Denier is the weight of the yarn a pair of tights is knitted from. The higher the number, the thicker, more opaque and usually warmer the tights. As a rough guide, under 20 denier is sheer, 30 to 40 is semi-opaque, and 50 to 60 and above is opaque, though every brand draws the lines slightly differently.
Below is what each weight looks like, when to wear it, and the pairs we stock at each step.
What denier actually measures
Technically, denier is the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of a single thread. You do not need the maths: the number simply tells you how much yarn is in the knit. A 15 denier pair lets the skin show through, while a 100 denier pair hides the leg completely.
Denier chart: from 10 to 100
| Denier | How it looks | When to wear it | Pairs we stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Barely there | Summer, weddings | Gabriella Velia 10 |
| 15 | Sheer | Summer dresses, weddings | Miss Gabriella 15, Gabriella Plus Calze 15 hold-ups |
| 20 | Sheer, a little more coverage | Office, evenings | Miss Gabriella 20, Linette 20 seamed, Ballerina 102 hold-ups |
| 40 | Semi-opaque | Autumn, office | Gabriella Fantasia Demi 40 |
| 50 | Nearly opaque | Cooler days | Ballerina 105 microfibre |
| 60 | Opaque | Everyday winter wear | Gabriella Microfibre 60, Gabriella Sofia 60 patterned |
| 70–80 | Fully opaque | Cold days | Control Body 70 shaping tights, Gabriella Axel 80 patterned |
| 100 | The thickest | The coldest days | Gabriella Microfibre 100 |
Which denier for which occasion
- Work: 20 to 40 denier in black or nude looks polished with a skirt or dress, and 60 denier is fine for the office in winter.
- A wedding: as a guest, 10 to 15 denier in a natural shade. Brides often choose white, such as the Ballerina Wedding Touch seamed tights.
- A party: patterned 20 to 40 denier, or lurex hold-ups such as Ballerina 441.
- Winter weekends: 60 to 100 denier with boots.
- Pregnancy: maternity tights are cut with room for a bump, such as Gabriella Mamma in 20, 40 and 100 denier.
Is a higher denier warmer?
Yes. More yarn traps more warmth, so 80 and 100 denier are the warmest everyday weights. The fibre matters too: microfibre tights tend to feel softer and more even than standard nylon. Fleece-lined and thermal tights are a separate category for very cold outdoor days, and we do not stock them; a 100 denier microfibre pair is the warmest we carry.
Hold-ups and stockings use denier too
Most lace-top hold-ups and stockings sit between 15 and 20 denier, because the look is a sheer leg with a decorative top. Most of our hold-ups and stockings show the denier in the product name. If you are unsure which style to choose, read Hold-Ups vs Stockings vs Tights and our hold-ups size guide.
How to make tights last longer
- Gather each leg down to the toe before you put it on, then ease it up rather than pulling.
- Take off rings and check your nails for rough edges.
- Wash cool, by hand or in a mesh bag, and dry flat away from direct heat.
- Sheer deniers ladder more easily than opaque ones, so keep a spare 15 or 20 denier pair for occasions.
Our lingerie and hosiery care guide has more detail.
Getting the size right
Tights are sized by height and hips rather than dress size. Gabriella sizes from 2 (S) to 5 (XL) by hip measurement, and Ballerina groups its sizes as S/M and L/XL. Each product description gives the brand's measurements, and our size guides page has the charts. Hosiery can only be returned unopened in its original packaging, for hygiene reasons.
Frequently asked questions
What denier is opaque?
Most brands treat 50 to 60 denier and above as opaque, with 60 denier the usual fully opaque everyday pair.
Is 40 denier see-through?
A little. At 40 denier the skin shows faintly where the tights stretch, at the knee for example, so it reads as semi-opaque.
What denier tights are best for winter?
60 to 100 denier. Choose 60 for everyday wear and 80 to 100 for the coldest days.
What denier should I wear to a wedding?
As a guest, a sheer 10 to 15 denier in a natural shade is the classic choice. Brides often choose white sheer tights or hold-ups.
Start with the pairs in the chart above, or browse all our hold-ups.