The best underwear for sleeping is whatever lets you forget you are wearing it: a soft, breathable fabric, a waistband that does not dig in, and a cut loose enough that nothing twists when you turn over. For most men that means cotton or modal in a brief, trunk or boxer-brief cut, or a light pair of lounge shorts with a built-in liner. The pair you wear to the gym or under a suit is rarely the pair you want at 2 a.m.
Why daytime underwear is the wrong choice at night
Daytime pairs are built to hold a position. A snug pouch, firm leg bands and a wide, grippy waistband keep everything in place while you walk, sit and climb stairs. In bed those same features work against you. You are lying down, your body temperature drifts, and you change position dozens of times without noticing. Anything that grips during the day will pull, bunch or ride up at night.
- Compression and shapewear: designed to hold you in. Take them off before bed.
- Jockstraps and sports pouches: the straps and firm pouch have no job to do while you sleep.
- Heavy waistbands: a thick elastic feels secure standing up and leaves marks lying down.
- Long compression legs: they roll up when your knees bend under a duvet.
If you have been sleeping in your work pair out of habit, swapping it for a dedicated night pair is the simplest comfort upgrade in your drawer. Our loungewear and sleepwear basics guide covers what goes over the top.
Cotton, modal or silky: which fabric feels best in bed
Fabric matters more at night than cut does. You are in contact with sheets on one side and skin on the other for seven or eight hours, so softness, breathability and how the fabric handles warmth decide whether you sleep through or kick the covers off.
| Fabric | Feel against the skin | Warm sleepers | Cool rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Soft, matte, familiar | Good, breathes well | Good, holds a little warmth |
| Modal and ice silk | Smooth, cool, very light | Best, dries fast | Fine, pair with warmer sleepwear |
| Silky polyamide blends | Slick, almost weightless | Good, wicks moisture | Can feel cool at first |
| Mesh | Open, airy | Very good | Too airy for most |
Cotton is the safe default. It is soft, it breathes and it does not feel slippery under a sheet. If you wake up warm, a modal or ice-silk pair feels noticeably cooler and dries faster if you sweat. Our soft fabrics guide compares them in more depth, and the cotton underwear collection and silk-like underwear collection are the two places to start.
The cut: briefs, trunks, boxer briefs or lounge shorts
Once the fabric is right, the cut is about how much you move and how warm you run.
- Briefs: the least fabric and nothing on the thigh to twist. A tag-free cotton brief with an elastic waistband is the closest thing to wearing nothing while still wearing something. The Cotton Tag-Free Briefs are cut exactly for this, with a 3D pocket and no label to scratch.
- Trunks: a short leg that stays put when you bend your knees. The Breathable Cotton Trunks use a 93.2% combed cotton and 6.8% spandex blend with a wide, velvet-soft waistband and flatlock seams, so there is no hard edge to lie on.
- Boxer briefs: a longer leg for men who like a little coverage under thin sheets. Choose a low-rise, tagless pair so the waistband sits below your stomach when you curl up. The Cotton Boxer Briefs are low-rise, tagless and lined in the pouch.
- Lounge shorts: the loosest option. The Split-Side Lounge Shorts are made from a light, silky fabric with deep side splits and a built-in liner, so you can wear them on their own and skip underwear entirely.
Sleeping in underwear or going without
Plenty of men sleep in nothing, and there is no rule that says you have to wear anything. It comes down to what you prefer and who else is in the house. A light pair gives you a layer between you and the sheets, a bit of modesty if you share a flat or have kids who wander in, and something to answer the door in. Lounge shorts with a liner are the middle path: one piece, no underwear underneath, enough coverage to walk to the kitchen.
If you do go without, sleep in a pair of lounge shorts or sweat shorts that you only use at home so your daytime shorts stay fresh. The shorts collection has both the silky split-side style and cotton sweat shorts.
Four signs your night pair is wrong
- You wake up with the waistband rolled or twisted. The waistband is too firm or too narrow for lying down. Look for a wider, softer band.
- There are marks on your hips in the morning. The size is too small or the elastic too strong. Size up or switch to a lighter fabric.
- You kick the covers off every night. The fabric is holding warmth. Move from cotton to modal or ice silk.
- The leg has ridden up to your groin. Long legs twist in bed. Try a trunk or brief instead.
If you are between sizes for a sleep pair, go up rather than down. There is nothing to hold in place, so a slightly roomy fit is the comfortable one. Our between-sizes guide explains how to read the chart.
Keeping sleep pairs separate
Treat night underwear as its own category in the drawer. Three or four dedicated pairs are enough: you change them less often than daytime pairs, they get less wear, and keeping them apart means you never reach for a gym pair at bedtime. Wash them with the rest of your underwear on a cool cycle and let them air dry; the washing guide has the full routine. Silky and modal fabrics in particular keep their smooth feel far longer when they skip the tumble dryer.
Frequently asked questions
Should men sleep in boxers or briefs?
Either works if the fabric is soft and the fit is relaxed. Briefs have less fabric to twist; boxer briefs give more coverage. Choose by how much you move in your sleep, not by what you wear during the day.
Is it better to sleep in cotton or modal underwear?
Cotton suits most people and most rooms. If you regularly wake up warm, modal or ice silk feels cooler and dries faster.
Can I sleep in the underwear I wore all day?
You can, but a fresh, softer pair feels better and keeps your daytime pairs in better shape. A dedicated night pair costs nothing in effort once it is in the drawer.
Are lounge shorts enough on their own?
Yes, if they have a built-in liner. The Split-Side Lounge Shorts do, so they replace underwear rather than going over it.
What size should I buy for sleeping?
Your normal size in a relaxed cut, or one size up in a snug cut. Nothing needs support at night, so roomy wins.
Shop this guide
Build your night drawer
Pick a soft fabric, a relaxed cut and a size you can forget about, then keep those pairs for bed only. Start with the cotton underwear collection or go lighter with the boxer briefs collection. Every order ships in discreet packaging.
