The Best Cheap Leggings
The best cheap leggings for most people are the Gymshark New Whitney at about $54: the brand states a thicker, squat-proof fabric, which is rare at this price. If you want the cheapest soft legging, CRZ Yoga's Butterluxe is about $32. For an everyday pair at about $38, the Gymshark Everyday Seamless is fine, though the brand says it is not 100% squat-proof.
"Cheap" has a cost, and we spell it out for each pick: thin fabric, narrower sizes or fewer lengths. Only four leggings in our data list for under $65, so we added one step-up pick at about $89 that is often marked down. We did not pad the list beyond that.
We have not tested these. The list comes from brand specs and what owners and reviewers keep saying. Prices are list prices and change often, so check the current price before you buy.
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Brands can’t pay for placement, and it never changes our picks. How we make money.
Our picks at a glance
Our picks, in detail
Gymshark New Whitney High-Rise Leggings
- Women
- Sizes XXS–XXL (0–14)
- Rise: High
- Inseam options: Regular
- Pockets: None
- Fabric feel: Smooth
At about $54, the New Whitney gives you the best mix of price and claims. Gymshark describes thicker, squat-proof fabric (78% nylon, 22% elastane, 230gsm) with a ruched back and four-way stretch. It suits lifting, HIIT, walking and everyday wear.
The claim comes with a caveat the brand prints itself: Haze Pink and Butter Yellow can become sheer when stretched. Dark colors are the safer choice.
The trade-offs: sizes stop at XXL (US 0 to 14), there are no pockets, and the page gives no inseam in inches, only Regular.
Gymshark allows returns within 30 days of delivery for unworn, unwashed items. Items with a final discount of 60% or more are final sale, so check before you buy on a deep markdown.
Skip it if you need plus sizes, pockets or an exact inseam. Read the Whitney review.
CRZ Yoga Butterluxe High Waisted Legging 25"
- Women
- Sizes XXS–XL (plus 1X–4X sold separately)
- Rise: High
- Inseam options: 25″
- Pockets: None
- Fabric feel: Buttery
- Plus sizes
At about $32, the CRZ Yoga Butterluxe is the cheapest legging in our data and is the best-known budget stand-in for the Lululemon Align. The fabric (81% nylon, 19% Lycra) has a buttery feel that reviewers often compare to Align, the page shows 25 colors, and a separate Plus version covers 1X to 4X.
It suits yoga, Pilates and lounging, and it is a low-risk way to find out whether you like the buttery feel.
The trade-offs are durability and opacity. Owners report the thin fabric can pill and show through in light colors, and reviewers say it is less durable than premium options. It has no pockets, and CRZ states that customers pay return shipping within a 30-day window.
Skip it if you need squat-proof opacity or long-term durability. Read the Butterluxe review.
Gymshark Lift Seamless 2.0 Mid-Rise Leggings
- Women
- Sizes XXS–XXL (0–14)
- Rise: Mid
- Inseam options: Regular
- Pockets: None
- Fabric feel: Smooth
If you prefer a mid-rise, the Lift Seamless 2.0 costs about $64. Gymshark calls the fabric (92% nylon, 8% elastane) thicker and squat-proof, with seamless 360-degree contouring that sits just below the belly button, and says it keeps you cool.
It is the best fit here for people who lift and do not like a high waist pressing on the stomach.
The trade-offs: sizes stop at XXL (0 to 14), the page gives no inseam in inches, and the care note warns that Butter Yellow, Super Set Pink and Physical Pink can become sheer when stretched. There are no pockets.
It costs about $10 more than the Whitney, so choose it for the rise and seamless knit, not for the price.
Skip it if you want a high waist, pockets or sizes above 14. See the Lift Seamless 2.0 review.
Gymshark Everyday Seamless Leggings
- Women
- Sizes XXS–XXL (page lists no sizes; assumed from other Gymshark leggings, unverified)
- Rise: High
- Inseam options: Regular
- Pockets: None
- Fabric feel: Smooth
At about $38, the Everyday Seamless is a plain, lightweight legging (91% nylon, 9% elastane) with a stay-put waistband, in six colors. It suits walking, errands, lounging and light workouts.
Read the page carefully before you buy for the gym. Gymshark says these are not 100% squat-proof, recommends skin-colored underwear and says the fabric can sheer when stretched. If you lift, buy the Whitney or Lift instead.
The other trade-offs are basic features and an unverified size range. The page did not list a size selector in the data we checked, so XXS to XXL is an assumption from other Gymshark leggings. There are no pockets and only a Regular length.
Skip it if you want squat-proof coverage or pockets. Read the Everyday Seamless review.
Athleta Elation Ultra High Rise Legging
- Women
- Sizes XXS–3X
- Rise: Ultra
- Inseam options: Petite 25, Regular/Plus 27, Tall 30
- Pockets: Waistband
- Fabric feel: Buttery
- Plus sizes · Petite · Tall
This one is not cheap at its list price of about $89, but the page showed it at about $59.97 when we checked, and sale prices move. It is our pick if you can stretch for a legging with a wider range than any cheap option.
Sizes run XXS to 3X, with Petite 25, Regular/Plus 27 and Tall 30 inch inseams. The Powervita fabric (75% nylon, 25% Lycra) is soft, with a three-layer waistband and a small back drop-in pocket. The page rating was 4.66 from about 11,500 ratings.
The trade-offs: compression is moderate, so it is not a training legging, the pocket is small, and the sale price may end. Owners suggest checking lighter colors for coverage.
Skip it if you will only pay a true budget price. See the Elation review.
How to choose cheap leggings
Decide what you will do in them. A $32 legging can be fine for yoga or the couch. For squats, the choice narrows to leggings with a squat-proof claim, such as the Gymshark Whitney and Lift. Our squat-proof leggings list covers the higher-priced options.
Pick a dark color. Cheap, thin fabrics are most likely to show through in pale shades. Both the CRZ Yoga owners and the Gymshark care notes point at light colors as the weak spot.
Check sizes and lengths. Budget leggings often have a narrower range. Gymshark stops at XXL (US 14). CRZ sells plus sizes in a separate listing. Neither lists multiple inseams. If you need a specific length, a pricier brand may cost less in returns.
Count the return cost. A cheap legging that you return can cost more than it saves. CRZ Yoga makes customers pay return shipping. Gymshark allows 30 days for unworn items. Both can mark sale items final.
Watch for sales on premium leggings. The data we checked showed Lululemon's Wunder Train and Align Pockets at sharply lower sale prices than list, and Athleta's Elation and Salutation under $70. Sale prices change, and some are final sale, so check the policy.
Know what you give up. Cheaper options tend to give up size range, pockets, length options and durability rather than basic comfort. Decide which of those you can live without.
Use the finder for fit. Price is only one filter. Rise, length and pockets decide whether you actually keep a pair, and a cheap legging in the wrong rise is no bargain. Our leggings finder lets you set a budget along with the rest.
Do a quick opacity check at home. When your pair arrives, put it on in good light and stretch it over your thigh in front of a mirror. If it fails, return it within the window rather than hoping it will hold up.
How we picked
We have not tested any of these leggings. We sorted our legging data by list price, kept only leggings that are credible for exercise or everyday wear, and ranked on fabric, opacity claims, sizes, rise and what owners commonly report about pilling and see-through fabric. We also read each brand's return policy for cost traps.
Only four leggings list under $65, so we added a fifth, flagged as a step-up. Ratings are editorial estimates. Read the full process on our methodology page.
Here is a quick comparison of three picks.
| Gymshark New Whitney High-Rise Leggings | CRZ Yoga Butterluxe High Waisted Legging 25" | Gymshark Everyday Seamless Leggings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $54 | $32 | $38 |
| For | Women | Women | Women |
| Sizes | XXS–XXL (0–14) | XXS–XL (plus 1X–4X sold separately) | XXS–XXL (page lists no sizes; assumed from other Gymshark leggings, unverified) |
| Fabric | 78% nylon, 22% elastane (ButterSmooth, 230gsm) | 81% polyamide (nylon), 19% Lycra | 91% nylon, 9% elastane |
| Rise | High | High | High |
| Inseam options | Regular | 25″ | Regular |
| Pockets | None | None | None |
| Fabric feel | Smooth | Buttery | Smooth |
| Compression | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Squat-proof claim | Yes | Silent | No |
| Flared | No | No | No |
| Fleece-lined | No | No | No |
| Comfort (our rating) | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Performance (our rating) | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Durability (our rating) | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Value (our rating) | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Returns | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Check price | Check price | Check price |
Want leggings that fit your budget and your workout? Take the quiz.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cheap legging overall?
The Gymshark New Whitney at about $54 gives the best mix of price and stated squat-proof fabric. For the softest feel at the lowest price, CRZ Yoga's Butterluxe is about $32, though owners report thin fabric and see-through light colors. Match the pick to your activity.
Are cheap leggings squat-proof?
Some are, and some are not. Gymshark states the Whitney and Lift Seamless 2.0 are squat-proof, but says the Everyday Seamless is not 100% squat-proof. CRZ Yoga makes no claim. Pale colors are the weak spot, so pick black or another dark color.
Are CRZ Yoga leggings a good Lululemon Align dupe?
Reviewers commonly compare the Butterluxe's feel to Align, and it costs about $32 against about $98 at full price. Owners report thinner fabric and weaker durability. It is a fair stand-in for the feel, not for the build. See our Lululemon dupes list for more cheaper stand-ins and what each one trades away.
Do cheap leggings last?
Usually not as long as premium pairs, according to reviewers. Thin fabrics can pill, and some show through over time. Wash inside out on a gentle cycle and avoid heat to extend their life. A pair you wear weekly may still be cheaper per wear than a pricier one.
Where can I find cheap plus size leggings?
CRZ Yoga sells a Plus version of the Butterluxe in 1X to 4X as a separate listing, at a low price, so make sure you open the right page. Gymshark's leggings in our data stop at XXL, so they will not work for everyone. For a wider range, look at our plus size leggings list.
