We make long-leg bamboo viscose boxer shorts, which are a longer relative of the boyshort. So we have an interest here, and we have tried to be straight about where a boyshort is and is not the right choice.
The short answer
A boyshort is underwear with a short leg, usually between 1 and 3 inches, cut square across the thigh rather than high on the hip. It gives more seat coverage than a brief and sits flatter under clothes.
Boyshorts do not stop thigh chafing. A 1 to 3 inch leg does not reach the point where most thighs touch. If chafing is why you are shopping, you need 6 inches or more, which is a boxer short rather than a boyshort.
Everything else below is about which of the two suits you.
Boyshorts vs briefs
| Boyshorts | Briefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Leg | 1 to 3 inches, cut square | None |
| Seat coverage | Full | Partial to full, depending on cut |
| Waist | Usually mid-rise | Usually higher |
| Under trousers | Flatter line, seams sit under the curve | Can cut across and create a line |
| Stops thigh chafing | No | No |
| Under low-rise | Awkward, the leg shows | Better |
| Price | Slightly higher | Lowest |
Pick briefs if you want the least fabric, the lowest price, and you wear low-rise trousers.
Pick boyshorts if you want more seat coverage, a flatter line under clothes, or you dislike the way a brief's leg elastic sits across your thigh.
Pick a long-leg boxer short if thighs rubbing is the actual problem. That is a different garment and we cover it in what women's boxer shorts are called.
Will boyshorts show under clothes?
This is the most common reason people switch to them, so it deserves a straight answer.
Boyshorts sit flatter than briefs because the seam runs under the curve of the buttock rather than across it. That removes the horizontal line a brief can create under close-fitting trousers.
They are not invisible. Under very thin or very tight fabric a boyshort edge can still show, particularly in a heavier cotton. If a completely smooth line is the priority, look for flat or bonded seams rather than stitched ones, and a thinner fabric.
Boyshorts in larger sizes
Two things go wrong with boyshorts above roughly a UK 18, and both are fixable if you know what to look for.
Leg openings that dig. A boyshort leg cut for a smaller thigh becomes a tourniquet on a larger one. Look for a wider leg opening rather than just a longer garment, because grading up in length alone does not solve it.
Riding up. A short leg on a fuller thigh has more surface to travel across, so it rolls sooner. This is the single most common complaint in larger sizes and it is why many people move to a longer leg.
What to check before buying: the leg opening measurement rather than the size label, whether the waistband is a wide band rather than narrow elastic, and whether the brand grades the leg opening separately from the waist. Most do not.
Our own range runs UK 8 to 30 with the waistband width, leg opening and gusset adjusted for larger bodies rather than simply scaled. Every size costs the same.
What boyshorts are made of, and what that changes
Cotton is cheap, breathable and forgiving in the wash. It absorbs moisture and holds it, so it feels damp after you sweat.
Bamboo viscose is soft from the first wear, breathable and temperature-regulating, and it moves moisture rather than holding it. It is fussier to wash: cool wash, no fabric softener, air dry. Our care guide covers it.
Modal behaves similarly to bamboo viscose and is made from beechwood.
Microfibre and synthetics dry fastest and are the usual choice for a seamless finish, though they hold odour more than natural fibres.
One thing worth saying plainly, because much of this category says otherwise: bamboo viscose is not antibacterial and not hypoallergenic. The compound sometimes credited to the raw plant does not survive the process that turns bamboo pulp into viscose. What can honestly be said is soft, breathable, temperature-regulating, and in our case dyed to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which means tested for harmful substances.
Boyshorts for postpartum and recovery
Boyshorts are often recommended after birth because there is no leg elastic sitting across a tender thigh and no waistband cutting at the hip.
For a C-section specifically, the thing that matters is where the waistband sits relative to the scar. A narrow band of elastic landing on it is what hurts, so you want something wide and soft, worn either well above or well below. Neither is universally right and it depends where your scar is.
We cover the options properly in our postpartum underwear comparison.
Where we fit
We do not make a classic boyshort. We make a 6 inch and 9 inch long-leg boxer short, which is the same family with considerably more leg. It exists to stop thigh chafing, which a boyshort does not do.
95% Tanboocel bamboo viscose with 5% elastane, UK 8 to 30, every size one price, dyed to OEKO-TEX Standard 100. Free UK delivery, 60 day comfort guarantee, free first-pair size swap.
If a short leg is what you want, we are not the right brand and you will do better elsewhere. If you have been buying boyshorts and finding they ride up or your thighs still rub, a longer leg is the fix.
What a great pair of pants, so comfortable. This is my first time trying a longer leg. Planning on buying more.
Verified customer, UK
Your questions answered
What are boyshorts?
Underwear with a short leg, usually 1 to 3 inches, cut square across the thigh rather than high on the hip. More seat coverage than a brief, and a flatter line under clothes.
Boyshorts vs briefs: which is better?
Neither, they solve different things. Briefs use less fabric and cost less. Boyshorts give more seat coverage and sit flatter under close-fitting trousers. If thigh chafing is your problem, neither works and you want a 6 to 9 inch leg.
Do boyshorts stop chafing?
No. A 1 to 3 inch leg does not reach where most thighs touch. Long-leg boxer shorts at 6 to 9 inches do.
Do boyshorts ride up?
They can, and it is more common in larger sizes because there is more thigh for a short leg to travel across. A wider leg opening helps. A longer leg helps more.
Are boyshorts good for plus size?
They can be, if the leg opening is graded separately rather than just scaled with the waist. Check the leg opening measurement rather than the size label, and look for a wide waistband instead of narrow elastic.
Do boyshorts show panty lines?
Less than briefs, because the seam sits under the curve rather than across it. Not invisible. Flat or bonded seams and a thinner fabric help.
What is the difference between boyshorts and boy shorts?
Nothing. Both spellings refer to the same garment. You will also see boyleg or boyleg briefs, which is the usual term in the UK and Australia.
Are bamboo boyshorts antibacterial?
No. The compound credited to raw bamboo does not survive viscose manufacturing, so it is not in the finished fabric. Any brand claiming otherwise is over-claiming.
