Period pants have gone from a niche eco swap to a staple in most of our drawers. The problem is that most guides were written for someone who wants lace and a high-leg brief. If you live in boxers 25 days a month, you shouldn’t have to squeeze into knickers for the other five.
They’re also a game changer if you play sport. There are no strings to tuck away, no pad shifting mid-match and no dash to the loos at half-time. Whether it’s five-a-side, a spin class or a long run, you can just get on with it.
So we’ve done the digging. Whether you’re femme, masc or somewhere in between, these are the best period pants you can buy in the UK right now. We’ve included boxers, trunks and gender-neutral styles, plus the best for heavy flow, sleep, the gym and a tight budget. Here’s everything you need to know before you ditch the tampons.
Skip to:
- Best overall: WUKA Stretch Boxer Short
- Best for overnight: WUKA Ultimate Boxer Short
- Best gender-neutral boxer: TomboyX First Line Period 9″ Boxer Brief
- Best boyshort: Modibodi Classic Boyshort
- Best for the gym femme: Nixi Body
- Best budget: M&S Super Heavy Period Full Briefs
- Best on the high street: Bodyform
- Best organic cotton: Here We Flo Heavy Flow Period Pants
- How to choose period pants
- Period pants FAQs
Plus: how to choose period pants, and the questions everyone Googles.
1. Best overall: WUKA Stretch Boxer Short
British brand WUKA takes our top spot. Its boxers come in the same heavy absorbency as its briefs, where most brands quietly make their boxers the lighter option. The Stretch Boxer Short Heavy is £18.99, or three for £45, and the fabric stretches across up to four sizes. That’s a lifesaver if you bloat or your size shifts through your cycle. The full range runs from 2XS to 6XL.
They look like normal shorts-style underwear, sit smoothly under trousers or a skirt, and stay put. WUKA is B Corp certified too.
- Price: £18.99
- Absorbency: Heavy
- Buy: WUKA
2. Best for overnight: WUKA Ultimate Boxer Short
If night one is the one you dread, this is your pair. The Ultimate has a longer leg to stop chafing and holds 40ml, roughly three pads or four tampons. For sleeping, WUKA recommends a gusset that reaches further up the back, so you’re covered lying down. It’s pricier than the Stretch at £27.99, but it’s the pair you’ll reach for before bed on a heavy night.
Article continues below.
- Price: £27.99
- Absorbency: Heavy (40ml)
- Buy: WUKA
3. Best gender-neutral boxer: TomboyX First Line Period 9″ Boxer Brief
Want period underwear that looks nothing like period underwear? TomboyX is your brand. The US label is queer-founded and B Corp certified, and its period range sits alongside tucking and packing underwear, so it’s built for every body from the start.
The 9″ boxer brief is high rise and full coverage, and holds around four to five regular tampons’ worth. It’s mostly cotton, PFA-free and OEKO-TEX certified, and it can go in the washing machine and the dryer. Sizes run from 3XS to 6X.
The catch is that it ships from the US. Duties and taxes are included at checkout, though, so there’s no surprise bill on the doorstep.
- Price: $38 (charged in pounds at checkout)
- Absorbency: Heavy
- Buy: TomboyX
You may also like: What spotting tells you about your hormonal health
4. Best boyshort: Modibodi Classic Boyshort
Modibodi was one of the first period underwear brands and it’s still one of the most reliable. The boyshort sits between a brief and a boxer, which is ideal if you want coverage without a longer leg. It’s £20.99 on Modibodi’s UK site, and the heavy/overnight version holds up to four tampons’ or pads’ worth. You can also pick it up at ASOS and New Look.
- Price: £20.99
- Absorbency: Moderate to heavy/overnight
- Buy: Modibodi
5. Best for the gym femme: Nixi Body
Nixi Body was founded in the UK by Kelly Newton to make absorbent pants that actually look good under leggings, and that’s where they shine. The Susie holds 15ml, around three tampons, shows no knicker line, and comes in UK sizes 4 to 20. There’s a boxer brief too, which reviewers rate for running and training.
Nixi is best for lighter and medium days, so pair it with a cup or tampon when you’re flowing heavy.
- Price: £18.00
- Absorbency: Light to medium
- Buy: Nixi Body
6. Best budget: M&S Super Heavy Period Full Briefs
Building up a full week’s supply gets expensive fast. M&S sells a three-pack of super heavy full briefs for £20, the best value on this list. They’re mostly cotton, come in sizes 6 to 24, and wash at 40°C. One thing to know: M&S lists silver chloride as an antimicrobial, which is a common odour treatment but one some people prefer to avoid.
The downside is the cut. It’s full briefs or nothing, so if you only wear boxers, scroll back up. But for the femmes in the room, hello leopard print option.
- Price: £20 for three
- Absorbency: Super heavy
- Buy: M&S
7. Best on the high street: Bodyform
Bodyform is the one you can grab from Boots, Superdrug, Tesco or Sainsbury’s when your period turns up a week early. The range covers light, medium and heavy flow, and Bodyform says a pair lasts at least 50 washes without losing protection. They’re OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, meaning the fabric has been tested against a long list of harmful chemicals.
- Absorbency: Light to heavy
8. Best organic cotton: Here We Flo Heavy Flow Period Pants
If you want your pants to feel like your comfiest cotton knickers, Here We Flo is the one. The UK brand was started by two best friends, Tara and Susan, in a university bathroom, and it’s now a B Corp run by women of colour. It also uses gender-inclusive language across its site and packaging, because not everyone who has a period is a woman.
The Heavy Flow Period Pants have a body made of 95% organic cotton and a gusset that covers front and back. They hold up to four to six regular tampons’ worth. At £15 a pair, or £68.25 for a seven-day pack, they’re one of the best-value picks here. Sizes run from XS (UK 6) to 3XL (UK 26 to 28), and 5% of profits go to people and planet.
The cut is a hip-hugging brief, so it won’t win over the boxer crowd. If briefs are your thing, though, these are a lovely everyday pair.
- Price: £15
- Absorbency: Heavy
- Buy: Here We Flo
How to choose period pants
Buy for your heaviest day. Brands measure absorbency in millilitres or tampons’ worth. Get pairs that cope with day one, then rotate lighter ones in as things calm down.
Wear the cut you’d wear anyway. If you never wear briefs, you won’t magically love them on your period. Boxers and boyshorts also give more coverage at the back, which helps overnight.
Check the size range before you fall in love. It varies a lot between brands. Buy one pair before committing to a pack.
Know what’s in them. A good brand will tell you whether its pants contain PFAS or antimicrobial treatments like silver. Look for OEKO-TEX certification or a clear materials statement.
Period pants FAQs
How do period pants work?
The gusset is built in layers. The top layer pulls moisture away from your skin, the middle absorbs it, and a waterproof layer underneath stops leaks. Bodyform’s version, for example, uses three layers.
How long can you wear period pants?
Most brands say up to around 12 hours, depending on your flow. On heavy days, change more often, or double up with a cup or tampon until you trust them.
How do you wash period pants?
Rinse them in cold water after wearing, then machine wash at 30 to 40°C with no fabric softener. Air dry them unless the label says otherwise, as tumble drying can wreck the absorbent layers. TomboyX is one of the few that can go in the dryer.
How many pairs do you need?
As a rule of thumb, enough for one to two days of changes plus a spare, so you can wash as you go. For most people that’s five to seven pairs.
Nonchalant x
Your next read: Do lesbians need smear tests? Your no-nonsense guide to cervical screening
You may also like
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
