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Many kids are notoriously picky about their undies, and for good reason: Irritating wedgies, itchy tags, chafing trims, and scratchy fabrics make a lot of underwear no fun to wear. We spent four months testing 37 styles from 15 different brands. And we’re confident that the soft, durable undies from Hanna Andersson are the least likely to have your child whining about what’s covering their behind.
We selected soft, comfortable undies that are resistant to butt-picking. We avoided those with chafing-prone lace trims and itchy tags.
The best underwear brands fit kids of all sizes and at multiple life stages, from post–potty training to the tween years.
We looked for underwear that kids would outgrow before it wore out and, ideally, that is sturdy enough to be handed down to siblings.
We searched for brands that feature a variety of patterns and colors to suit different tastes.
Parents seeking brands that help minimize visible lines in tight pants and leggings should consider Reebok’s Seamless Boyshorts. For kids who like to hang loose, we recommend Lucky & Me’s 100% cotton knit boxers.
If you’d prefer to spend less, we also have great budget options in the Other kids undies we like section.
Of the 15 underwear brands we tested, Hanna Andersson’s high-quality, long-lasting, tag-free undies were deemed the most comfortable by all but one of the 11 kids on our testing panel.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $22.
Hanna Andersson’s Classic Briefs are as soft and durable as its Classic Unders. They come in fun prints and colors and include a functioning fly.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $35.
For kids who prefer more coverage, Hanna Andersson’s Boxer Briefs are made from the same thick, durable, and super-soft cotton as the company’s more classic styles.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $40.
These super-soft, tag-free boyshort undies from Reebok are ideal for leggings lovers since they discourage wedgies and visible lines. Unlike our other picks, however, these silky shorts are made with synthetic materials, not 100% cotton.
Kids who prefer a looser, more traditional boxer style will appreciate these well-made, tag-free cotton boxers from Lucky & Me.
It took me half my life to find underwear that I actually enjoy wearing, and I didn’t want my children to suffer the same fate. Turns out I wasn’t alone: Many Wirecutter parents were shocked by the inordinate amount of time they spent thinking about their children’s underwear, whether out of desperation to stop their kids’ incessant public butt-picking, out of concern over chafing and red marks left on skin, or just due to general dissatisfaction with cuts and colors. We banded together to bring this guide to life so your kids can pick their favorite pairs but not have to pick wedgies. As the author of Wirecutter’s guide to period underwear, I started this research with two years of experience in methodically sussing out the quality pairs from the poorly made.
To find the best underwear for kids, from both well-known and new-to-market brands, I consulted dozens of parents (in my circle of friends as well as at Wirecutter) and hundreds of customer reviews. And to understand common pain points, I perused questions posed by frustrated parents in online forums such as the Peloton Moms Facebook group and Parenting sub-Reddit.
After taking in all that underwear intel, I came up with a list of 37 well-liked styles from a total of 15 different brands. I then divided the testing pool into six categories of underwear: girls briefs, hipsters, and legged styles (which are often referred to as boyshorts or shorts), and boys briefs, boxers, and boxer briefs. Note that the majority of brands, including almost all of the ones we tested, separate underwear by gender. In reality, most kids would likely be able to comfortably wear most of the pairs we tested regardless of their anatomy.
Visually, most underwear for kids looks very similar. But due to construction, fabric quality, and trim options, the experience of wearing different pairs varies dramatically. To cover all of our bases—and behinds—we assembled a panel of seven parents with a total of 11 children (a diverse group between the ages of 4 and 12 and in a variety of shapes and sizes). Many brands of kids underwear are sized by age, though going by age is often not a good way to find the right fit for a given child. We measured each tester and referred to the company’s size chart, if it had one, to choose the best size.
Our panel provided detailed feedback and evaluated each pair on a scale of 1 (“I hate you for making me wear this underwear”) to 5 (“best underwear in the world”). Panel members assessed each pair for several key criteria:
Overall comfort: When choosing what to test, we looked for pairs made of soft, breathable material, like cotton. Kids also let us know if there were itchy tags or trims, irritating seams, rough fabric, or other uncomfortable facets.
Anti-wedgie: Though few pairs were completely wedgie-proof, we worked to pick those that were as butt-picking-resistant as possible.
Diverse sizing: We looked for brands with a wide variety of sizing so that favorite styles can be worn from preschool through at least early middle school.
Durability: The best kids underwear should hold up well enough that it can be handed down after a child outgrows it.
Style: We looked for brands whose undies are as cute as our kids, with a diverse selection of colors and patterns that might appeal to the style or interests of a range of children.
To prevent any confusion between discomfort from wearing something new versus discomfort from subpar undies, each child tested the types of underwear they’re used to wearing; for example, kids who love boxers didn’t test briefs. Children wore their test pairs many times over the course of three months. We washed and dried each pair between wears, paying attention to any shrinkage, fading, or durability concerns.
Of the 15 underwear brands we tested, Hanna Andersson’s high-quality, long-lasting, tag-free undies were deemed the most comfortable by all but one of the 11 kids on our testing panel.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $22.
Hanna Andersson’s Classic Briefs are as soft and durable as its Classic Unders. They come in fun prints and colors and include a functioning fly.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $35.
Best for: Kids looking for a full-coverage, wedgie-proof, no-fuss brief that’s durable and cute.
Why they’re great: Hanna Andersson undies are made of soft, organic cotton and have an uncomplicated, full-coverage cut. They’re notably long-lasting, too.
The Classic Unders and Classic Briefs have a modest cut, which one might expect from a pair of children’s underwear. They are extremely comfortable, high-quality underwear fabricated with 100% organic cotton. They are also true to size and mostly wedgie-proof, and mercifully have no irritating tags and trims. Unlike many pairs of boys underwear we tested, the Classic Briefs have an opening in the front fabric (known as a “functioning fly”).
In our testing, parents of kids who were everywhere on the size and age spectrum unanimously loved this brand as being both tween- and toddler-friendly. Hanna Andersson’s cute color and pattern options (including fun characters like Disney princesses and Marvel superheroes) should please most kids.
Parents report that these sturdy undies last through several years of regular wear, so they can be passed down to younger siblings or friends. They retain their shape and color, even after years of weekly wear and accidental high-heat tumble-drying (tumble-drying on low is the manufacturer’s recommendation).
All Hanna Andersson underwear is also Oeko-Tex–certified, meaning the Switzerland-based independent research organization found them to be free of “harmful substances.”
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This underwear can be extremely pricey when it’s not on sale. But it’s almost always being sold at discount, often up to 40% off. In addition, though Hanna Andersson briefs generally feel inconspicuous, visibly they can look a bit bulky; this was the main complaint from the sole child tester who didn’t rank any Hanna Andersson underwear as their top choice. In particular, the Classic Unders have fuller coverage than many competitor brands marketed to girls, and they can extend above the waistband of lower-riding pants. (Hanna Andersson also offers a slimmer-cut hipster style and a new, even-more-streamlined midrise hipster style.) Panty lines can also be a problem, especially with leggings or tight pants, because Hanna Andersson undies are constructed with fabric that’s as thick as it is soft.
Sizes: XS (18 months, or 20 to 33 pounds) to XL (14-16, or 88 to 110 pounds)
Options: dozens of colors and patterns, including licensed cartoon characters
Care instructions: Wash on warm in regular laundry cycle, tumble-dry on low.
Materials: 100% organic cotton rib knit
For kids who prefer more coverage, Hanna Andersson’s Boxer Briefs are made from the same thick, durable, and super-soft cotton as the company’s more classic styles.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $40.
Best for: Kids who prefer a snug-fitting, legged style of underwear with more coverage.
Why they’re great: Made from the same super-soft, Oeko-Tex–certified 100% cotton as the company’s Classic Briefs, Hanna Andersson’s boxer briefs are as adorable as they are comfortable. The legged style affords more coverage, and it eliminates wedgies or any “underwear line” concerns. Like the Classic Briefs, the Boxer Briefs have no bothersome tags, and the fly is functional (so it’s possible for some kids to urinate without having to pull their underwear down). These boxer briefs come in multiple sizes and patterns, are true to size, and are durable enough to be passed down for years.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Like the Hanna Andersson Classic Briefs, these are costly at full price, but they’re regularly on sale. Compared with more-streamlined and snug boxer briefs from other brands, these are made of a thicker fabric that’s very comfortable but looks slightly less “grown-up” (which, in our opinion, is a feature not a bug).
Sizes: XS (18 months, or 20 to 33 pounds) to XL (14-16, or 88 to 110 pounds)
Options: dozens of colors and patterns, including licensed characters like Star Wars
Care instructions: Wash on warm in regular laundry cycle, tumble-dry on low.
Materials: 100% organic cotton rib knit
These super-soft, tag-free boyshort undies from Reebok are ideal for leggings lovers since they discourage wedgies and visible lines. Unlike our other picks, however, these silky shorts are made with synthetic materials, not 100% cotton.
Best for: Kids looking for a more-streamlined base layer to wear under leggings or tighter pants.
Why they’re great: Reebok’s silky Seamless Boyshorts are all panty and no lines. For kids who love to wear tight pants and leggings—or simply those who prefer a thinner pair of underwear—these synthetic shorts are a lovely and lightweight base layer. With a stretchy, elastic waistband, they look and feel somewhat like control-top panty hose, but they’re nowhere near as delicate or uncomfortably tight. These wedgie-proof boyshorts are also tag-free, and the soft fabric isn’t marred by potentially irritating lace (like others in this style).
Our test pairs have withstood being machine-washed more than 16 times (so far) with no snags or frays. One child whose behind is notorious for attracting wedgies referred to these soft and comfortable undies as “the best underwear in the world” and refuses to wear anything else.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although these undies are marketed as being breathable, they are made mostly of nylon, a synthetic fabric, which is more prone to harboring odors and bacteria than our 100% cotton picks. We haven’t yet had a problem, nor did we notice any customer complaints about this issue.
Unlike our picks from Hanna Andersson, the Reebok Seamless Boyshorts don’t come in sizes for children younger than 5, and they don’t have as many prints or any licensed characters.
Options: assorted colors or prints in each set of five
Care instructions: Wash on cold in regular laundry cycle, tumble-dry on low.
Kids who prefer a looser, more traditional boxer style will appreciate these well-made, tag-free cotton boxers from Lucky & Me.
Best for: Kids who want a looser-fitting base layer to wear under clothes or to use as sleepwear (or both).
Why they’re great: Lucky & Me’s knit Noah Boxer Shorts are a comfortable, high-quality choice for kids who like to “hang loose.” Made from 100% cotton, they are tag-free and “the softest boxers I’ve ever worn,” said one 10-year-old tester. The fabric-covered waistband is a tremendous benefit: Little ones won’t complain about chafing from scratchy elastic trims, which we found to be common on other models of this style. These undies also come in a variety of patterns and colors, and they’re great for lounging or sleeping, as well as wearing under clothes.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: These boxers could be considered a bit pricey. And though their quality is nice and their material soft, they aren’t as soft or as well constructed as underwear from Hanna Andersson (which does not sell loose boxers). We’ve found that the Lucky & Me boxers do fade slightly after a few wears, but they still look fine and feel great. Their seam runs down the butt crack (versus across the buttocks), thus heightening the probability of a wedgie (though in our testing, there were no reports of wedgies with these). The fly on the Lucky & Me boxers is not functional; the buttons sewn onto the fly are merely decorative. Like all loose boxers, these aren’t meant for wear under tight pants because they would bunch up conspicuously. Unlike our picks from Hanna Andersson, these boxers don’t come in sizes for children younger than 5, and there aren’t many color or pattern options.
Options: assorted colors and patterns in each set of five
Care instructions: Wash on cold in regular laundry cycle, tumble-dry on low.
Yes, it’s safe for kids to wear used underwear that has been laundered properly between wearers (and it’s also environmentally friendly and good for your budget). It’s true that underwear can theoretically transmit infections, bacteria, and viruses, since even the cleanest butts are a bit dirty (especially kid butts). But fortunately “most of the germs are killed in the dryer,” said Kelly Reynolds, an environmental microbiologist and professor of public health at the University of Arizona.
Before passing down used underwear, Reynolds recommends taking the following steps: Most brands suggest washing delicate items like underwear in cold water. But since cold-water washing won’t get rid of all pathogens or germs, wash the undies in hot water with “heavy-duty detergents that specifically say they’re stain-fighting or extra strength,” Reynolds says. She also recommends using a sanitizing rinse and drying on high heat to “virtually eliminate the presence of just about any germ.” Note that you’ll want to avoid regularly drying your underwear on high heat.
We plan to test girls and boys underwear from Target’s popular in-house brand Cat & Jack, boxer briefs and briefs from Reebok, and briefs, shorties, and boxer briefs from Lucky & Me.
We’re also testing Hanna Andersson’s more streamlined and slimmer cut girls hipster and midrise hipster styles.
If you’re interested in “training” underwear, with extra padding built into the crotch to absorb pee accidents: Consider Hanna Andersson’s Training Unders (starting at $15 for a 3-pack at the time of publishing). They’re very similar to the brand’s Classic Unders but come only in smaller sizes (and with that extra padding).
If you’re looking for more-affordable “packs” of boxers: These Fruit of the Loom Tartan Plaid Boxers ($20 for a 5-pack at the time of publishing) have proved to be durable. They’re thin to the point of being almost sheer, but for some kids that’s a positive. Their thinness doesn’t negate quality—one of the parents on our panel swears their child has happily worn the same dozen pairs of hand-me-downs for the past couple of years, with no fraying, fading, or loss of waistband elasticity.
If you’re looking for cute and comfortable boxer briefs that cost less: Consider Children’s Place Boxer Briefs, especially if you catch them on sale; they’re often discounted and are currently about $35 for a five-pack. These undies were well liked by the testing panel (though when it came to durability and softness, the boxer briefs from Hanna Andersson edged them out).
If you want organic girls briefs that are less expensive: Try Walmart’s Little Star Organic Briefs. They’re made with organic cotton, and they cost much less than most ($15 for a 10-pack at the time of publishing). There are also toddler sizes designed for potty-training (and because they’re so nicely priced, it’s not that heartbreaking to throw ’em away after an especially messy accident). However, the Little Star Organic Briefs have lace trimmings, which many of our testers found irritating. They also don’t seem constructed well enough to last for years. Our kids will continue to wear them to provide more insight on their durability.
If you’re looking for exceedingly inexpensive girls briefs that are still comfortable: Consider Hanes 100% Cotton Girls Briefs. They’re the least expensive briefs we tested ($12 for a 14-pack at the time of publishing). And they were much more comfortable than one might expect for that price—there’s no irritating tag, lace, or bow. Although these Hanes briefs didn’t compare in quality or softness to the Hanna Andersson underwear, and we are still testing durability, they are a solid and inexpensive option.
A cult favorite, ARQ offers gender-neutral kids briefs and undies. High-waisted and made with a thick, stretchy combination of cotton and spandex, they’re similar to Hanna Andersson’s Classic Unders in cut and feel. But they come in limited colors and are expensive.
The cute boxer briefs, classic briefs, and bikini underwear from Primary were comfortable, but not as comfortable as similarly priced and styled pairs from Hanna Andersson, our testers found. Primary also offers fewer color and style options.
Testers disliked the “plumber butt” situation caused by the low-cut briefs from Tucker & Tate and Boden.
Boden’s briefs and boxers (that are more like boxer briefs) were extremely soft and well made. However, they are constructed with a very thick fabric that some testers found overwhelming, and they have an irritating back tag (which most testers had to cut out). Also, they are available in fewer pattern and color choices than the Hanna Anderssons.
Neither Boden Shorties nor Children’s Place Tie-Dye Shorts were wedgie-proof; we found our kindergarten through fifth-grade testers picking them out of their behinds.
We tried multiple styles from Fruit of the Loom, including its Boxer Briefs, Classic Briefs, Breathable Mesh Briefs, Breathable Mesh Hipsters, and Classic Briefs; none outshone our picks in terms of softness and style.
Neither H&M’s Cotton Hipster Briefs nor its Boxer Briefs were as soft or comfortable as our picks.
Carter’s Stretch Undies and Children’s Place Day of the Week Briefs weren’t as comfortable or as wedgie-proof as our picks.
Maidenform briefs, Boden Boxers, and Walmart’s Wonder Nation Boxer Briefs and Classic Briefs were polarizing—some kids said they loved how comfortable they were, while others despised them for causing wedgies and discomfort.
Our testers tried the Under Armour Middy shorts as a base layer under their dresses. They deemed them “too much”—in terms of length and fabric—to be worn as underwear.
Cadidi briefs were disliked by testers for having extremely tight leg holes.
Due to the middling customer reviews, we chose not to test Little Star Organic Briefs or Amazon Essentials Bikini, Hipster, Brief, or Boxer Brief underwear.
Kelly Reynolds, PhD, professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health, email interview, October 25, 2021
Nancy Redd is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering everything from Santa hats to bath bombs. She is also a GLAAD Award–nominated on-air host and a New York Times best-selling author. Her latest picture book, The Real Santa, follows a determined little Black boy's journey to discover what the jolly icon truly looks like.
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