In this article
A great pair of black pants is a cornerstone of any work wardrobe — they’re a go-with-everything basic that can easily take you from a 10 a.m. meeting to happy hour. But as the writer of our guide to the best black work pants, I’ve seen how exclusionary the category can be, with some of the better-known brands topping out their trousers at an XL. With that said, there are plenty of brands that offer high-quality, well-fitting, dependable plus-size black work pants — and in this guide, I’ve set out to find the best of the best. I talked to a range of stylish plus-size women who work nine-to-fives — including editors and entrepreneurs — about the pants that they rely on day in and day out. And if you’re looking for more plus-size clothing to shop, we also have guides to the best plus-size jeans and jumpsuits.
Update on October 18, 2024: Removed a now sold-out Old Navy pair; updated prices and checked stock for all other pants.
@thestrategist fashion writer Ambar shares some of her favorite plus-size work pants #plussizefashion #curvytiktok #workpants
♬ Lofi Hiphop Sleep Chillout(870221) - NARU
What we’re looking for
Sizes
I included brands that offer “straight sizing” (say, Old Navy or Vince) as well as plus-size-specific labels (like Eloquii and Torrid) on this list. Every pair of pants starts at a size 14 and goes up to at least a size 28, with a few going up to a size 40. (Just note: Some of the brands below use letter sizing, with a range from 1X to 6X.) To figure out which size is best for you, take note from Virginia Sole-Smith, author of the Burnt Toast newsletter, who told me that to get the best fit, you should know the measurements of your hips, waist, and inseam, and pay close attention to each brand’s size charts, rather than committing to a specific number you think you are. Along with noting the sizing, I’ve included the length of the inseam on each pant, including ones for petite and tall women.
Material
The material makeup of a pair of pants will determine how comfortable they are, how prone they are to wrinkling, and how you should care for them. Polyester (which is easy to care for) and cotton (which is breathable) are especially popular fabrics in this category, along with rayon, Tencel, and modal, which drape well and are often touted as more sustainable than a synthetic like nylon. Generally, work pants feature some sort of stretch — usually in the form of either spandex or elastane — which helps give them some structure while making it easier to sit for hours.
Design details
After a while, black pants can all start to look the same. With that in mind, I searched for standout details — from a hidden elastic waistband in the back and zippers at the hems to pleating and pin tucking — and called these out when I found them.
Price
I really wanted to keep this guide affordable — after all, you might need multiple pairs to get through the workweek. Almost all of the pants here cost less than $100. Still, I designated each as $ (under $50), $$ (under $100), or $$$ ($100 and up).
Best plus-size black work pants overall
Sizes: 12–32 with 27- (petite), 29- (regular), and 31-inch (tall) inseams | Material: Cotton, polyamide, and spandex | Design details: Hook-and-bar closure with a hidden button, flat-front pockets | Price: $$
Since I last crowned Eloquii’s Kady Fit Pant our best in class overall, the brand has updated the style, discontinuing two different cuts (designed with body-specific fits) and replacing them with a single style that comes in more sizes. Instead of topping out at 28, the pants go up to 32 now. Yes, going from two styles to one might seem like a trade-off — but I still believe the Kadys are hands down the winner in this category.
To start, the pants are available in three inseam lengths (27 inches, 29 inches, and 31 inches), cost less than $80, and come highly recommended by many plus-size women I talked to. Blogger Ashley Carter says they are “worth every penny,” and are high quality for keeping their shape over many wears. And, since Eloquii is a plus-size-specific brand, it knows how to get the tailoring right. As content creator Ashby Vose (who has worked with Torrid) points out, the brand has perfected the fit of these pants as it’s updated the style over the years. Brand consultant and entrepreneur Megan Ixim is also a fan, calling the brand a go-to for workwear and for styles that strike a balance of being trendy and timeless. “Timeless” really is the right word for the Kadys — they’re just about the platonic ideal of what you think of when you think of a work pant.
Best plus-size black work pants for all inseams
Sizes: 00–6 (equivalent to sizes 10 through 30) with 25- (extra-short), 27- (short), 29- (regular), 31- (tall), and 33-inch (extra tall) inseams | Material: Rayon, nylon, spandex | Design details: Elastic waistband, faux fly, side slits on the hem
Plus-size-centric Torrid is reliably inclusive when it comes to height, and these pants in particular come in five different inseams: extra-short (25 inches), short (27 inches), regular (29 inches), tall (31 inches), and extra-tall (33 inches). I was impressed by the range — while other brands tend to make somewhat limited petite and tall lengths, this pair truly would fit a range of heights.
As someone who’s five-foot-two, I know the “extra-short” 25-inch inseam works for those on the shorter side (it’s the length I look for when I don’t want to get pants hemmed). I have it on good authority that these pants are long enough for those who are tall, too: Content creator Nikki Apostolou goes with the “tall” length for her five-foot-11 frame. “I’ve had to wear many work pants in my life where they looked like I shrunk them in the dryer,” she says. These have a tapered leg, with a looser fit through the hips and thighs. “I just know I look and feel great in them,” Apostolou adds.
Best ponte black work pants for plus sizes
Sizes: S–4XL (equivalent to sizes 14 through 40) with a 27-inch inseam | Material: Rayon, nylon, elastane | Design details: Zippered hems, elastic waistband, back pintucking | Price: $$
Universal Standard is known for its sharp-looking officewear, and it happens to offer pants in the largest size range on this list: 00 to 40, according to its in-house size chart (the equivalent of 4XS to 4XL). The Moro Ponte Pant, which is a pull-on style, is one of the brand’s best sellers. A cousin to leggings in feel, ponte pants are made of fabric that’s heavy yet stretchy, making them comfortable and secure-feeling for all-day wear. Universal Standard’s pair is made from a rayon, nylon, and elastane blend that’s pill-, wrinkle-, and crease-resistant. The pants have a flat-all-around elastic waistband, and you can get them with ankle zippers (or without) or with pin tucking (zippers included) for a leg-lengthening pleat in the front. Writer Reneice Charles gives the Moros high marks for style and quality, and she considers them a foundational piece in her wardrobe. They also converted the formerly “pants allergic” editor Maya Kosoff into a believer for their breathable cut through the legs and tapered cuffs at the ankle.
Best pleated work pants for plus sizes
Sizes: 1XL–3XL (no inseam listed)| Material: Linen, rayon, and spandex | Design details: Elasticized back waistband, interior drawstring, faux fly | Price: $$$
At $345, these pants are an investment and the most expensive pair on this list. But Vince makes very good, high-quality basics, and according to Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst, who owns and loves this pleated, pull-on pair, they’re versatile enough to justify the high price tag. Made from a sturdy linen-rayon blend, they’re her perfect black pants that go with everything from turtlenecks to crop tops. “I have thick thighs, thanks to genetics and the leg-press machine,” Denton-Hurst says, and the pants’ tapered leg, pleated waist, and ruched back suit her so well that she “marveled at the fit.” Better still, they are comfortable enough that she feels like she’s wearing “fancy pajamas” while “everyone else thinks I’m put-together and stylish.”
Best wide-leg black work pants for plus sizes
Sizes: S–4XL (equivalent to sizes 14 through 40) with a 27-, 30-, and 33-inch inseams | Material: Rayon, nylon, and spandex | Design details: Elasticized waistband, pockets with invisible zipper | Price: $$$
Universal Standard’s signature Stephanies are made from a similar thick-knit ponte as the Moros above, but come in a wide-leg silhouette. According to stylist Dacy Gillespie of Mindful Closet, most brands that do a “wide leg” will cut their pants proportionally for smaller sizes, but then fail to adjust the width for larger sizes, “so a bigger size doesn’t actually have a wide leg.” Not so with the Stephanies, which Gillespie says “stay pretty wide,” as promised, in the full size range. You can also get the pants in solid shades like navy and charcoal, or with a side stripe, which a former boss of mine wore to the office almost weekly. (One caveat is that the solid version comes in only one inseam length, 30 inches, while the striped version is available in 27-, 30-, and 33-inch inseams.)
Best workwear-inspired black work pants for plus sizes
Sizes: 0XL–6XL with 25- (petite), 29- (regular), and 32-inch (tall) inseams | Material: Cotton twill | Design details: Elastic back waistband, large patch pockets | Price: $$$
The Work Pants from Big Bud Press are a “no-frills, well-made pair” that’s inspired by traditional workwear pants (in the realm of Dickies and Carhartt) — a style that’s often difficult to find for plus sizes. “They’re something that I’d normally see a thin person wear and envy, but now I don’t have to, because they come in my size,” says content creator Sydney Scott. Scott acknowledges that Big Bud Press (which is a favorite of musician Phoebe Bridgers and several Strategist staffers) has been criticized in the past for its unpredictable sizing, but notes that recently, the brand has come around with better fits. These pants specifically have been updated to include a petite inseam of 25 inches and a tall inseam of 32 inches, in addition to the standard 27-inch length. Scott wears her usual 2X, which gives her a snug, hugging fit — though she recommends sizing up if you’re looking for more give, as the pants are made from cotton twill with absolutely no stretch.
Best black work jeans for plus sizes
Sizes: 10–30 with 25- (extra-short), 27- (short), 29- (regular), 31- (tall), and 33-inch (extra-tall) inseams | Material: Cotton, rayon, polyester, spandex | Design details: Elastic waistband and front-smoothing panels | Price: $$
It made sense to include a pair of black jeans at the end of this guide, since that’s what many of the women I talked to wear to the office regularly. The Bombshells from Torrid feature a non-gapping elasticized waistband — important for those with bigger hip-to-waist ratios — with a stretchiness to be comfortable all day. Shammara Lawrence, co-founder of the Power of Plus, likes that the curve-contouring and butt-lifting pants hug her hourglass figure in all the right places. “Every time I wear these pants, I feel so powerful,” she says. The jeans also have the distinction of appearing all over our archives, with fans including Megababe founder Katie Sturino and petite-plus influencer Tinsaye Berhanu. Berhanu agrees that they’re “really comfortable without rolling down when you’re moving around.” And as with the Torrid pull-ons closer to the top of this list, there are five different inseams to choose from: 25, 27, 29, 31, and 33 inches.
Some more plus-size work pants we like
Our experts
• Nikki Apostolou, content creator
• Ashley Carter, lifestyle blogger
• Reneice Charles, writer
• Tembe Denton-Hurst, Strategist writer
• Megan Ixim, brand consultant and entrepreneur
• Maya Kosoff, writer and editor
• Shammara Lawrence, co-founder of size-inclusive community the Power of Plus
• Sydney Scott, content creator
• Virginia Sole-Smith, author of the newsletter Burnt Toast
• Ashby Vose, content creator
Additional reporting by Dominique Pariso
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
