How many pairs of briefs you need

Short answer: Ten to fourteen pairs let you wash once a week without running out. Fewer pairs mean more frequent washing, and for underwear washing causes more wear than wearing.

The maths

One pair a day for seven days is the starting point. Add a buffer for the days when you change twice, such as after training or on a hot day. Ten pairs is a calm number that covers a week with a little room, and fourteen gives slack if laundry day slips by a few days. See bamboo briefs.

The buffer makes the difference

Without a buffer you reach for your last clean pair on the morning of laundry day, and then you have to wash whether the machine is full or not. With a few extra pairs you can wait until there is enough for a full load. That saves washes and time, and takes the pressure off the weekly routine.

Fewer pairs wear out faster

With five pairs you wash twice a week, and each pair goes through twice as many washes in a year. It is washing, not wearing, that is hardest on fibres and elastic. More pairs in rotation means each pair lasts longer and you buy new ones less often. See washing and care.

Different cuts for different days

A few seamless pairs for tight trousers, a few fuller pairs for everyday and a few for training cover most situations. Count the pairs you actually wear, not the ones at the back of the drawer. A pair you never put on does not help the maths. See bamboo underwear for women.

Count what you wear

Many people own more briefs than they think, but only some of them get worn. The rest fit badly, itch or are too worn. Go through the drawer and set aside the pairs you always skip. Then you can see how many you really have, and whether a few are missing to reach ten.

One style keeps it simple

Once you find a style and a size that fit, it is easy to stick with it. You know what you get when you buy more, and every pair in the drawer fits the same. It also makes it easy to spot worn pairs, because you can compare them with a newer pair of the same kind.

Wear the pairs evenly

Put freshly washed briefs at the bottom of the drawer and always take from the top. That way every pair gets worn equally and wears at the same pace. Otherwise you end up wearing the same few pairs again and again while the rest sit unused, and the drawer as a whole lasts less time.

Replace as you go

If you buy the same style, you can top up a few pairs at a time rather than replacing the whole drawer at once. Swap out worn pairs when the elastic goes slack or the fabric thins. The drawer stays full and the cost spreads over the year. Sizes are in our guide to briefs and underwear.

How long they last

In normal rotation a pair of briefs usually lasts one to two years. It depends mostly on how often they are washed and how they are dried. A hot tumble dryer is hard on the elastic. If you hang them to dry and use a mild detergent, they will last longer.