What Denier Tights Should You Wear? A Simple Guide to 15, 20, 40 & 100 DEN

If you've ever stared at a packet of tights wondering what "20 DEN" actually means, you're not alone. Denier is one of the most useful things to understand when buying hosiery — and one of the least explained. Here's a plain-English guide to what it means and how to choose the right pair for the season, the occasion and the look you're after.

What does "denier" mean?

Denier (often shortened to DEN) is simply a measure of how thick the yarn in your tights is. The higher the number, the thicker, more opaque and warmer the tights. The lower the number, the sheerer and lighter they are. It's not about quality — a fine 15 denier can be beautifully made — it's about opacity and warmth.

As a rough rule of thumb:

• Under 20 DEN — sheer, barely-there, skin-like
• 20–40 DEN — semi-sheer to semi-opaque, everyday polish
• 40–70 DEN — opaque, smoothing, cooler weather
• 80 DEN and above — thick, warm, full winter coverage

15 denier: the sheer occasion tight

The finest, most delicate option. 15 denier tights give a barely-there veil that evens skin tone and adds polish without ever looking heavy — ideal for weddings, evenings out and dressier looks. Handle them gently and keep a spare pair on hand. Explore our 15 denier tights.

20 denier: the everyday hero

If you buy one denier, make it this one. 20 denier is sheer enough to look refined but opaque enough to smooth and flatter — the semi-sheer finish that works for the office, dinners and everything in between. See our 20 denier tights.

40 denier: the transitional workhorse

As the temperature dips, 40 denier steps in: semi-opaque, warmer and more forgiving, but still elegant under dresses and skirts. Perfect for autumn and mild winter days. Browse our 40 denier tights.

100 denier: full winter warmth

When it's genuinely cold, 100 denier delivers — thick, fully opaque and cosy, with the coverage to keep you warm under skirts all season. Pair with boots and knits. Shop our 100 denier tights and winter tights.

Which denier should you choose?

Match the denier to the day: reach for 15–20 denier for occasions and warmer weather, 40 denier for transitional dressing, and 80–100 denier when you need real warmth. Once you've found your everyday favourite, it's worth keeping a couple of deniers in rotation so you're ready for any forecast.

Ready to refresh your hosiery drawer? Explore the full Spanties tights and hosiery collection — hand-selected European hosiery, shipped from Dublin across Ireland.