Men’s Underwear Market By Product Type (Boxers, Briefs, Boxer Briefs, Trunks, Athletic Underwear, Thermals Underwear, Compression Underwear), By Fabric Material (Cotton, Polyester, Modal, Nylon, Spandex, Bamboo, Silk, Blends), By Functionality (Everyday Wear, Sports Wear, Thermal Wear, Shapewear, Others), By Age Group (Teenagers, Adults (18-35 yrs), Middle-Aged (36-50 yrs), Seniors (51+ yrs)), By Distribution Channel (Online {Brand Websites, E-commerce Platforms}, Offline, {Supermarkets, Departmental Stores, Specialty Stores, Discount Stores}, Other), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company Share Analysis, Leading Company Profiles and Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

Industry Outlook

The Men’s Underwear market accounted for USD 39.1 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 71.2 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 5.6% between 2025 and 2035. The Men’s Underwear Market includes the manufacture, supply, and retail of styles of undergarment wear such as boxers, briefs, trunks, and specific athletic or thermal wear. This market targets a broad retail audience seeking desirable apparel attributes in terms of comfort, fitness, functionality, and fashionable designs with improved fabric and body support, breathability, and performance.

Growth is mainly influenced by the trends in personal care, fashion, and lifestyle changes; the competition is high, and growth strategies involve introducing key brands as well as a variety of new brands joining to serve the market, which can be divided into both the premium and the economy segments. The established growth of e-commerce and increasing consumer fascination with sustainable and functional merchandise also help drive its expansion.

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

Increasing Demand for Comfortable and Functional Men's Underwear

The increase in comfort and functionality has shifted the needs of men’s underwear, especially with the competitive needs of customers, where quality, fitness, and performance are of prime importance in their casual wear apparel. Today, customers require comfortable intimate apparel that provides additional utility, including the capability to breathe, absorb perspiration, and stretch in specific designated commodities with athletic features as well as for daytime wear. This change is putting pressure on brands to explore improved materials like modal, bamboo, and blended cloth that offer improved quality, comfort, durability, and sustainability.

In addition, men’s underpants are now deemed important bodywear and hygiene, accompanying the general tendencies in the spheres of health and self-care. Whether it be to prevent chafing during activities that require little to no movement or to engage in activities that require a lot of movement, functional underwear appeals to all age groups. Therefore, the softer and more functional the brand can make the products, the better the long-term sales to the targeted consumers, and thereby increase overall market demand.

Growing Popularity of E-commerce Boosting Product Accessibility

The increased use of internet shopping has further boosted the chances of getting the right product in the men’s undergarment industry since one can easily order the brands and styles from the comfort of their home. Online stores have a wide range of products starting from international brands and ending with unestablished fashion labels; this allows customers to choose between similar and different products and determine the best price/quality ratio. This stated that this accessibility has especially been helpful because it provides brands access to customers where physical store opportunities are scarce, in urban as well as rural areas. Also, help the companies target customers through online recommending links, subscription services, and custom-fit guides relevant to the size preferences of the customers.

Some consumers promote their willingness for online shopping since it is timesaving, they can always find something on sale, and it is easy to return an item. Therefore, e-commerce is the key factor that advances international expansion and customer acquisition in the men’s underwear market.

High Competition Leading to Lower Profit Margins

The market for men’s underwear is rather saturated because it is full of various established brands, regional companies, and new market participants. This high level of competition forces organizations to adopt a fierce price war and frequent sales promotions and offers to consumers. Therefore, value-added tends to be even more realized for brands desiring to compete in both the up-market and lower-market segments. This is because pursuing both quality and low cost may put pressure on raw materials, and shoe costs, or require companies to invest in expensive technologies for production, new fabrics, ecological materials, and styles that may give a brand identity.

There is ever-increasing competitive pressure due to the growth of direct-to-consumer brands, which has a material impact on customer acquisition costs, digital, and advertisement expenditure. Margin pressures as a result can constrain earnings and entrepreneurship, especially among differently established brands, making it tricky for newcomers in a competitive environment to thrive by providing financial stability in the long run.

Growing Demand for Athleisure and Activewear Underwear

The growing demand and trend are the athleisure and activewear market, which has influenced men’s underwear market by providing versatile and practical options with AMPs fitting both workout and everyday wear. This change in consumers’s preferences is primarily due to the increased popularity of fitness and the need for the garment that will provide comfort as well as functionality. Athleisure underwear fabric is made of spandex, polyester, nylon, and quick-dry, moisture-wicking fabric that is on-demand currently since they are targeting active and health-conscious consumers. These fabrics assist in maintaining breathability, avoiding skin friction, and increased flexibility, which makes them suitable for sports, jogging, and gym wear.

One major opportunity is the invite for fashionable and practical clothing, particularly for undergarments that can be worn to the gym as well as out on the streets. This trend is anticipated to further increase as more consumers rely on wearable clothing for fashion as well as For-Mi, giving apparel makers a chance to develop more options for their products and attract even more clients.

Emerging Markets Present Untapped Potential for New Entrants

Currently, embracing the poorly penetrated emerging markets along with Asia-Pacific and Latin America and certain regions of Africa discovered to be potential growth markets for men’s underwear. These markets are quickly urbanizing, witnessing an increase in disposable income and altered social demographics, leading to the increased practice of new and more sophisticated consumer behaviors that now encompass a greater focus on beauty, fashion, and brand sophistication.

Demand for men’s underwear is increasing, however, many of these markets are still relatively untapped by global branded products, which presents a massive opportunity. These emerging markets are more often open to international brands because consumers will spend on products of better quality, comfortable, and fashionable brands.

Local brands, on the same note, can leverage affordability and due to the large number, they cover every part of the market, from luxury to the economy. The increase in e-commerce improvements in these areas also helps expand the sites and market access so that brands can offer their products to the consumers residing in such areas, be it in the urban cities or the rural regions. In this manner, companies can further their market reach, increase brand identity, and reach consumers who are in the process of looking for new products and better choices.

Industry Experts Opinion

“Men need a completely different construction for fit and support, when male celebrities wear more feminine styles or accessories it doesn’t necessarily make them appear less masculine. Instead, it’s almost the ultimate show of confidence and self-expression, this reflects how comfortable these men are in their own skin.”

• Jennifer Zuccarini, the founder of the US lingerie and ready-to-wear brand Fleur du Mal

Segment Analysis

Based on Product Type, the Men’s Underwear Market by product classification is divided into boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, trunks, athletic wear, thermals, and compression wear. Cotton boxer briefs and trunks are very preferred for men because they provide comfort and support for men of all ages. Sport types and compression-wearing apparel are popular among active consumers and athletes who wear comfortable translating to support equipment while in active activities. Nowadays, it is still popular among people in cold climate zones and successfully continues to serve as the warm additional layer during the winter season.

Based on Fabric material, is an important consideration when determining the right fabric material to be used in the production of the various products within this sector, which include Cotton, polyester, modal, nylon, spandex, bamboo silk fabrics, and blends. Cotton is still used for its ability to breathe and feel good on the skin, while synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and elastane give more strength, stretchability, and often a better ability to move moisture away from the skin, especially when used for sportswear.

Modal and bamboo are still growing in popularity due to their softer texture and environmental friendliness for the customer. End uses are being intermingled to integrate the advantages of the fabrics, consisting of softness, figure, and functionality, to differing extents across their merchandise.

Regional Analysis

North America specifically is seen as being most significant for the men’s underwear market because of high per capita spending, already developed points of sale and customer loyalty. Consumers of clothing and apparel products in the USA and Canada prefer trendy branded apparel with special emphasis on comfort, practical utilities, and high-quality fabrics.

This demand has been tapped by leading brands such as Calvin Klein, Hanes Brands Inc., and Nike, and the brands are continually launching new product designs and new fabric technologies. The area of selling is also very well developed here before customers, making it easy for brands to get to them and increasing sales through online retail stores disproportionately.

The Asia-Pacific region is considered to have the highest market growth rate in the men’s underwear space; this is a result of higher disposable income levels, growing urbanization, as well as an increasing pace of change in lifestyles. With the emerging middle-income consumers in Asia such as China, India, and Japan, these markets are today demanding better-quality clothing and personal care items, including branded underwear.

Currently, international and regional companies have stepped up their localization efforts to respond to this increasing demand, providing both cost-effective and high-end goods. The vast Asia-Pacific market advances at an incredible pace, augmenting the e-commerce domain. Therefore, market development also results from diverse product availability in both urban and rural facilities.

Competitive Landscape

The competition in the Men’s Underwear Market tends to be highly accelerated, mainly because both top brands and new enterprises operate with a common purpose of penetrating deeper into the market through better researched and innovative Men’s Underwear products. Market leaders such as Calvin Klein, HanesBrands Inc., Adidas AG, and Nike, Inc. continue to protect their hegemony by offering high product variety, international operations, and customer preference. To tap these segments, these organizations commit enormous resources to research and development to create performance-wear fabrics, fashionable and comfortable wear, and sustainable fabrics, respectively.

At the same time, newcomers Mack Weldon, MeUndies, and Saxx Underwear stand out with online-only strategies, customization, and direct-selling markets. Besides, the improvement of electronic commerce and the increasing consumer preferences in the segment of functional and sustainable clothing have increased the need for improved accessibility and more sustainable materials, which increases the overall market rivalry.

Men’s Underwear Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Recent Developments:

• In September 2022, Page Industries Ltd, the official licensee for Jockey International Inc., extended its flagship store in New Delhi, India. The two-story, 2,500 square foot retail space includes designated areas for men, women, and kids. This expansion underscores the brand's dedication to delivering a comprehensive in-store shopping experience, making Jockey's diverse range of intimate and casual apparel more accessible to customers.

Report Coverage:

By Product Type

• Boxers
• Briefs
• Boxer Briefs
• Trunks
• Athletic Underwear
• Thermals Underwear
• Compression Underwear

By Fabric Material

• Cotton
• Polyester
• Modal
• Nylon
• Spandex
• Bamboo
• Silk
• Blends

By Functionality

• Everyday Wear
• Sports Wear
• Thermal Wear
• Shapewear
• Others

By Age Group

• Teenagers
• Adults (18-35 yrs)
• Middle-Aged (36-50 yrs)
• Seniors (51+ yrs)

By Distribution Channel

• Online
  • Brand Websites
  • E-commerce Platforms
• Offline
  • Supermarkets
  • Departmental Stores
  • Specialty Stores
  • Discount Stores
• Other

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Adidas AG
• American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
• Andrew Christian Inc.
• Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
• Bonobos Inc.
• Calvin Klein Inc.
• Duluth Trading Company
• Fruit of the Loom, Inc.
• Gap Inc.
• Giorgio Armani S.p.A.
• Hanesbrands Inc.
• Hugo Boss AG
• Jockey International Inc.
• L Brands, Inc. (Victoria’s Secret)
• Mack Weldon Inc.
• Nike, Inc.
• PVH Corp.
• Puma SE

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