Leggings vs Tights

Diffen › Fashion & Beauty

Leggings and tights are very similar in that they are skin-tight garments that cover the legs and sometimes the waist. Leggings are much thicker, footless, and can sometimes be worn like pants. Tights are somewhat sheer, cover the foot, and must be worn under another garment.

A big question comes in which is the distinguishing factor – transparency or feet. Usually transparent garments without feet are called "footless tights," though some manufacturers refer to them as leggings.

Neither leggings nor tights, however, should be confused with stockings, which are more like socks that go all the way up to the thigh, and unlike tights or leggings are not joint at the seam.

Comparison chart

Leggings versus Tights comparison chart
	Leggings	Tights
Introduction	Leggings are a type of skin-tight garment that covers the legs and that may be worn by both men and women.	Tights are a kind of cloth garment, most often sheathing the body from the waist to the toe tips with a tight fit, hence the name.
Types	Thin, patterned, solid.	Absolute opaque, opaque, sheer and fishnet styles or a combination of them.
Transparent	Depends on brand	Sometimes
Material	Thick, elasticized material cotton, spandex.	Elasticized cotton, polyester blends.
Length	Mid-calf to ankle	Cover feet
Comfort	Very comfortable	Somewhat – similar to nylons
Fit	Tight	Very tight, like a second skin
Laundry	No special precautions	With extra care, in a laundry bag
How to wear	With a long tunic or shirt	Under skirts, dresses, shorts
Style	Casual	Casual to professional
Colors	Wide range of colors and patterns	Wide range of colors, some patterns
Brands	H & M, Danskin, Maurices, Under Armour	Danskin, Hue, designer

Design

Leggings are made from thick, elasticized material, usually spandex, lycra, nylon, cotton, and/or polyester. Their length is from mid-calf to the ankle. Some leggings are designed more similar to tights — smooth around the waist and lower torso, while some are more similar to pants — they may feature a distinct waist, pockets and reinforcement in the crotch.

Tights are made from elasticized material, usually cotton or polyester blends. Tights cover from legs to toe tips, with some cutting off at the thigh (called thigh highs) and others covering up to the waist. They are smooth throughout, though control top styles are tighter in the lower torso. Because they are at least semi-transparent, they are designed to be worn under clothing.

Fit

Leggings are designed to fit snug, shaped to fit the contour of the body — and they are still very comfortable. Tights are designed to fit extremely tight, like a second skin. They are similar in comfort to nylons, which are not considered very comfortable.

Style

Leggings are casual. They are often worn during exercise. Dressier leggings may be worn in place of pants and under tunics. It is possible to wear leggings under skirts and dresses.

Tights range from casual to professional. They are worn under another garment, such as skirts, dresses or even shorts.

Appearance

Leggings come in a wide range of colors and patterns. Very cheap leggings may be translucent. Otherwise, they are usually not sheer.

Tights also come in a wide range of colors, but fewer patterns than leggings. They usually have some level of transparency, though this may not be the case with wool tights.

Care

Unless otherwise specified, leggings can generally be laundered the same way as pants, taking no special care. Tights should be laundered with care, similar to washing nylons, preferably in mesh bags.

Brands

Leggings come in many brands. Danskin is typical for dancers, and Under Armour is typical for exercise. Stores such as H & M and Maurices often sell their own brand of leggings.

Tights also come in many brands. Danskin and Hue are top brands. Many designers such as Calvin Klein and Donna Karen make their own leggings.