In this article
Over the past few years, more brands than ever have started offering extended sizing — but it’s still pretty common to see jean sizes stopping at a 32. When I look for jeans to include in our guides (like high-waisted jeans and mom jeans, for example), I always search for inclusive sizing but often see larger brands making only “standard” sizes. And even certain brands that sell “plus-size” jeans cut corners by working from the same patterns used for their straight sizes, with (often thin) designers not designing for curves, according to Virginia Sole-Smith, author of the newsletter Burnt Toast. Sole-Smith should know: She tried on over 60 pairs of plus-size jeans for a series called “Jeans Science.”
That’s all to say that I understand how hard it is to find a pair of good jeans, let alone great plus-size jeans — but it’s not impossible, as evidenced by the pairs I heard about as I talked to stylish sources for this story. As I prepared to write this guide, I asked plus-size people — including writers, models, bloggers, designers, and influencers — along with a few stylists who work with clients of all shapes and sizes for their recommendations. Their favorites cover a range of styles, both from brands that specifically cater to plus-sizes (like Torrid) and “straight-size” brands that offer plus-sizes (like Madewell). And though I’m not plus-size myself, I’m working my way through trying out as many pairs on this list as I can, and taking note of details like construction and comfort. Here you’ll find the best of the best, and if you’re on the hunt for more jeans, we have guides to the best mom jeans and best high-waisted jeans as well.
What we’re looking for
Size range
The jeans in this guide range from a size 14 to a size 40, with inseams from 24 inches (for petites) to 33 inches (for tall folks). But Sole-Smith suggests that you mostly ignore the numbers on the tag and instead focus on knowing the measurements of your hips, waist, and inseam. You’ll get the best fit by comparing your exact measurements to the individual size charts for the brands you’re shopping. This is especially important for more size-inclusive brands — Universal Standard comes to mind — that use nontraditional sizing systems.
You should also pay attention to styles labeled “curvy,” says blogger Casey Brown. They’re cut to save you from the dreaded waist gap, and they’re usually designed to accommodate bigger hips and butts without getting too big in the waist. (A tip if you’re shopping secondhand: Vintage Levi’s 550s and 560s are among the most curve-friendly styles, according to Emma Zack, founder of Shop Berriez, who learned about them from denim aficionado Shelby Anderson of House of Tame.)
Stretch
Stretch is often assumed to be the best solution for plus-size bodies, “but I find it to be of limited use,” says Sole-Smith. Marie Denee, editor-in-chief of The Curvy Fashionista, agrees: “Be mindful of the percentage of elastic in your jeans, because that will determine the level of comfort, how they wear, and how they recover.” One to 2 percent stretch (which will be listed as elastane, spandex, or Lycra) should be enough. But in general, a plus-size jean will typically have more stretch than a non-plus-size jean. Sole-Smith likes to wear a pair for a full day, with the tags still on, to see how they hold their shape beyond the first try-on. “Often the jeans that feel best then are the most doomed,” she says. Every pair of jeans on this list is categorized as “non-stretchy” (100 percent cotton), “stretchy” (98 or 99 percent cotton), or “very stretchy” (97 percent cotton or less).
Rise
The length from the crotch to the waist is a jean’s rise measurement. Most of the jeans on this list could be called high-waisted, with a rise of ten inches or more. A few pairs have a rise of more than 12 inches, for a super-high-rise.
Cut
Creative digital strategist Samantha O’Brochta told me that more companies have recently started expanding their extended-size offerings beyond just skinny jeans, which was the most popular cut among those I talked to. Seeing a pair of good straight-legs on a plus-size model convinced O’Brochta to finally give the style a chance. I’ve included skinnies, wide-legs, and boot-cuts in this guide, for a real variety.
Price
Each pair of jeans is designated as $ (under $100), $$ (100 to $150), or $$$ (over $150).
Best plus-size jeans for women overall
Sizes: 14W–28W with a 28.5-inch inseam | Stretch: Stretchy | Rise: 12 inches | Cut: Straight-leg | Price: $$
Madewell’s denim is well fitting and comes in a number of different cuts — and that holds true for its plus-specific size range of 14W–28W, too. The brand also offers a line for curvier bodies, marked as “curvy,” which is popular among those who are in between standard and plus sizes (typically around sizes 32 and 33). Brand consultant Sarah Chiwaya believes Madewell’s curvy jeans are especially suited for hourglass shapes, and she told me that they’re made with more room through the hips and thighs with that in mind. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been recommended the curvy collection throughout the years as I’ve worked on different denim guides.
The Perfect Vintage Jean is one of Madewell’s signature cuts that’s part of the curvy collection. It came recommended to me by stylists Samantha Brown and Sahra Brandt. Brown mentions that the slimmer straight-leg “helps to keep the silhouette flattering and not dumpy” across different sizes. The jeans have just the right amount of stretch to them — a blend of 99 percent cotton and one percent spandex — so as not to lose their shape with much wear, she adds. Meanwhile, Brandt has recommended these to a whole slew of clients of different sizes — some whom she hasn’t even met yet, only speaking to them virtually. They look that good on almost everyone. These are reliable stock-wise too. Unlike some of Madewell’s denim that sells out soon after hitting the site, the plus version of this pair is fully in stock. One thing to note is that the brand’s jeans can sometimes run big, so you might need to size down, according to Dacy Gillespie of Mindful Closet.
Best plus-size jeans for tall women
Sizes: 32–37 with 28.5-, 30.5-, and 32.5-inch inseams | Stretch: Stretchy | Rise: 11 inches | Cut: Straight-leg | Price: $
Gone are the days of Abercrombie feeling size-exclusionary. Part of the turnaround comes from offering denim in its Curve Love line (similar to Madewell’s curvy and plus-size cuts, this is a separate line from its “straight”-fit denim), which includes pairs that are designed to have no waist-gapping and to accommodate curves through the hips and thighs. The Curve Love line earned rave reviews from brand strategist Rachel Richardson; Marcy Guevara-Prete, co-owner of consignment store the Plus Bus; and content creator Marielle Elizabeth.
Richardson says that a big part of the appeal of Abercrombie’s jeans is the large range of inseam-length options, which are even harder to find when shopping for extended sizes. Though there are five to choose from — extra-short, short, regular, long, and extra-long — the extra-short is only available for sizes 23 to 29, and extra-long for sizes 25 to 32. Even so, the “regular inseam” of 30 inches will work for those who are taller, with the long coming in at almost 33 inches.
You might have seen Abercrombie’s Ultra High Rise ’90s Straight Jean in our guides to the best jeans for petite women and jeans for all sizes, and here I’ve included the Curve Love version. The jeans are available up to a size 37 in Abercrombie’s size chart, or the equivalent of a plus-size 24. The waist-to-hips-to-thighs ratio on the jeans makes all the difference, according to Elizabeth, a self-described “thick-thighed person.” She appreciates that the jeans fit both her waist and her hips, which have a ten-inch difference, without being tight through her legs. “If there’s one thing Abercrombie does well, it’s jeans,” adds Guevara-Prete, who praises the brand for understanding “how to accentuate curves.”
Best jeans for plus-size petite women
Sizes: 10–30 with 25-, 27-, 29-, 31-, and 33-inch inseams | Stretch: Stretchy | Rise: None listed | Cut: Super-skinny leg | Price: $
Torrid’s Bombshell jeans are tried and true, well reviewed, and much recommended. The petite version comes in 25-inch (“extra-short”) for those who are under five-feet-four, and 27-inch (“short”) and 29-inch (“regular”) inseams for those who are between five-five and five-seven. (There are also 31- and 33-inch inseams for those who are over five-eight, which are featured in our story on best plus-size jeans for tall women).
As someone who’s petite at about five-two, I know the extra-short and short inseams won’t have to be hemmed for most. I’m also naming these our best plus-size jeans for petites after hearing about them from plus-size influencers, including content creator Tinsaye Berhanu, who likes that the elasticized waist on the jeans doesn’t roll down. “They hug my curves, and cling where I need them to,” says content creator Nikki Apostolou. And because they feature a skinnier leg, they won’t bunch or sag at the ankles, according to Megababe founder Katie Sturino. You can also get the jeans in a flared version.
Best plus-size skinny jeans
Sizes: 14–40 with 24-, 27-, 30-, and 32-inch inseams | Stretch: Very stretchy | Rise: 11 inches | Cut: Skinny | Price: $
Universal Standard is best known for offering a range of sizes that spans from a 00 to a 40, “making it most progress of any brand in the size-inclusive market,” says Gillespie. The brand has made appearances all throughout the Strategist archives — and not just in plus-size-specific stories.
The Seine is one of Universal Standard’s best-selling jeans, which we first wrote about back in 2019, when writer Maggie Fremont described them as “jeans that make you feel good.” Five years later, the recommendation still stands. Petite-plus influencer Natalie Craig says the Seine jeans are “some of the most comfortable and curve-loving jeans I have ever worn,” and after trying them myself over the past few months, I absolutely agree. These really are the platonic ideal of how you want skinny jeans to be. The jeans have a very fitted leg that highlights everywhere from my hips to my ankles but doesn’t make me feel glued in in the slightest. They snap back into shape well after wearing, too. Another big bonus: You can choose between a mid-rise and high-rise, along with 24-, 27-, 30-, and 32-inch inseams.
Best slim-cut plus-size jeans
Sizes: 14–28 with a 29-inch inseam | Stretch: Very stretchy | Rise: 12.75 inches | Cut: Slimmer straight-leg | Price: $$
Freelance writer Liz Black has been buying jeans from NYDJ for over a decade and prefers pairs that are high-rise and stretchy — especially since she became a parent, since “getting down on the floor with an infant isn’t easy in something with no stretch.” These are among the stretchiest jeans on this list, made from a blend of cotton, viscose, modal, polyester, and elastane, and Black says they don’t have any stiffness at all. (NYDJ calls the fabric “Sure Stretch.”) Still, Black promises the pair doesn’t stretch out too much. She does recommend following the brand’s advice to size down for the best fit, however. Because Black described this style as a cross between a skinny and straight-leg that is more formfitting through the thighs, I named it the best slim-cut plus-size jeans. (And another NYDJ jean that Black backs is the Ami, a similarly extremely stretchy style.)
Best plus-size loose-cut jeans
Sizes: 14–28 with a 27-inch inseam | Stretch: Stretchy | Rise: 12.5 inches | Cut: Straight-leg | Price: $$
The Hester jeans from Wray are available in plus sizes 14 through 28, or the equivalent of 36- to 59-inch waistlines. Stylist Ansley Morgan pointed out that the clothing-maker regularly works with plus-size creators — including Elizabeth, who was once a fit model for the company’s jeans. Elizabeth likes that its denim comes in hard-to-find silhouettes, and the Hester is designed with a straight leg. “I’ve struggled for so long to find a looser-leg jean that isn’t skintight in my thigh and then baggy in my calves, and these are my holy-grail find,” she says. Like all of Wray’s jeans, these feature an elastic waistline with a hidden band that can be adjusted with a button for a tighter or looser fit. It cinches her in so there’s no back gapping. The jeans are made of a Lyocell and cotton blend that will stretch a bit with wear, so you may want to size down for a snugger fit. Or, Wray says, you can size up if you want them to be baggier and sit lower on your hips.
Best plus-size baggy jeans
Sizes: 15 (plus) to 32 (plus) with a 32-inch inseam | Stretch: Very stretchy | Rise: None listed | Cut: Looser wide-leg with a low-rise and dropped crotch | Price: $$$
“They remind me of the jeans that straight-size girls wear,” says photographer Lydia Hudgens of the Good ’90s Loose from Good American. “We rarely get fashion-forward options that aren’t bedazzled or covered in crazy prints.” (Model Winnie Harlow similarly calls them “bomb-ass jeans.”) These are a contrast to the figure-hugging cuts plus-size jeans traditionally come in, with their oversize fit, lower waist, and looser legs. Hudgens, despite not wearing denim that often, owns three pairs — and likes the longer, 32-inch inseam since she’s on the taller side. (Another less-expensive looser jean I heard about, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, is Old Navy’s High-Waisted OG Loose Jeans. They aren’t quite as baggy as the Good Americans, but yoga instructor Jessica Rihal says they don’t make her “feel like a stuffed pepper” as other pairs do.)
[Editor’s note: Some sizes are sold out right now, but you can sign up to know when your size is back.]
Best plus-size wide-leg jeans
Sizes: 14–40 with 26- and 30-inch inseams | Stretch: Stretchy | Rise: 11 inches | Cut: Wide straight-leg | Price: $$
I haven’t had much luck on the hunt for wide-legs that don’t make me look like a clown — but the Baes from Universal Standard are the exception. The jeans are cut as a wider straight-leg, which means that instead of the triangular shape you get with traditional wide-legs, you get a wide-leg that isn’t too wide. The line of the silhouette even makes my legs look longer. Plus, these are some of the most comfortable jeans I’ve ever tried, feeling worn-in from the get-go. After putting on these jeans for the first time, I wore them for a week straight. If you need more convincing, there was one point when Strategist writer Dominique Pariso (who worked on an earlier version of this guide) was wearing them at least twice a week a few years back. And you can choose between cropped (26 inches) and non-cropped (30 inches) inseams. Though the cropped is full-length on me, I don’t have to get the jeans hemmed — a small victory in itself.
Best (spurge-worthy) plus-size wide-leg jeans
Sizes: XL–3X with 30-, 32-, and 35-inch inseams | Stretch: Stretchy | Rise: None listed | Cut: Wide-leg | Price: $$$
If you want a truer wide-leg, then go for these jeans from Spanx. Unlike some wide-leg cuts that don’t account for bigger hips, thighs, and calves in the width of the legs, these jeans do. They’re available in sizes XL through 3X, with three inseams: a “petite” 30-inch, a “regular” 32-inch, and a “tall” 35-inch, making them ideal for those who have longer legs. The jeans are also notable for being the only pull-ons on this list, with a faux button. (Just note: Gillespie says they run somewhat small — so size up to get the right fit.)
Best plus-size boot-cut jeans
Sizes: 14–26 with 30-, 32-, and 34-inch inseams | Stretch: Stretchy | Rise: 11.25 inches Cut: Boot-cut leg | Price: $
Levi’s jeans are a favorite of models Felicity Hayward and Yasmin Geurts. Geurts’s go-to style from the brand is the 315 — a boot-cut designed with curves in mind. She likes that the slight flare balances her curves, with wider back pockets that fan out to the side a little and make her butt look particularly great. The jeans will be mid- to high-rise depending on your shape, and are marked with an S, M, or L next to the sizes, which correspond to 30-, 32-, and 34-inch inseams, respectively.
Some more plus-size women’s jeans we’ve written about
Our experts
• Nikki Apostolou, content creator
• Tinsaye Berhanu, petite-plus fashion influencer
• Liz Black, freelance writer
• Casey Brown, blogger behind Streets, Beats, and Eats
• Sarah Chiwaya, plus-size brand consultant
• Natalie Craig, petite-plus influencer
• Marie Denee, editor-in-chief of The Curvy Fashionista
• Marielle Elizabeth, content creator
• Yasmin Geurts, model
• Dacy Gillespie, stylist at Mindful Closet
• Marcy Guevara-Prete, co-owner of consignment store the Plus Bus
• Felicity Hayward, model
• Lydia Hudgens, photographer
• Ansley Morgan, stylist
• Samantha O’Brochta, creative digital strategist
• Rachel Richardson, brand strategist
• Jessica Rihal, yoga instructor
• Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe
• Emma Zack, founder of Shop Berriez
Additional reporting by Priya Rao and Dominique Pariso.
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