measuring compression

Graduated compression comes in different levels of compression. The most common levels are first the 15-20 mmHg therapeutic or moderate compression. The second most common is 20-30 mmHg, also know as medical grade or firm compression. This level of compression will be firmer on your legs to aid in more severe leg conditions than the lighter compression levels. Some of these conditions include swelling feet, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood pooling in your legs/feet (during long travel periods or pregnancy) and other arterial and venous insufficiencies.

Medical grade compression comes in various types of products, like our compression socks and our compression hosiery. So no matter what your style, you can still benefit from the medical grade therapy.

The tabs below give reasons as to why each level may be used:

Compression Level Indications

8-15 mmHg

Gentle Compression: For leg fatigue; achy legs and feet; traveling; people on their feet for long hours.

15-20 mmHg

Moderate Compression or Therapeutic Compression: For frequent travelers; tired achy legs; those prone to mild swelling in legs, ankles and feet; during and after pregnancy; spider varicose veins; prolonged sitting or standing. Encourages vascular wellness.

20-30 mmHg

Firm or Medical Grade Compression: For varicose veins; moderate swelling and edema; arterial and venous insufficiencies; reduces pooling of blood in the legs; protection against deep vein thrombosis (DVT); during and after pregnancy; Frequent and long distance travel.

30-40 mmHg

Extra Firm Compression: Chronic venous insufficiency (blood pooling causing swelling/pain) that  lead to ulcers.

When choosing the right size for compression socks or stockings, you’ll just need to know your shoe size and circumference of one or two areas on your legs and use this information to correspond with our size chart to select the optimal size for you.

For our compression socks, measure around the widest part of your calf. Along with your shoe size, refer to our size chart to find the right fit for you! Your calf measurement works for our compression sleeves, too.

If you are looking at compression stockings, you first want to decide if you are interested in Knee Highs (KH), Thigh Highs (TH) or Pantyhose (PH) stockings. For KHs, simply measure in inches around the widest part of calf. For THs & PHs, measure around the calf and around the widest part of your thigh – usually just under the buttocks. Use the measurements along with your shoe size and refer to the sizing chart to make your proper product selection.