The Best Work Pants for Women

Women in hands-on industries often turn to men’s workwear to get by. But the landscape of women’s workwear is quickly changing, and with that, choice follows. There are now brands dedicated to finding the perfect balance between fit and function for women’s workwear. Gone are the days of needing to buy pants too big so our hips would fit, but then our legs were drowning in material.

You might be looking for an economic pick, like the Dickies Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants, or a pair of overalls: check out the Liberty Duck Bib Overalls. We tested a myriad of options and designs.

As both an equestrian and an outdoorswoman, our primary tester finds herself grabbing durable gear more often than most. She tested a wide swath of pants over a 6-month period and beat the heck out of them in the process. Between horseback riding and general mayhem, these pants passed the test. 

Editor’s Note: For our November 12, 2024 update, we added a Price & Value section to show what buyers get with different price points. 

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Women’s Work Pants Comparison Chart

Women’s Work Pants	Price	Material	Inseam	Size
Dovetail Britt Utility	$99	Cotton, spandex	28, 30, 32, 34, 36	000-24
Dickies Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants	$50	Cotton, spandex	Regular	2-16
Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex	$70	Cotton, elastane	Short, Regular, Tall	0-26
Liberty Duck Bib Overalls	$53	Cotton	N/A	S-XXL
Carhartt Force Lightweight Utility Legging	$60	Nylon and spandex ponte	Regular and Tall	XS-XXL
Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean	$55	Cotton	30, 32, 34, 36, 38	00-15
KÜHL Ryder Pant	$99	Cotton and spandex	30, 32, 34	0-16

How We Tested Women’s Work Pants

Our Expert Tester

The GearJunkie team is made up of women who play and work in the outdoors. We are horsewomen, ranchers, landscapers, and all-around outdoorswomen. We need durable pants that fit and can keep up, literally. 

Constance Mahoney grew up on a working ranch in Montana. Her family did it all: cows, sheep, goats, chickens, and horses. Work pants were hard to come by when she was younger, and she often left with her brother’s hand-me-downs.

She still remembers getting her first pair of brand-new women’s Carhartt pants. She put them through the wringer, raising 4-H steers, moving irrigation, welding projects, fencing, painting, mucking out barns, etc. She had them for over a decade. Transitioning into adulthood, Mahoney always stayed close to outdoor work. Currently, she is a ranch manager in Colorado and still wears work pants daily.

Our Testing Process

We tested these pants at work and when we were out having fun. We wore them outside doing daily chores, riding horses, hopping fences, and stacking firewood. 

Let’s be honest: pants are hard to find for women in general. We first wanted to know how they fit when we put them on. How were the length and waist, and did they offer additional pockets? We love our pockets, even in work pants. We wanted to ensure they could move when needed, paying particular attention to the flexibility, stretch, and snagging and noting if the back crept down when we bent over. 

After we put them to work, we inspected the pairs to note any noticeable fraying, pilling, or seam ripping. We did the same inspection after we washed them. We also tried them on again after washing them because there is nothing worse than finding your pants too tight the next time you go to put them on. 

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Women’s Work Pants

Whether on a construction site, in a barn, or working outdoors, finding the perfect pair of women’s work pants is essential for comfort, durability, and functionality. Finding the right women’s work pants involves balancing functionality, comfort, and style. Considering these factors, you’ll be well-equipped to make a smart and informed decision tailored to your work environment and needs. Here’s a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you make an informed decision.

It’s important to note that this guide focuses solely on workwear made for women. For lighter, more outdoor-oriented pants, take a peek at our GearJunkie guide on women’s hiking pants, or scope out our men’s-specific guide to work pants.

Material

The first thing you need to consider is the work you plan on doing. Will you be around large machinery, animals, or landscaping projects? Will you need to be quick on your feet, maximizing stretch and freedom, or will you need something heavier-duty with more protection? 

The best women’s work pants are a combination of cotton and spandex/elastane. The spandex allows the fabric to “give” and creates flexibility. The cotton is usually spun into a tight weave called canvas. That makes the pants thicker and more durable. An even tighter cotton weave is called “duck canvas.” Pants made with canvas and duck canvas are resistant to wear and tear, ensuring longevity. 

Dickies Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants are made with both spandex and duck canvas allowing them to be durable yet flexible. If you are looking for something with more stretch, the Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex offers a canvas weave with more elastane, creating flexibility. Or if all you want is comfort and freedom and don’t need too much protection, the Carhartt Force Lightweight Utility Legging is a stellar option. 

Durability

Above, we discussed the material and what makes it durable, but there are more things to consider when looking at how long women’s work pants will last. Here are a few features of work pants that can help boost their lifespan and improve comfort on the job site.

Articulated Knees

It is when the knee area, think the top of the shin bone to above the knee, has either additional material, double/triple stitching, or darts sewn in at natural crease locations. It allows for extra movement to mitigate creating holes in the knee over time. Canvas and duck canvas can be stiff, and having reinforced areas helps strengthen the pants. 

Crotch Gussets

If you need additional flexibility to swing your leg over a horse or a fence, or climb a ladder, look for a work pant with a crotch gusset. A crotch gusset consists of extra fabric (or a gusset) woven into the crotch area. It is usually in the shape of a diamond or triangle. This allows for more comfort and flexibility as you move.

Reinforced Areas

The best women’s work pants will have reinforced knees and cuffs. Adding extra material or stitching will help high-use areas maintain their integrity and last longer. 

Stitching

• Bartacks: Bartacks are extra stitching added to stress points to prevent tears. They are typically done in short bursts around high-stress points.

• Double and Triple-Stitched Seams: To ensure maximum longevity, many styles come with double or even triple stitching on the seams.

• Rivets: Rivets are small, round pieces of metal attached to the parts of your work pants that take a lot of stress. The rivets carry the weight of your movement while you work, preventing the pants from ripping. 

Fit

This is where it gets complicated. As we noted above, pants are problematic for women. Rarely can we buy from size charts and get the exact fit we want. With that said, work pants are generally less fitted, allowing for some wiggle room. The best thing you can do is try on the pants in a store to decide what fits you best. Some pants have a curvy and straight fit, which helps customize the fit better. 

More and more brands are expanding their size chart, and we are so excited! Most of the pants we tested had inseam and size options to pick from. Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean had the best inseam options ranging from 30 to 38, while the Dovetail Britt Utility had the best size range from 000 to 24. 

Even with the additional sizing, we sometimes need to wear belts to cinch up the waist. But sometimes, it’s a good way to show off some cool belt buckles! If you want to avoid wearing a belt, we appreciate the KÜHL Ryder Pant interior drawstring. 

Style

Depending on what kind of work you are doing, your style choice might be made for you. If you are working with a lot of tools and need additional places to store things, you will want to look for more cargo-style pants. Cargo doesn’t necessarily mean loose or baggy, just pants with pockets on the thigh. Many of the best women’s work pants have pockets but are not too boxy. The Filson Canvas Straight-Leg Pant is an excellent example of straight-legged work pants. 

A lot of the styles we tested ranged from regular fit to relaxed. Some might argue the Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex is considered skinny jeans, but that is as skinny as it gets outside of the Carhartt Force Lightweight Utility Legging. 

Some people prefer the bib function for work, and who can blame them? They have ample storage, and you never have to worry about them falling down. If you find yourself in that category, our top bib pick is the Liberty Duck Bib Overalls.

Again, depending on your job, you may need something with added knee protection. The Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex has reinforced knees and openings for knee pads.  

Consider your color options, too. If you work with machinery or in a shop, dark colors tend to hide stains if that is something you are concerned about, but make sure you check to see if there are any dress codes you need to follow. The Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean comes in colors ranging from bleached to black.   

Price and Value

Work pants can be an investment, but we found several great options that ran in the middle. The more expensive work pants will be made with a higher quality duck canvas, making them more durable and lasting longer.

Budget

If you’re shopping on a budget, you can find a solid pair of work pants for around $50. Our budget pick, Dickies’ Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants ($50), have a reinforced front panel, plenty of stretch, and seven pockets to stash whatever you need. Despite the reinforced front panel, these cotton/spandex pants are probably not going to last as long as others on this list, and they run big and long for their sizes, but at $50, you’re getting a lot of pant for the price.

Mid-Tier

The $55 to $75 price range bumps you up into more rugged materials as you get with the Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex ($70). These pants are made with canvas blended with spandex for a good blend of durability and stretchiness. The knees even have double the material with sleeves for knee pads. They also offer something that should be required on every pair of work pants: The high-rise back prevents workers from the dreaded plumber’s crack.

Premium

Closer to the $100 mark, you’re getting top-level durability, plenty of thoughtful features, and some customization options. The KÜHL Rydr Pant ($99) is the perfect blend of soft and tough and comes with reinforced cuffs that have an additional two inches of vertical reinforcement. Since most work pants tend to fray from the bottom up, we especially appreciated that detail. The pants have an internal drawstring to dial in the fit and several inseam options, and they also come in relaxed or straight-leg, so you can get the exact fit that you want.

Frequently Asked Questions