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The best butt-lifting leggings, at a glance
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Let’s be honest. It’s not that you necessarily need the best butt-lifting leggings in your closet—but a pair that makes you feel confident in the gym never hurts. Booty-shaping tights exist on a spectrum, with pairs ranging from the subtle (read: mildly supportive fabric) to the more intense (see: padded pairs). In between exists every combination of strategic seams, ruching, compression, and paneling for a sculpted look—not unlike tummy-control leggings.
With so many options available, nothing’s stopping you from finding a pair with your ideal combo of lift and details like stretch, sweat-wicking fabric, and squat-proof coverage. To help you find the pair of leggings that checks all your boxes, we turned to fitness instructors and Glamour editors who live in activewear. Below, shop the best butt-lifting leggings for every workout, coffee run, and stroll around the neighborhood.
1. Best Overall: Vuori Daily Leggings
Our testers love these Vuori leggings because they’re “cute and functional,” says Glamour contributor Jessie Quinn. “Thanks to the four-way stretch, they have a soft and smooth texture that’s a little more compressive while remaining flexible enough for Pilates and yoga.” You can adjust the waistband to prevent it from sliding down during workouts, although our testers advise against this for high-impact activities.
Our review: “I have narrow hips with very little shape to my butt (flat-butt syndrome) and a short waist. These Vuori Daily leggings have a drawstring with a waistband that’s not overly tight, and the stripe pattern on this particular style gives an illusion that there’s some more shape in my backside.” —Jill Brown, a personal trainer and fitness instructor at Equinox
2. Most Lifting: Spanx SpanxShape Booty Boost Full-Length Leggings
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Leggings with built-in shapewear can give the backside a little extra oomph while also feeling compressive enough to support weight-lifting and high-intensity workouts. These Spanx leggings are designed with medium compression to give a shaping effect, plus sweat-wicking powers so you never have to deal with visible sweat marks on your hip creases or booty ever again.
Our review: “I am a yoga girlie through and through, so compressive leggings aren’t my favorite, since they tend to resist some of the flexibility required for certain poses. However, these Spanx leggings are just as comfortable as my buttery-soft Vuori leggings, and I love the way they lift up my backside and cinch my stomach area (especially on days when I feel a bit bloated). I am usually a size extra-small in leggings, but I sized up to a small in these, since compression can make leggings feel tight, and they fit like a glove.” —Jessie Quinn, Glamour contributor
3. Best for Squatting: Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tights
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Strike up a conversation with any tights snob, and they’ll probably bring up Lululemon leggings. Part of the brand’s popular Wunder Train family, this style is designed for high-intensity workouts, with an adjustable inner drawstring that keeps them in place during squats. They’re ideal for those seeking a more subtle butt-lifting effect.
Our review: “As someone who moves between running on the streets of New York City and leading high-intensity hot yoga classes, I need leggings that can keep up. The Lululemon Wunder Train full-lengths deliver. The fabric is breathable, supportive, and dries fast, which is a must in the heat. What really sets them apart is their incredible support; they hug in all the right places without ever feeling restrictive. They stay in place no matter how dynamic the movement, and I love that they transition seamlessly from studio to street. It’s performance, support, and comfort wrapped up in one perfect pair.” —Kelly Isaac, yoga instructor and owner of ID Hot Yoga
4. Best for Pilates: FP Movement High-Rise 7/8-Length Good Karma Leggings
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The risk with compression leggings is that they can feel too tight and restrictive, but FP Movement’s Good Karma leggings provide more of a gentle hug that’s ideal for activities like Pilates and yoga. They’re made with a thick and durable ribbed material and have teeny perforations along the backs of the legs for airflow. The color selection also deserves a shout-out, especially if you’re an fan of bright, sunny shades.
Our review: “I am loving the FP Movement Good Karma leggings right now, and I swear my butt has never looked better. I love the fabric and detailing on the back of the leg. They’re supportive without being restrictive, making them perfect for Pilates. I feel like my body can move the way it needs to on the Reformer to get the most out of my workout. They also stay put, so I’m not worrying about pulling them up or fixing them all the time.” —Jenn Seracuse, Pilates instructor and founder of Re:Form Lab
5. Best for Tummy Control: Halara UltraSculpt SoCinched Leggings
These TikTok-approved workout leggings from Halara were designed expressly for people who want a butt-lifting fit. The brand’s UltraSculpt fabric, which it describes as a cross between activewear and shapewear material, provides plenty of shape, while a V-shaped seam in the back further sets off your bum. The front also features a sculpting element in its tummy-control waistband.
Our review: “I love the Halara SoCinched leggings because they have a little cinch above the butt for extra support and lift. Although they’re super supportive, the fabric doesn’t feel tough or thick—it’s soft and supple. I can confirm that they wick sweat; I wear them for classes at The Class in New York City (and when I used to teach indoor cycling), and it feels nice to know you won’t be sitting in a pool of your own sweat.” —Soeuraya Wilson, teacher at The Class
6. Best Sculpting: Bombshell Sportswear Uplift Peach Leggings
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These Bombshell Sportswear leggings offer the best of both worlds, offering plenty of sculpting while still feeling buttery-soft against the skin—and the scrunched butt detail adds additional shaping too. The leggings also have strategically placed seams that contour the legs and booty.
Our review: “High-quality leggings should feel like a second skin—you should be able to wear them through a full day of teaching, training, or errands without wanting to peel them off the second you get home. These are my ‘serious workout’ leggings. They don’t budge, have a sculpting fit, and make me feel totally supported. When I want that extra ‘snatched in’ feeling, these are the pair I grab.” —Sophie Solow, Bar Method instructor and wellness coach
7. Best for Petite Women: The Upside Form Seamless Midi Leggings
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Thanks to a 25-inch inseam, these leggings will actually hit at a cropped length, even if you’re short (a bonus, because they have a contrasting stripe at the ankle that’s worth showing off). They’re seamless, which is a plus if you don’t like the look of a front seam at your crotch.
Our review: “I’ve been absolutely loving these leggings. The high-waisted design stays put during sessions, and the soft, breathable fabric moves effortlessly with me, making them perfect for leading classes and engaging with clients. They’re stylish enough that I also like wearing them to run errands or grab coffee with friends. I’ve received so many compliments from students, colleagues, and even strangers who notice the stripe pattern and flattering fit.” —Mia Zifkin, yoga instructor and founder of Firefly Fitness
8. Best for Tall Women: Oner Active Effortless Seamless Leggings
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These gym leggings were purposely designed to enhance your butt, with subtle contouring panels around the glutes, a strategic seam (a “butt scrunch,” if you will), and a hugging waistband. They’re designed to withstand intense workouts with the help of stretchy, quick-drying fabric. One caveat: The brand concedes that they’re not 100% squat-proof and recommends wearing them with skin-colored underwear.
Our review: “These are literally the only leggings I wear, and I own them in multiple colors. I love that they have the perfect blend of comfort and compression. I also appreciate their compressive waistband and perfectly placed contouring lines that help accentuate your curves. They have a bum scrunch, but it is subtle and tasteful. I was first introduced to these leggings when I used to lift, and they are great for that, but now I wear them when teaching and taking barre classes. Also, as a pretty tall woman, I am thankful that this brand makes leggings in different lengths.”
—Tiombe Huggins, barre instructor and founder of Living on the Butter Side
9. Best for Mature Women: Nike Pro Sculpt High-Waist Pocket Leggings
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These leggings are made with Nike’s Pro Sculpt fabric, which was designed for a smoothing effect and provides powerful sweat-wicking. The high-waisted leggings also deliver on functionality, with a thick waistband designed to prevent roll-down during squats and roomy side pockets.
Our review: “I absolutely love my Nike Pro High Waist leggings. They’re sweat-wicking, lightweight, and perfect for everything from long runs to intense training sessions. I can wear them in cold weather and run for miles, drenched in sweat, without ever feeling cold. The fit is everything—especially in the crotch area, which never gathers, even when my weight shifts due to life changes. They’re perfect for teaching, squatting, lunging, and all my booty work. What I love most is the flexibility they offer, making them ideal for any movement. At my mature age, I appreciate leggings that not only provide the right feel but also flatter my body.” —Elethia Gay, NASM-certified trainer
10. Best with Pockets: Bombshell Sportswear Pocket Pop Leggings 2.0
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It’s no secret that pocket placement is paramount to how your butt looks in a pair of jeans. Bombshell Sportswear applied that concept to leggings with this design that has two snap-close butt pockets. While that would be impactful in and of itself, the waistband has a V-cut dip at the back that extends into a ruched butt-scrunch seam.
Our review: “These have become a staple in my workout wardrobe because of how they make my glutes look. At 48 years old, having an amazing butt is the ultimate flex, and you need the right leggings to show off all the hard work that goes into achieving that. I love how the waistband smooths everything out and stays in place during an intense leg day or yoga flow. It also snatches your waist in the most flattering way. I wear these for everything: strength training, Pilates, running errands, and even long flights. They move with my body, don’t slide down, and they wash beautifully, which is key because I wear them constantly. I’ve had my oldest pair for about a year and a half, and they still look great. As a fitness coach, I’m always testing activewear, and these leggings pass every test with flying colors.” —Terry Tateossian, ISSA CPT, founder of THOR
11. Best High-Waisted: Lululemon Glow Up Super-High-Rise Tights
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Lululemon’s Glow Up leggings are made with the brand’s Ultralu fabric, the same second-skin sculpting material that the best-selling Lululemon Align leggings are made of. But the Glow Up leggings have seam lines in the back intended to give the effect of a sculpted backside.
Our review: “The Lululemon Glow Up leggings are the perfect butt lifter. The compression allows you to work out confidently while knowing that you won’t be readjusting all the time. While I am a runner and have other favorite running leggings, these are my go-to when I want a little peach lift, if ya know what I mean.” —Megan Sloan, run coach at Smith Physical Therapy + Running Academy
12. Most Stylish: Lspace Revel Leggings
Some leggings give a lifted look through materials, while others rely on seaming to create an illusion of a perkier backside. These Lspace tights offer a mix of both, with their ribbed material, slight compression, and seaming details that lengthen the legs and lift the booty. They’re also moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, so they can withstand intense sweat sessions.
Our review: “My leggings drawer is the most minimalist aspect of my wardrobe, consisting of mostly all-black leggings without any details. These Lspace leggings were a bit of a stretch for me, but I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone because the white seams add a fun detail while also accentuating my curves in all the best places. The leg seam extends to the backside and creates a rounded effect for added shaping too.” —Jessie Quinn
