6 Best Butt-Lifting Shapewear 2026, Tested & Approved by a ‘Glamour’ Editor

Some outfits are objectively just better when everything underneath looks (and feels) a little more supported. The best butt-lifting shapewear can keep your backside snug, create a rounder shape, or add extra volume, depending on the effect you want. That might come in the form of smoothing briefs under jeans, shaper shorts beneath a fitted wedding-guest dress, or more compressive styles that define the waist and butt together.

To find the standouts, one Glamour editor tested 15 pairs with everything from jeans to formalwear, evaluating comfort, how well each one disappeared under clothes—and most importantly how lifted, rounded, and shapely the butt looked.

• Best Overall: SpanxShape Booty-Lifting Mid-Thigh Shorts, $68
• Best for Everyday Wear: Leonisa Stripe Undetectable Lace Classic Shaper Panties, $35
• Best Under Dresses: Honeylove SuperPower Shorts, $89
• Best for Maximum Lift: Shapellx Boot-Yeah MeshSmooth High-Waist Mid-Thigh Shorts, $64 $58
• Best Under Jeans: SpanxShape Booty-Lifting Briefs, $48
• Best for Adding Volume: Leonisa Magic Instant Butt Lift Padded Panties, $40

Best Overall: SpanxShape Booty-Lifting Mid-Thigh Shorts

What we love: These lightweight shapewear shorts were an all-around favorite for our tester, with a supportive feel that holds the backside snugly in place without the tight squeeze of firmer styles. Fitted panels beneath the butt create a slight lifted effect, while the front lightly smooths the stomach. “The sheer mesh zones in back felt a little strange at first—almost like there was air blowing on my cheeks—but they kept the butt-lifting shorts breathable and made them look especially seamless,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “My butt looked subtly perkier, and the fabric was silky and sleek enough to disappear under flowier pants while still feeling comfortable for hours.”

Best for Everyday Wear: Leonisa Stripe Undetectable Lace Classic Shaper Panties

What we love: Leonisa’s shaper panties stand out for their easy, wearable fit, with a below-the-belly-button rise that avoids the bra-line collision of higher-waisted shapewear. The full-coverage back keeps the butt contained with a slight lifted effect, while the front adds gentle smoothing. “I’ve tested a ton of tummy-control underwear, and these were the only ones I wanted to wear multiple times a week,” says Griggs. “Soft lace panels kept the hems from digging into my legs—the same can’t be said for other shaping briefs I’ve tried. The dipped cut in the back gave my butt a little shape and support instead of flattening it, and the smooth construction disappeared under fitted trousers and leggings.”

Best Under Dresses: Honeylove SuperPower Shorts

What we love: “These are the butt-lifting shorts I wear most often for special occasions with more structured outfits,” says Griggs. “I wore them under a black-tie gown and had an, ‘Oh damn, do I have a butt?’ moment. The mesh bands underneath lifted my backside into a much rounder, firmer shape than it looks on its own.” Flexible boning keeps the waistband upright through hours of standing and dancing, while the open gusset simplifies bathroom trips. Detachable straps helpfully convert the shorts into an open-bust bodysuit, and since you can buy it in multiple lengths—including briefs, boyshorts, and mid-thigh shorts—it’s easier to match your shapewear to different outfits.

Best for Maximum Lift: Shapellx Boot-Yeah MeshSmooth High-Waist Mid-Thigh Shorts

What we love: Of the firmer shapewear shorts tested, Shapellx delivered the most dramatic lift, using a T-back construction and booty-lifting bands that define the butt cheeks. The extra-high waist acts like a waist cincher attached to a pair of shorts, pulling in the midsection and sculpting the hips into an hourglass silhouette. “On my short torso, the waistband came all the way up to my bust line, but the grippy top kept it from rolling down,” says Griggs. “Despite all that coverage, these were surprisingly easy to get on and off—the fabric had enough give that I wasn’t fighting my way into them the way I was with some other high-compression pairs.”

Best Under Jeans: SpanxShape Booty-Lifting Briefs

What we love: For a more noticeable lift under jeans and leggings, Spanx’s butt-lifting underwear provides firmer compression through the stomach and waist without adding visible thigh coverage. “Compared with the gentler Leonisa briefs, these made my hips and butt look much more defined and peach-shaped,” says Griggs. “The waistband is tighter and does more to cinch my waist, while the back gives my butt a stronger lifted effect.” The brief cut also makes them easier to layer under pants than longer shaping shorts, though the firmer compression is less relaxed for extended wear.

Best for Adding Volume: Leonisa Magic Instant Butt Lift Padded Panties

What we love: For anyone who wants a rounder shape rather than lift alone, these padded panties use removable, lightly contoured inserts to add fullness without looking obviously enhanced. “I was worried I’d put these undies on and feel like everyone could tell I was getting some help in the booty department, but the effect was much subtler than I expected—kind of like I’d just been doing more squats lately,” says Griggs. “The briefs worked especially well under jeans, though the edge where the padding ended was noticeable beneath a very fitted dress; Leonisa’s shorts version may disguise that transition better. As someone with a bonier bum, I also appreciated the extra cushioning when I was sitting for long stretches.”