---
title: "This is why sailors have 13 buttons on their trousers"
description: "An old sailor's tale is that the buttons represent the 13 original colonies. In the early 1800s, the iconic trouser's front flap had 15."
date: "2021-12-12"
modified: "2023-02-09"
authors:
  - name: "Tim Kirkpatrick"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/tkirkpatrick/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/this-is-why-sailors-have-13-buttons-on-their-trousers/"
categories:
  - "History"
  - "Navy"
---

# This is why sailors have 13 buttons on their trousers

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17314080/origin.png>)

An old sailor's tale is that the buttons represent the [13 original colonies.](<https://www.history.com/topics/thirteen-colonies>) In the early 1800s, the iconic trouser's front flap (crotch area) or "[broadfall](<https://www.uniforms-4u.com/a-crackerjack-navy-enlisted-dress-uniform-38.aspx>)" had 15 buttons before it was modified 90-years later to have just seven, allowing the manufacturer to reduce the amount of material. At least, that's what Navy recruits tell each other during basic training — but that wasn't the real intention.

In the early 1800s, the iconic trouser's front flap (crotch area) or "[broadfall](<https://www.uniforms-4u.com/a-crackerjack-navy-enlisted-dress-uniform-38.aspx>)" had 15 buttons before it was modified 90-years later to have just seven, allowing the manufacturer to reduce the amount of material.

![sailors buttons on trousers](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/23526966/origin.png>)
*These sailors have 13 buttons on their trousers. (U.S. Navy photo)*

Reportedly years later, the broadfall was enlarged for various reasons including that many sailors didn't have enough room down there, so the Navy listened and added the extra material and six buttons.

Pro tip: [Many sailors have their trousers tailored](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-life/9-reasons-you-should-have-joined-the-navy/>) to remove all the buttons and replace them with Velcro strips to grant easier access to the goods. They then resew the buttons to the outside flap, with uniform inspectors being none-the-wiser.

## Author
Tim Kirkpatrick entered the Navy in 2007 as a Hospital Corpsman and deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in the fall of 2010. Tim now has degrees in both Film Production and Screenwriting. tim.kirkpatrick@wearethemighty.com