Hosiery

What denier means

1 November 2026

How the number on a pair of tights relates to how they look and how they wear.

A weight of yarn

Denier is the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of a yarn. A lower number is a finer yarn, which gives a sheerer knit. It describes the yarn rather than the finished garment, so two pairs of the same denier can still look different.

Reading the range

Below about 15 denier reads as barely there and is the most fragile. Around 20 to 30 is a light, visibly sheer pair. Around 40 to 60 is semi-opaque. From around 60 upwards most pairs read as opaque, and heavier knits are made for warmth.

Merchants use these words loosely, so a photograph and a stated denier together tell you more than either one alone.

Making them last

Sheer hosiery snags on rings, nails, and rough heels, so put it on slowly with the leg gathered. Wash it by hand or in a mesh bag, and let it dry flat or over a rail, away from direct heat.

In the shops