Short answer
Yes, as long as the whole body except the face, hands and feet is covered and the clothing is not see-through. Tight pants that show the shape make the prayer disliked but still valid in the Hanafi school. Watch the ankles and shins: if a quarter of a limb is exposed for the length of a pillar of prayer, the prayer is invalid.
Covering the awrah is a condition of prayer. Pants that cover the legs fully and are not see-through are valid; very tight clothing is makruh. If a quarter of any limb, such as the shin or forearm, is uncovered for as long as it takes to say Subhan Allah three times, the prayer is invalid.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran tells us to take our adornment, meaning proper clothing, at every place of prayer, and the Prophet ﷺ said Allah does not accept the prayer of an adult woman without a head covering. For a woman, the awrah in prayer is everything except her face, her hands and, on the relied Hanafi view, her feet. Pants can cover that perfectly well.
Where problems happen:
- Ankles and shins: cropped or slim pants ride up in sujud. If your shins show and you have no socks or long top, a quarter of the shin can easily be exposed. Wear longer pants or socks.
- The lower back: a short top lifts in ruku and sujud and shows the back. Wear a long top or prayer garment.
- Thin fabric: if skin colour shows through, the prayer is invalid.
- Tight jeans: valid but disliked. A loose skirt or prayer dress over them is better.
- Hair and neck: a scarf is still needed, even at home; see hijab to pray at home.
Many women keep a simple two-piece prayer outfit in their bag or at work to slip over whatever they are wearing. See how women pray, feet and hands in prayer and wearing pants generally.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:31
۞ يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ﴿٣١﴾
O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
Proper covering is required for prayer.
Sunan Abi Dawud 641
Graded sahih... لا يقبل الله صلاة حائض إلا بخمار ...
"Allah does not accept the prayer of an adult woman except with a head covering."
An adult woman's covering is a condition of her prayer.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, conditions of prayer, covering the awrah. Exposure of a quarter of a limb for the length of a pillar invalidates the prayer; tight clothing is disliked.
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the conditions of prayer. The free woman's whole body is awrah in prayer except the face, hands and feet.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.