$20.00delivered
The lowest delivered 505 here, $20 with free shipping, a faded Y2K 32x32 the title calls distressed. Check the photos for how far the distressing goes.
Vintage Y2K Levi’s 505 Jeans 32x32 Blue Denim Straight Leg Faded Distress
Levi's · 505 · 1967–present
Levi's 505
The 505 arrived in 1967 as Levi's pre-shrunk zip-fly jean, and Levi's renumbered its denim jacket 70505 the same year so the two would match. Levi's own history ties the 505 to the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers cover, the Ramones' first album and Debbie Harry. When the company rebuilt it as the 505C in 2016, its designers started from a deadstock 1976 pair they talked a Japanese collector into selling. Japanese dealers call it a collector's headache, because zips, stitching and tabs changed at different times and transitional pairs mix them. The broad split is simple enough. Big E pairs from 1967–1971 are the vintage ones, and a few have selvedge outseams. Small e pairs from the 1970s and 80s with a Talon zip are the ones people wear. Buy a US-made small e pair to wear, and save a Big E for when you want a collector piece.
Big E 505 (1967–1971)Small e 505 (1971 on)
Spec at a glance
- Brand
- Levi's
- Model
- 505
- Family
- 505 jeans
- Garment
- Jeans
- Cut
- Straight leg
- Years made
- 1967–present
- Decade
- 1970s
- Closure
- Zip fly
- Good for
- Dressing a decade
- Typical eBay ask (Oct 11, 2026)
- $35–$65
Date it from the photos
Reading a 505 listing
- Tab
- LEVI'S with a capital E dates a 505 to 1967–1971. A small e (Levi's) means 1971 or later.
- Zipper
- Ask for the back of the zip pull. Dealers find Talon 42 zips on 505s from the 1960s into the 1980s, and some tie Gripper and Conmar zips to 1960s pairs.
- Back pocket stitching
- Look inside a back pocket at the hem. Single-needle stitching points to the 1970s or earlier, and a chain stitch to the late 1970s or 80s on.
- Care tag
- No care label at all fits a pre-1971 pair. Levi's added care labels in the 1970s.
- Selvedge
- Most 505s have a plain overlocked outseam. A Big E pair with selvedge showing at the outseam is the rare early one.
Reissues and repros
Levi's Vintage Clothing makes a 1967 505 reissue in Japan with a paper patch, Big E tab, Talon zip and selvedge outseam, and Levi's revived the cut as the 505C in 2016. Levi's brought the Big E tab back on premium products in 2018 too, so check the inside for modern care and size tags, which no 1960s original has.
If you’ll wear it
A small e 505 from the 1970s or 80s with a Talon zip gives you the period look in denim that won't shrink much more.
If you’ll collect it
Big E 505s from 1967–1971 are the collector pairs, and the rare one with selvedge at the outseam tops the list.
Size it by measurement
The 505 was cut from pre-shrunk denim, so it doesn't shrink the way an old 501 does, and a washed pair usually sits near its tag. Decades of wear and dryers still move it, so ask for the waist measured flat across the top of the band and doubled, plus the inseam, front rise and leg opening. Levi's describes it as close to a 501 with a little more room.
New to measuring old denim? Our measuring guide shows where to put the tape.
What to check
Measurements first, then the details
Old 505s wear at the crotch, knees and back hems, and the zip is the usual replacement. A new zip or a crotch repair is fine on a pair you'll wear, but it takes the shine off a Big E collector pair.
- 01Waist: Ask for the waist measured flat across the top of the band, then double it. Pre-shrunk 505s usually measure close to the tag.
- 02Inseam: Ask for the inseam from the crotch seam to the hem. Check the hem in the photos for signs it's been shortened.
- 03Rise and leg opening: Ask for the front rise and the leg opening laid flat. Compare them with a pair you own that fits.
- 04Tab: Zoom in on the red tab. A capital E means 1967–1971, and a small e means 1971 or later.
- 05Zipper: Ask for a photo of the back of the zip pull. A Talon 42 fits a pair from the 1960s to the 80s.
- 06Back pocket: Ask for the inside of a back pocket hem. Single-needle stitching fits the 1970s or earlier.
- 07Inside labels: Check the inside tags and the made-in line in the photos. US-made pairs stop when Levi's closed its last American plant in 2003.
- 08Condition: Ask for close photos of the crotch, knees and hems. Small tidy repairs are fine for wearing.
Buying guide
Which one to buy
§ Oct 11, 2026For a 505 to wear, we'd take the 1980 orange tab made in USA that the seller says fits 30x29 (tagged 31x30), at $58 delivered. There are at least 231 for sale, all from US sellers in our sample, and most ask $35–65 delivered. Y2K pairs start at $20, and USA-made pairs mostly ask $40–70. The 505 was cut from pre-shrunk denim, so a washed pair usually sits near its tag, but still check the waist measured flat and doubled, the rise and the leg opening in the photos. To date one, zoom in on the tab and ask for the back of the zip pull, since a Talon 42 fits a pair from the 1960s into the 80s. eBay's search cards don't show seller feedback for these, so check it on the item page, and skip the $176 1980s orange tab, nearly four times the band median.
- Listed now
- 231
- For parts
- 0
- Typical ask
- $35–$65
- Full range
- $15–$169
Cheapest 
Best value $58.13est. delivered
Titled 1980 orange tab and made in USA, with a fit of 30x29 against the 31x30 tag. Ask for the back of the zip pull, since a Talon 42 fits a pair from that era.
Vintage 1980 Men’s Levi’s 505 Orange Tab Jeans Made USA Denim 31x30 (Fits 30x29)
Best for beginners $54.53est. delivered
A red tab 505-0217 in dark wash, titled made in USA with a 532 button, in a common W34 L30 at mid-band. Ask for the front rise and leg opening laid flat.
Vintage Levi’s 505 0217 Jeans USA Made W34 L30 Dark Wash Red Tab Button 532
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
For sale on eBay
8 of 231 listedChecked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
- Used
- Cheapest
Vintage Y2K Levi’s 505 Jeans 32x32 Blue Denim Straight Leg Faded Distress
$20.00delivered
$20.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$20.00
Good buy
Y2K, 32x32, distressed. Cheapest here, ships free.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
- Used
- Best value
Vintage 1980 Men’s Levi’s 505 Orange Tab Jeans Made USA Denim 31x30 (Fits 30x29)
$58.13est. delivered
$50.00 + $8.13 shipping
Buy It Now$50.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 1980 orange tab, fits 30x29 (tag 31x30).
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
- Used
- Best for beginners
Vintage Levi’s 505 0217 Jeans USA Made W34 L30 Dark Wash Red Tab Button 532
$54.53est. delivered
$48.50 + $6.03 shipping
Buy It Now$48.50
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
505-0217 red tab, made in USA, 532 button, W34 L30.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
UsedVintage 90s Levi's 505 Red Tab Jeans Made USA 34 Straight Leg Raw Hem Denim
$42.70est. delivered
$32.00 + $10.70 shipping
Buy It Now$32.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 90s red tab, made in USA, raw hem. Waist 34 only.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
UsedLevi's Mens Appx. 34x30 Jeans 505 Blue Orange Tab Made In USA Irregular 90s VTG
$46.84est. delivered
$39.75 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$39.75
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 90s orange tab, made in USA, irregular. Ask what the flaw is.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
UsedVintage Levi’s 505 Men’s Jeans Black Size 34x30 - Made In USA 🗽 - Straight Leg
$49.79est. delivered
$40.00 + $9.79 shipping
Buy It Now$40.00
Our take
Black, made in USA, 34x30.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
UsedVintage 70s Levi's 505 Jeans Men's 36x34 Orange Tab Made in USA Blue Denim
$51.03est. delivered
$45.00 + $6.03 shipping
Buy It Now$45.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 70s orange tab, made in USA, 36x34.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used- Priced high
Levi’s 505 Orange Tab Jeans 32 X 31 Straight USA Vintage 1980s
$176.09est. delivered
$169.00 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$169.00
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled 1980s orange tab, 32x31. Nearly four times the band median.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
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