📅This fact may be outdated
The '2/3 prefer boxers' statistic cannot be verified in current surveys. Modern data (2024-2025) shows preferences are evenly split: TME.NET found 40.5% prefer boxers, 35.1% briefs, 24.3% boxer briefs. Other surveys show similar distribution. The claim likely stems from older surveys from the 1990s-2000s when boxers dominated. The underwear landscape has evolved significantly with boxer briefs and trunks gaining market share.
About 2/3 of American men prefer boxers to briefs.
The Great Underwear Debate: What Men Actually Wear
You've probably heard the old stat: "About 2/3 of American men prefer boxers to briefs." It was the kind of fact that settled locker room debates and informed Valentine's Day shopping decisions for decades. But here's the truth: that statistic is about as current as dial-up internet.
Modern surveys paint a completely different picture. A 2025 TME.NET survey found that only 40.5% of men prefer boxers, while 35.1% choose briefs, and 24.3% opt for boxer briefs. Another survey from the same year showed briefs actually taking the lead at 22%, with trunks at 19% and boxer briefs at 17%. The supposed "2/3 boxers" dominance? Nowhere to be found.
What Happened to Boxers?
The decline of boxer supremacy tells a fascinating story about changing fashion, technology, and what men actually want from their underwear. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, boxers really did dominate. They were marketed as the sophisticated, comfortable choice—roomier, breezier, and more "grown up" than the briefs your dad wore.
But then came the revolution: boxer briefs. This hybrid style, which combines the coverage of boxers with the support of briefs, didn't even exist as a mainstream option until the mid-1990s. Once it caught on, it completely reshaped the market. Suddenly men didn't have to choose between comfort and support—they could have both.
The Modern Underwear Landscape
Today's underwear drawer is more diverse than ever. Beyond the classic boxers-vs-briefs debate, men are choosing from:
- Boxer briefs - The fastest-growing category, offering a compromise between styles
- Trunks - A shorter, more athletic version of boxer briefs
- Performance underwear - Moisture-wicking, anti-chafing fabrics for active lifestyles
- Traditional briefs - Making a comeback with modern fabrics and cuts
The briefs market alone was valued at $24.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $44.6 billion by 2034, driven by ergonomic designs and improved comfort features. That's a lot of growth for a style that was supposedly losing the preference war.
Why Preferences Shifted
Several factors killed the boxers monopoly. Modern activewear and slimmer-fitting pants made the bulk of loose boxers less practical. Athletic wear influenced everyday underwear with performance fabrics that actually do something—wicking moisture, reducing friction, maintaining shape after washing. And let's be honest: once men discovered they didn't have to constantly adjust throughout the day, many never looked back.
Cultural attitudes shifted too. The old "boxers are cool, briefs are nerdy" stereotype faded as men prioritized function over arbitrary fashion rules. When even professional athletes started endorsing fitted underwear for performance reasons, the stigma evaporated.
The Takeaway
So what do American men actually prefer? The answer is: it depends. Preferences vary by age, activity level, body type, and personal comfort. Some guys swear by boxers for sleeping, briefs for working out, and boxer briefs for everyday wear. The market reflects this diversity—there's no longer a dominant style claiming two-thirds of men's drawers.
The underwear industry has figured out what men want: options. And that old "2/3 prefer boxers" statistic? It belongs in the same drawer as those worn-out boxers from college—retired and replaced with something that actually fits the current reality.