Aside from reformer pilates classes, I was never much of a leggings wearer pre-pregnancy. But after a tough first trimester and a lot of time spent at home, the best bump-friendly leggings have become an essential element of my wardrobe, whether exercising or carrying out errands.
When investing in the perfect maternity pair, I quickly realised that not all styles are made equal. Not only do you have to consider the bump, but also the fabric, waistband and overall belly-hugging fit.
Saggy leggings are a big no-no, and mums-to-be will know that sculpting designs are essential when dressing your changing body. Most importantly, the leggings need to stay up and be comfortable to wear all day and for the next nine months.
So, with all that in mind, keep scrolling for my pick of the best maternity leggings that will keep you feeling stylish and comfortable throughout your pregnancy.
How I tested
I tried and tested multiple pairs on my six-month bump. During testing, I attended prenatal pilates, lounged on the sofa, spent days at the office, ran errands and more. While testing, I considered the following criteria:
- Day-to-day wearability: Maternity-friendly leggings come in many forms, with lots of different styles available to suit our multifaceted lives. I wanted a pair of eggins as comfortable on the commute as they were when relaxing after work.
- Stretch: I tested regular leggings that have a good amount of stretch and will see you through postpartum, too.
- Over-the-bump styles: I also included the dedicated over-the-bump leggings that impressed me the most, considering the waistband, comfort and compression each pair offered.
- Under-the-bump styles: I also tested styles that sit below your belly, feel less restrictive and are better for early pregnancy or those who feel overheated easily.
- Value-for-money: I looked for styles that offered the best value for money, whether pleasingly affordable or investment styles that you could wear during another pregnancy.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest is The Independent’s product reviews section, where experts review products without bias, ensuring that they live up to their marketing claims.
Gemma Louise Deeks is an experienced journalist, stylist, editor, and consultant, best known for her fashion, travel and maternity style reviews. Gemma believes that a pregnancy wardrobe shouldn’t compromise in the style stakes, whether it’s a fashion-forward pair of denim jeans or pyjamas that could easily be worn outside the house. Having thoroughly tested all the best maternity leggings throughout her own pregnancy, she knows exactly what to look for when it comes to comfort and style.
The best maternity leggings for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Natal Active luxe maternity leggings: £27.50, Forthecreators.co
- Best budget buy – New Look maternity black jersey leggings: £19.99, Newlook.com
- Best for yoga – Lululemon align high-rise pant, 28in: £88, Lululemon.co.uk
- Best sustainable style – Jorgen House maternity sports leggings: £80, Jorgenhouse.com
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Natal Active luxe maternity leggings
Best: Maternity leggings overall
Sizes: UK 8-14
Colourways: Very Berry, soft grey, sage, soft black, midnight blue
Why we love it
- Amazing fit
Take note
- Would have loved to see more colourways
There is a reason these leggings have almost exclusively five-star reviews and are definitely one of the best-fitting pairs I’ve tried. The fabric is super soft, so the leggings are dreamy to pull on, and the wide, non-slip bump panel felt supportive but not restrictive.
The low-rise seam has been designed to avoid irritating C-section scars, and, if you want to wear them postpartum, just fold the waistband down. They’re such a great price point for the quality and they didn’t move at all during my pilates class. If you like turning heads, this fuchsia pink colour is for you. On top of all that, they have pockets.
Buy now £55.00, Forthecreators.co
New Look maternity black jersey leggings
Best: Budget maternity leggings
Sizes: UK 8-20
Colourways: Black
Why we love it
- Feel like trousers
Take note
- They would be too long for petite girls
I was impressed with these leggings from New Look. The weight was thick enough to feel like trousers, and this pair would make a great option for the office during winter.
The stretch jersey fabric has a side panel detail, which reminds me of riding trousers – a nice design touch – and they are long enough for my 5ft 7in frame. I wouldn’t wear these to lounge about in at home or do exercise in, but they do the trick for smarter occasions, too.
Buy now £19.99, Newlook.com
Vuori AllTheFeels slimflare
Best: Bootcut maternity leggings
Sizes: XXS-XXL (available in three lengths)
Colourways: Green, brown, black
Why we love it
- Can be worn postpartum
Take note
- Might not fit over a full-term bump
Known for its premium performance apparel inspired by an active Californian lifestyle, Vuori’s innovative BlissBlend fabric and fluid silhouette really tick all the boxes for pregnancy comfort. Although not technically maternity leggings, the high-rise design fitted perfectly over my six-month bump and didn’t fail me throughout pilates and yoga.
The texture is soft and lightweight, so you don’t feel restricted, and the matching top makes such a nice set for day-to-day wear. The bootcut leg is super flattering, although, you may want to buy the longer leg length if you are 5ft 7in or taller.
Buy now £130.00, Vuoriclothing.co.uk
Lululemon align high-rise pant
Best: Maternity leggings for yoga
Sizes: UK 4-24 (four lengths available)
Colourways: 14
Why we love it
- Hidden waistband pocket
Take note
- Less bump coverage
A woman in my pregnancy pilates class recommended the align leggings to me, and, after trying them, I was not disappointed. Amazingly, these come in 14 different colours, 10 different sizes and four different leg lengths, so, you really can find your perfect pair.
I went for my usual size (UK 8) and leg length of 28in, which is designed for those between 5ft 5in and 5ft 8in. I often find with light-coloured leggings there’s the worry of seeing cellulite, but this pair is lined, for extra coverage, so you can wear them with confidence. There’s not a huge amount of bump coverage, but they stayed put during my class and felt butter-soft on my skin.
Buy now £88.00, Lululemon.co.uk
Valandy maternity over-bump leggings
Best: Multi-pack maternity leggings
Sizes: S-XL
Colourways: Eight
Why we love it
- Come in a three-pack
Take note
- Not suitable for smaller bumps
When I first tried on these maternity leggings, they were much too big for my bump and, unfortunately, they were not available in size extra small. Fast forward one month later, the size small fits my 24-week belly comfortably, and I can wear these for the rest of my pregnancy, as there’s plenty of space for a bigger bump, too.
The fabric is soft and supple, and there’s an adjustable waistband with side buttons for when your bump grows. Working out as less than £15 a pair, these are a steal for everyday wear. I love that you can choose different colourway combinations, too.
Buy now £36.99, Amazon.co.uk
Gap high-waisted power leggings
Best: High street maternity sport leggings
Sizes: S-XL
Colourways: Brown, purple
Why we love it
- Pockets for phone and keys
I wouldn’t usually think to buy sports leggings from a high street retailer but these power leggings from Gap could rival styles from some of the biggest activewear brands. They’re soft and stretchy but with superior shape retention, and the fabric is moisture-wicking, to help keep skin dry.
Forget chafing; the seams are smooth and the waistband came up high enough on my six-month bump. They would work great for the first few months of pregnancy but perhaps not so much in the last trimester, although, you could always size up.
Buy now £45.00, Gap.co.uk
Wolford aurora light shape leggings
Best: Luxury maternity leggings
Sizes: XS-L
Colourways: Black, blue, brown
Why we love it
- Non-maternity pair, so you can wear them postpartum, too
Take note
- Expensive
Wolford is known for its premium range of sculpting and supporting legwear, so, I had high hopes for this aurora shape pair, and the quality was certainly unmatched by any other wardrobe foundational leggings. The fabric is made from a weighty circular knit that’s perfect for the winter months. It also works hard on shaping and sculpting the body, so you feel your absolute best. Although I wouldn’t wear this pair for working out, these leggings are exactly what I was looking for to wear with knitwear and boots in winter, and I’ll get just as much wear out of them after birth, too.
Buy now £195.00, Wolford.com
Jorgen House maternity sports leggings
Best: Sustainable style
Sizes: S-L
Colourways: Olive, black, blue, red
Why we love it
- Designed by a mother
Take note
- Limited size range
The founder of Jorgen House created the brand after struggling to find activewear that could handle her fluctuating shape during pregnancy and postpartum. Her adaptive approach to motherhood has resulted in a collection of activewear pieces, including these maternity sports leggings.
They are made from a knit fabric that will grow with your belly throughout the trimesters, while moulding to your shape. Meanwhile, a compression belt provides support under your bump. You can buy the matching sports bra (£75, Jorgenhouse.com), too – with adjustable nursing clasps – for a full set.
Buy now £80.00, Jorgenhouse.com
Commando classic maternity legging
Best: Maternity leggings for lounging
Sizes: XS-XL
Colourways: Black
Why we love it
- Seamless over-bump design
Take note
- Pricey
I have a few of Commando’s butter-soft bodysuits in my wardrobe, and I still reach for them every autumn. The brand is known for its silky smooth fabrics and second-skin designs, providing the ultimate comfort, so, I knew its maternity range would be just as pleasing.
These classic maternity leggings are definitely a winner for all-day comfort. The design is one of the sleekest I’ve tried, with just a single under-bump seam, firming fabric and a perfectly matte finish. I wore these all day and they felt really luxurious and had excellent recovery stretch.
Buy now £138.01, Wearcommando.com
Spanx mama faux-leather leggings
Best: Evening maternity leggings
Sizes: XS-XL
Colourways: Black
Why we love it
- Fashion-forward
Take note
- The over-bump band goes up very high
Spanx has a reputation for delivering slimming, body-shaping garments, and these faux leather leggings will certainly hold a place in my wardrobe. I love the shiny leather-look texture – a chic option for day or night – while the fabric still feels comfortable, and the brand’s ‘mama magic’ waist panel has a seamless, smoothing finish, with bounce-back stretch that enables you to wear your leggings beyond pregnancy, too.
There’s also no centre-seam, so you can avoid unwanted, unflattering clinging in the crotch area. My one small gripe is I found the waist panel came up right to my bra line, which felt a little extreme.
Buy now £67.20, Asos.com
Fabletics pureluxe high-waisted maternity 7/8 leggings
Best: Fashionable maternity leggings
Sizes: XXS-4XL
Colourways: Merlot, navy, black
Why we love it
- Pockets on the side
Take note
- Shorter leg length
This brand has a focus on fashion-meets-gym styles, and it’s nice to see maternity leggings in colours other than black. Aside from the merlot colour being a great addition to autumn wardrobes – with a sports bra to match – the side pockets were a nice touch, and my bump felt supported, with more than enough stretch for growth during the third trimester.
The fabric has a creamy feel, so you’ll actually look forward to putting on these leggings, which are moisture-wicking, too – forget any unwanted sweat patches. I would have liked them to be slightly longer, though – there’s a bit too much ankle-baring for my liking.
Buy now £84.00, Fabletics.co.uk
Which are the best maternity leggings?
Although a near-impossible task with so many favourites, there are a few styles that really stood out. For overall versatility, Natal Active’s luxe maternity leggings and Lululemon’s style were the most flattering and comfortable, while Commando’s classic maternity leggings reigned supreme at the luxury end of the price scale.
For more inspiration, read our round-up of the best maternity dresses
