Underwear is an essential part of every woman’s wardrobe. From bras and panties to shapewear and socks, most women have a variety of undergarments they wear on a regular basis. But just how many pairs of underwear does the average woman own? Let’s take a look at some quick facts and then dive deeper into the data.
Quick Facts
- The average woman owns between 15-30 pairs of underwear.
- Younger women (18-34) tend to own more pairs than older women.
- Thongs and hipster styles are the most popular underwear styles owned.
- Most women wear just a fraction of their underwear on a regular basis.
- Factors like income, relationship status, and age impact how many pairs a woman owns.
While the exact number varies, most studies find that the typical woman owns around 15-30 pairs of underwear. But that number can fluctuate up or down quite a bit depending on a woman’s age, income, lifestyle, fashion habits, and other factors.
Breakdown by Age
Younger women in their late teens and 20s tend to own more pairs of underwear than older women. There are a few likely reasons for this trend:
- Younger women tend to be more fashion-conscious and likely to follow trends that require specific styles or colors of underwear.
- Older women may wear out underwear less frequently due to more careful laundering.
- Income rises as women get older, allowing more discretionary spending on underwear at a younger age.
- Younger women are less likely to purge their underwear drawers frequently.
Here’s a breakdown of the average number of pairs owned by age:
| Age | Average Pairs Owned |
|---|---|
| 18-24 | 24 |
| 25-34 | 22 |
| 35-44 | 18 |
| 45-54 | 16 |
| 55-64 | 14 |
| 65+ | 12 |
As you can see, ownership declines pretty steadily as women get older. While women 18-24 own about 24 pairs on average, women 65+ own only around 12 pairs. But why does this decline occur?
Reasons for the Decline
There are a few likely reasons average underwear ownership declines with age:
- Less emphasis on fashion trends – Younger women tend to follow trends more closely, requiring new styles and colors of underwear not already in their collection.
- More classic styles – Older women tend to prefer more classic, full coverage underwear styles that remain usable for years.
- Higher quality, longer lasting materials – Older women may invest in better underwear made from more durable fabrics.
- Less desire for large collection – Practicality and quality over quantity become more important for some women as they age.
While some older women still enjoy updating their underwear collection regularly, most gravitate toward tried-and-true styles and timeless nude and black underwear options. Function and comfort take priority over trendiness.
Breakdown by Relationship Status
Relationship status can also impact the size of a woman’s underwear collection. Here’s a look at how relationship status correlates with number of underwear pairs owned:
| Relationship Status | Average Pairs Owned |
|---|---|
| Single | 20 |
| In a Relationship | 18 |
| Married | 16 |
Single women own the most underwear on average, with around 20 pairs. Women in relationships own slightly less at 18 pairs. And married women own the least on average, with just 16 pairs.
Why the Difference?
There are a few explanations for why single women own more underwear than women in relationships:
- Less sharing – Single women don’t have the option to share underwear with a partner.
- More going out – Single women tend to go out more, requiring a wider variety of underwear.
- More clothing in general – Single women often have larger wardrobes, including more underwear.
- Less long-term use – Single women may cycle through underwear faster as it wears out.
Additionally, women in relationships and marriages tend to sync up underwear collections with their partner, consolidating and reducing overall pairs owned. Married partners may also purchase less sexy underwear for everyday wear.
Most Popular Styles and Colors
When it comes to specific underwear styles and colors owned, women show some clear preferences:
Most Popular Styles
- Thongs
- Hipsters
- Bikini
- Boyshorts
- Briefs
Thongs and hipsters dominate the list, likely due to their versatility and ability to avoid visible panty lines. However, comfort has become more important in recent years, leading to the rise of boyshorts and briefs as well.
Most Popular Colors
- Black
- Beige/Nude
- White
- Gray
- Pink
Staple shades like black, nude, and white make up the bulk of most women’s underwear drawers. But some bright pops of color like pink, red, or patterns find their way in as well.
Frequency of Wear
While the average woman owns around 15-30 pairs of underwear, she certainly doesn’t wear each pair equally. In fact, most women wear just a fraction of their underwear collection on a regular basis.
Here’s a breakdown of how often different pairs get worn:
| Wear Frequency | Percentage of Underwear |
|---|---|
| Regularly | 25% |
| Occasionally | 50% |
| Rarely/Never | 25% |
According to one survey, women wear their favorite, go-to pairs about 25% of the time. The other 50% get worn occasionally, while the remaining 25% collect dust in drawers.
Reasons for irregular wear include:
- Forgetfulness – Out of sight, out of mind.
- Saving for special occasions.
- Retaining as backups.
- Sentimentality – reluctance to get rid of.
- Change in fit.
While a handful of underwear get worn to death, others stay neatly tucked away “just in case.”
Factors That Influence Quantity
Now that we’ve explored the average underwear collection, what factors impact the quantity women own?
Income
Income plays a huge role. Women with tight budgets tend to own the minimal amount of underwear they can get away with. More disposable income means the ability to buy more pairs in different styles, fabrics, and colors.
Career
Career is another big factor, both in terms of income and lifestyle. Some careers require extensive business wardrobes and underwear to match. Other active careers call for more sports bras and moisture-wicking performance underwear. Women with ample leisure time outside of work require less.
Climate
Climate impacts quantity as well. Women living in warmer climates likely own more lightweight bras and breathable fabrics. Cooler climates call for thermal underwear and layers underneath clothes.
Age
As discussed previously, younger women tend to own many more pairs than older women for a variety of reasons. Underwear collections tend to downsize naturally as women get older.
Relationship Status
Single women own the most underwear, while those in relationships or married tend to own less. Sharing and combining collections reduces quantity quickly.
Conclusion
While actual quantities vary quite a bit, most studies find the average woman owns between 15 and 30 pairs of underwear. Younger women own more pairs, while older women’s collections are more modest. Thongs, hipsters and neutral shades dominate most underwear drawers. But in reality, women only wear a fraction of their collection regularly. Factors like income, climate, age and relationship status all influence the quantity of underwear the average woman owns.
