Why does my underwear keep giving me wedgies?
Underwear rides up because the leg elastic is under tension. When the leg openings are too small for your thighs, or the back panel is too small for your seat, the elastic is stretched all day, and stretched elastic moves toward the narrowest point it can find. The fix is usually a cut with more back coverage and wider leg openings, or a size up, not a smaller size.
The styles least likely to ride up are full-back briefs, boyshorts with a longer leg, and high-cut French briefs with full back coverage. Seamless and raw-cut edges help too, because there is no stiff elastic to roll.
Or go the other way: a thong already sits where a wedgie would, so it cannot ride up any further.
Few things are as annoying as underwear that will not stay where you put it. Walk to the car, climb the stairs, sit down and stand up, and it has crept up again.
The good news is that wedgies are almost always a fit problem with a simple cause. Here is why underwear rides up, how to tell which cause is yours, and the styles that stay in place.
- Wedgies are a tension problem. Stretched leg elastic travels toward the center.
- More back coverage and wider leg openings fix most of them.
- Do not size down. Smaller underwear is under more tension and rides up more.
- Full briefs, boyshorts and French briefs stay put best.
- Worn elastic rolls and creeps. Replace underwear when the edges go wavy.
- A thong is the other answer: it cannot ride up any further.
Why Underwear Rides Up
Elastic that is stretched wants to shorten. The only way it can is by moving to a narrower part of your body.
The leg openings of most underwear are edged with elastic. When that elastic fits comfortably, it sits still. When it is stretched to get around your thigh or across your seat, it is under constant tension. Every step, every time you sit and stand, it slips a little toward the place where it can relax: the narrowest point between your legs. That is a wedgie.
So underwear does not ride up because there is too little fabric in general. It rides up because the fabric that is there is being pulled. That is why sizing down, which many people try first, almost always makes it worse. Our guide to women's underwear explains the difference between underwear that rides up, which is a leg-opening problem, and underwear that rolls down, which is a rise problem.
Seven Causes of Wedgies, and the Fix for Each
Find yours here. Most people have one or two of these at once.
You should be able to slide two fingers comfortably under the waistband and under each leg opening. If you cannot, the underwear is under tension and will travel. Red marks on your skin after you take it off mean the same thing.
The Underwear Styles That Stay Put
Coverage and the shape of the leg opening matter far more than the brand.
| Style | Rides up? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Full brief | Rarely | Covers the whole seat; edges sit below the curve |
| Boyshort | Rarely | Leg ends on the thigh, not the seat |
| High-cut French brief | Rarely | High leg, but full back coverage |
| Hipster | Sometimes | Depends on back coverage |
| Bikini | Often | Smaller back panel |
| Cheeky | By design | Sits partly on the curve |
| Thong | No | Already sits where a wedgie would |
Full briefs cover the whole seat, so the leg elastic sits below the curve rather than on it. Browse brief panties and see our guide to briefs. Boyshorts move the leg edge down to the thigh, where there is nothing to slide into; browse boyshorts. High-cut French briefs look leggier from the front but keep full coverage at the back, which is the combination that stays put; browse French cut panties.
A thong is the opposite solution, and for many people it is the most comfortable one: there is no back panel to ride up. If thongs are not for you, our cheeky panties guide covers the in-between cuts and what to expect from each.
Wedgies and Body Shape
The same pair can stay put on one body and ride up on another. Shape is why.
Fuller or more rounded seats need more fabric from waist to leg at the back. Standard patterns are cut for an average curve, so the back panel ends partway up the seat, and the edge slides inward. Look for styles described as full coverage or full back, high-waisted briefs, which add height at the back, and boyshorts. Browse high-waisted panties.
Fuller thighs stretch the leg openings, which puts the elastic under tension. A size up, or a style with soft, wide leg bands, takes the pressure off. A boyshort or a light seamless short also stops thighs rubbing. Slimmer hips and a flatter seat often have the opposite problem: loose fabric that bunches. A smaller size in a stretchier fabric, or a seamless style that lies flat, usually fixes it.
For plus sizes, our guide to plus size everyday underwear covers the cuts and waistbands that stay put, and our collection of plus size panties includes full briefs and boyshorts.
Wedgies When You Walk, Run or Work Out
Movement multiplies the tension. A few changes make a big difference.
Under skirts and dresses, a light shaper short or slip short replaces underwear that rides up and stops thighs rubbing at the same time. For more on smooth layers, see our guide to hiding panty lines, which covers the same styles.
Our Picks for Underwear That Stays Put
Full coverage, soft leg edges and seamless styles that do not travel.
For more choice, browse briefs, boyshorts, French cut panties, seamless underwear and cotton panties.
Wedgie Myths
A few common beliefs make the problem worse.
If your underwear is comfortable but leaves marks, rubs or itches, our guide to underwear for sensitive skin covers fabrics, gussets and elastics. For breathable everyday options, see our cotton underwear guide.
What This Means for You
Wedgies happen when the leg elastic is under tension and travels toward the center. Choose styles with full back coverage and wider, softer leg openings: full briefs, boyshorts and high-cut French briefs. Size up rather than down, replace underwear when the elastic wears out, and choose seamless or moisture-wicking styles for exercise.
Or skip the problem entirely with a thong, which cannot ride up any further.
Women's Underwear, Briefs and Cheekies
How to choose the cut, coverage and fabric that suits you.
Women's UnderwearBriefsCheeky PantiesFrequently Asked Questions
Why does my underwear keep giving me wedgies?
What underwear does not ride up?
Should I size down if my underwear rides up?
Why do my panties ride up when I walk?
Do thongs prevent wedgies?
What underwear is best for working out?
This guide is for general information about underwear fit. Sizing and cuts vary between brands, so check the size chart and product details for each item.
