How Many Pieces of Underwear Should a Woman Own?

Having a suitable collection of underwear garments is pretty important. Why? Because running out of clean pairs is pretty soul-destroying and you don't really want to rush to do the washing 3 times a week.

Don't worry, we're going to divulge all of our insider secrets and let you know your optimum panty supply size.

How Many Pairs of Underwear Does the Average Woman Own?

Before we dive into our recommendations for how many pairs of underwear women should  have, we thought it'd be interesting to see how many pairs the average women does own.

So we surveyed over 2,000 women in the U.S. and asked how many pairs of underwear they have. We divided it into bottoms (thongs, boyshorts, panties, etc.) and bras.

According to our survey, the average woman owns 11-15 pairs of underwear.

As for the tops, here's what we found.

The average woman owns 9-12 bras.

So on average, women own enough underwear to last 1-2 weeks. For some, that's plenty.  For others, it's not quite enough.

But next, let's take a look at how many pairs of underwear you should own to ensure you always have a fresh pair of panties to throw on without constantly doing laundry.

How Many Pairs of Underwear Should Women Own?

For many women, a three week supply of undies (around 20 to 25 pairs) is perfect. Although some people do have only a week's worth, we find this ramps up the pressure should a seam rip or your washing machine break.

Owning 20 to 25 pairs lets you chill a bit if something goes wrong or you fancy taking a long trip somewhere sunny.

Typically, your underwear drawer should hold 20 to 25 everyday pairs and 10-15 special ones. However, most women tend to have more than this — which isn't a crime, of course!

Your lifestyle and other factors affect how many pairs of underwear you should own too. Women who travel a lot will probably want more pairs than someone who values minimalism and doesn't jet set that much.

Laundry facilities play a part in this too. For example, some apartment buildings have rundown laundry rooms that never work. In this case, you will want to stock up on your everyday items so you can be sure you won't run out. 

At the end of the day, panties are a very personal thing so it's completely up to you, your lifestyle and bedroom activities as to how many you really need. Plus, owning a lot of sexy lingerie might just make you feel good — where's the harm in that?

How Many Bras Should Women Own?

Often, women make poor choices when it comes to bra shopping. Either they don't fit, the style isn't suited to their body type or the colors aren't versatile and show through clothing. This can cause a build of unwanted bras in your drawer that you just don't need. 

Essentially, all a bra needs to be is comfortable, flattering and invisible under clothes (unless the visibility thing is a look you're going for).

Since some bras are strictly for the bedroom and others are just for function and everyday life, you can figure out how many bras you need by answering some of these:

• Do you need bras that will be invisible and work with t-shirts and blouses?

• Do you need sexy bras that are made to be seen?

• How sweaty do you regularly get?

• Do you need the functionality, as well as sex appeal?

• How regularly do you wash your bras?

• Do you need occasion-wear bras (strapless, sports, etc.)?

• How often do you need to wear these specific, occasion-wear bras?

Once you have gone through all of the above questions, you can see for yourself what kind of bras (and how many of each) you need. 

For all the minimalists out there, one black and one nude colored bra might be enough for you. Bear in mind though, you'll need to wash them more regularly and buy new ones more often.

The Essential Underwear Styles and What to Wear Them Under

1. Boy Shorts

As you've probably guessed from the name, these are akin to men's boxers. They are supremely comfortable and incredibly functional. 

It's best to wear these with skirts and short, flared dresses.

2. Hipsters

They sport wide coverage on the hips (hence the name) and are a low-rise style.

You'll want to have a few pairs of these since you can wear them with pretty much anything. Having said this, they're most comfortable when worn under pants and low-waist jeans.

3. Classic Briefs

You know the undies you can buy in a pack of five? These are your classics. 

As long as your outfit isn't bodycon (you don't want panty lines showing), then you can wear them with whatever you want — from pleated skirts to jeans.

4. Thongs

As soon as you put on a thong, you feel sexy. Nothing is more attractive than a woman with confidence.

But deeper than that, they are great for wearing under tight-fitting clothing like bodycon dresses and pencil skirts.

5. G-String

Until now, you may have been confused about the difference between thongs and G-strings. To be honest, they are ridiculously similar. The only slight change is this style offers zero coverage. It will take some time to be comfortable in these undies but are perfect for when you'd rather go commando.

Typically, you wear them with leggings and bodycon dresses.

6. French-Cut Panties

If you have heard of high-cut panties, then you've heard of these. The leg holes are cut very high which is said to allow for better circulation although some women find them to be too uncomfortable because of this.

You are best off wearing these under high-waist jeans and not much else.

7. Control Briefs

This style oozes comfort and functionality. The elastic band at the top is stretchy enough so you feel free but tight enough to control your belly fluff.

They look great under high-waist denim pants or bodycon dresses.

8. Seamless Panties

Seamless panties are often neglected by most women (if you're someone who has a pair or two, we applaud you). They have no stitching on them which makes that annoying panty line problem non-existent.

Sheer dresses and pants will thank you for wearing these little lovelies under them.

9. Brazilian Briefs

This type of underwear is the love child of thongs and hipsters.

You should wear them with shorts or sarongs for the best and most comfortable look. A perfect excuse for a beach trip we think.

Depending on your daily activities, you may need more or less of certain styles — but that's for you to decide!

How Many Pieces of Underwear do You Have?

There is no law against having drawers filled with pairs of undies but these guidelines can help you declutter (or purchase the perfect styles) whenever you need to.