The 12 Best Tights You Can Buy Online

Best Overall

Calzedonia 50 Denier Total Comfort Soft Touch Tights

View on Calzedonia.com

Calzedonia features hosiery in a range of fun finishes and patterns, but we love these simple tights most for a classic closet staple. The 50 denier density offers coverage while allowing some skin to peek through for a stylish, semi-opaque look. The microfiber blend also feels super soft to the touch, and the stretchy waistband keeps the tights comfortable and snug on the body. Plus, these tights are machine washable, so you don’t need to go through the trouble of hand washing them. 

When it comes to color range, these tights are available in 16 different colors, including a versatile black. One minor drawback is that the vast color range mostly leans neutral or muted. If you love a splash of color, your options are limited to a few jewel tones, such as burgundy and mustard. 

Size Range: XS-XL | Materials: 90% polyamide, 8% elastane, and 2% cotton | Color options: 16 | Denier: 50 | Care: Machine wash cold

Best Budget

No Nonsense Super-Opaque Tights

$15 at Amazon $8 at Riteaid.com

These No Nonsense tights are incredibly budget-friendly, with each style coming in a pack of two to give you bang for your buck. They’re available in various color combinations, including pairings with black, gray, brown, and blue. True to their “super opaque” name, they tout a density of 90 deniers for complete coverage and extra durability. Because their design is thicker, they also offer more warmth in cold weather. 

In terms of shapewear details, these tights feature a pull-on control top with a mid-rise waistband. It is worth noting, however, that these tights can run a little small, especially around the control top area. Depending on your proportions, they may feel more snug around the hips and tummy than you’d like. 

Size Range: S-2XL | Materials: 81% nylon and 19% spandex panty and 89% nylon and 11% spandex leg | Color options: 8 | Denier: 90 | Care: Hand wash only

Best Sheer

HUE Sheer Tights

View on Hue.com $14 at Macy's

We can’t create a roundup of the best tights without including at least one pair from HUE, which has made its name as a leading brand in hosiery over the last four decades. With a 30 denier density, these tights are extra sheer for a translucent finish that’s easy to layer with different pieces in your wardrobe. Although they’re relatively inexpensive, they feature high-quality details, such as a supportive control top and 18 points of compression for a just-right fit. Plus, they have a comfortable elastic waistband that prevents them from rolling down. 

These sheer tights come in four basic colors, including a classic black. While their color range is fair, their size availability is a bit more limited, spanning from 1 to 3 in HUE’s sizing system. This is equivalent to a range between sizes XS to L, or between 4’11” to 6’0” in height and 100 to 200 pounds in weight. 

Size Range: XS-L | Materials: 81% nylon and 19% spandex | Color options: 4 | Denier: 30 | Care: Hand wash only

Best Opaque Tights

Commando Ultimate Opaque Matte Tights

$42 at Zappos View on Wearcommando.com View on Bergdorfgoodman.com

Commando, one of Osemwenkhae’s top brands for tights, features a range of beautiful opaque tights. For full coverage, the Ultimate Opaque Matte Tights is our go-to pick. Their finish is extra matte, which makes them perfect as a bold and sleek layering piece. Besides looking stylish, they feel buttery soft, thanks to their luxurious microfiber blend. We also love that the patented raw-cut waistband that doesn’t dig into the hips. 

Do keep in mind that Commando has a limited color selection overall. Beyond this product, there are only neutral, black, and white options throughout all of its hosiery collection. This particular pair only comes in black, so it may not be for you if you want more color choices. 

Size Range: S-XL | Materials: 90% nylon and 10% elastane (with a 72% nylon and 28% elastane waistband) | Color options: 1 | Denier: 70 | Care: Hand wash only

Best Durable Tights

Sheertex Classic Sheer Rip-Resist Tights

$35 at Amazon View on Sheertex.com $39 at QVC

While the Sheertex Classic Sheer Rip-Resist Tights can cost a pretty penny, they’re worth the investment if you want a high-quality pair of tights that won’t snag or run. Sheertex uses miniaturized versions of fibers found in sailing and climbing equipment, designing its tights to be 10 times more durable than traditional tights. Strong and soft, these Sheertex tights are specifically made up of 48 percent nylon, 35 percent polyethylene, and 17 percent spandex. Fabrication aside, they also have a reinforced toe design, so your toes won’t cut through the material. 

Sheertex is so confident in its technology that it even has a 90-day guarantee—if your tights are damaged within 90 days, you can have them replaced for free. Besides being durable, these tights feature a comfortable mid-rise waist with a light compression waistband. Plus, they’re machine washable, which makes them easy to clean. In terms of color options, the Classic Sheer Rip-Resist Tights come in black, but you can also browse Sheertex’s website for other colors in the Classic line. 

Size Range: XS-3XL | Materials: 48% nylon, 35% polyethylene, and 17% spandex | Color options: 1 | Denier: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold with like colors in wash bag

Best Black Tights

Hanes Premium Women's Perfect Blackout Tights

$12 at Target

Classic black tights are a closet essential, and our go-to pair is the Hanes Premium Women’s Perfect Blackout Tights. True to their name, they’re extra opaque for a pitch-black look, featuring 100 deniers to give you complete coverage. For a flattering fit, the control top design also sculpts the thigh and hip areas. While they include shaping benefits, the tights are designed to be stretchy and flexible around the waist, offering comfort and ease of movement. 

The cherry on top is that these tights are affordable, so you can pick up a few pairs for your closet rotation. Just keep in mind that these tights are considerably thick due to their high denier. As such, they’re better suited for the colder parts of the year and may not feel very breathable in hot weather. 

Size Range: S-XL | Materials: 72% nylon and 28% spandex | Color options: 1 | Denier: 100 | Care: Hand wash only

Best Designer Tights

Wolford Velvet de Luxe 50 Tights

$55 at Nordstrom $55 at Zappos View on Wolford.com

Wolford has been a mainstay brand in designer legwear, lingerie, and bodywear, and The Velvet de Luxe 50 Tights definitely live up to the hype around Wolford’s iconic name. Available in three shades, they flaunt a luxurious matte finish and tout a stylish semi-sheer look. Besides looking high-end, they’re also comfortable and stretchy. Best of all, they’re conveniently machine washable, so you don’t have to hand wash them. 

One thing that is notable is that the size range, which goes from XS to XL, runs a bit small. Per Wolford’s sizing guide, the XS to XL range includes bodies between 4’11” and 6’3” in height and 99 to 198 pounds in weight—for many other hosiery brands, the XL size typically encompasses weights over 200 pounds. 

Size Range: XS-XL | Materials: 89% nylon and 11% elastane | Color options: 3 | Denier: 50 | Care: Machine wash cold

Best Shaping

Spanx Tight-End Tights

$28 at Amazon $28 at Nordstrom View on Spanx

If you want your tights to offer a sculpted look beneath a dress or skirt, you can’t go wrong with these tights from SPANX, which give support with firm compression. The cheeky product name promises a “tight end,” but its built-in mid-thigh shaper also sculpts the stomach and thighs along with the rear. For a seamless look, these tights also feature an open cotton gusset to eliminate a visible panty line. 

Although the Tight-End tights contour your body, they’re made of soft, premium yarns and feature a non-digging waistband for a comfortable fit. One minor drawback with the Tight-End Tights is that they only come in three dark colors. Between different retailers, the most commonly available option is a matte black, although there are also charcoal and navy iterations of this style. 

Size Range: A-E (4’10”-6’0” in height and 95-265 pounds in weight) | Materials: 83% nylon and 17% elastane, plus a cotton gusset | Color options: 3 | Denier: 60 | Care: Hand wash warm 

Best Drugstore

L’eggs Women’s Sheer Energy Control Top Sheer Tights

$10 at Amazon $8 at Target $8 at Walgreens

Widely available through drugstore retailers, the affordable Sheer Energy tights from L’eggs come in a stylish semi-opaque finish with 30 deniers. Their low density allows skin to show through and offers breathability on warm days. When it comes to their shaping benefits, they feature a control top that smooths the abdomen area for a sculpted style. The 360-compression design also tones and supports your legs—the idea is that they help “micro-massage” tired legs. 

The available size range is typical for tights, spanning from small to extra large, or A-Q+ in L’eggs’ sizing system. One downside is that the color range for these tights is limited to dark styles, only including jet black, black, and gray. 

Size Range: S-XL | Materials: 79% nylon and 21% spandex | Color options: 3 | Denier: 30 | Care: Hand wash only

Best Flesh Tone

Capezio Ultra Soft Self Knit Waistband Transition Tight

$17 at Amazon View on Capezio.com $17 at Macy's

While not as popular as their black counterparts, flesh-toned tights can come in handy if you want a skin-colored option that obscures texture or discoloration on your legs. Capezio’s Ultra Soft Self-Knit Waistband Transition Tight comes in 18 different tones, allowing you to find a close match whether your skin leans pale or dark. We also love the inclusive size range, which sizes small to 4X for adults, plus children’s sizes. 

These tights are made from Tactel, a proprietary nylon fabric that’s extra soft and durable because it features more threads per inch. We want to note that there’s a stitched hole at the sole so that the tights can easily transition from footed to footless. Though many people, including non-dancers, enjoy this versatile feature, some may prefer seamless foot coverage. 

Size Range: S-4X, plus children’s sizes | Materials: 86% Tactel nylon and 14% spandex | Color options: 18 | Denier: Not listed | Care: Hand wash only

Best Warm

Snag Merino Wool Tights

View on Snagtights.us

If you want to feel toasty during chilly weather, slip on a pair of Snag’s Merino Wool Tights. Along with polyamide, elastane, and cotton, these tights are made up of 52% wool to give your legs extra warmth. They also come in a fantastic size range, which goes from sizes 2 to 34 (or A to G in Snag’s sizing system). This particular product comes in muted and neutral colors in addition to basic black. Be sure to look up each color offering on Snag’s wool tights category page, since the brand features individual pages for each color offering. 

These wool tights are more expensive than your typical pair of tights, and the delivery fee can be an additional cost if you don’t qualify for free shipping. However, we think they’re worth the investment if you need to layer up for cold weather. 

Size Range: A-G (equivalent to sizes 2-34) | Materials: 52% wool, 44% polyamide, 3% elastane, and 1% cotton | Color options: 9 | Denier: Not listed | Care: Hand wash or put in a bag in the laundry machine

Best Colorful

We Love Colors Nylon Spandex Tights

View on Welovecolors.com

If you want a wide range of colors with splashy neons, pastels, jewel tones, and everything in between, begin your search at We Love Color. This Miami-based apparel brand offers its nylon spandex tights in a vast array of colors. Whether you’re a dancer, cosplayer, or just someone who adores bright tights, this style from We Love Color includes 60 colors, from neon pink to baby blue. No worries if you prefer more low-key neutrals like black, white, or brown—those are included in this selection, too. 

The size range here is also excellent, since We Love Color offers up to 6X for adult sizes, plus children’s sizes. However, bear in mind that this pick does not have a gusset, which is typically built into tights to offer them better flexibility. Without a gusset, these tights might ride up or limit motion range.

Size Range: A-EE/6X (4’10”-6’2” in height and 91-380 pounds in weight), plus children’s sizes | Materials: 85% nylon and 15% spandex | Color options: 60 | Denier: 60 | Care: Hand wash only