Short answer: the cheapest good tabi socks are MUJI's at $4.90. Tabio, the Japanese sock maker, has the widest range from $6, with most men's pairs around $30. Designer pairs from Maison Margiela sit at the top. For a plain or patterned cotton pair, expect $5 to $10.
We sell three tabi socks: a plain grey pair, a ribbed cotton pair in six solid colours and a cotton jacquard in seven patterns, so this guide comes from a seller. Prices below were checked on each shop's pages on 29 September 2026.
For prices across the rest of Japanese clothing, see our 2026 price survey of 15 stores.
Where to buy them
| Shop | What | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MUJI | Tabi Short Socks | $4.90 |
| Tabio | Japanese sock maker, men's tabi socks in several weights | $6 to $50, most around $30 |
| Amaji | Split Toe Cotton Tabi Socks in grey, Plain Cotton Tabi Socks in six colours, and Japanese Pattern Tabi Socks in seven jacquard patterns. One size, mid calf | $9.90 |
| Assembly New York | Black Tabi Socks | $28 |
| Maison Margiela | Designer tabi socks to wear with its tabi boots | Designer pricing |
For a first pair, MUJI is hard to beat on price. For the most choice of colour, weight and length, Tabio is the specialist. Ours are plain or patterned pairs at $9.90 each. Shipping is $7.90 to the US and Canada and $9.90 to Europe and Australia unless the order passes $60, so they make most sense added to another order, and a pair of hakama pants is the natural one.
Our three pairs
| Split Toe Cotton Tabi Socks | Plain Cotton Tabi Socks | Japanese Pattern Tabi Socks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.90 | $9.90 | $9.90 |
| Knit | Cotton-rich, ribbed cuff, reinforced toe seam | Ribbed cotton, flat toe seam | Combed cotton jacquard, about 70 to 80% cotton, thin and stretchy |
| Colours | Grey | Black, White, Dark Gray, Navy, Medium Gray, Brown | Beige Dots, Black Dots, Black Patchwork, Green Maple, Indigo Waves, Olive Patchwork, Teal Stripe |
| Length | Mid calf | Mid calf | Mid calf |
| Size | One size, adult men's feet | One size, EU 39 to 46 | One size, adult men's feet |
The kinds of tabi
"Tabi" covers four different things, and shops mix them up.
| Kind | What it is | Worn with |
|---|---|---|
| Tabi socks | A knitted sock with the big toe split from the rest | Sandals, sneakers, at home |
| Traditional tabi | Woven cotton, ankle high, closed at the back with small metal clasps called kohaze | Kimono, with zori or geta |
| Jika-tabi | A split-toe work boot with a rubber sole, worn by builders and gardeners | Work clothes, festivals |
| Tabi boots | A fashion shoe or boot with a split toe | Anything, worn over tabi socks |
White traditional tabi go with formal kimono. Coloured and patterned pairs are for every day.
What to look for
- Split, not five-toe. Tabi split the big toe from the other four. Five-toe socks are a different thing.
- Fabric. Cotton for everyday, wool for winter, thin nylon blends under dress shoes.
- Length. Ankle pairs go with sandals and sneakers. Crew and mid-calf pairs go with boots and with hakama, where the sock shows below the hem.
- Sizing. Most tabi socks are one size or two sizes. Check the shoe-size range on the listing.
How to wear tabi socks
- With sandals. The split exists so a thong has somewhere to sit: zori, geta, setta or flip-flops.
- With hakama. The classic pairing. A wide hakama pants hem sits just above the ankle and the sock fills the gap.
- With sneakers. A patterned pair shows at the ankle like any statement sock.
- At home. The separated toe gives a firmer grip on the floor, which is why people who train barefoot like them.
Tabi socks were made so a sandal thong has somewhere to go. Worn with zori or geta, with split-toe tabi boots, or on their own around the house, they spread the toes and feel lighter than a normal sock. What are tabi socks has the full story.