Here I have paid $3 for the shoe man to cut off and hem jeans.

For many years I did home clothing alterations. At the time, I was charging $5. per pair of pants for plain hem, $7.50 for cuffs....little kids I would generally charge $4.00.

I would set an hourly rate and go by that, timing how long it takes you do them. My friend who runs an alteration studio charges $20 an hour. Of course, she has business overhead.... so maybe you could charge $12-$16 per hour, something like that.

Don't do it too cheaply or you'll be getting all that woman's clothing before too long, to fix this or shorten that. I've learned that the hard way! lol

I'd pay ten bucks a pair. It's easy work.

It's not that easy on denim or corduoy because of the thickness of the side and inseams. Thin material is a different story.

I have paid $6 for years, regardless of child or adult hems. Childrens would really be harder to do than an , or at least that is my opinion.

I'm paying $10 for uncuffed, unlined pants.
$15 for lined slacks.

They way kids grow.......

But if someone is willing to have it done for money..I'm with Flamingo..charge them by your time..not the "job".

Have you done this before? Is this a one time? I would assume the child would have tried the pants on in front of you. Sounds like she is not sure how short to go. If you have never done it for a neighbor, to protect yourself, do one pair first, have child try it on etc. Sad to say, some neighbors want others to do work that should be handled by professionals. Depends on well you know her etc.
Sometimes it is easier to say no, instead of yes and loose a friendship.

Ok I will step in and admit that my kids grew like weeds. I would never hem their pants. If they didn't look good rolled I just turn them up and safety pinned them at the seams. Heck I've done that to my own pants.

Are you machine hemming or hand sewing? For machine I think about $4 a pair sounds fair. For hand sewing I would expect to pay double that or more.

Like Wildchild - I never hemmed pants for my son. Spend an hour or two hemming, and 4 weeks later the pants were too short, LOL.

If someone insists on hemmming - well, I've done my share of alterations and hemming, and hemming children's pants is a major PITA. They are small and awkward, just plain difficult to do. Adult clothes are much easier, and the adults don't outgrow them (at least lenghtwise).

Corduroy and denim can't just be turned up and stitched - way too much bulk for that, they'll look like crap. They usually need the original hem ripped out, new hem marked, some cutting before hemming, and it's all on these tiny pants legs. So seriously not worth the time and effort!

My suggestion - buy clothes that fit, or let them grow into the too-long pants.

Call your local dry cleaner and ask what they charge. You can then charge accordingly. I had an alterations business for years along with a full time job. My last price sheet (1997) shows $7.00 per pair for no cuff. Start to finish it should take you about 30 minutes.

Helpful hint~When you turn bulky hems pound the seams with a hammer and use a Hump Jumper you will have much better results.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hump Jumper

I recently hemmed several pairs of jeans for a lady I met during baseball season, her sons played on the same teams as my grandsons. I didn't charge her anything, but she said she had paid $2. per leg in the past.

The only reason I responded to this at all is to give a word of advice. The first two pairs she brought for hemming, she brought an old pair of his jeans and wanted the new jeans the same inseam length of the old pair, no problem, right? WRONG! The length of pants is more involved than inseam measurement, the way the pants fit through the waist, hips, etc., also figures in to the length. The pants were too long when I got them hemmed, so I had to do-over. Thank goodness they weren't too short, there's no correcting that!

The next time she had jeans for me to hem (4 pair), I had her to bring the boys with her (much to their dismay), they tried them on, one pair at a time, and I turned each pair's leg up at the proper length. These jeans all fit the boys perfectly.

Another tip: Your iron is your best friend when hemming any garment, or any sewing for that matter, it makes the job so much easier.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I have sewn for this neighbor before , but never the hemming of boys pants. They are her nephews and he is large for his age but he isnt quite tall enough yet to fit the length !!

I am going to ask to see the pants first to determine the cost, she said some jeans and some cords. If they are heavyweight or wide cords it will make a difference too. And I think it is a good idea to have them washed and machine dried a few times first too.

my husband just paid the cleaners $9 to hem a pair of pants
so maybe a little less for kids pants

I saw $6.99 on a sign the other day.

ole joyful