We Asked 85 People to Test Period Underwear to Find the Best Pairs for Your Money

We updated this guide in January 2023 to include information about the Thinx settlement. All information and product picks selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab remain the same.

If you're looking to cut back on waste, period panties can be a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to disposable menstrual products like pads, tampons and liners. The best period underwear looks and fits just like regular underwear, but features a special layer that helps prevent blood from leaking through.

While there are now plenty of stylish and comfortable options available, you'll want to steer clear of any styles that aren't absorbent enough or add unnecessary bulk. To find the best period underwear, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab checked the absorbency of top-rated pairs using red cough syrup (manufacturers use it to test pads and tampons too!) and also sent home 17 different styles with 85 testers to get feedback on comfort, leaks and more. We reviewed over 1,500 data points before making our recommendations.

Our top-tested picks:

If you're new to wearing period underwear, one word of caution: In our Lab tests, we found that even the most effective styles couldn't absorb the cough syrup as well as traditional pads. So if you have a heavy flow, you may want to stick to wearing period underwear just as a backup to a menstrual cup or other disposable menstrual supplies.

Keep reading to shop our top-performing picks, and find more information about period underwear materials, safety and sustainability at the bottom of this guide. Looking for more ways to improve your period experience? Check out our top picks for the best period swimwear and the best heating pads to soothe cramps.