Knowing how to choose scrubs comes down to three questions: what is the fabric made of, how does it fit your body, and does it have the pockets and details your workday needs? Get those right and your medical scrubs will feel like part of the job instead of something you put up with. Here’s a simple way to work through each one.
Start With Your Workday, Not the Product Page
Before you compare styles, picture a normal shift. Are you on your feet moving between rooms, bending and lifting, or mostly working at a station? Do you carry a phone, pens, scissors, tape, a badge and a notepad, or do you keep most of that somewhere else?
Your answers point you toward the right features. Lots of movement suggests a stretch fabric. A full set of tools suggests cargo pockets. A quieter role might be happiest in a simple two-pocket set.
One more thing to check first: your facility’s dress code. Many employers set rules about scrub colors or styles by role or department, and those rules vary from place to place. Ask your manager or check your employee handbook before you buy.
Scrub Fabric: Read the Blend
The fabric content on the label tells you a lot about how a scrub will feel and move. Here are the blends you’ll find across our scrubs:
- 93% polyester, 7% spandex. Used in our cool stretch and luxe stretch jogger sets and in the Men’s Stretch Multi-Pocket Cargo Scrub Set. The spandex adds stretch, so you have room to move when you reach, squat or kneel.
- Polyester, rayon and spandex. The Women’s Stretch V-Neck 2-Pocket Scrub Set is 77% polyester, 20% rayon, 3% spandex, and the Jaanuu Xenos petite pants are 76% polyester, 18% rayon, 6% spandex. Both blends include stretch.
- 65% polyester, 35% cotton. The classic scrub blend, used in our unisex sets and the Women’s Mock Wrap Scrub Set. The Wink WorkFlex pieces use this blend with mechanical stretch.
- 100% polyester single jersey. The Vel Endeavor men’s jogger pants use this knit, described as 4-way stretch.
If you want scrubs that move with you, look for spandex in the blend or a fabric described as stretch. If you prefer a more traditional scrub, a poly-cotton blend may suit you. Whichever you pick, read the care label so you know how to look after it. Our guide on how to wash scrubs covers the basics.
Scrub Fit: Find Your Silhouette
Fit is where personal preference matters most. On pants, the biggest choice is the leg shape:
- Jogger legs gather at the ankle with a knit or ribbed cuff, like the pants in our Women’s Cool Stretch Jogger Scrub Set and Men’s Luxe Stretch Jogger Scrub Set.
- Straight legs fall evenly to the shoe, like the straight-leg cargo pants in the Women’s Cool Stretch V-Neck Cargo Top and Pant Set.
- Flare legs open slightly at the hem, like the low-rise flare-leg pants in the Women’s Mock Wrap Scrub Set.
If you’re torn between the first two, our breakdown of jogger scrubs vs straight leg scrubs walks through the trade-offs.
Next, think about rise and waistband. You’ll see mid-rise joggers, the high-waist jogger pants in our Women’s V-Neck Jogger Scrub Set – Premium Stretch, and low-rise flare pants on the mock wrap set. Waistbands range from full elastic with a drawstring, to half drawstring and half elastic, to a soft ribbed waistband.
For tops, the V-neck is the most common neckline in our collection, while the mock wrap top offers a different look with back ties. Some styles are cut with a specific shape in mind. The Men’s Luxe Stretch Jogger Scrub Set, for example, has an athletic fit with a slim, tapered silhouette. If you’re shopping unisex, note that our Unisex 2-Pocket (BP101) and Unisex Cargo Solid V-Neck (BP102) sets run large. For a deeper look at scrub fit, read how should scrubs fit.
Pockets, Waistbands and the Small Details
Pocket counts vary a lot from style to style, so match them to what you actually carry. A few examples from our catalog:
- The Women’s Cool Stretch V-Neck Cargo Top and Pant Set has 4 pockets on the top, including a hidden phone pocket, and 8 on the pants.
- The Women’s Essential Cool Stretch Jogger Scrub Set has 6 pant pockets (2 side, 2 cargo, 2 back) plus an ID badge loop on the top.
- The Women’s Stretch V-Neck 2-Pocket Scrub Set keeps it simple, with 2 front patch pockets on the top and 2 side pockets on the pants.
- The Wink WorkFlex Unisex Chest Pocket V-Neck Scrub Top has a single left chest pocket with a pen slot.
Small details add up over a long shift too. Look for side vents on tops, badge loops if you clip on an ID, and construction details such as double-needle stitching or triple-reinforced seams, which some of our styles list on their product pages.
Colors and Your Dress Code
Color is part style, part rules. Some facilities assign colors by role, others let you wear what you like, and many fall somewhere in between. There’s no universal standard, so always check your facility’s dress code first.
Once you know what’s allowed, think about practicality. Each product page shows the colors available for that style, from black and navy to ceil blue, burgundy, teal and brighter shades like hot pink and coral.
Scrub Sets or Separates?
Most of our styles come as matching sets, which is the easiest way to get a coordinated look in one order. Browse all of them in our scrub sets collection.
Separates make sense when your top and bottom sizes differ, or when you want a specific pant shape. Our separates include the Wink WorkFlex tops and cargo pant, the Vel Endeavor men’s jogger pants, and the Jaanuu Xenos petite pants.
A Quick Checklist Before You Buy
- Confirm your facility’s dress code for colors and styles.
- Choose a fabric blend: stretch blend or classic poly-cotton.
- Pick your pant leg: jogger, straight or flare.
- Count the pockets you really need.
- Check the sizes listed on the product page and compare them with our size guide.
- Know your options if the fit is off. We offer exchanges for size and color while the item is in stock. See our return and exchange policy for the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fabric for scrubs?
It depends on what you want from them. Blends with spandex give you stretch and room to move, while a 65% polyester, 35% cotton blend is the classic scrub fabric many people are used to.
Should scrubs be tight or loose?
Neither. Scrubs should let you reach, bend and squat without pulling or gaping, and they shouldn’t be so loose that the fabric gets in your way. Check each product page for its sizes and use our size guide to compare.
Can I wear any color of scrubs to work?
That depends on your employer. Color rules vary by facility, role and department, so check your dress code before you buy.
Choosing scrubs gets easier once you know what to look for. Start with your workday, pick the fabric and fit that suit it, and you’ll have a set you’re happy to put on every shift. If you have a sizing or style question, our team is happy to help.
