17°C is a borderline case. It sits a couple of degrees above the 15°C feels-like temperature we use as the lower limit for shorts, and that margin is small enough for one grey, breezy afternoon to wipe it out completely. Whether shorts work at 17 degrees is decided by a look out of the window, not by the thermometer.
What 17 degrees feels like in different conditions
| Scenario | Air temperature | Feels-like temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny, no wind | 17°C | ~22°C |
| Sunny, 20 km/h wind | 17°C | ~18°C |
| Overcast, no wind | 17°C | ~16°C |
| Overcast, 20 km/h wind | 17°C | ~13°C |
| Overcast, 35 km/h wind | 17°C | ~10°C |
| Rain, 15 km/h wind | 17°C | ~12°C |
Three of the six rows stay above 15°C, and they have one thing in common: sun, or at least no wind. As soon as it's cloudy and there's more than a light breeze, you drop below the line.
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With sun: go for it
A sunny, calm day at 17°C feels like well over 20 degrees. Sitting on a sheltered terrace or out for a walk, that's fine shorts weather, even for people who feel the cold. In April and May, when your body is still set to winter, a day like that can feel surprisingly summery.
Overcast: check the wind
Under a grey sky with no wind you hover around 16°C. That's just enough, but there's no margin left. From about Beaufort 3 (12 to 19 km/h) bare legs cool down noticeably and you end up at 13°C or lower. Long trousers are the better choice then, especially if you're sitting still or getting on a bike.
17 degrees is also an evening temperature
On a summer day of 23 or 24 degrees, it's often still 17°C at nine in the evening. That feels very different from a 17°C afternoon in May: the sun has gone, but pavements and walls are still giving off heat and your body has spent all day in the warmth. You'll usually keep the shorts on, but after an hour of sitting outside you'll start to feel it. A cardigan or light trousers in your bag solves that.
What about 16 degrees?
At 16°C it gets tighter still. Without sun you quickly land at or below a 15°C feels-like, and at that point the check on our homepage says no as well. With full sun and little wind it's still doable, but expect to feel cold the moment a cloud drifts over.
Conclusion
Shorts at 17 degrees are fine as long as the sun is out or the wind is light. Overcast and windy, or rain, and 17°C is too cool for bare legs. If you're unsure, look at the feels-like temperature rather than the bare number.
Learn more
Read next
Can I wear shorts at 18 degrees? Yes, if it's sunny
18°C (64°F) is shorts weather when the sun is out: it feels like 23°C. Overcast and windy it feels like 14°C and trousers are the better call.
Can I wear shorts at 15 degrees? Only in the sun
15°C (59°F) is the tipping point. In sun with no wind it feels like 20°C and shorts are fine; overcast and windy it feels like 11°C.
Can I wear shorts at 19 degrees? Sun and wind decide
At 19°C (66°F) sun and wind decide: it can feel like 25°C or 12°C. Sunny or calm means shorts; overcast and windy means trousers.
Can I wear shorts at 20 degrees? Usually, yes
Yes, 20°C (68°F) is usually shorts weather. Only overcast skies with wind or rain drop the feels-like to 13–16°C. When to think twice.
Why 15 degrees sometimes feels warm and sometimes cold
15°C in April after a cold winter feels like liberation. The same temperature in September feels like summer is over. Both reactions make complete sense.