end pairs. Budget fabric is perfectly functional but a touch heavier and less refined. On a 30-minute run, you won’t notice. On a two-hour long run, you might.
Liner comfort. This is where premium money goes furthest. Better liners chafe less, support better, and disappear on long efforts. Budget liners are adequate for shorter runs but more noticeable as the kilometres add up.
Pocket engineering. Premium shorts place pockets to eliminate bounce and distribute weight—gel pockets, secure phone sleeves, key clips. Budget shorts give you pockets that work, but with more bounce and less thought behind placement.
Durability. Premium shorts generally last longer. But budget shorts are cheap enough that replacing them more often can still cost less over time—the same math that applies to budget socks.
The honest bottom line on the gap: It’s real, but it’s a refinement gap, not a function gap. A $22 short and an $80 short both keep you wicked, supported, and unchafed on a normal training run. The premium pair just does it a little more pleasantly, and matters most when you’re out there a long time.
When Budget Shorts Work Just Fine
For most runners, most of the time, shorts under $30 are all you need:
Daily training under an hour. The fundamentals are all that matter here, and budget shorts have them. This covers the vast majority of runs most of us do.
Runners who rotate several pairs. If you own multiple pairs and wash often, no single pair takes much abuse. Budget multipacks make this affordable.
Hot-weather running. A simple, lightweight, well-ventilated budget short often beats a heavier premium one in summer heat. Fancy fabric doesn’t beat good airflow.
Beginners. If you’re newer to running, put your money into shoes first. Budget shorts let you do exactly that.
When It’s Worth Spending More
Some situations do justify the premium:
Long runs and marathon training. When you’re out for two-plus hours, every small refinement—lighter fabric, a better liner, smarter pockets—compounds. This is where premium shorts earn their price.
Chronic chafing. If you chafe no matter what, a high-quality liner or compression short can be genuinely worth it. Comfort over many kilometres is not a small thing.
You’ve found “the one.” If a particular premium short fits you perfectly, that’s worth paying for. Fit is personal, and a short that disappears on your body is worth more than any spec sheet.
The Bottom Line
After three and a half decades of running, my honest take is that running shorts are one of the easiest places to save money without sacrificing much of anything.
The Baleaf Men’s 5″ Running Shorts (~$22) are the pick for most runners—lightweight, lined, with a real phone pocket, at a price that makes them almost an impulse buy. Just remember to size down.
If chafing is your enemy, the Pudolla 2-in-1 (~$22) builds the solution right in—with a phone pocket as a bonus. If you want to carry a phone and a few essentials in comfort, the Baleaf 7″ (~$26) gives you three pockets and more coverage. And if you’d rather build a rotation, the Gaglg 2-Pack (~$26 for two) gets you two solid pairs for the price of one.
My recommendation hierarchy:
- Baleaf Men’s 5″ (~$22): Best overall—covers every fundamental, size down
- Baleaf Men’s 7″ (~$26): Best for carrying a phone and gear
- Pudolla 2-in-1 (~$22): Best anti-chafe protection, with a phone pocket
- Gaglg 2-Pack (~$26/two): Best value for a rotation
Spend the money you save on the things that genuinely reward it—good shoes, good socks, and getting out the door consistently. The shorts, honestly, are the easy part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are expensive running shorts worth it?
For most runners doing daily training runs under an hour, no. Budget shorts under $30 cover the fundamentals—wicking fabric, an anti-chafe liner, and pockets. Premium shorts ($50-90) refine fabric quality, liner comfort, and pocket design, which matters most on long runs of two hours or more. For everyday training, the cheaper pair does the same job.
What inseam length is best for running shorts?
A 5-inch or 7-inch inseam suits most runners. Go 5″ for more freedom of movement and airflow, or 7″ for more coverage and usually more pocket space. Shorter 3″ split shorts are mainly for racing and faster runners, while 9″ shorts edge into gym/basketball territory. If you’re unsure, 7″ is the safer first purchase.
Do I need lined running shorts or 2-in-1 shorts?
Both solve chafing—they’re just different approaches. A built-in brief liner is lighter and cooler. A 2-in-1 design (with a compression undershort sewn in) offers more thorough anti-chafe coverage and light support, but runs warmer. If you chafe easily or like a supported feel, go 2-in-1. If you run hot or prefer minimal fabric, go with a standard lined short.
Why do budget running shorts run large?
Many budget brands—Baleaf especially—are consistently flagged by reviewers for running one to two sizes large. It’s common enough that sizing down is the standard advice. Check recent reviews for the specific pair, and when in doubt, order a size smaller than usual.
Can I just run in regular gym shorts?
You can, but cotton gym shorts are the one thing to avoid—cotton holds sweat, gets heavy, and causes chafing on longer runs. If your gym shorts are made of polyester or a synthetic blend and have some kind of liner, they’ll work fine for shorter runs. Purpose-built running shorts mainly add better moisture management, anti-chafe liners, and secure pockets.
How many pairs of running shorts do I need?
If you run three or more times a week, three to four pairs is a comfortable number—enough to always have a clean, dry pair without doing laundry constantly. This is exactly why budget multipacks make sense: building a rotation is far cheaper at $13-22 a pair than at $70.
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