What Underwear Should You Wear Under Different Types of Pants?

Choosing underwear usually comes down to comfort and personal preference. But what you're wearing over it matters too.

A pair of underwear that feels perfect under loose sweatpants might suddenly bunch underneath slim jeans. Boxer briefs that disappear under heavier pants might create visible lines under lightweight dress pants. And sometimes the easiest way to get a cleaner fit isn't changing your pants at all. It's changing what's underneath them.

So, what underwear should you wear under jeans, dress pants, workout clothes, shorts, and other types of pants?

There isn't one style that works for everything. Here's how to choose the right men's underwear based on what you're wearing over it.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Jeans?

Jeans are pretty forgiving when it comes to underwear because denim is usually thicker than fabrics used for dress pants or athletic clothing.

That means you have options.

Briefs, trunks, boxer briefs, thongs, and jockstraps can all work underneath jeans.

The bigger consideration is how your jeans fit.

Under Relaxed or Straight-Leg Jeans

If your jeans have a little room through the seat and thighs, you can wear almost any underwear style comfortably.

Boxer briefs are an easy choice if you like more coverage. Briefs and trunks work well too.

Since the jeans aren't sitting extremely close to your body, underwear lines and bunching are generally less noticeable.

Under Slim or Skinny Jeans

This is where your underwear choice starts making more of a difference.

Slim jeans create more friction against your underwear because everything sits closer to the body.

Long boxer briefs can sometimes bunch or ride up underneath tighter denim, particularly if the legs don't fit properly.

Briefs eliminate the extra fabric around your thighs, while men's thongs and jockstraps remove even more material.

If underwear riding up underneath your pants is already a problem, our guide to stopping men's underwear from riding up explains why it happens and what you can do about it.

Our pick: Briefs, trunks, thongs, or jockstraps.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Dress Pants?

Dress pants are where underwear choice can become much more noticeable.

The fabric is often thinner and smoother than denim, which means bulky underwear, seams, and leg openings may be easier to see.

If your dress pants are particularly fitted, minimizing excess fabric underneath them can create a cleaner silhouette.

Briefs work well because they don't have legs that can bunch underneath the pants.

Trunks can also work if they're fitted properly and have smooth seams.

For an even more minimal option, a thong eliminates almost all fabric across the back and thighs.

That's one reason thongs aren't purely about appearance. They can actually be practical underneath clothing where you want fewer visible underwear lines.

If you've never tried one before, our first-time guide to men's thongs explains how they should fit and what they actually feel like.

Our pick: Briefs, seamless trunks, or thongs.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Suit Pants?

Suit pants have many of the same considerations as dress pants.

You want your trousers to fall cleanly without a lot of fabric gathering underneath them.

This becomes particularly important with tailored or slim-fitting suits.

A bulky boxer brief can sometimes create lines around the thighs. If the legs ride up, that extra fabric can also create small bumps underneath thinner trousers.

A well-fitting brief gives you front and back coverage without adding fabric around your thighs.

A thong gives you even less material underneath your suit.

And yes, you can absolutely wear a thong with a suit.

Nobody at the meeting needs to know.

Our pick: Briefs or thongs.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Chinos?

Chinos sit somewhere between jeans and dress pants.

They're usually lighter than denim but more casual and sometimes slightly heavier than traditional dress pants.

That makes them pretty versatile.

Briefs, trunks, and shorter boxer briefs can all work well.

If your chinos are slim-fitting, pay attention to how much fabric your underwear adds around the thighs.

A shorter cut can help prevent bunching while maintaining plenty of coverage.

Our pick: Briefs or trunks.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Workout Clothes?

This depends heavily on what you're doing.

For general gym workouts, many guys prefer underwear that keeps everything securely supported while allowing plenty of movement.

That's exactly where the jockstrap originally came from.

A men's jockstrap provides a supportive front pouch without fabric covering your butt or extending down your thighs.

That can mean less material underneath workout shorts and plenty of freedom to move.

Modern jockstraps aren't limited to sports, but their original design still makes a lot of sense for physical activity.

If you're new to them, our complete guide to men's jockstraps explains how the pouch and straps work, how they should fit, and why guys wear them.

Briefs and performance boxer briefs can also work well depending on your workout and personal preference.

Our pick: Jockstraps, briefs, or performance boxer briefs.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Gym Shorts?

Gym shorts tend to be loose and lightweight, so support underneath them can be particularly important.

A jockstrap gives you support without adding much additional fabric.

Briefs can provide more coverage while still keeping your thighs free.

Boxer briefs are another option, but make sure the legs aren't so loose that they move around underneath your shorts.

And if your gym shorts are particularly short, check that longer boxer briefs aren't extending below the hem.

Unless that's the look you're going for.

Our pick: Jockstraps or briefs.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Sweatpants?

Sweatpants are probably one of the easiest categories.

Since they're generally loose and made from thicker, softer fabrics, visible underwear lines aren't usually much of a concern.

That means you can prioritize comfort.

Boxer briefs, briefs, trunks, thongs, and jockstraps can all work.

One thing to consider is support. Loose sweatpants aren't going to provide much of it themselves, so you may prefer underwear with a supportive pouch underneath.

Our pick: Whatever feels best. This is your chance to prioritize comfort.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Joggers?

Joggers are usually more fitted than traditional sweatpants, particularly around the thighs.

Because of that, underwear with a lot of extra fabric can sometimes bunch underneath them.

Briefs and trunks are easy options.

A thong or jockstrap can also work particularly well underneath slim joggers because neither has fabric extending down the legs.

Our pick: Briefs, trunks, thongs, or jockstraps.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Shorts?

This depends almost entirely on the shorts.

Longer casual shorts give you plenty of flexibility.

Shorter shorts require a little more thought.

You don't necessarily want your underwear extending below the hem every time you sit down.

Briefs solve that problem completely because there is no leg.

Thongs and jockstraps do the same while offering significantly less coverage.

If you're wearing very short shorts, these minimal styles can give you support without worrying about underwear legs making an unexpected appearance.

Our pick: Briefs, thongs, or jockstraps for shorter shorts. Almost anything works under longer shorts.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under White or Light-Colored Pants?

Here's where color matters almost as much as style.

White underwear might seem like the obvious choice underneath white pants, but it can sometimes be more visible because of the contrast between the underwear and your skin.

A shade closer to your natural skin tone can sometimes disappear more effectively underneath lightweight white clothing.

The thickness of the pants also matters.

With thin or slightly sheer fabrics, seams and underwear outlines can become more noticeable.

A minimal style with fewer seams can help create a smoother appearance.

Our pick: Minimal, smooth-fitting underwear in a color that doesn't strongly contrast with your skin.

What Underwear Should You Wear Under Tight Pants?

The tighter the pants, the more important fit becomes.

Extra fabric has less room to sit naturally underneath close-fitting clothing.

That's when boxer briefs can sometimes start bunching around the thighs.

Briefs remove the leg fabric.

Thongs go further by removing most of the back.

Jockstraps also eliminate the leg fabric while leaving the back largely open.

If visible underwear lines or bunching are your main concern, these more minimal styles are worth experimenting with.

Browse our men's underwear collection to compare different cuts and coverage levels.

What Underwear Is Best for Avoiding Visible Underwear Lines?

If avoiding underwear lines is your priority, the fewer seams and edges you have underneath your clothing, the better.

Boxer briefs have seams and leg openings around your thighs.

Briefs remove the thigh portion but still provide full back coverage.

A thong removes most of the fabric across the butt and thighs, which means there are fewer edges available to create visible lines.

That's one of the reasons thongs can work particularly well underneath tailored pants and other fitted clothing.

Shop men's thongs if you're looking for a more minimal option underneath fitted clothing.

Fabric Matters Too

The style of your underwear isn't the only thing that affects how it looks underneath clothing.

Fabric matters.

Thick materials add more bulk.

Thin, smooth fabrics generally sit more discreetly underneath fitted pants.

Stretch matters too.

Materials blended with elastane or spandex can move with your body and help underwear maintain its shape throughout the day.

A soft nylon or polyamide blend can create a very different feel underneath fitted clothing than a heavier cotton fabric.

Neither is automatically better. It depends on what you're wearing and what feels best against your body.

Your Underwear Should Work With Your Clothes

You don't need an entirely different underwear drawer for every pair of pants you own.

But having a few different styles gives you options.

Maybe boxer briefs are your everyday pair.

Briefs come out when you're wearing fitted jeans.

A jockstrap goes underneath your gym shorts.

And a thong is your choice underneath tailored pants when you want as little fabric as possible.

That's the advantage of having an underwear rotation instead of owning twelve versions of exactly the same pair.

If you're still figuring out which cuts you prefer, start with our complete guide to men's underwear styles to compare briefs, trunks, boxer briefs, thongs, jockstraps, and more.

The Bottom Line

The best underwear for your pants is the pair you don't have to think about once you're dressed.

It shouldn't bunch.

It shouldn't constantly ride up.

It shouldn't create lines you don't want.

And it definitely shouldn't require you to disappear into the bathroom every few hours just to adjust everything.

Pay attention to your pants, your underwear cut, the fabric, and most importantly, how everything feels on your body.

At Oh Bobby Behave, we believe underwear should work underneath your clothes while still looking good enough that you don't mind when the clothes come off.

Ready to switch things up? Explore our men's underwear and find the right style for whatever you're wearing over it.