Do Spanx pants run small or large?

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Do Spanx pants run small or large?

Spanx; Gilbert Espinoza/Insider

  • Spanx Faux Leather Leggings
  • Spanx Leggings
  • Spanx Workout Leggings
  • Spanx Bra
  • Spanx Denim Jeans
  • Spanx The Perfect Black Pant

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

  • Shapewear put Spanx on the map, but the brand also makes activewear, jeans, bras, and more.
  • The Insider Reviews team has tested several Spanx fan favorites.
  • From faux leather leggings to work pants, you can find our reviews of each below.

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Although most notably known for its shapewear, Spanx's reputation of being flattering continues to hold true with the birth of its leggings, workwear, and denim collections that have the same shaping technology built-in. Each design keeps in mind the different needs of different body types, and most styles come in sizes XS-3X. Some styles also have the option for petite and tall lengths. 

Over the years, the Insider Reviews team has tested several fan favorites, including bras, activewear, and denim. You can find our thoughts for each item or collection below, along with links to our in-depth reviews. 

Here's everything we've tested from Spanx and what you can expect from each:

Spanx Faux Leather Leggings

Spanx

The Faux Leather Leggings are a fashionable alternative to classic leather pants, and they also sculpt and feel like traditional leggings. The material is made mainly from nylon and spandex and has a crackled design with a slight sheen that closely resembles real leather. The leggings come in a diverse size range and five different colors.

Like Spanx's shapewear, the Faux Leather Leggings come with next-level support that feels like a firm hug. The contoured, slimming waistband is designed to meet your natural waistline, and there is no center seam so you can expect a flattering fit.

Read our full review of the Spanx Faux Leather Leggings here.

Spanx Leggings

Spanx

Spanx has six legging collections with 37 styles total, ranging from seamless to activewear. Some of our favorite leggings come from the shapewear company as opposed to traditional athleisure brands. The difference is in Spanx's comfortable and stylish designs that are executed with features like shaping waistbands and the absence of center seams. 

Its sweat-wicking fabric is not only breathable and quick-drying but also sculpting and contouring. The four-way stretch material makes the leggings perfect for multiple occasions, whether you're lounging or working out.

Read our full review of the Spanx Leggings here.

Shop the entire Spanx Legging collection here.

Spanx Workout Leggings

Spanx

Similar to its famous shapewear, Spanx Active Leggings are made to smooth and compress while providing breathability and support. You can find the perfect match for your workout with its three different styles.

If you're looking for a pair for medium-intensity workouts like spin class, the Booty Boost is your go-to. The Every.Wear has sculpting magic and works best with high-intensity activities like HIIT workouts or kickboxing. The Look At Me Now Seamless is a good option for yoga or pilates. 

Each pair of leggings has stretchy, opaque, and moisture-wicking fabric and a high rise that doesn't dig into your waist. Our testers thought the leggings were supportive and found that they didn't ride up.

Read our full review of the Spanx Workout Leggings here.

Shop the entire Spanx Workout Legging collection here.

Spanx Bra

Spanx

Whether you're looking for a strapless bra that stays up, an everyday underwire bra, or a comfy and versatile sports bra, Spanx has it all. Each bra style offers super-soft fabrics and secure straps that don't feel restrictive or need constant readjusting. The bras are also designed with 3D technology to create natural, glove-like cups.

If you're worried about a bra not working out, Spanx offers a risk-free try-on so you can find the right fit and size for you, with free shipping and returns on all bras.

Read our full review of the Spanx Bra here.

Shop the entire Spanx Bra collection here.

Spanx Denim Jeans

Spanx

The Spanx Denim jeans come in three styles, and we like them so much we wish there were more. They feel like a more structured version of leggings and offer real back pockets. 

Each pair has a high rise with an inner "Gut Check" shaping panel that targets your stomach. Still, you can move freely with its four-way stretch technology that makes it easy to bend, squat, or sit without so much as a second thought.

We tried two denim styles, the Cropped Flare and the Distressed Skinny Jean, and enjoyed their flexibility and comfortable fit. 

Read our full review of the Spanx Denim Jeans here.

Shop the entire Spanx Denim collection here.

Jacqueline Saguin

Style & Beauty Reviews Fellow

Jacqueline Saguin is a style & beauty fellow with Insider Reviews, covering everything from the latest TikTok trends to sustainability in the fashion and beauty industries.  Before joining Insider, she was a freelance writer at Giggle Magazine and Wellness360 Magazine, where she wrote and edited feature stories, product roundups, and expert reported stories. Her work has appeared in Her Campus, PBS/NPR-affiliate WUFT News, and more. Jacqueline earned her bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication studies from the University of Florida. Although she is focusing on e-commerce and style & beauty, she has a background in entertainment, health, and parenting writing as well as social media management. Say hello at or @jackiesaguin on Twitter. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at .

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How do Spanx run in size?

I'm 5'4" and usually wear a size medium in leggings, but the Spanx size chart noted that these run small, so I sized up just in case.

How are Spanx pants supposed to fit?

They run true to size and I would not size up or down. They are still leggings so they do stretch, but remember at the end of the day Spanx is a shapewear brand. This means that they might be slightly tight when trying to put them on. Don't judge the fit before they are on all the way.

How do I know what size Spanx to get?

"For the shapewear and smoothing base layers, just buy the same size you wear in clothes," say Blakely. "If you're a small buy a small. If you're a medium buy a medium, and so on." Anything too snug will end up causing bulges (picture a busted can of biscuits) and discomfort.

Should you size up or down in Spanx leggings?

Those in the know advise purchasing them in a size smaller than you are. Spanx material stretches and for maximum longevity and hold it makes sense to do so. Truth be told it was a tight squeeze.