One of my big regrets from the first time I was pregnant is that I didn’t buy myself a good pair of maternity leggings. I struggled through my third trimester with little support for the baby bump, ruining several pairs of conventional tights in the process. For my second pregnancy—with twins—I tested a dozen popular pairs to find the best maternity leggings that last through all three trimesters. I chose Storq’s Signature Leggings as my top pick overall because they’re soft, comfortable and high quality—and the brand offers inclusive sizing options. Quince’s Ultra-Form Maternity Pocket Leggings, my value pick, also became a favorite, due to their handy pockets, soft and thick fabric, and durability after multiple wash cycles.
However, every pregnant body is different—and there are a number of other great pairs I recommend for different reasons. Here are all the best maternity leggings after my testing:
To determine what factors to test for in each pair of pregnancy leggings, I spoke with Baillie McArthur, doula and owner of Hi Baby! Maternity Concierge & Doula Services. “A good pair of pregnancy leggings should offer support and comfort without feeling restrictive," she says. “Look for leggings with a belly panel that expands with your bump and a waistband that won’t dig in.” Read on to see the maternity leggings of 2025 based on testing for these top criteria.
These Signature Leggings from Storq are my top overall pick for maternity leggings because they are just so comfortable and breathable, starting in my second trimester and even now as I approach the final weeks of my pregnancy with twins. The fabric is mainly modal (which is made from sustainably harvested beech tree fibers) blended with a little bit of spandex, resulting in a buttery softness with plenty of stretch. I particularly appreciated the feel when I had a little eczema flare-up on my bump.
I also like that the Storq Signature Leggings have a Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certification, meaning they’ve been third-party tested to be free from a wide range of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals. A wide range of sizes, starting at petite and going up to 4XL, also means expecting parents have more options to get a great fit.
I like to wear these leggings pulled up over my bump, but you can also fold the waistband down to wear below the belly. Some leggings with a lot of compression feel too tight to me by the end of the day, but these Storq leggings have a nice medium weight that can take me through the day.
I did notice that when deliberately stretching them out, these leggings aren’t the most opaque (the brand notes they can be “sheer on some folks”), but personally I never felt they looked immodest. However, if you want a more compressive fabric or a higher guarantee of opaqueness, you may want to consider one of my other recommendations, like Shapermint’s Embrace Maternity leggings.
These Ultra-Form Maternity & Postpartum maternity leggings from Quince have become another of my favorites. Although there are certainly cheaper leggings on the market, I think these offer most expecting moms the best value all around.
I love the pockets, soft fabric and general comfort of the leggings. However, the tag, which is sewn into the leg just above one of the pockets, did irritate me enough that I ended up cutting it off. That said, I did reach for these leggings day after day, and they haven’t shown any signs of wear after several cycles through the washing machine. The fabric is quite thick (thicker than my best overall choice), and although I don’t find them particularly compressive, they are thoroughly opaque.
Quince’s maternity leggings aren’t the most size-inclusive for bigger bodies, but the brand does offer two inseam lengths—so you have some options there. I’m 5 foot 3, so I picked the 25-inch inseam in a size medium, which fits my big twin bump but is a little looser in the leg than I prefer in terms of looks (but they feel great).
Another pregnant mom-to-be (who is taller than me) praises the 28-inch inseam version of these leggings (currently out of stock in all sizes, but you can sign up to be notified for when they’re back). “They stay in place during my workouts and long walks, and I wore them happily on two four-hour flights,” she says. “The belly is snug but not uncomfortably so.”
During my initial research, Beyond Yoga’s Spacedye Love The Bump Midi maternity leggings came up a lot as a mom favorite. After testing them for myself, they’re my pick for the best workout maternity leggings, thanks to their light compression and ability to hold their shape.
Although my main forms of physical activity in the third trimester with twins are long walks and chasing my 3-year-old, these also served me well during prenatal yoga. Other moms told me they work well in Pilates class and on the elliptical.
The fabric is thick and soft (not at all sheer), and these leggings have shown no signs of wear after several months of use and quite a few washes. Another plus is Beyond Yoga’s maternity leggings come in more color options than most (new colors and fabrics are introduced seasonally), and also have a version with pockets. However, the size options are more limited than other brands.
While Storq also offers sizing up to 4XL, these maternity leggings from Shapermint deserve a place among the winners because they provide more compression and support. The Shapermint Essentials Embrace Maternity Belly Support Leggings have an almost ribbed quality to their weave, and the thick fabric is mildly compressive without getting too restrictive. The front of the bump area has a unique seamless weave that’s slightly more stretchy across the front of your bump, but more supported around the perimeter (you can actually see the oval for the bump when the leggings are laid flat). They’re also totally opaque when I wear them.
There’s no seam to connect the bump panel to the legs of the garment, creating a smoother look that’s nice on its own and also under dresses. To keep the waistband from slipping, there are two wiggly bands of an elastic-like material.
Before trying them on, I worried this material might irritate my skin, but it hasn’t been a problem. They’ve held up well in the wash and although I’m not usually a fan of shapewear or compression garments (I hate anything that’s tight on my stomach even when I’m not pregnant), these leggings have proved to be quite comfortable.
I do want to point out that I don’t typically wear a plus size, so you should evaluate this pair of leggings to ensure it fits your individual body well, of course. (Check out our roundup of the best plus-size clothing brands for fashion options available in inclusive sizing.) But, I am pregnant with twins and carrying a much larger bump than during my first pregnancy.
If you want leggings that function a little more like slim-fit slacks, I recommend the Everyday Ankle Zip Maternity Legging from Ingrid + Isabel (also my choice for the best maternity clothing brand for work apparel). The thicker fabric and zipper at the ankle give this legging a slightly more polished vibe than your average workout pair.
I tested these after Karen Tietjen, a mom of two and Forbes Vetted’s senior updates editor, recommended them. “I loved wearing these leggings during my pregnancy because their thick texture offered comfortable support and coverage,” she says. “Plus the ankle length was ideal for me, since I’m 5-foot-3.”
These leggings have a uniquely shaped panel for your baby bump: It’s high in the front with two seams that run vertically along the bump and give the panel some additional structure and support, while the back makes a V-shape that crosses at the spine. This style may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
I found these leggings comfortable the majority of the time, but when I had an eczema flare-up on my bump, the extra seams got a little irritating. I also found myself using the lint roller more on these leggings, as cat hair stuck to the fabric. However, I’ve been happy with the quality, and overall I think these are a nice choice for pregnant people who want something that can be dressed up to look more professional.
Other Maternity Leggings I Tested
In addition to my top five recommendations, I tested seven other popular maternity leggings that didn’t quite score high enough to make my final list. I included my rating of each (from 1 through 5 stars) based on their comfort, style, fit, stretch and durability.
Tested Maternity Leggings I Also Recommend
These three pairs are still worth an honorable mention due to various favorable aspects, and can be an excellent option depending on your needs:
- Runner-Up, Best Everyday: Ingrid + Isabel The Performance Legging (4): These are quite nice leggings that are very similar to the Ingrid + Isabel Everyday Ankle Zip Legging that I recommend above. They didn’t make the list of very best, because other leggings have slightly more features and/or sizes. But if you really like the idea of a nice basic legging that’s higher in front and lower in back, they might work great for you.
- Runner-Up, Best Value: Old Navy Maternity Full Panel PowerSoft 7/8 Rib Leggings (3.8): These leggings are thick, held up to a couple of washes and have nice pockets. However, by the time I got to the beginning of my third trimester, they were rolling down my bump and became uncomfortable. These might work better for people who have smaller-than-average bumps or who are pregnant for the first time.
- Best For Early Pregnancy Or Postpartum: Lululemon Align High-Rise Pant (3.5): Although not strictly a maternity style, plenty of pregnant moms and maternity experts swear by the Lululemon Align. In addition to being our fashion editors favorite leggings for women, they were a top pick in an earlier version of this story. However, when I tried them at the beginning of my 2nd trimester they didn’t work at all with my bump, rolling down uncomfortably. I think these probably do fit some moms during the earlier parts of pregnancy (particularly those expecting for the first time) and for postpartum.
Tested Maternity Leggings I Don’t Recommend
The four maternity leggings below, while initially promising, ultimately didn’t measure up to our standards and/or have been discontinued:
- Belly Bandit Maternity & Postpartum Leggings (3): Initially, I found these leggings soft and comfortable, and I wore them a lot. However, they had substantial pilling after just the second wash.
- Motherhood Maternity Women’s Essential Stretch Pregnancy Legging (3): These affordable leggings come in several colors and were pretty comfortable. However, they’re so thin that they’re more like footless tights than proper leggings. They also stretch out quite a bit over the course of the day—more than any other pair I tested.
- Discontinued: Lululemon Wunder Under Nulu High-Rise Tight (3.5): I tried this second style from Lululemon with no better success than the Align. This style also seems to have been discontinued.
- Discontinued: Blanqi Maternity Pocket Leggings (3): I found these leggings to be slightly too compressive. In theory, the double pocket design might be helpful sometimes, but I regularly ended up trying to stick my phone into the smaller pocket where it didn’t properly fit. Moreover, the brand appears to have shut down during our testing, and the website no longer functions.
How I Tested The Best Maternity Leggings
Forbes Vetted previously tested maternity leggings in 2023, but because so many of our top picks are no longer available and many new styles have hit the market, I decided to start fresh for 2025. I retested any winners that were still available and also added leggings to the testing lineup based on recommendations from other pregnant or recently pregnant moms, as well as my own market research.
I began testing during my second trimester and continued evaluating top winners through the end of my pregnancy and postpartum. Because it was a twin pregnancy, it’s worth noting that my baby bump was somewhat larger than average. The majority of my testing was based on going about my regular life as a pregnant mom, from daycare drop-off to press events to, yes, the occasional prenatal yoga session.
During my real-world testing, I evaluated the following aspects of each maternity legging:
- Comfort: Perhaps the most important aspect during pregnancy, I took careful notes of how each pair of leggings felt against my skin and on my body as I went about my day-to-day life. I paid particular attention to how the leggings felt at the end of the day when my baby bump tends to feel the heaviest.
- Style and fit: The fit of a garment is a subjective experience, but I did note how each style of legging looks and feels and if the ordered size met my expectations. A couple of styles didn’t work at all with my pregnancy bump after the first try-on, so I didn’t continue testing them (as noted above).
- Stretch: A good pair of leggings should hold their shape while still stretching enough to grow with your bump. To quantitatively evaluate this, I measured each pair at the beginning of the day and again at the end of the day, noting the difference. I also took qualitative notes about how they looked and felt by the end of the day, flagging any saggy fabric or sliding (something that I actually didn’t encounter much). I also recorded if any pairs simply stopped fitting properly as my pregnancy progressed.
- Durability and quality: I wore maternity leggings nearly every day of my pregnancy, rotating through the different pairs and keeping notes as I go. Except for those that didn’t fit right away, I’ve worn every pair for a minimum of five full days, but most much more. I washed each pair of leggings at least three times, following the manufacturer’s instructions. At the end of this process, I evaluated each pair for any pilling, loose threads, stretching out or other signs of wear.
What To Consider When Shopping For Maternity Leggings
Not only is every body unique, but so is every pregnancy. Here are a few key things to think about when selecting the best maternity leggings for you.
Fit/Size
Many maternity brands suggest you select the same size that you wore pre-pregnancy. But in my personal experience during both pregnancies and from what I’ve heard from other moms, there’s a bit more nuance to finding the right fit. If you’ve gained or anticipate gaining a fair amount of weight during pregnancy, you may want to consider sizing up. The same goes if you’re expecting multiple babies. Even during my first pregnancy with one baby, I needed to size up.
However, if you don’t anticipate gaining much weight, then your pre-pregnancy size may work well with many maternity brands. It’s also worth checking the return policy when shopping online so you can figure out how easily you can swap sizes if needed.
Compression
Some pregnant moms discover that a little bit of compression is a helpful feature in leggings and socks. “Compression is a great quality to have in pregnancy leggings,” says doula McArthur. “While you don’t want compression that is so tight it causes discomfort, the right amount of compression can improve circulation and help prevent varicose veins, reduce leg swelling, provide belly and back support, enhance overall comfort and aid in postpartum recovery.”
But be mindful that your leggings aren’t too tight. “Compression should be gentle—avoid leggings that feel overly tight around the belly,” says Dr. Ashley Comfort, an obstetrician and medical director at Oula. “Some people find compression leggings too constricting, especially because skin can become more sensitive during pregnancy.”
(You can read more about light compression therapy from the Cleveland Clinic’s website, but always speak with your doctor or OB about any individual health concerns and therapies when pregnant, including whether compression leggings might be right for you.)
Fabric
In addition to deciding if you want to try leggings with compression or not, there are some other fabric qualities to seek out. “Opt for high-quality, soft, stretchable fabric that adapts to your growing body and holds up well as your body does so,” says McArthur. Thinner fabrics may be more breathable and help you deal with the increased body temperature that may occur during pregnancy, but they can also run the risk of looking see-through when stretched.
Thicker fabrics are more likely to provide a feeling of support and have a lower risk of looking sheer over your baby bump or bum when you squat.
Over Or Under The Bump
This one is really a personal preference, and what you feel more comfortable in may vary depending on the phase of your pregnancy—or even day to day. A few leggings, like Storq’s Signature Leggings, can be worn either way.
An over-the-bump legging provides full coverage, making it ideal for pregnancy and postpartum recovery, according to McArthur. “A high-waisted design can offer additional support,” adds Dr. Comfort.
But if you don’t like the feeling of any pressure on your pregnant belly, an under-the-bump style may work better for you. You can also consider shopping for low-rise non-maternity leggings with extra stretchy waistbands if this is your preferred style.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted baby and kids gear vertical consists of dozens of thoroughly researched, rigorously tested and expert-backed guides, including many pregnancy and postpartum roundups.
- This story was written by baby and kids gear editor Margaret Badore, who oversees a range of testing projects, from the best high chairs to the best crib mattresses. She was recently pregnant for the second time, giving her a chance to capture firsthand insights on maternity products.
- Relatedly, we’ve also covered roundups on the best maternity clothes, the best maternity jeans and the best maternity clothing rentals.
- Our kids and baby gear content is overseen by deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala, a journalist with 20 years of experience including in the kids and baby space. She’s also a mom to three elementary school-aged children.
- Badore consulted two experts to help inform this guide: Dr. Ashley Comfort, M.D., an obstetrician and medical director at Oula, a clinical practice that combines obstetrics and midwifery care in New York City; and Baillie McArthur, a certified doula and the owner of Hi Baby! Maternity Concierge & Doula Services.
- We keep on top of industry news, trends and recall. This story is regularly updated to ensure accuracy and to reassess our winning picks.
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