You can buy compression stockings for varicose veins at pharmacies, medical supply stores, online retailers, and directly through vascular clinics or hospitals with fitted garment programs. Where you should buy depends largely on the compression level you need: lighter stockings (under 20 mmHg) are widely available over the counter, while medical-grade stockings (20 mmHg and above) are best purchased with proper sizing from a trained fitter or after a clinical assessment.
Over-the-Counter Options
Stockings delivering less than 20 mmHg of pressure are sold without a prescription at most chain pharmacies, big-box retailers like Target and Walmart, and dozens of online shops including Amazon, Ames Walker, and BrightLife Direct. These low-compression stockings are a reasonable starting point for mild varicose veins with occasional achiness or minor swelling. A meta-analysis of 11 trials found that 15 to 20 mmHg compression significantly improved leg edema and symptoms compared to very light compression or no compression at all.
Prices for over-the-counter pairs typically range from $10 to $40. You’ll find knee-high, thigh-high, and pantyhose styles in standard sizes (small through extra-large) based on ankle and calf circumference. The sizing charts printed on the packaging vary between brands, so measuring your legs before ordering is important, even at this compression level.
Medical Supply Stores and Pharmacies
For medium-compression stockings (20 to 30 mmHg), which are the most commonly recommended range for symptomatic varicose veins, a medical supply store is often the best place to shop. Stores like these employ staff who can measure your legs and help you try on different brands. Some hospital-affiliated pharmacies and specialty pharmacies carry this range as well. Brands commonly stocked at these locations include Sigvaris, Jobst, Juzo, and Mediven.
Medium-compression stockings are also available online without a prescription, but buying your first pair in person has a practical advantage: you can confirm the fit before committing. A stocking that’s too tight at the top can create a tourniquet effect, and one that’s too loose won’t deliver enough pressure where you need it.
When You Need a Prescription
High-compression stockings (30 to 40 mmHg and above) are generally purchased through a medical supply company with a doctor’s prescription. These are used for more advanced venous disease, including skin changes, significant swelling, or healed or active venous ulcers. Research shows that 30 to 40 mmHg stockings are more effective than lower-compression options for healing venous ulcers and preventing recurrence.
Your vascular specialist or primary care provider writes the prescription specifying the compression class and stocking length, and you take it to a certified fitter. Many vascular clinics have an in-house fitting service. If yours doesn’t, the Pedorthic Footcare Association maintains a searchable directory of credentialed pedorthists by state and city who can help with fitting.
Custom-Made vs. Ready-to-Wear
Most people with varicose veins do well with off-the-shelf stockings in standard sizes. Custom-made stockings become necessary when your leg dimensions fall outside standard size charts, which often happens with very large calves, unusual leg proportions, or significant swelling that changes the shape of the leg unevenly. If you’ve had difficulty getting a comfortable fit with two or three different brands of ready-to-wear stockings, a custom pair may be worth the investment.
Custom stockings cost significantly more, often $100 to $250 or higher per pair, and are ordered through medical supply companies or specialty fitters who take detailed measurements. Your provider submits the measurements to the manufacturer, and the stockings are built to your exact leg dimensions. Turnaround time is typically one to three weeks.
How to Measure for the Right Fit
Whether you’re buying online or preparing for an in-person fitting, take measurements first thing in the morning before your legs have a chance to swell. Sit with your feet flat on the floor and use a soft fabric measuring tape on bare skin. The key measurement points are the circumference just above the ankle bone, the widest part of your calf, and the length from the ankle to just below the knee (for knee-high stockings). Thigh-high styles also require a mid-thigh circumference and a measurement from the floor to the upper thigh.
Many online retailers provide printable sizing guides specific to their brand. The Mayo Clinic recommends marking your ankle bone as a starting reference point and then measuring circumferences at set intervals up the leg (5 cm, 15 cm, 25 cm, and 30 cm above the ankle) for the most accurate fit.
Insurance and Medicare Coverage
Coverage for compression stockings is inconsistent and often disappointing. Original Medicare covers gradient compression stockings only under narrow conditions: you must have a diagnosed open venous stasis ulcer that has required medical treatment, and the stocking must deliver between 30 and 50 mmHg of pressure. Medicare does not cover stockings for venous insufficiency without ulcers, for preventing ulcers, or for preventing recurrence of ulcers that have already healed. Medicare also covers compression garments for lymphedema with a doctor’s prescription.
Private insurers vary. Some reimburse medical-grade stockings (typically 20 mmHg and above) when a physician documents medical necessity, while others exclude compression garments entirely. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, for example, follows Medicare’s rules for standard coverage but has separate enhanced benefit policies for Medicare Advantage plans. Check your specific plan’s durable medical equipment benefits before assuming you’re covered. If your insurer does cover them, you’ll typically need a prescription and may need to purchase from an in-network supplier.
Because coverage is limited, many people pay out of pocket. Budget for replacement costs: compression stockings lose their elasticity over time. Research on stocking durability found that class 2 stockings (the most common medical grade) need to be replaced roughly every four months to maintain effective pressure, meaning you’ll need about three pairs per year if you’re wearing them daily.
Choosing the Right Compression Level
For mild varicose veins with occasional heaviness or aching, 15 to 20 mmHg is a practical starting point and available everywhere without a prescription. Even stockings as light as 10 to 15 mmHg have been shown to significantly relieve painful discomfort and improve quality of life in clinical trials involving women with mild to moderate venous disease.
For moderate symptoms with visible varicose veins, regular swelling, or veins that ache after standing for long periods, 20 to 30 mmHg is the standard recommendation. This range strikes a balance between effectiveness and comfort for most people. If you’ve had a procedure for varicose veins or your doctor has noted skin changes near your ankles, 30 to 40 mmHg stockings provide stronger support but require a prescription and are harder to put on. Interestingly, research comparing 10 to 20 mmHg and above 20 mmHg compression found no significant difference in symptom relief for mild to moderate cases, so going higher isn’t always better.
The general principle is to wear the highest compression you can tolerate comfortably, but for straightforward varicose veins without complications, moderate pressure is typically enough. If you’re unsure, starting lower and working up is a reasonable approach since you can always step up the compression if lighter stockings don’t provide enough relief.