Opaque tights are tights knitted densely enough to hide the leg completely, usually 40 denier and above. For most people the best all-rounder is a 60 denier pair: properly opaque, yet light enough to wear from September right through to spring. Step up to 80 or 125 denier when you want more warmth and coverage, or down to 35 denier for a semi-opaque finish that still shows a little skin.
Here is how to choose opaque tights by denier and finish, what makes a pair stay up and last, and the styles worth owning. Every pair below is built with our seamless 3D-knit and engineered high-waisted waistband, so they sit flat and hold their place all day.
What makes tights opaque?
Denier measures the thickness of the yarn. The higher the number, the denser the knit and the more opaque the finish. From around 40 denier upwards, tights read as opaque, meaning your skin tone no longer shows through. Below that you move into semi-opaque (roughly 30 to 40 denier), then sheer (under 20 denier).
Opacity is not only about warmth. A well-made opaque tight gives a clean, even finish with no patchiness at the knee or thigh, which is exactly where cheaper pairs thin out and ladder. Ours use up to 5,000 nylon spirals per inch of elastane, so the colour stays solid and the knit resists snags.
Opaque tights by denier
The Thirty-Five Semi-Opaque
35 denier. A semi-opaque black with a hint of skin, light enough for milder days and easy from morning to evening.
Good for: transitional weather and a softer finish.
The Sixty Opaque
60 denier. Our bestselling opaque and the pair to buy first. Fully opaque, soft, and comfortable enough for every day.
Good for: everyday wear from autumn to spring.
The Eighty Opaque
80 denier. Thicker, warmer and completely opaque, with a flawless matte finish for colder mornings.
Good for: winter and maximum coverage.
The 125 Nano Opaque
125 denier. Our warmest, knitted from ultra-soft nano yarn, as cosy as they are opaque.
Good for: the coldest days and layering under boots.
Opaque or sheer: which to choose
Choose opaque when you want coverage, warmth and a solid block of colour, most often black through autumn and winter. Choose sheer tights when you want a barely-there finish that lets some skin show, better for warmer months and dressier looks. Semi-opaque sits between the two, and is the easiest place to start if you are unsure.
If you mainly wear black, a 60 denier opaque and a sheer nude will cover almost every occasion between them. For the full breakdown of what each weight does, read our guide to denier decoded.
Why our opaque tights stay up and last
Two things separate a pair you keep from a pair you bin. The first is the waistband. Ours is engineered high-waisted, so it sits flat at the natural waist with no digging, rolling or falling down. The second is the knit. We tested 196 samples on 67 women over a year of development to get the fit and durability right, then built every pair with a seamless 3D-knit and a single seam under the toe.
Customers regularly tell us their pairs are still going strong after years, not months. That is the real case for buying one good pair over three cheap ones: a lower cost per wear, and a leg that looks the same in March as it did in September.
How to style black opaque tights
Black opaque tights are the most versatile thing in a winter wardrobe. A 60 or 80 denier pair carries a dress and boots through the day, then works just as well with a skirt and heels in the evening. For more on pairing them up, read our guide to wearing black tights with a dress.
If you want warmth without weight, size up in denier rather than doubling up pairs. One 80 denier pair is warmer, neater and more comfortable than two thinner ones layered together.
Opaque tights: your questions answered
What does opaque mean in tights?
Opaque tights hide the leg completely, with no skin showing through. In practice that means roughly 40 denier and above. Our 60, 80 and 125 denier pairs are all fully opaque.
What denier is best for opaque tights?
60 denier is the best all-rounder: fully opaque but still light enough for daily wear from autumn to spring. Choose 80 or 125 denier for more warmth, or 35 denier for a semi-opaque finish.
Are opaque tights warm?
Yes. The higher the denier, the warmer the pair. 80 and 125 denier opaque tights are ideal for cold weather, while 60 denier suits milder autumn days. For more, see our guide to warm tights for winter.
Do opaque tights fall down?
A good pair should not. Ours use an engineered high-waisted waistband that sits flat and holds its place all day, with no rolling or digging.
What are the best black opaque tights in the UK?
Our bestselling pair is The Sixty Opaque in black, a 60 denier opaque with a seamless 3D-knit and high-waisted waistband. For colder days, The Eighty Opaque steps up the warmth and coverage.
Opaque or semi-opaque: which should I choose?
Choose opaque (60 denier and up) for full coverage and warmth. Choose semi-opaque (around 35 denier) for a lighter finish that shows a little skin, better for milder weather and a softer look.
Words by The Heist Team.
