The Best Compression Socks, Tested and Reviewed

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These efficient socks will keep your legs feeling good, even throughout long flights.

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Being on your feet all day exploring a new city or sitting for hours on a long flight can earn you tired, achy legs and swollen feet. Compression socks are a simple, affordable way to stimulate circulation, which helps to reduce swelling and discomfort.

“You should feel a difference after the first time you wear them,” explains Dr. Diana Levin Valencia, DPM, who adds that your legs should “feel less tired” and any swelling should go down after a day of use. She recommends compression socks for flight attendants, nurses, service industry professionals, pregnant women — essentially, anyone who tends to be on their feet all day.

Here, we tested several different compression socks in the real world while flying, walking, and more, taking into account their fit, support, feel, and overall value in order to narrow down a list of our favorites.

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They come in a pack of four, are crafted from breathable fabric, and have a little extra support around the arches and heels.

They run long.

You’d be hard pressed to find a brand with quite as many adorable pattern options as Levsox, which boasts 15 different variety packs (each including three to six pairs of socks) — think skull-themed options, nurse-specific designs, and tiny animal prints. But these back up their eye-catching looks with genuine comfort, thanks to a breathable fabric that offers snug 20-30 mmHg compression. They boast a little extra support around the arches and heels, which makes walking in them feel like a mini-massage for your feet. These feel closer to high-quality leggings or tights, offering full-range of flexibility and never digging into your skin. The best part is there’s no irritation where they sit at the back of the knee — the material is soft and silky, and holds up well in the wash.

The Details: S to XL | Knee length | Nylon and spandex | 20-30 mmHg

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The soft merino wool and nylon blend wicks away moisture and odors while still keeping feet warm and supported with medium compression.

The fit can vary slightly between orders of the same size, both in length and tightness.

Merino wool is a luxuriously soft fabric that boasts exceptional breathability, as well as odor-resistant and moisture-wicking properties that will keep your feet cool and dry throughout the day. Whether you’re working a double shift at a restaurant or taking a red-eye flight, these never get sweaty or sticky and allow for maximal air flow. The medium compression rating is excellent for daily use — particularly for thermoregulation and helping to reduce tiredness in your legs. We found that these are slightly difficult to pull on due to their tightness, but the stretchy nylon helps ensure a comfortable fit and keeps them in place once you’ve worked them on. They also hold up well to multiple washes, with no signs of pilling or shrinking after several runs through the wash.

The Details: S/M to M/L | Knee high | Merino wool, rayon, nylon, spandex | 20-30 mmHg

Comrad

They’re made from a soft nylon blend that’s breathable and supportive enough for daily wear.

The material is relatively thin.

Comrad’s everyday knee-high compression socks are like a gentle hug for your legs. With a light compression rating, they’re designed to help alleviate discomfort and muscle stiffness during long days on your feet, overnight flights, or workout recovery. They offer support without feeling constricting, which makes them easy to wear throughout the work day and beyond. We love that they’re available in three stylish and sophisticated ombre designs, which stand out from the other playfully-patterned socks on the market. They’re crafted from a breathable nylon blend that increases airflow, with antimicrobial properties that keep your feet feeling (and smelling) fresh. The material is somewhat thin, which makes these less comfortable to wear without shoes than more padded options, but there is still a slight cushion in the toe and heel.

The Details: S to XL, and wide sizes | Below the knee | Nylon, spandex | 15-20 mmHg

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They offer extra cushioning in the heel and toe for additional support.

The thickness of the material may be too insulating for warmer weather.

With a cushioned sole and toe and dedicated arch support, these are more supportive than thinner compression socks and are easier to walk in on harder surfaces. The toe band is also designed to reduce blisters, and offers plenty of room to avoid crowding your toes together. We appreciate how the nylon and spandex blend is sturdier than some similar styles, so they won’t slide around in your shoes. The fabric feels soft and substantial, which is particularly great for colder weather — and while these are breathable and won’t get sticky or sweaty, they are a bit thick. To ensure they stay in place all day long, there’s an upper-calf band to secure them.

The Details: S to XL | Below the knee | Nylon, spandex | 20-30 mmHg

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This eight-pack is budget-friendly and available in a wide array of colors and patterns.

Their light compression rating can feel minimal depending on leg circumference.

These best-selling compression socks offer a light 15-20 mmHg of gradual compression, making them ideal for improving blood flow and reducing achiness in the legs when worn for activities like workout classes, long walks, or red-eye flights. Their light compression rating may not offer enough support for some people — depending on your leg circumference, you may want to size down to ensure a snug fit — but that also makes them a great starter sock for those who aren’t sure how much compression they need. 360-degree stretch offers plenty of flexibility without cutting into skin. We love that they’re available in such a wide range of colors and patterns, with the basic black ones looking indistinguishable from non-compression socks. With an eight-pack costing less than $30, these are a great affordable option for daily wear.

The Details: S/M to L/XL | Below the knee | Nylon, spandex | 15-20 mmHg

Bombas

Crafted from 70 percent long staple cotton, these are thick enough to keep you warm on chilly winter nights.

They can dig into your upper calves slightly at the top.

Bombas is well known for their top-quality, long-lasting socks — and their Everyday Compression Socks are yet another case in point. Made from a super-soft and cozy long staple cotton blend, these run thicker than most of the options on this list. Thanks to their substantial material and the way their gradual compression increases blood flow, your feet will feel warm and toasty without overheating in these winter-ready socks. While they’ve got a lighter, daily-use compression rating, they offer a snug fit that can dig slightly into the upper calf, so those with wider calves in particular may feel constricted — but it’s easy enough to minimize if you roll them down slightly. We love the retro stripe patterns, which come in six colorways.

The Details: S to L | Below the knee | Cotton, polyester, elastane, nylon | 15-20 mmHg

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They run up to size 2XL, making these a particularly comfortable option for those with wider calves.

The sizing can be tricky, with some socks running too long in the leg or foot.

Whether you’re headed on a long-haul flight or your morning run, these soft and breathable socks will keep you comfortable while reducing swelling and leg fatigue. With a firm compression rating of 20-30 mmHg, these offer excellent support for pregnant women, athletes, and anyone who needs a tighter fit — they’re secure without feeling constrictive. Despite the tight fit, we love that they’re fairly easy to pull on thanks to the graduated compression, and that they won’t slide down throughout the day. Their ability to stay put is particularly helpful for those with shorter calves, on whom they may bunch slightly around the knee. Note that these are hand wash only, which will help them to retain their compression over time.

The Details: S/M to 2XL | Below the knee | Nylon, spandex | 20-30 mmHg

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The graduated compression increases from the top of your leg to your ankle, offering tailored support.

After eight-plus hours, they can start to feel slightly constricting.

Whether you’re sightseeing in a new city or working from home at your laptop for eight hours a day, compression socks provide lasting relief from tired, achy legs. Finding a pair that’s comfortable enough to wear all day long can be tricky, but thanks to the graduated compression in these copper-infused socks, they feel snug in all the right places without constricting your movement. These feature just 10-15 mmHg around the top band, while there’s a lightweight 15-20 mmHg of compression through the calf and a firm 20-30 mmHg of compression for secure ankle support. We appreciate that there’s an enormous variety of colors and patterns to choose from, with 42 different combinations including pastels, neons, Christmas-themed designs, and more.

The Details: S/M to L/XL | Knee high | Nylon, polyester | Graduated, 10-15 mmHg to 20-30 mmHg

The following compression socks didn’t quite make our list of the very best, but are still worth an honorable mention.

Sockwell Moderate Graduated Compression Socks: These below-the-knee socks are a warm and cozy choice for winter thanks to their snug 15-20 mmHg of graduated compression, which helps to boost circulation and retain warmth in the toes. While the merino wool material is extra cozy, the threads can pull easily on the inside of the sock, so you’ll need to take care not to snag them on a toenail.

We tested several pairs of compression socks, taking into account their comfort, support, fit, and overall value. We wore them out in the real world as well as at home every day for a full week, keeping them on for full days when we were on our feet for hours at a time, and for days when we sat in place without moving for hours. We took note of how our legs felt throughout the day, paying attention to if they showed reduced swelling or felt less tired. We washed them between wears according to the care instructions, checking to see how well the compression and material held up to multiple washes. Based on the products that scored the highest in our testing and further in-depth research, we compiled this list of the best compression socks.

Compression socks are great for wearing while flying to help circulation, and they should also be used whenever you are on your feet all day or sitting in the same position for hours at a time. “If you’re in the same position all day, the blood is pooling up at your feet,” explains Dr. Valencia. She notes that you should wear them “continuously as you’re doing the thing that keeps you in the same position all day long.”

There are two types of compression levels: store-bought and medical grade. “Most people are okay with store bought unless you have a history with varicose veins, a vascular issue, or a peripheral vascular disease,” says Dr. Valencia. The different levels are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), starting at 10-15 mmHg, with higher numbers equalling stronger compression. Most store-bought options are between 10-40 mmHg; above that, you’ll typically need to get a doctor to write a prescription.

Beyond the compression grade, you’ll want to prioritize socks with a breathable, odor-resistant material, which will help you to feel comfortable and fresh when you’re on your feet for hours at a time. This will help to avoid any sweaty, sticky socks.

Dr. Valencia also suggests finding socks that are easy to put on. “A lot of times they’re so tight and hard to put on that people won’t wear them,” she says. While you want them to provide pressure on your feet and legs, you don’t want them to be so constricting that they’re impossible to get on in the first place.

Dr. Valencia suggests starting with the lowest over-the-counter compression grade (10-15 mmHg) and working your way up from there. “If you still find that there’s swelling at the end of the day and there’s leg pain, you should see a vascular specialist and you’ll get stronger socks,” she says.

For general wear, most compression socks are designed to be comfortably worn all day long. You can wear them for a full 24 hours, but even the comfiest socks may start to feel itchy and uncomfortable after the 12-hour mark, so you may want to give your feet time to breathe in between wears (and be sure to wash or change your socks!). If you wear prescription-grade compression socks, wear them according to your doctor’s instructions.

Yes, although there’s no real need while you’re lying flat in bed, as they won’t affect your circulation. Still, you can feel free to wear them – just be sure to switch them out daily.

Generally speaking, compression socks are a safe and simple way to reduce swelling and tired legs. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about any potential medical conditions that would impact your ability to wear compression socks, such as circulation disorders or easily irritated skin.

For this story, T+L contributor Sophie Dodd pored over the results of our compression sock testing and researched the top-ranked products to help narrow down this list. She also received guidance from Dr. Diana Levin Valencia, a New York-based podiatrist, on what to look for in compression socks.

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