How to Use Hem Tape for Pant Legs, Dresses, Curtains & More

We have good news—you don’t have to spend more money to have the pants you just bought professionally tailored! Hemming tape is a fast, cheap, and easy solution for hemming long pant legs, dresses and skirts, or even curtains. We’ll show you how to use both double-sided and one-sided hemming tape with tips from master tailor Mia Danilowicz so that your clothes always fit just right.

How do you use iron-on hem tape?

Master tailor Mia Danilowicz says it’s easy to fold your pants where you want the new hem and iron on double-sided hem tape or fusible interfacing webbing. Here are the details:

Mark your new hem line with pins, a fabric pen, or chalk.
Turn the garment inside out and fold the fabric up at the new hem line.
Place a strip of double-sided hem tape inside the folded cuff.
Iron over the fabric to melt and fuse the adhesive to the fabric.
Let the fabric cool, then gently tug at the new hem to test the tape.
Iron over any loose spots for the strongest adhesion to finish up.

Section 1 of 3:

Using Double-Sided Hem Tape

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1
Prepare the fabric or clothing that you plan to use. Mark where you would like the hem to be using pins while you are wearing the pants. Then, flip the clothing article inside out to expose the inside of the garment. Using a ruler and a marking pen, mark where the pants will be hemmed. Danilowicz adds that if you don’t have a washable pen or air-erasable pen, chalk is a good substitute.^{[1]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Mia Danilowicz is a master tailor with over a decade of experience specializing in gown couturier fittings, garment reconstruction, and custom design. She has worked at the Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes.
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Cut the item a little longer than your desired length. Remember that you will need to fold the fabric over enough to fully cover the hem tape within the fold (no tape should be sticking up over the fold).^{[2]
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Research source} The amount of fabric you need depends on the width of the tape.
- If you are only folding a small width of fabric, you may not need to cut the fabric at all. You can move on to the next step and fold your fabric for ironing.
- Double-sided hemming tape comes in various widths, usually from ¼ inch (64 mm) to 2 inches (5 cm). The most common sizes are ½ inch (1.3 cm) and 1 inch (2.5 cm).
- Important: Do not use hemming tape that is wider than the amount of fabric that will be folded over it. For example, if you’re making a hem of about ⅝ inches (1.6 cm), use tape that’s ½ inch wide or less. If the tape is too wide and shows above the fold, it will adhere to the iron and create a big mess!
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Fold the part you want to hem with the tape. With the item still inside out, fold up the leg of the pants (or the edge of a dress or curtain, depending on what you’re working with) to form a cuff with the hem line you pinned or chalked earlier sitting at the crease.^{[3]
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Research source} Double-check that the item is the length you want it to be.
- Tip: At this point, iron the folded hem to create a sturdier crease. This will help the fold stay in place while you insert the tape.
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Mia Danilowicz
Master Tailor
Mia Danilowicz is a Master Tailor who works onset and on the red carpet in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience, Mia specializes in bridal and gown couturier fittings, garment reconstruction, and custom design. Mia has worked at the Oscars, Grammys, SAG Awards, and Golden Globes. Her clients include a long list of entertainment and fashion industry headliners, major fashion magazines, luxury consumer brands, and popular media. Mia was trained at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and received her AA in Fashion Design and BS in Business Management.

Mia Danilowicz
Master Tailor

Let out thick hems before folding. If you're folding an amount that includes the existing seam allowance, the fabric might be too thick, so you might need to let out the existing seam allowance before you fold the hem up.
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Cut your adhesive tape to the length of the hem of the pants. Now, grab your double-sided hemming tape and cut a strip of tape long enough to wrap around the entire pant leg inside the hem (it’s OK to cut it slightly longer so there’s about ½ inch (1.3 cm) of overlap). Or, you can cut 2 strips that are both the width of the pant leg (one to go on each side of the leg).^{[4]
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- If you’re taping an extra-long hem, like at the bottom of a dress or curtain, it may be easier to cut several shorter strips of tape and iron them on in segments rather than handling one long and unwieldy strip of tape.
- Read the instructions that come with your tape. Some tapes may need to be soaked in water for 3-5 minutes before they’re ready to be ironed on.
- Danilowicz recommends always checking the label or doing a small test before using the tape.^{[5]
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Slide the strip of tape inside the folded hem. Wrap your tape around the pant leg and re-fold the fabric over it, or slide the tape inside the already-folded hem.^{[6]
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Research source} Make sure the tape lies flat and is not sticking out over the top edge of the folded hem.
- If the tape is significantly narrower than the fabric fold, position it so it lies close to the top edge of the fold (rather than sitting down in the crease). This keeps the edge of the fold from flapping around or coming loose.
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Press the hem tape with an iron. Check the instructions on your tape for the right temperature to use, and do not use a setting hotter than what your fabric can safely handle (check the care tag for ironing instructions). Typically, you’ll set the iron to medium or medium-high heat (about 300°F (150°C)). Then, apply firm pressure and iron over the folded fabric and tape to melt the adhesive and press it into the fabric.
- Do not slide the iron. Press one spot for about 10 seconds (no more than 1 minute, depending on the instructions), then move on to the next section.^{[7]
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- For non-cotton fabrics, Danilowicz recommends using a press cloth, like a tea towel, between the iron and your clothing item.^{[8]
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- Make sure to press along the entire hem so there are no loose, un-adhered spots.
- In most cases, a dry iron will work best (no steam).
- Note: Some double-sided tape comes with a paper backing on one side. If you have this kind, unfold the hem and iron the tape paper-side-up onto the fabric. Peel off the backing once it’s secure, then re-fold the hem over the other side of the tape. Iron again over the fabric to melt the other side of the tape.
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Wait for the fabric to cool, then test your work. After a few minutes, gently tug or pull along the edge of the hem to make sure there are no loose spots that aren’t sticking. If you find any, iron over them again with gentle pressure to make sure the tape is fully melted and sticking to the fabric. Then, try on your pants or dress to make sure the hem falls exactly where you want it.^{[9]
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Research source} Your work is done!

Section 2 of 3:

Using One-Sided Hem Tape

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1
Mark the new hem, then turn your garment inside out and fold the edge up. The setup for one-sided hem tape is very similar to using double-sided tape. First, mark where you want the new hem to be with pins, a fabric pen, or chalk. Then, turn the garment inside out and fold the old hem upward so the new hem line sits at the crease of the fold.^{[10]
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- If your fold is wide and unwieldy, you may need to trim some excess fabric with scissors before ironing on the tape.
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Cut a piece of tape and place the adhesive side down over the raw hem. Snip a strip of one-sided hemming tape that’s the same length as your hem (it’s OK if there is some overlap). Unlike double-sided tape, one-sided tape is placed outside the hem. Place the tape over the edge of the cut hem, straight and covering the entire edge, so that half of the strip bonds to the inside of the fabric and half of it bonds to the folded-over hem.^{[11]
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- The adhesive side is the side with the white woven strings. It will look shinier than the non-adhesive side.
- Read the instructions that come with your tape to check if it needs to be soaked in water before applying or not.
- Don’t worry about the tape showing when you’re done. When you flip the garment right-side-out, the tape will be hidden!
3
Press the hem tape with an iron to seal the hem. Read the directions that come with your tape and check the care label on your pants or garment to find the appropriate heat level—you’ll typically use medium or medium-high heat (about 300°F (150°C)). Use gentle pressure and press the tape in sections, holding the iron in place for about 10 seconds at a time before moving on to a new spot.
- If the material is non-cotton or delicate, place a thin cloth or tea towel between the fabric and the iron.
4
Wait for the material to cool, then test your new hem. Let the garment rest for a moment, then gently tug or pull at the tape to make sure it has bonded to the fabric all the way around. If you find any loose spots, iron them again to fully melt the adhesive. Once the tape is secure, your new hem is ready!
- If you made a mistake, take a damp press cloth and iron over the hem tape. After it has heated, peel the tape off gently. There may be residue left, so try again with fresh tape.

Section 3 of 3:

Making a Temporary Hem with Double-Sided Tape

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Use any double-sided tape to create a last-minute hem if you’re in a rush. “You could even use 3M double-sided tape,” explains Danilowicz. Then, “Fold [the hem] up inside underneath and tape it up with the double-sided tape. It’s a fast, quick way if you don’t have a sewing machine.”^{[12]
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- “The nice thing is that it’s a temporary hem,” Danilowicz continues. “You can always let the hem back down, like if you're wearing high heels and you need to have [the pants] longer because you want to cover the foot. You can still play around with the hem length if you do it in this temporary way.”^{[13]
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Tips

Be careful when using pins. Safety pins or plastic pins can be used.

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It’s recommended to iron the fold so the crease becomes more visible and easier to manage.

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Warnings

Before using any type of hem tape, check the label on your clothing. Any items that say not to iron or iron on low heat, water-repellent clothes, leather, nylon, or very thin cloth may not be suitable for iron-on hems.

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When applying the iron, it should be a quick action seal. If it takes longer than 10 seconds, check the heat and match it with the garment's label.

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It is not recommended to press with high heat as the adhesive can become loose and tangled. Use low heat or air dry.

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