‘I tried so hard to ladder these’: the best black tights in the UK that don’t snag or slide down – tested

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Tights are a staple in most women’s wardrobes, yet they’re also one of the most frequently discarded. It’s not unusual to leave the house wearing a new pair, only to realise by lunchtime that they’re laddered and ready for the bin.

Tights’ tendency to rip so easily comes down to the delicate nature of the fabric. Once damaged, it usually can’t be repaired, meaning most tights end up in landfill, where the nylon and elastane can take up to 200 years to decompose. An estimated 8bn pairs of tights are bought and discarded each year, according to the brand Swedish Stockings. To make matters worse, producing traditional nylon tights releases nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.

Investing in higher-quality, longer-lasting tights can significantly reduce waste, lower environmental impact, and make tights a more reliable, sustainable part of our wardrobes. Nowadays, many brands are using recycled nylon or creating tights designed specifically to resist ladders.

To save you the trial and error, I’ve tested the best (and worst) tights. Whether you’re after ladder resistance, a party-ready pair or built-in shapewear, these are the best black tights for every occasion. They will not only keep you warm, but also ensure your dresses and skirts stay in rotation when the weather’s chilly. If wielded wisely, tights can be a spring saviour. At this time of year, when the weather can’t quite decide what it’s doing, they fend off the evening chill, while a lighter denier keeps things bearable in the daytime.

At a glance

Best black tights overall:
Snag 50 denier

£9.49 at Snag

Best shapewear tights:
Calzedonia Strong Sculpt tights

£19.99 at Calzedonia

Best sheer tights:
Falke Pure Matt tights

£19 at Falke

Best party tights:
Calzedonia Glitter sheer tights

£15.99 at Calzedonia

Best eco-friendly black tights:
Swedish Stockings Svea premium tights

£25 at Swedish Stockings

Why you should trust me

Tights are my favourite fashion accessory – whether they’re plain, bold and bright, or patterned, I wear them a lot. After five years of studying fashion and working with stylists on shoots, I understand how transformative a decent pair of tights can be. I know exactly what to look for when it comes to fabric composition, deniers and construction, because longevity matters just as much as first impressions.

How I tested

In my search for the best tights, I tested 25 pairs from 11 brands. Sturdiness was a top priority – nobody wants a pair of tights that will ladder after the slightest of snags, nor let your big toe escape to poke out and say “hi”. Obviously, comfort is key, so tights were marked down for fabric that felt scratchy, while warmth, smoothness and sustainable fibres scored highly.

Under normal circumstances, testing tights in a shoulder season would be fine, but the thermal tights I tested when it was 15C and unusually sunny out proved pretty “cosy”. Nevertheless, I soldiered on, wearing each pair of tights for a full day – whether I was at work, a concert, a football match or elsewhere. I also put their sturdiness to the test by pulling up each pair while wearing all of my most troublesome rings and bracelets – jewellery that has snagged many a pair of budget tights in the past. I also tested friction resistance under satin skirt linings.

The best performers – the ones that didn’t snag or ladder on first wear – graduated and came back for round two of testing after being put through the washing machine. None of the tights featured in this list laddered at any point during wear, which is genuinely impressive.

The best black tights in 2026

The writer wearing the M&S Fleece Lined Sheer Look tights

Calzedonia Strong Sculpt 30 Denier Sheer Tights

Calzedonia Glitter 20 Denier Sheer Tights

The best of the rest

M&S 140 Denier Thermal Sheer Fleece Tights

Heist The Thirty-Five semi-opaque tights.

AIMÉE CROYSDILL x HEIST STUDIOS The Thirty-Five Semi-Opaque Tights Black

What you need to know

To keep your tights fresher for longer, it’s essential to choose the right fabric. “For sheer tights, it’s best to choose ones with a quality combination of polyamide for sheerness and softness, and a good percentage of elastane for the stretch and fit (to ensure they don’t sag),” says Caroline Randell, owner of the eponymous luxury lingerie boutique. “For a thicker tight, you might also want to add warmth, so merino wool or cotton, along with elastane, is a lovely option.”

What is a denier?

“Denier refers to the weight of the fabric,” says Ellie Calder Barbaccia, a hosiery designer for Heist. “A lower denier creates a sheer, feather-light finish that feels barely there – ideal for warmer days or adding a subtle layer under lighter looks. A higher denier offers full coverage and a soft, insulating feel.”

When choosing an everyday denier, 40 or 50 is a safe bet. This will get you a sturdy pair of tights that aren’t too thick, but are still guaranteed to keep you warm. For spring, a 30 or below is ideal, but on the coldest winter days, I would never go below 60 or 70.

How to stop your tights from laddering

Unfortunately, laddering is a common issue with fine fabrics such as those used in tights, but there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood. “My number-one tip would be to try to invest in a premium-quality pair of tights,” says Randell. “Higher-quality yarns are far smoother, causing less friction and reason for laddering.”

Randell also recommends opting for tights with a reinforced toe as this area tends to wear down most quickly. “The thinner the tights, the more careful you will need to be,” she says. “Avoid wearing rings and bracelets, and make sure your nails are smooth when you put them on. Hand-washing in cool water will also prolong the fibres and yarns, ensuring they keep their elasticity and shape for longer.”

For more:
50 women’s spring wardrobe updates for under £100
The best women’s lingerie for every mood and budget
How to buy secondhand clothes online that you’ll actually wear

Charlotte Gornall is a fashion assistant at the Guardian. Writing about clothes, and more importantly which ones are worth buying, has made her quietly particular about tights – her favourite accessory and the finishing touch to almost any outfit. When she’s not writing, she’s working behind the scenes on shoots with the styling team, experience that helps her distinguish what makes tights look good

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