Our style editors test the most comfortable work pants for women, from stretchy slacks to tailored trousers
Flexible work arrangements are more common than ever. So, the best work pants for women needs to do a lot more, well, work in order to be a practical and stylish option for home and the office.
The first order of business is that work pants must appear polished. Look for clean lines, a bit of structure, and fabrics that aren’t flimsy. Comfort is a top priority as well — and stretchy material or roomy silhouettes help make women’s workwear much more bearable.
Best overall: Athleta Endless Pant
If you want the best work pants that also feel like sweatpants, look no further. Athleta’s buttery-soft semi-fitted polyester-spandex blend bottoms are genius: They’re an ultra-comfy and modern alternative to traditional office wear. They’re also commute friendly with functional and secure zip pockets and a wrinkle-resistant fabric. Four colors are available in sizes 0-26 in regular, tall, and petite inseams.
But what makes this truly one of the most comfortable work pants for women is how versatile they are. Since they’re as comfortable as loungewear, feel free to wear them as an elevated version. Or, throw them on for light physical activity such as an easy bike ride or hike.
Best black: Spanx The Perfect Pant Slim Straight
Spanx makes some of our favorite work pants. In fact, we tried their aptly named “Perfect Pant” and loved almost everything about it — making it one of the best black work pants for women to wear with anything and everything.
“The Perfect Black Pant borrows from the trademarks Spanx is renowned for, such as a smoothing, elongating effect. But unlike its shapewear, you won’t feel constricted. The Ponte material has four-way stretch and a pull-on band that’s easy to get on. In other words, it’s a really well-made iteration of the black work pant,” writes executive editor Sally Kaplan in her review of some of the line’s other styles.
In this version, we love that the Ponte material is comfortable, versatile, machine-washable, and smoothing, but not compressing. Another selling point of the sleek pull-on pant is that it comes in a wide range of sizes, including petite, regular, and tall inseams in XS-3X.
Best stretch: Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Straight Leg Pant
We’re big fans of Quince’s affordable selection of high-quality basics, and these stretchy ponte pants are another budget-friendly closet workhorse to wear on repeat. What makes these some of the best work pants for women is that while they feel like a yoga pant, they manage to look sophisticated enough for the office — all meaning you won’t be dying to change into your sweatpants the second you get home.
The stretch also helps make them tuckable, so you can smoothly tuck in a blouse without added bulge. In fact, check out our picks for the best white button-downs for women if you want to find the perfect tuckable blouse.
The rayon-nylon-spandex pant is wrinkle resistant, but the pockets are just for show (which is the only downside we found). The straight-leg style comes in seven colors — from a classic black to an eye-catching burgundy — and is available in sizes XS-XL. Some colors also have 28, 30, and 32-inch inseam options for different heights.
Best pull-on: Lululemon Smooth Fit Pull-On High-Rise Pants
If you want a pant that wears like a legging but looks like a dress pant, Lululemon created the best work pants for you. These moisture-wicking bottoms with two zip pockets have lots of stretch, so they’re about as comfortable as it gets. Still, with a high waist and subtly flared hem, they’re polished enough to don in a business setting. Wear them with a silky button-down shirt tucked in or throw over an oversized blazer in a contrasting hue.
They will feel a bit snug as you pull them up, but don’t let that deter you — once they’re on, the pants are made to perfectly hug your curves without digging in. There are four neutral hues to choose from in sizes 0-20.
Best wide-leg: Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Super Wide Leg Pant
Another winner from the Quince Ponte collection is this billowy wide-leg pair. These stretchy work pants feel like sweatpants, but have the polished appearance of slacks. They pull on effortlessly with a concealed zipper and clasp at the hip, and the extra high-rise waistband is comfortable enough to sit in all day. These come in 30 and 32 inch inseams. Mine shrank after going through the wash, so I’d size up if you want an oversized fit.
I also found that the lightweight fabric actually isn’t all that wrinkleproof. But they’re still extremely comfortable work pants, so I still recommend them to anyone who’s looking for professional slacks they can lounge in.
Best cropped: Everlane The Draper Tapered Pant
This taper pant is part of Everlane’s workwear capsule collection, which we love for its comfort and mix-and-matchability. See our full review of Everlane’s workwear to see our favorite pieces, including these great pants.
There are three solid hues and two patterned styles to choose from. We found the high-waist pants (available in sizes 00-16) to be flattering on a variety of body types, but it’s worth noting that if you’re on the petite side, they might fit more like full-length pants.
While the pants look great with the matching blazer, we loved that they looked equally good with a sweater or basic t-shirt, which will help make the overall look a bit more casual if that’s what you’re going for. And if you love the matching pants and blazer look, check out our picks for the best suits for women.
