The 14 Best Butt-Lifting Leggings You Can Buy
Updated: Mar. 06, 2023In case you haven't heard, butt-lifting leggings are this year's official uniform.
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Best booty buys
Move over, shapewear. Butt-lifting and butt-crack leggings are stealing the spotlight. If you want a shapelier backside without doing endless squats, these leggings are your new best friend. Here are the best butt-lifting leggings you can buy—and don’t worry, taking a belfie (yes, that’s a butt selfie) is completely optional. Need more comfy clothes? Then you’ll want to snag some of the best pajamas, leggings, joggers, and loungewear sets out there.
How we chose the best butt-lifting leggings
There are literally hundreds of butt-lifting leggings on the market. So, how did we pick the best leggings of the litter? We listened to shoppers. We looked for butt-lifting leggings that had hundreds of reviews. And we read lots of them. Every legging in this roundup has been road-tested and loved by women across America.
- Best overall: The Gym People Thick High-Waist Yoga Pants with Pockets
- Best “butt-crack” leggings: SEASUM High-Waist Tummy Control Slimming Booty Leggings
- Flirtiest rearview: Yogalicious High-Waist Squat-Proof Criss Cross V-Back Ankle-Length Leggings
- Best on Amazon: Core 10 Second Skin High-Waist Full-Length Yoga Legging
- Best contoured: Aoxjox Smile Contour Butt-Lifting High-Waisted Gym Yoga Pants
- Best for everyday wear: 90 Degree by Reflex Ankle-Length High-Waist Power Flex Leggings
- Looks most like jeans: Spanx Jean-Ish Ankle Leggings
- Best with pockets: Yummie Rachel Shaping Legging with Side Pockets
- Best high-waisted: OFFLINE by Aerie Real Me High-Waisted Crossover Flare Legging
- Best scrunch butt: CHRLEISURE Butt-Lifting Workout Leggings
- Looks most like dress pants: Yummie Ponte Shaping Legging with Pockets
- Best Lululemon: Lululemon Align High-Rise Pant
- Best for pop-star style: Alo Yoga High-Waist Moto Legging
- Best faux-leather option: Yummie Faux-Leather Shaping Legging with Side Zipper
Best overall
The Gym People Thick High-Waist Yoga Pants with Pockets
There are so many color and length options of these leggings from The Gym People, you could get dizzy picking just one pair. And honestly, at this price, you could let yourself get a little crazy and purchase more than one. More than 40,000 women have fallen in love with these butt-lifting, tummy control, high-waisted leggings, and the reviews read like fan mail. They’re thoughtfully designed, with interlocking seams that prevent chafing, and four-way, moisture-wicking fabric with enough compression to hold you in without constricting. The fabric is thick enough to be opaque, but comfortable enough to work out in. Some reviewers stated that they’re the dupes for VS Leggings at a quarter of the price.
Pros:
- Butt-lifting and tummy-tucking design
- Affordable
- Passes the squat test
- Anti-chafing seams
- Moisture wicking
Con:
- Too many options?!
Best “butt-crack” leggings
SEASUM High-Waist Tummy Control Slimming Booty Leggings
“Butt-crack leggings” is a cheeky description for a specific style of workout pants that took over social media and TikTok early in 2022. Thousands of users showed how their backsides went from flat to bubbly by donning a pair. Seasum’s leggings are the original pair that set social media on fire. Their butt-crack leggings have a dart-like waistband, honeycomb fabric texture, and a ruched seam that cuts straight through the butt—emphasizing the posterior and giving it shape. Here’s another TikTok trend we can’t get enough of.
Pros:
- Comes in sizes XS to 4XL
- Affordable
- Available in 80 colors
- Moisture-wicking fabric with four-way stretch
Cons:
- Some shades are more sheer than others
- May need to size up
Flirtiest rearview
Yogalicious High-Waist Squat-Proof Criss Cross V-Back Ankle-Length Leggings
Reviews for these butt-lifting leggings start with either “I love these leggings” or “These are the best leggings.” More than 1,300 women rave about the tummy control and butt-lifting qualities of these buttery soft leggings. According to users, these leggings feel like a second skin, and never ever pill.
Pros:
- Curved V-back design to accentuate and lift the booty
- Wallet friendly
- Squat-proof
- Stretchy high waistband that stays put
- Tagless
Cons:
- Leggings may be too long for women under five feet
- Limited color selection
Best on Amazon
Core 10 Second Skin High-Waist Full-Length Yoga Legging
Shoppers who stumble upon these Core 10 leggings are quick converts from higher-priced brands. In fact, some owners swear they’re the perfect dupe for higher-priced Lululemons. It’s a combination of the four-way stretch fabric and the curvy seams down the back that accentuate the behind. This style has a high waist and light compression, is ultra-lightweight, and has a hidden pocket in the waistband. By the way, this is how to properly wash your athleisure.
Pros:
- Affordable
- High-performance fabric
- Passes the “bend over” test
Cons:
- Waistband occasionally folds over during workouts
- Sells out quickly
- Fabric can pill if leggings are used constantly
Best contoured butt-lifting leggings
Aoxjox Smile Contour Butt-Lifting High-Waisted Gym Yoga Pants
You know the contouring makeup trend? Well, these Aoxjox leggings are using that same idea. They have contoured shading woven into the fabric to highlight the rearview. Reviewers call them “stretchy, soft, flattering on the booty, and thin but not too thin.” These stretchy legging have a high waist that doesn’t move, four-way stretch, and they’re seamless. Another highly rated pair of Amazon leggings our editors reviewed: Dragon Fit leggings.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Contoured shadows highlight the butt and thighs
- Moderate compression
Cons:
- Some reviewers note that the gusset seam started to unravel after a few months
- Pulling the leggings up too high may create a camel-toe effect
Best for everyday wear
90 Degree by Reflex Ankle-Length High-Waist Power Flex Leggings
Compression that doesn’t squash the booty could be 90 Degree by Flex‘s claim to fame. Their high-waisted leggings have tummy control and compression, but miraculously keep the booty looking perky. Reviewers rave that the fabric smooths lumps and bumps while not sacrificing comfort. Reviewer FrugalandChic says, “They’re thick enough to hide cellulite but thin enough to wear even on warmer days! They feel like a cross between workout leggings and cotton leggings.” When winter comes around, you can swap them out for these fleece-lined leggings.
Pros:
- Passes the squat test
- Fabric wicks away moisture
- Comes in 31 opaque colors
Con:
- The cropped-leg length is more of an ankle-length on petite women
Looks most like jeans
Spanx Jean-Ish Ankle Leggings
Spanx Jean-Ish Ankle Leggings are a super comfortable pair of butt-lifting leggings that look more like jeans than yoga pants. The interior shaping panel and functional back pockets give your butt a lift, while Spanx technology slims the waist—and a defined waist accentuates the backside.
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable
- Comes in tall, regular, and petite inseams
- Variety of colors and prints
Cons:
- Frequently sells out
- Not the best choice for working out
- Pricey
Best butt-lifting leggings with pockets
Yummie Rachel Shaping Legging with Side Pockets
Looking for a pair of butt-lifting leggings with the added benefit of pockets? Look no further than Yummie’s Rachel leggings. They feature 360 degrees of shaping from the waist down to the ankle, for a comfortably slim silhouette. The back of the waistband curves up to allow for the all-important booty lift. And the pockets? They’re 11 inches deep, so they actually function while you run, stretch, or sit on the couch. Speaking of pocket function, what’s that tiny jeans pocket for?
Pros:
- The back waistband is designed to uplift the booty, while the front holds in the tummy
- Deep pockets to store phone, keys, and even a water bottle
- Has compression
Cons:
- Only two colors: gray and black
- Black leggings frequently sell out
Best high-waisted butt-lifting leggings
OFFLINE by Aerie Real Me High-Waisted Crossover Flare Legging
When Aerie launched these high-waisted crossover leggings, they flew off the shelves and went out of stock. There were reports of Aerie employees telling lines of disappointed women that the “butt-lifting leggings” were sold out. Designed with a high-waist crossover waistband and V-seam that slims the waist and flatters the butt, they may sell out again.
Pros:
- Aerie’s most popular legging
- Buttery smooth fabric
- On-trend flare leg
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Sells out quickly
- Light compression
Best scrunch butt leggings
CHRLEISURE Butt-Lifting Workout Leggings
“Scrunch butt” leggings are similar to “butt-crack” leggings in that both styles have a seam that runs down the backside. Scrunch butt also features ruching between the cheeks to accentuate your backside. They call a lot of attention to the butt, and they also provide a noticeable lift in the rear and a high waist to smooth the tummy.
Pros:
- Seamless design
- Shaded fabric also accentuates booty
- High waist
- Available in 18 colors and prints
Con:
- Lighter colors are more sheer
Looks most like dress pants
Yummie Ponte Shaping Legging with Pockets
If the thought of swapping your comfy work-from-home leggings for business attire stresses you out, we have the solution: butt-lifting leggings that look like dress pants. Yummie Ponte Shaping Leggings feature a high rayon content for a refined look that’s super soft. The material slims the hips and legs, smooths the tummy, and lifts the rear. Functional back pockets accentuate your shape and give these leggings an “I put on real pants today” look. For more comfortable office attire, check out these casual work dresses.
Pros:
- Stylish and butt-lifting dress pants
- Comes in sizes XS to XL
- Machine washable
Cons:
- Only comes in black or gray
Best Lululemon butt-lifting leggings
Lululemon Align High-Rise Pant
Lululemon is beloved for providing high-quality athleisure that looks cute, stays in place through any workout, and lasts season after season. If you want Lululemon’s best butt-lifting leggings, these slightly cropped yoga leggings do the job beautifully. Made with sweat-wicking fabric that has four-way stretch, they’ll keep you cool working out or relaxing. Here are more great options for workout attire that stands up to sweat.
Pros:
- Lycra is woven into the fabric for added stretch that keeps its shape
- Feels like wearing nothing
- Comes in 24 colors
Cons:
- Pricey
- Petite women may find the cropped style is more of an ankle-length legging
Best for channeling your pop-star style
Alo Yoga High-Waist Moto Legging
If you’ve ever fantasized about riding off into the sunset on a motorcycle, these are your leggings. Alo’s Moto Leggings are designed to sculpt, lift, and make your booty look spectacular. Shiny fabric inserts pop from the matte legging fabric, and the openings are covered with mesh. The material is moisture wicking and has a four-way stretch.
Pros:
- Can be worn as fashion leggings as well as while working out
- Has compression
- Passes the squat test
- Colors and materials don’t fade after washing
Cons:
- Thick fabric might be too heavy for intensive workouts
- Some petite buyers felt the leggings were too long
- Should be hand-washed
Best faux-leather butt-lifting leggings
Yummie Faux-Leather Shaping Legging with Side Zipper
Leather leggings are a closet staple: They go with everything, add sophistication to simple sweaters, and look like you tried way harder than you actually did. If you want a faux-leather legging that also lifts your butt, this is your pair. The two-ply signature waistband smoothes your waist and tummy while the curve in the back of the waistband lifts your rear. Next, add these best workout shorts for women to your cart.
Pros:
- Classic style you can wear forever
- Available in four colors
- Comes in sizes XS to 3XL
Con:
- Too hot to wear in warm weather
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