12 Best Yoga Pants of 2023, According to Testing

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Yogi-approved styles to upgrade your exercising (or lounging).

We updated this guide in January 2023 to include new picks from Lululemon, Athleta, Girlfriend, Alo Yoga and more, based on recent testing from the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab.

With flare, wide leg and traditional legging styles, the right-fitting yoga pants can be so comfortable you'll never want to wear anything else when working out or even just lounging at home. Upgrade your yoga practice with high-quality yoga pants and leggings and you're well on your way to the athleisure fit of your dreams.

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab tests all kinds of athletic clothing like workout leggings, sports bras and yoga pants for things like stretch recovery, moisture management, pilling resistance, washability and overall construction. On top of Lab testing, we also send yoga pants to our consumer testers to get feedback on the fit and important factors like breathability, waistband rolling, appearance and comfort. The picks ahead are based on our most recent test of over 35 different yoga pants and leggings.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping: Since you’ll likely be moving and stretching a lot in your yoga pants, make sure they have a gusset, which looks like a triangular or diamond-shaped piece of fabric at the crotch. You'll find a gusset in workout leggings and yoga pants more often than fashion leggings because it prevents the pants from riding up.

After shopping through our top-tested yoga pants and yogi-approved leggings, keep reading to learn more about our testing protocols and shopping tips from fitness experts.

Continuing to dominate our testing, Lululemon Align leggings are best sellers for a reason: the buttery soft Nulu fabric has a lightweight feel that's versatile for yoga and other workout classes alike. The flattering high-waisted fit is popular among GH analysts — many swear that this is their go-to pair! — even if we noticed some fabric pilling in Lab evaluations. This pair is available with 25", 28" and 31" inseam lengths up to size 20.

If you can't fathom spending close to $100 on high-quality workout leggings, this pair is just a quarter of the cost yet testers say they're similar to pricier brands. Colorfulkoala's yoga leggings feature a buttery soft fabric that aced Lab evaluations for stretch recovery and washability. They also received the highest overall tester score with one tester saying this pair is "extremely comfortable and so soft" and "easy to move in." GH analysts did find the material to be less durable, forming pills in Lab evaluations.

At less than $30 a pair, this style from AFITNE has excellent value without sacrificing style or performance. One GH editor swears by these yoga pants, saying they're "buttery smooth" and that "the flattering fit makes them perfect for lounging but also sneaking into real outfits." They're available in over a dozen colors in full length or capri length.

Whether heading to yoga, barre or pilates, a pair of compressive leggings is a great choice to support your muscles. Testers were impressed with these Athleta leggings for their "extremely flattering" fit that's still "supportive while being comfortable." We didn't notice any changes in appearance after our wash test with only slight shrinkage, but we found that they did not completely return to their original shape in our stretch recovery testing. The fabric easily wicked away moisture in our Lab evaluations and proved to be pill resistant.

The Athleta Elation's Powervita fabric impressed GH analysts by acing Lab evaluations for moisture management, pilling resistance and stretch recovery. Our consumer testers loved Elation leggings, giving them high marks for their comfortable fabric, excellent fit and breathable feel. We also love that this style is available in regular, tall and petite inseams in a variety of different colors.

Aerie is known for its signature crossover waistband that GH testers found "impressively flattering" and loved that it "accentuates your waist." Testers said this pair is perfect to wear when running errands or lounging at home thanks to the fabric that's "so soft and comfortable." GH pros did note that this fabric is not fully opaque (so beware when doing squats or lunges) and did stretch a bit in evaluations. It washed well though with minimal shrinkage.

"I can't stop wearing these super flattering yoga pants," said one GH analyst who swears she wears these Alo Yoga pants every weekend. Easy to style up or down, these yoga pants double as a fashion statement, too. The thick material is fully opaque (even during squats) with a wide waistband that stays put during movement. They're only available in one length which may be a bit short if you're taller (32.25" for XXS-S and 32.75" for M-XL).

Popular for their super high-waisted compressive fit, the Spanx Booty Boost leggings were a tester favorite for their "very flattering design" and "thick material that's not see-through." The sculpting performance fabric makes "your butt look amazing," according to one GH pro, though some testers found them too fitted for their preference. This style is available in regular, petite and tall sizing with a limited amount of color options.

Some yogis prefer a looser fitting garment during their practice, and this top-tested pair of joggers will fit the bill. This pair from Zella has got promising feedback in the comfort category from our testers for their lightweight feel and quick-drying capabilities. GH analysts appreciate that it features roomy pockets and an adjustable drawcord waistband.

In Lab testing, we were impressed with how well this fabric kept its shape after being stretched, but it did show some signs of pilling in our abrasion test. Consumer testers loved the legging version, saying they were "so soft," had a flattering fit and stayed up well while exercising. Available in ten colors, this pick is popular for its petite sizing options, so shorter wearers aren't tripping over the hem.

Lounge in style with these Lululemon flare yoga pants. Available in 13 colors, this pair is made with the brand's buttery soft Nulu fabric that testers loved. They have a 32.5-inch inseam and flare out from the knee to the hem. There's a small waistband pocket to hold cards, keys or a cell phone when on the go. We did note some pilling in our Lab evaluations of the fabric.

Available up to a size 6XL, these top-tested leggings from Girlfriend Collective were popular among testers of all body types. The soft FLOAT fabric is thinner than the brand's compressive leggings for a more comfortable feel during your yoga practice. Testers shared that this pair was "so comfy, fit well, looked good on and stayed put." GH analysts and testers did notice some loose threads on this style upon opening and the fabric experienced slight pilling in Lab evaluations.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is comprised of fiber scientists who are experts in all types of workout gear, including yoga pants, workout leggings, sports bras and sneakers. Our testing involves using specialized methods and equipment to evaluate gear in our Lab combined with consumer feedback based on real-life use. We tested over 35 pairs of yoga pants and leggings which led to 2,380 data points to analyze before making these selections.

✔️ Consumer feedback comes from real-life yogis who wear these yoga pants during their yoga practice to give feedback on fit, comfort, breathability and more.

✔️ Stretch recovery testing involves stretching a swatch of legging fabric to a standard length for two hours. We measure a benchmarked length after one minute and then again after one hour to see how well the fabric returned to its original shape.

✔️ Pilling resistance testing uses a Martindale abrasion machine which rubs two swatches of the same fabric together to see if tiny balls of fibers (pills) form on the surface.

✔️ To evaluate washability, GH pros wash each pair five times to analyze changes in appearance and shrinkage after laundering.

✔️ Opacity evaluations occur under standard lighting. GH pros wear each pair of pants and squat to rate if it's see-through at all.

✔️ For moisture management testing, we place drops of water on the inside of the fabric to rate how quickly the material wicks away moisture.

✔️ Construction scores involve GH pros analyzing each pair to rate included features like flat seams and a gusset.

The terms "yoga pants" and "leggings" are often used interchangeably and many pants fall under both categories, but they're not actually the same thing.

✔️ Yoga pants are typically made of soft, sometimes brushed, fabric as opposed to the shiny, smooth materials that are used in running tights. They're available in a variety of fits including looser styles like joggers, bootcut or wide-leg pants and tighter fits like yoga leggings. Yoga pants are designed to be comfortable for all types of yoga practice.

✔️ "Leggings," on the other hand, is a more general term to describe tight-fitting, stretchy pants. They can range from workout leggings to fashion leggings and are made of a variety of materials.

Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she has overseen in Lab and consumer testing for a variety of workout products. She personally tested dozens of pairs of yoga pants and leggings for this story. With a degree in fiber science from Cornell University, Emma is a product quality expert, evaluating workout leggings, sports bras and walking sneakers.

Lexie Sachs is the executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab. She has a degree in fiber science from Cornell University and more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development fields. Lexie joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has extensively tested fitness apparel of all kinds — including workout clothes, sports bras, walking shoes and more — using specialized lab equipment and with hundreds of consumer testers.

Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of the Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she researches, tests and reports on fabric-based products ranging from sheets, mattresses and towels to bras, fitness apparel and other clothing. She also evaluates luggage, rain gear, disposable paper goods and baby products. Lexie has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Prior to joining GH in 2013, she worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.

Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.

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