The Best Underwear for Women of 2023

Don't underestimate the power of a good pair of underwear. Often the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off, the importance of it being supremely comfortable is on par with loungewear staples like bathrobes and slippers. Not only should the material feel soft on sensitive skin, the best women’s underwear must also fit well and stay in place—and it’s nice if there’s no visible panty line under clothes. Finally, the hallmark of a standout pair of briefs is that it washes well without unintended damage so you’re not having to replace it constantly.

While there are many options for fabrics and styles—some of which come down to personal preference—great materials and fit can make a huge difference in whether you want to live in your undies or can’t wait to take them off because they dig in, shift around, or are otherwise uncomfortable. That’s why we reviewed 54 pairs of women's underwear models available in cotton, microfiber, and blended fabrics in styles such as bikinis, thongs, and hipsters.

After several months of testing, the overall best brand of women’s underwear, hands-down, is Aerie (available at Aerie) . But if you’re looking for specific styles or fabrics, we have plenty of other picks for you.

How We Tested Underwear for Women

The Tester

Hi, I'm Jamie Ueda. After spending years working for various apparel and textile companies, I pride myself on helping Reviewed readers make smart purchasing decisions for clothing, shoes, and accessories. Because I’ve spent a lot of time evaluating fabrics and apparel, I’m a stickler for quality materials and good design, especially when it comes to apparel like underwear that’s such a staple. As someone who is always on the hunt for a pair of panties so comfortable I forget I’m wearing them, I took my clothing knowledge and went shopping to find the best underwear out there.

The Tests

This will not come as a surprise, but there are many options available for women's underwear. To decide which pairs to test, I searched the internet for top-rated and highly reviewed styles. I looked at popular brands and retailers, but also sought out lesser-known lines that may contain hidden gems. I polled the Reviewed staff on their favorite pairs of underwear and their go-to brands. After leaving no underwear-stone unturned, I put many pairs of underwear—54 to be exact—to the test.

Working with Reviewed’s senior scientist, Julia MacDougall, we came up with both objective and subjective evaluations that put these pairs of underwear through a battery of tests. We tested these in our lab, washing each pair three times according to its care label, checked for loose seams or stitching after laundering, and measured if they shrank. Then we washed them an additional seven times, for a total of 10 washes for each pair of underwear, and checked them again for wrinkling, fraying, fading, or any other defects.

We wanted to know how the underwear performed on real people, not just in the lab. I wore every single pair of underwear for at least half a day. I also wore these while exercising to see if they were comfortable and if they shifted around. I answered questions such as: Is the underwear sized accurately? How would you describe the fit? Did you have to adjust the underwear during the day? Do these give you visible panty lines? How would you rate the comfort?

When all the testing was complete, we rated each attribute—comfort, fit, and so on—in order of importance and tabulated everything for final scores and rankings.

What You Should Know About Buying Women's Underwear

There are a variety of attributes that go into shopping for a new pair of panties. Different styles and materials can have a big impact on comfort, and with new fabrics and cuts entering the market, it can be tricky to navigate what’s right for you. Here are some things you might want to consider.

Women's Underwear Styles and Cuts

There are many styles, also called “cuts,” of underwear for women. There’s no one cut that fits everyone, or suits everyone’s aesthetic preferences and stylistic needs. Some may like wearing bikini underwear, which typically has higher-cut leg holes and a full-coverage back. Others prefer thongs, with the back composed of a string, or a strip of fabric that’s not that much wider, for zero cheek coverage. And some may choose underwear based on their outfit that day to avoid the dreaded panty line.

The most common styles are bikinis, thongs, briefs, and hipsters or hip huggers (which sit lower on the waist than briefs and may have still lower-cut legs, but not always). Within these categories, you can find variations related to where the waistband lands on the body relative to the hips and belly button, such as low-rise thongs (which sit on the hip bones), high-waist briefs (which may cover the navel, but sometimes not), and many more.

If you like more coverage, consider bikinis, briefs, or boyshorts. Just be sure to assess any individual pair thoroughly, as some may be cut smaller in the back for a “cheeky” look. For less coverage in the back, look for options like thongs or cheekies, and for less coverage at the waist, look for low-rise or hipster styles. There’s no set standard for styles of underwear, and brands can make up their own rules. To make sure a pair suits your needs, you’ll want to look at front and back views of the underwear online (or on your body, if you have the ability to try it on in-store, over your own undies).

Women's Underwear Fabric and Materials

Long gone are the days of underwear being made of cotton by default. Out of the 54 pairs we tested, only 14 pairs had a cotton content greater than 90%. Many pairs of underwear are either made with synthetic materials such as nylon, spandex, and various types of rayon, or cotton blended with synthetic materials, which provide stretch and “memory” so the cotton retains its shape.

When it comes to underwear fabric, there is no best for everyone, though there are some broad recommendations to consider. Cotton is breathable and absorbs moisture and is commonly recommended for those who are prone to infections, which thrive in moist environments. However, plenty of underwear made of synthetics or synthetic blends is outfitted with a cotton crotch or gusset, which may mitigate that concern.

Nylon is durable, stretchy, and silky, making it a top choice for undergarments used often for seamless underwear. Modal, a type of rayon, is becoming more popular for underwear because of its soft, buttery feel—often even softer than cotton. Spandex, Lycra, or elastane are generally blended into other materials for added stretch and comfort, or as part of the elastic trim on waistbands or leg holes.

Underwear Under Clothing: How to Avoid VPL

You may see underwear that is labeled seamless, no-show, laser cut, or raw cut. Generally all of these terms are referring to underwear that is supposed rest unseen through clothing, i.e., won't show a visible panty line (a.k.a. VPL). These types of underwear are made in slightly different ways, but what they share in common is a lack of extra elastic or trim (or even the material itself doubled-up) around the leg holes and waist. This makes the edges lie flatter and less prone to digging into skin, which means clothing worn on top is less likely to cling and contour to it (depending on the texture and weight of the clothing, that is).

In most cases, the surest way to avoid VPL is to wear a thong, which has no seams below the butt cheeks, preventing any lines. However, bikini and hipster cuts of “no-show” undergarments can be a great no-VPL alternative, provided you find ones that fit you well. However, one downside we encountered during testing is that "no-show" designs tend to shift around and bunch more than other types of underwear because they don't feature a traditional, slightly stiff edge to keep it in place.

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Other Underwear for Women We Tested

More Women's Underwear Options

• The stylish Parade Re:Play styles felt a little bulky on, with thick and wide waistbands in the brief and thong styles we tested. They also didn’t stay in place, with many adjustments needed throughout my day. They get points for a broad size range, though, coming in XS to 3XL.

• The Hanes Cool Comfort bikini panties didn’t seem to have any cooling properties, despite the name. The velvety lining under the waistband is a nice touch for added comfort, but the leg holes felt tight.

• I adore the look of the celeb-beloved Calvin Klein Stretch Cotton Logo bikini underwear. But in testing, I couldn’t wait to take these off—the stiff, binding waistband left a dent in my skin after a few hours. What's more, the fabric lost more color than other pairs after 10 washes.

• The Jockey Cotton Elance Breathe brief was one of the lowest scoring pairs of underwear for its baggy, diaper-like fit and cotton fabric that stretched out during the course of day.

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