Sewing a button back on a suit jacket takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs almost nothing
A suit jacket button comes loose because the thread holding it has worn through or snapped. You can reattach it yourself with a needle, thread that matches your jacket, and a button — either the original or a replacement. The job is straightforward if you work slowly and keep tension even so you do not pull the fabric out of shape. Most people find it easier than they expect.
The main risk is sewing too tightly and puckering the fabric around the button, or sewing through the facing (the inner layer of fabric) and creating a visible lump on the inside of the jacket. Both are avoidable if you use a toothpick as a spacer and stop before the thread gets tight.
Key Takeaways
- Use thread that matches your jacket color, and choose a needle small enough to pass through the button holes without forcing.
- Place a toothpick under the button while you sew so the thread does not pull the fabric too tight.
- Sew through the button and the jacket fabric only — not through the facing on the inside — by feeling where the needle emerges before pushing it back through.
- Wrap the thread around the base of the button three times after removing the toothpick, then tie off on the inside of the jacket.
What you need before you start
Gather a needle, thread, scissors, and the button. The needle should be small enough that you do not have to force it through the button holes — a size 7 or 8 works for most suit jackets. Thread should match your jacket as closely as possible; if you cannot find an exact match, choose one shade darker rather than lighter, because it will show less.
If you have the original button, use it. If not, check the inside of the jacket for a spare button sewn to the facing or tucked into a seam — most suit jackets come with one or two extras. If there is no spare, take the jacket and a button from a less visible location (like a cuff) to a fabric store and match the size and color as closely as you can.
A toothpick is optional but makes the job easier. It sits under the button while you sew and prevents you from pulling the thread too tight, which is the most common mistake.
How to position the button and start sewing
Lay the jacket flat on a table with the button hole facing up. Hold the button in place over the hole with one hand. With your other hand, thread the needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread — a single knot is enough.
Push the needle up through one hole in the button from underneath the jacket fabric. Pull the thread until the knot catches on the underside of the fabric. Place the toothpick across the top of the button, laying it in the gap between the two holes (or across all four holes if the button has four). This spacer keeps the thread from cinching the button down too tight.
Push the needle down through the other hole in the button, then through the jacket fabric. You should feel the needle emerge on the inside of the jacket. Before you pull the thread all the way through, check that you have not caught the facing — if the needle came out in a spot where you can see it from the inside, you are sewing through the right layer.
Sewing the button with even tension
Repeat the motion: up through one hole, across the toothpick, down through the other hole, and back through the jacket. Do this six to eight times. Keep the tension even — do not yank the thread, and do not leave it so loose that it flops. The thread should be snug enough that the button does not wiggle, but loose enough that you can slip a fingernail under it.
If you feel the fabric starting to bunch or pucker around the button, you are pulling too hard. Loosen your grip and let the thread sit a little easier. The toothpick does most of the work of keeping the button from cinching; you just need to maintain steady, moderate pressure.
After six to eight passes, push the needle to the inside of the jacket one last time. Remove the toothpick from the top of the button.
Finishing the thread and securing the button
On the inside of the jacket, wrap the thread around the base of the button three times. This creates a small shank — a thread bridge between the button and the fabric — that gives the button room to move slightly when you button and unbutton the jacket. Buttons without a shank tend to break sooner because the thread bears all the stress.
After wrapping three times, push the needle through the fabric near the base of the button, but do not go all the way through to the outside. Instead, bring it back out a quarter-inch away, creating a small loop. Push the needle through that loop and pull tight. This is a standard knot that will not slip.
Trim the thread close to the knot with scissors. The button is now find and should last as long as the original did.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common error is sewing too tightly, which puckers the fabric and makes the button sit at an odd angle. The toothpick prevents this, but only if you remember to use it. If you skip it, the button will look wrong even if it is sewn on solidly.
The second mistake is sewing through the facing on the inside of the jacket. This creates a visible lump and can damage the facing over time. You can feel this happening — the needle will come out in a spot where you can see it from the inside, or the fabric will feel thicker than it should. If this happens, cut the thread, remove the button, and start over, being more careful to sew only through the outer fabric.
A third mistake is tying the knot on the outside of the jacket instead of the inside. Always tie off on the inside, where it will not show and will not catch on clothing.
When to replace the button instead of repairing it
If the button itself is cracked, chipped, or discolored, sewing it back on will not fix those problems. In that case, replace it with a new one that matches as closely as possible. If you cannot find a match and the button is in a visible location, consider replacing all the buttons on the jacket with a new set that coordinates with the fabric. This is more expensive than a single repair, but it looks intentional rather than patched.
If the buttonhole is torn or enlarged, the button will not stay in place no matter how well you sew it. A tailor can repair a torn buttonhole by reinforcing it with thread or replacing the entire buttonhole. This costs more than sewing on a button but less than replacing the jacket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sew a button on a suit jacket by hand, or do I need a sewing machine?
Hand sewing is the standard method for suit jackets and gives you better control over tension and placement. A sewing machine can work, but it is harder to avoid puckering the fabric, and most people find hand sewing faster for a single button.
What if the button has four holes instead of two?
Sew through the same two holes each time — either the top two or the bottom two, or diagonally opposite holes. Do not alternate between all four holes, because that creates an X pattern that looks messy and spreads the stress unevenly. Six to eight passes through the same pair of holes is enough.
How do I know if I am sewing through the facing?
Feel where the needle emerges on the inside of the jacket. If you can see the needle tip poking through the facing, or if the fabric feels thick and stiff in that spot, you are sewing through the wrong layer. Remove the button and start over, aiming for a spot where the needle comes out in the softer, looser fabric underneath the facing.
Can I use any thread, or does it have to be special?
Regular sewing thread works fine. Buttonhole thread is thicker and more durable, so it lasts longer, but it is not required. Match the color to your jacket, and use a single strand — do not double it up, because that makes the thread too thick to pass easily through the button holes.
How long does a sewn-on button usually last?
A button sewn with even tension and a proper shank typically lasts as long as the original — usually several years of regular use. If the thread breaks again within a few months, the button is probably being stressed by a tight buttonhole or by the way you button and unbutton the jacket. A tailor can widen the buttonhole slightly to reduce the stress.