Looking for the best plus-size leggings that work with your busy life? Our fashion experts found the 10 best pairs for working out and working. These leggings from Amazon, Athleta, and other trusted brands have pockets, aren’t see-through, stay up, and don’t chafe.

Plus, they won't cause chafing.

In This Article

In This Article

To cut the B.S., we’re just gonna say it: Finding good plus-size activewear brands is one of the most challenging tasks imaginable. (Well, this, and finding plus-size lingerie that doesn’t try and cover up your entire body.) So, our style and wellness experts came together to find the best plus-size leggings to save you about a million hours of research.  

“You want comfort, breathability, and compression so you feel like you’re getting a nice hug,” says Debra Polanco, cofounder of the clothing brand Sanctuary. They should mold or stretch to fit your body—whether you’re apple-shaped, pear-shaped, or straight up and down—to avoid chafing, infections, and overall discomfort. So, how do you know the best pair for any occasion? We spoke with fashion experts and legging aficionados to get their picks, all of which can be worn from the dentist’s office to the dance floor. Read on below to find your new favorite pair.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Athleta Salutation Stash Tight at Athleta Jump to Review Best Budget: Leggings Depot High Waisted Leggings at Amazon $14 Jump to Review Best Black: Vitality Cloud II Pant at Amazon $92 Jump to Review Best on Amazon: THE GYM PEOPLE Thick High-Waisted Yoga Pants at Amazon $25 Jump to Review Best for Gym: Wild Fable High-Waisted ButterBliss Flare Leggings at Target $22 Jump to Review Best Cotton : SALE Just My Size Plus-Size Legging at Amazon $30 $20 Jump to Review Best Flared: SuperFit Hero Pocket Flare Leggings at Superfithero.com Jump to Review Best for Working Out: Shapermint Tummy Control Leggings at Amazon $35 Jump to Review Best Shaping: Popflex Crisscross Hourglass Leggings at Popflexactive.com Jump to Review Best Faux Leather: SALE Ginasy Faux Leather High-Waisted Legging at Amazon $50 $40 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Athleta Salutation Stash Tight

View on Athleta

Why We Love It: Similar to high-waisted jeans, a set of high-waisted leggings keeps everything secure, whether you’re dancing, stretching, or just lounging on the couch. Athleta’s Salutation Stash Tight is a well-loved favorite of in-the-know shoppers. Jessie Diaz-Herrera, a plus-sized fitness instructor and dancer says she can wear them all day without feeling like “it’s too much.” 

Who It’s For: This versatile pant is built to thrive in every scenario, from yoga to school drop-off. Shoppers have their choice between three lengths and sizing categories (regular, petite, and tall) to ensure a proper fit. So, basically, it would be difficult not to find a perfect match.

Size: XXS–3X in regular; XXS–L in petite; and XS–XL in tall | Length: Capri, 7/8, and full | Colors: 10

Best Budget

Leggings Depot High Waisted Leggings

$14 at Amazon

Why We Love It: If you’re looking for a no-frills pair of budget plus-size leggings, these soft, stretchy bottoms will do the trick. Made from a blend of polyester and spandex, they’re ideal for working out or lounging about. 

Who It’s For: These might not last you the next 10 years, but if you’re looking for a replacement pair that’ll get to you fast, these get the job done. They tend to be a little sheer, so pair them with a cardigan to ensure full coverage.

Size: S–5X | Available Length: Capri, full | Colors: 39

Best Black

Vitality Cloud II Pant

$92 at Amazon View on Shopvitality.com

Why We Love It: What makes Vitality’s Cloud II pants stand apart in a sea of other black leggings? Its four-way stretch fit, its flattering rear seam, and its marshmallow-soft fabric. Plus, these pants come without awkward front seam stitches.

Who It’s For: These squat-proof leggings are sweat-wicking and antimicrobial, so you’ll want to wear them for your next hard sesh at the gym. Keep in mind they’re mid-weight, so they might get a little toasty during cardio stints.

Size: XS–4XL | Available Length: Regular, short, and long | Colors: 19

Best on Amazon

THE GYM PEOPLE Thick High-Waisted Yoga Pants

$25 $23 at Amazon View on Thegympeople.com

Why We Love It: The best plus-size leggings on Amazon are undoubtedly these from The Gym People. They come in a wide range of colors and have a pocket big enough to fit most cell phones, which is always a nice perk.

Who It’s For: Anyone whose cold-weather wardrobe consists of boots and leggings should opt for this pair. They’re shaping, high-waisted, and come with a coveted set of side pockets on each leg.

Size: XS–3X | Available Length: Full | Colors: 26

Best for Gym

Wild Fable High-Waisted ButterBliss Flare Leggings

$22 at Target

Why We Love It: Sometimes finding a quality pair of flared leggings for the gym is tricky. You don’t want something that’ll get caught in equipment, and you need something that’ll keep you feeling good throughout your many movements. We love that these flare leggings fall just right on all sizes. The fabric is soft and stretchy for added comfortability, plus they pass the squat test. Go with black if you want to conceal sweat, or be bold with the emerald or navy colors. 

Who It’s For: If you’ve been sitting on adding a pair of flare leggings to your collection, these are a great low-stakes buy. The under-$25 price tag and versatility of the style make them perfect for gym time and even office time (throw on an oversized blazer and nobody will know you’re secretly wearing activewear). 

Size: XXS–4X | Available Length: Full-length | Colors: 3

Best Cotton

Just My Size Plus-Size Legging

$30 $20 at Amazon $16 at Walmart View on Onehanesplace.com

Why We Love It: Produced by the brand responsible for some of our favorite cotton undies, these Hanes leggings come with a comfortable, wide waistband that keeps the top of the leggings in place, while flatlock seams keep chafing at bay. The ankle-length cut is flattering and cute, especially when paired with some cute work sneakers.

Who It’s For: A huge gripe with most leggings is their lack of breathability, but these are airy and cooling. They’re almost entirely made of jersey, so you’ll get a nice break from the typical nylon and spandex feeling of most athleisure. 

Size: 3X | Available Length: Ankle | Colors: 1

Best Flared

SuperFit Hero Pocket Flare Leggings

View on Superfithero.com

Why We Love It: We adore flared leggings and these are among our favorites. They have superb full coverage during squats, lunges, stretches, and any other form of movement. The thick sweat-wicking fabric conceals any moisture and signs of wear. Plus, they’re odor-resistant and hold up in the washer. Compared to other plus-size leggings we’ve tried, this one was much more dense, but it still felt soft. The waistband hugged our bellies, while the fabric also supported our thighs. 

Who It’s For: Low-intensity workouts, errand-running, and lounging are ideal activities for these leggings. FYI: Anyone taller than 5-foot-4 might find the hem to be a little too short.

Size: L–7X | Available Length: Ankle | Colors: 2

Best for Working Out

Shapermint Tummy Control Leggings

$35 at Amazon View on Shapermint.com

Why We Love It: You’ll get all the benefits of plus-size shapewear combined with all the comfort of leggings when you buy these Shapermint leggings. The tummy control panel is designed to make wearers look snatched (and it also helps the waistband stay firmly in place during movement).

Who It’s For: If you’re the type of person who likes your clothes to fill more than one role, consider these plus-size leggings. The pants offer a great general level of compression as well, which makes them great travel pants for long flights, car rides, or just whenever you might want to keep swelling at bay.

Size: S–4X | Available Length: Ankle | Colors: 6

Best Shaping

Popflex Crisscross Hourglass Leggings

View on Popflexactive.com

Why We Love It: These leggings went viral in the past for their fit and booty-enhancing seams. We see why—the pants’ ultrahigh X-style waist pulls the wearers’ midsection in while accentuating their hips and butt. Popflex offers a somewhat custom fit by allowing shoppers to not only choose their desired size and color but also their preferred inseam length.

Who It’s For: Trying to give yourself a Kim Kardashian Booty or a Megan Thee Stallion shape? Popflex’s Crisscross Hourglass Leggings could help. The fit is extremely high-waisted creating extra coverage for curves and a snatched effect.

Size: XXS–3X | Available Length: 23, 25, 27, 29, and 31 inches | Colors: 11

Best Faux Leather

Ginasy Faux Leather High-Waisted Legging

$50 $40 at Amazon

Why We Love It: These faux leather leggings are fab for those moments when you need to dress up but crave comfort. The tummy control waistband, thin fleece lining, and stretchy fabric are all impressive features.

Who It’s For: Always loved Sandy’s sleek and sexy look at the end of Grease? Consider picking up a pair of Ginasy’s leggings, which will help you embrace your inner Pink Lady. The faux leather look is an easy way to elevate a winter outfit. Plus, these offer a high-waisted silhouette that is both slimming and stretchy. 

Size: XS-4X | Available Length: Ankle | Colors: 4

What to Keep in Mind

• Fabric: When looking for leggings, think about the fabric’s stretch. Zara Terez Tisch, the founder of the clothing company Terez, says that for her company, fabric is of the utmost importance not just because they want to pick out stuff that looks cute, but because “you want your fabric to have the qualities that bring ease to the fact that you chose to wear leggings.” Some fabrics have more give than others, so choosing something with a four-way stretch is always a good idea.
• Durability: It’s also important to think about a piece of fabric’s recovery time. Polanco says it’s important to not just think about how a pair of leggings look the first time it goes on but to test or consider how it’ll last over time. No one wants a baggy bottom or a stretched-out waistband—especially on a pair of leggings.
• Fit: When thinking about the best plus-size leggings to buy, consider your body first and foremost. What size are you? What shape? Is your torso long, or do you have legs for days? Unlike a lot of other pants, leggings often come in a wide range of cuts, lengths, and fits, meaning you’ll hopefully be able to get a pair that really fits how you’d like. If you’re on the shorter side, that means opting for either a crop or 7/8 length, which 5-foot-1-inch tall Diaz-Herrera says works like a full-length pant for her. “I want to make sure my leggings don’t bunch at the bottom,” she says, adding that as someone with an “apple shape,” she’s also always looking for a thicker waistband. “Someone with a pear shape wouldn’t have as much of a problem holding up leggings, but for someone my size, thinking about that can be useful,” she says.
• Function: Are your new leggings for lazy Sundays on the couch or are they for your upcoming months of marathon training? Know what you’re buying for and purchase accordingly. “More compressive leggings are better for runners because they’ll hold up during a long run and typically they won’t slide down as much,” says Laura Berens, founder and CEO of Love and Fit. “Stretchier leggings are great for casual outings or yoga.” Regardless of your compression level, Berens says buyers should always look for “great reinforced stitching on the pockets and seams, moisture-wicking fabric, and something that is easy for you to wash and dry.”

Your Questions, Answered

How often should I wash my leggings? 

That depends on what you’re wearing them for. If you wore your favorite pair to the gym, then you’re going to want to wash them shortly thereafter, even if they’re not that stinky. Since they fit so close to the body, they often absorb germs and bits of sweat and skin, so it’s always worth giving them a spin in the washer. 

If you’re just wearing leggings on a plane, though, you might be good to wear them again, provided they didn’t get stained or soaked. That’s helpful for packing too: You can get twice as much wear out of the same pair of pants, saving you precious suitcase space. 

When you wash your leggings, Berens says that hang drying will increase longevity, though you could also tumble dry them on low. Most importantly, “make sure you are not washing them with Velcro, jeans, or anything that would snag them,” she says

What’s the difference between capri, 7/8, and full lengths, and when would I want to wear each one? 

That’s entirely based on personal preference. While height is a factor if you’re looking for full-coverage, some people just like capris when they’re sweating it out at the gym while others like their entire leg to be covered up.

Why Shop With Us

Marah Eakin is a longtime writer and editor who is passionate about all things beauty and fashion and owns way, way, way too many eyeshadow palettes. Marah lives in Los Angeles with her husband and twin toddlers.

The following experts spoke with InStyle for this story:

• Jessie Diaz-Herrera is a plus-sized fitness instructor and dancer. 
• Zara Terez Tisch is the founder of the clothing company Terez.
• Debra Polanco is the cofounder of the clothing company Sanctuary.
• Laura Berens is the founder and CEO of Love and Fit.

• Fashion
• Clothing