Our knee high compression socks cover your whole calf and finish just below the knee. Every pair has 15-20 mmHg graduated compression, firmest at the ankle and easing off as it climbs.

Choose soft bamboo compression socks for long shifts or our Performance knit for training days. Then pick your print: capybaras, sloths, flamingos, or plain black for a strict dress code.

What Is Graduated Compression?

Graduated compression socks press hardest at your ankle and get lighter the higher they go. Every step squeezes your calf muscle, which pumps blood back up toward your heart, and the gradient helps that pump so less fluid settles around your ankles.

By the end of your shift, that means less ankle puffiness and lighter legs. A sock that squeezes evenly up the leg can feel tight without helping much. Read what graduated compression actually is for the details.

Why 15-20 mmHg Compression Socks?

mmHg stands for millimeters of mercury, the same unit on a blood pressure cuff. On a sock, it’s the pressure at your ankle.

• 8-15 mmHg: mild support for legs that feel a bit tired
• 15-20 mmHg: moderate, everyday compression you can buy without a prescription
• 20-30 mmHg and up: firm, usually worn on a doctor’s advice

We make 15-20 mmHg compression socks only. They should feel like a firm hug at your ankle, and pinching or numbness means the size is off. If your doctor has prescribed 20-30, wear that.

Our mmHg levels guide and how tight compression socks should be go deeper.

Knee High vs Crew vs Ankle Compression Socks

Every length in our compression socks range runs at 15-20 mmHg. The difference is how much leg each one covers.

• Knee high: your whole calf, up to just below the knee. The go-to for swelling, long shifts and flights.
• Crew: stops mid-calf for a lower profile under trousers. Shop crew compression socks.
• Ankle: sits low under sneakers and supports your foot and arch. Shop ankle compression socks.

Thigh-highs are usually doctor-directed and slide down more easily. And a regular knee-high sock has no pressure gradient, so it won’t work as compression.

Who Wears Knee High Compression Socks?

We’re a family of vets who’ve worked emergency, so we built these for the back half of a 12-hour shift. They suit:

• Vets, vet nurses, nurses and doctors on back-to-back shifts. They sit flat under scrub pants. See compression socks for nurses.
• Anyone on their feet all day in retail, teaching or a dental clinic. Read about the best compression socks for standing all day.
• Desk days and long-haul flights, since hours in one seat can leave your ankles puffy too. Browse travel compression socks.
• Pregnancy, when your feet and ankles puff up by mid-afternoon. Shop compression socks for pregnancy.
• Runners and gym days, in our Performance pairs.

With mild swelling or minor varicose and spider veins, they can help with the ache and heaviness. More on compression socks for varicose veins.

Bamboo or Performance: Pick Your Knit

Bamboo is a buttery-soft, hypoallergenic rayon-from-bamboo blend. It wicks sweat, dries fast, resists odor and has no seams up the leg, with an extra-thick heel and toe for blister protection. This is your 12-hour shift sock.

Performance is a nylon blend we developed with elite runners and athletes. It has ventilated zones, 2x2 ribbed arch panels, a cushioned heel, toe and ankle, and a smooth keyline toe. Wear it for training and high-sweat days. Our bamboo vs nylon compression socks guide compares the two.

Prints include Capybara, Sloth, Long Boi, Flamingo and Daisy Delight, plus black, white and navy. A 4- or 6-pack covers a full roster.

Finding Your Fit: Size, Calf Width and Where the Cuff Sits

Measure the widest part of your calf in the morning, before any swelling, and match it with your shoe size on our compression socks sizing chart. Here’s how to measure for compression socks step by step.

Sizes run Small to Large, with Wide calf on most styles and Extra Wide on selected ones. Shop all wide calf compression socks.

Our bamboo pairs measure 35cm (14") heel to cuff. The cuff should rest about two fingers below the crease behind your knee. Don’t fold it over or let it bunch: a doubled band digs in like a tourniquet.

How to Put On and Care for Knee High Compression Socks

1. Pull them on first thing in the morning, on dry skin.
2. Turn the sock inside out as far as the heel.
3. Step in until your heel lands in the heel pocket.
4. Roll the fabric up your calf in short sections, then ease the cuff into place.
5. Smooth out any wrinkles.

Machine wash under 30°C with like colors and hang to dry. Skip bleach, the iron and the dryer, since heat breaks down the spandex that holds the compression. For wear time, see how long to wear compression socks each day.

FAQs

Are compression socks and compression stockings the same?

Close. “Stockings” usually means hosiery or thigh-high styles, often at firmer medical strengths. Knee high compression stockings and graduated compression stockings at 15-20 mmHg do the same job as our socks.

How long should you wear graduated compression socks?

All day while you’re upright: on in the morning, off before bed. You don’t need them overnight unless your doctor says so.

Can I wear knee high compression socks every day?

Yes. 15-20 mmHg is made for daily wear. Rotate a few pairs so each one gets a rest between washes.

Who shouldn’t wear compression socks?

Check with your doctor first if you have peripheral artery disease, a current blood clot, a skin infection on your legs or an advanced heart condition.