Compression Stockings for Men: Thigh Highs, Pantyhose and Knee Highs
In this store, compression stockings for men come in five styles: knee highs, thigh highs, over knee thigh highs, pantyhose and footless full leg sleeves. Ask your doctor which length and pressure you need, then choose a size from your own ankle, calf and thigh measurements. Every men's style above the knee here is sold in 20-30 mmHg. This guide compares the lengths, explains each pressure level, and shows how to measure and how to wear them to work.
How to choose a length above the knee
Length decides how much of the leg the garment covers, and a longer stocking is not automatically a better one. For uncomplicated varicose veins, a 2014 review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found insufficient evidence to say whether below-knee or thigh-length stockings were more beneficial (CMAJ 2014). So ask your doctor which part of the leg needs covering, then compare the styles:
The only style sold in 15-20, 20-30 and 30-40 mmHg. You measure the ankle and calf only.
The A203M closed toe and A213M open toe. No waistband. S to 7XL, beige or black.
The A2017. Ribbed and opaque, with a silicone dotted top band. S to 7XL, in black, brown, grey or navy.
The A234. Legs and hips in one garment, with no band at the thigh. M to 2XL, black.
The A209M. No compression on the foot. S to 7XL, beige or black.
If your doctor has not asked for coverage above the knee, a knee high may be all you need. Our men's compression socks guide covers that choice, and the men's compression socks collection has the styles. The wider range is in compression garments for men.
Compression stockings for men in 15-20, 20-30 and 30-40 mmHg
The mmHg number is the manufacturer's pressure rating at the ankle, based on laboratory measurements. The pressure you actually get on your leg can differ, because it also depends on the size and shape of your legs, the stretch of the fabric and how you move (CMAJ 2014). The same review says no single standard is used worldwide, and that in general under 20 mmHg counts as low, 20-30 mmHg as medium and over 30 mmHg as high. Start with the level your doctor suggests, then see which styles are sold at it:
Every men's style at this level is a knee high, such as the A505M opaque (S to 7XL).
The only level sold above the knee for men here: the A203M, A213M, A2017, A234 and A209M. Also in knee highs, such as the A501M opaque (S to 7XL). Ask your clinician whether this level is appropriate for you.
The A301M closed toe and A311M open toe, S to 5XL. Chosen with a clinician.
If you were told to wear 15-20 or 30-40 mmHg above the knee, the men's range does not have it, so ask your doctor or a fitter what to do. More pressure is not the goal in itself: the CMAJ review names lowering the compression as one way to deal with stockings people cannot tolerate. Our 20-30 vs 30-40 mmHg guide compares the two firmer levels.
Thigh high compression stockings for men
A thigh high runs from the toes to the upper thigh and stops short of the waist. The A203M (closed toe) and A213M (open toe) are opaque 20-30 mmHg thigh highs on the same size chart. The store describes both as roomy for wide calves, and lists the A213M as latex-free.
The A2017 is the over knee choice. It has its own size chart, which starts at a larger thigh, so your A203M size may not carry over. You can compare them in the men's thigh high collection, and our thigh high stockings guide goes further on toes and top bands.
Compression pantyhose for men
Compression pantyhose for men are a medical garment: graduated compression from the toes through the legs and hips, up to a waistband. The store's A234 is made for men, with firm 20-30 mmHg support, a brief-type top and a fly opening. See the men's compression pantyhose collection.
A garment that reaches the waist has no band at the thigh to slide or dig in, which can suit a man who has trouble with thigh bands. The trade-off is a narrower size range: M to 2XL, in black. The chart gives no waist or hip measurement, so ask the store's fit team if you are unsure about the top. A listed size is not a promise of stock, so check yours on the product page.
Full leg sleeves: coverage with a free foot
A full leg compression sleeve is a footless thigh high. The A209M gives graduated 20-30 mmHg, highest at the ankle, with a silicone band at the top. You wear your own socks and shoes with it, and it shares the A203M size chart. If your swelling reaches your foot, ask your doctor whether a footless style suits you.
How to measure your legs, including the thigh
Above-the-knee styles are sized on three measurements. An NHS leaflet from Kingston and Richmond describes a nurse measuring the ankle and the widest part of the calf, and adding the thigh for garments above the knee (Kingston and Richmond NHS). MedlinePlus says legs have the least swelling early in the morning (MedlinePlus).
Measure in the morning with a soft tape, snug but not tight, and do both legs. These are general fitting points; follow the instructions for your garment, and ask a trained fitter if you are unsure:
- Ankle: around the narrowest part, just above the ankle bone.
- Calf: around the widest part, with your foot flat on the floor.
- Thigh: around the widest part of the upper thigh.
Then read the chart for that style. The full ranges for the sizes on sale, in inches of circumference:
- A203M, A213M and A209M, S to 7XL: thigh 13-36, calf 9-26, ankle 7-16.
- A2017, S to 7XL: thigh 17-33.5, calf 12.5-26, ankle 8.5-16.5.
- A234, M to 2XL: thigh 15-26, calf 11-18, ankle 7-11.
Each size covers only a slice of those ranges, so all three numbers need to land in one row. The tip on the product pages says to go by your ankle when you are between two sizes, but the size must also hold your calf and thigh. If no listed size holds all three, ask a trained fitter before you buy. The charts give no leg length, so ask the fit team if you are unsure where a style will reach on you.
Keeping them up and wearing them under work clothes
If a stocking slides, check the fit and how it was put on before you try anything else:
- Put them on first thing, before you get out of bed, and smooth out wrinkles so they do not bunch, as MedlinePlus advises.
- Draw them up in stages without forcing them. One NHS leaflet places the top of a thigh length stocking 2 to 3 cm, about an inch, below the base of the buttocks (Kent Community Health NHS). Guidance varies, so follow the instructions with your pair.
- Save skin cream for the evening. The same leaflet warns that cream used before putting stockings on can break down the fabric.
The A2017 and A209M list a silicone top band to help them stay in place. Our guide to keeping compression stockings up works through band problems step by step. If a thigh band still will not stay put, ask whether the waist-high A234 would suit you.
Under trousers, all of these styles stay out of sight, and the A2017's brown, grey and navy give you more than beige or black to work with. On the A234, the fly opening gives access for urinating without taking the garment down. If your job keeps you on your feet, see our guide to compression for standing all day.
If heat or discomfort makes you want to give up, talk to your provider rather than stop on your own, as MedlinePlus advises; the CMAJ review says a change of material or a lower level can often help. MedlinePlus also advises washing them daily with mild soap and water, air drying them, keeping two pairs, and replacing them every 3 to 6 months.
Who should ask a doctor first
The CMAJ review calls graduated stockings generally safe, but it also lists reasons not to use them, including allergy to the material and a leg shape or size that prevents a correct fit (CMAJ 2014). Talk to your doctor before wearing graduated compression at any level if you have:
- Peripheral arterial disease or poor arterial circulation in the legs
- Severe numbness or reduced sensation in the feet or legs, as with some diabetic neuropathy
- Fragile or broken skin, dermatitis, or recent skin grafts on the leg
- Severe swelling caused by heart failure
The same review says poorly fitting stockings can cause discomfort and, at worst, pressure damage to the skin. It is a good reason to check your skin.
If you get pins and needles or numbness, take the stockings off right away and contact a healthcare professional, as the Kent NHS leaflet advises. Do the same if they cause pain or your toes turn cold. If your skin is red, sore or broken, remove them and get advice before wearing them again; do not assume a new size will fix it.
Quick decision guide
FAQ
Should men wear compression stockings?
That depends on your legs, not on being a man. MedlinePlus says a provider may prescribe compression stockings if you have varicose veins or spider veins, or have just had surgery. They are not right for every leg, so ask your doctor first, especially if you have a circulation problem, loss of feeling in your feet or fragile skin.
Why would a man wear compression pantyhose?
Men wearing pantyhose for compression are wearing a medical garment: a graduated stocking that continues to the waist, with no band at the thigh to slide or dig in. The store's A234 is made for men, with a brief-type top and a fly opening. Ask your doctor whether that length is right for you.
What is the difference between support stockings and compression stockings for men?
The names overlap. MedlinePlus lists support stockings as another name for compression stockings. The CMAJ review separates nonmedical support hosiery, which usually gives lighter, even pressure, from graduated stockings, which are firmest at the ankle. The men's styles above the knee in this guide are all graduated, at 20-30 mmHg.
How many hours a day should men wear compression stockings?
Follow the instructions you were given. MedlinePlus says you may need to wear them all day. The Kent NHS leaflet says its stockings should come off at night so your legs can be washed and creamed. If no one has told you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What are the side effects of compression stockings?
The CMAJ review says they are generally safe, with relatively few complications, but poorly fitting stockings can cause discomfort and, at worst, pressure damage to the skin. An allergy to the material can cause skin reactions, and on legs with poor arterial flow they can make the problem worse. If you get numbness or pins and needles, take them off and contact a healthcare professional.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether compression at any level fits your situation, especially if you have a circulatory condition or diabetes.
Lorea Lastiri is an SEO consultant who writes the medical-compression guides for Absolute Support, working from published clinical sources and the store's own sizing data. She also helps online stores turn the searches they already get into sales.