Best Incontinence Underwear for Men

If you're a man dealing with incontinence, you're not alone. Between 3-11% of men struggle with bladder leakage,1 and over 8% of all adults deal with ongoing fecal incontinence.2 The prevalence of all forms of incontinence increases with age.

Fortunately, managing urinary or fecal incontinence is a relatively straightforward endeavor. Today's incontinence underwear — including pull-ups, adult briefs or diapers, and guards — offers protection from leaks, odor, and embarrassment in many sizes, styles, and absorbency levels. But which option is right for you?

We've researched and tested men's incontinence underwear across the market, from popular brands to hidden gems and everything in between, and ranked our favorites based on cost, comfort, style, and absorbency. Our guide breaks down the details to help you decide what products may best fit your lifestyle.

If you don't have time to read our complete guide, you can take a look at our top picks below.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers adopt healthier lifestyles and make better-informed choices regarding their health and wellness.

We extensively test each health service or product we review to give you an unbiased exploration of at-home health options without marketing jargon or gimmicks. We evaluate products and services based on their compliance with quality, health, and safety standards, including the most up-to-date medical evidence available.

For this guide to the best incontinence underwear for men, we spent hundreds of hours researching incontinence products and testing dozens of them ourselves in multiple ways. Our testing team consisted of men and women (one of whom is postpartum) ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s. They evaluated the products for comfort, fit, confidence, and discreteness — including how noisy a product is and if it’s detectable under clothing.

In addition to the testing team wearing them, we performed stress tests on a range of products from top brands to see how much liquid they would hold, including when left overnight. A vital component of our final judgment was determined by whether or not the claims made by companies measured up to the results we found (or if they even came close).

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

We considered five primary evaluation criteria when evaluating men's incontinence underwear: absorbency, cost, comfort, options, and sustainability. When looking to purchase products for health concerns such as incontinence, your top priority is likely reliability; good absorption with minimal leaks is a crucial aspect of a quality incontinence product. If you discover a product that combines good absorbency and affordability, that’s even better. And while factors like comfort and style options are significant (as some research supports), they’re more subjective and, therefore, carry a bit less weight in our evaluation process.3

Last but certainly not least, we looked at sustainability. Disposable diapers create nearly four million tons of waste per year and, in landfills, can take up to 500 years to degrade.7 And while the world has been trying to find inventive ways to transform this waste, like paving roads with recycled diapers or building houses from them, some people may still wish to use a more environmentally friendly incontinence option from the outset.

Absorbency

Winner: MoliCare

Absorbency is one of the top priorities when choosing an incontinence product. According to Dr. Matt Segar, MD, a member of our Medical Review Board, “Some individuals have bowel incontinence or have significantly higher urine output and, therefore, require more extensive leakage protection.” Several of our top choices produce high-absorbency overnight underwear, but none we found exceeded the level of MoliCare’s Premium Elastic Disposable Brief (10D).

This MoliCare product features a 3-layer absorbent core and leg cuffs to prevent leaks, and it holds roughly eight cups of fluid. The next-highest absorbency belongs to Because Market’s Overnight Plus Underwear, which holds six cups.

Cost

Winner: Because Market

Cost is an essential deciding factor for most of us when purchasing personal care products, but no one wants to sacrifice quality to get the best deal. Fortunately, most of the brands we cover in this guide provide good quality products at pretty reasonable prices.

Overall, Because Market provides the best value for the quality of products you receive. However, Prevail’s Daily Male Guards are almost identical in absorbency to those from Because Market while being much cheaper (especially in bulk). Prevail’s other products, conversely, don’t come close to those from Because Market in regard to absorbency and leak protection, making them not worth the cost (even if it’s fairly low).

So, while Because Market is our winner for cost, ultimately we do believe Prevail’s Daily Male guards are also an excellent value.

Comfort

Winner: Because Market

Because Market’s products were consistently given high marks in comfort by our testers. When we discuss comfort, it’s important to note that we don’t just mean the material — factors like discreteness, noise level, and confidence play a significant role in overall comfort. Because Market’s products were invisible under clothing, were nearly silent when moving around, and our testers felt confident they wouldn’t leak. The materials Because Market uses for its products were also, ultimately, the most comfortable against the skin, according to testers. Coming in second for comfort were Tranquility’s products, which suffered from some minor fit and noise concerns.

Style options

Winner: Tranquility

When shopping for incontinence products, options are an important factor that will often dictate what product you decide to use. For example, a fully mobile 30-year-old man is likely to choose a different product than an older man who is immobile and requires assistance from a caretaker. Brands with more options have the widest audience because they can meet many individual needs.

Tranquility’s incontinence products range from pads, guards, and liners to swimwear and unisex pull-up and tab-style options. It offers a wide selection of sizes, styles, and absorbencies, allowing you to find the product that meets your personal needs.

Sustainability

Winner: Because Market

While none of the manufacturers in our guide offer biodegradable incontinence products, Because Market demonstrates its commitment to sustainability in various ways, including utilizing bio-based polyethylene materials, partnering with ISO-certified manufacturers, implementing carbon-neutral production methods, and obtaining PEFC certification. If you’d prefer not to use disposable products at all, you could consider a washable product, such as those offered by Wearever.

The chart below shows how our top recommendations compare in terms of cost, sizing, comfort, absorbency, and subscription savings options. Your product choice will depend upon what works best for your lifestyle, budget, and physical needs.

We based these price comparisons on single purchases of each product in an average (medium to large) size. The pricing does not account for subscription plans or bulk purchases, which can save you a significant amount.

In the chart below, it’s worth noting that “max absorbency” refers to the manufacturers’ product capacity claims. For products with absorbencies only described with vague terms like “maximum” or “10D” we listed the results obtained during our liquid-volume stress testing. In testing, nearly all of the disposable products mentioned below met or exceeded the maximum or suggested absorbencies. The only exception to this is MoliCare’s Premium Elastic Disposable Brief with Tabs (10D), which didn’t quite meet the company’s max absorbency claims of nearly 15 cups, but still held eight — making it the most absorbent product we tested.

Despite preconceptions of incontinence mainly affecting seniors, many young and middle-aged adults face this issue daily.1 2 4 Plenty of lawyers, business people, and laborers struggle with incontinence issues or unexpected accidents while working demanding jobs that don't allow for frequent bathroom breaks.

There are several different types of incontinence, but three of the main types include:5

• Stress incontinence: typically happens when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising8
• Urge incontinence: resulting from a sudden, strong urge to urinate that is difficult to or can’t be delayed9
• Fecal incontinence: loss of bowel control6
• Neurogenic bladder: due to brain, spinal cord, or nerve issues caused by conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, or Parkinson’s disease13

Men's incontinence underwear can help reduce or eliminate the stress and embarrassment caused by urinary or fecal incontinence. However, you might be wondering what causes incontinence in the first place. Many reasons and health concerns varying in severity and treatability can lead to incontinence, so we recommend discussing any issues with your doctor to treat and eliminate the problem. Some common causes of urinary and fecal incontinence in men can include:5 6 8 9

It’s also important to know that with or without any health problems, certain foods, drinks, and medications can also raise your risk of incontinence. Some of these include coffee, tea, alcohol, heart medications, muscle relaxants, sedatives, spicy foods, and artificial sweeteners.5 6 8

Treatment for urinary or fecal incontinence in men varies depending upon the type and severity, but there are many options available, including:5 6

• Minor surgeries
• Botox injections to the bladder
• Diet and exercise changes (such as eating more whole grains)
• Controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes
• Smoking cessation
• Ceasing or reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption
• Prescription medications

Additionally, one type of self-care treatment option often recommended for loss of bladder or bowel control is a pelvic floor exercise (commonly known as kegel exercises).

Incontinence underwear comes in various styles, sizes, and absorbency levels. Some manufacturers, like MoliCare and Tranquility, produce unisex garments, while others, such as Because Market and Prevail, feature specific styles for men and women. Underwear specifically made for men typically focuses on placing absorbent material in the front, where leaks most often occur. Below, we'll look at common styles and their benefits.

Pull-up underwear

Pull-up style incontinence underwear is the most popular style of protection for fully mobile, active individuals. This underwear style looks and feels like regular underwear, and some brands even offer darker colors and patterns — like Because Market’s Premium Maximum Plus Underwear for Men, which only comes in gray. And, if you go for a reusable option like those offered by Wearever, then your incontinence underwear would be completely indistinguishable from regular underwear.

Styles explicitly designed for men tend to focus their absorption materials in the frontal region, where men are more likely to leak. Unisex pull-up underwear provides all-over protection from urine and fecal incontinence. Many products also feature tear-away side seams for easier removal with less mess.

Pull-ups are typically made of breathable, cotton-like material without latex, so they move easily beneath your clothing and don't usually make too much noise. They come in various sizes and absorbency levels, ranging from moderate to maximum for overnight protection. However, it’s important to note that this product style works best for fully mobile individuals who can pull them on and off without assistance.

Adult briefs

Also known as adult diapers or tab-style, adult briefs are the most common type of incontinence underwear for immobile individuals, those with caretakers, and people in hospitals and nursing homes. This is because adult briefs or diapers are easier for caretakers to change, thanks to side tab closures. These products can often accommodate a wider range of sizes than pull-ups, as they can be adjusted to fit the wearer while putting them on. And many tab-style options, like those offered by MoliCare, can be repeatedly adjusted without the tabs losing their stickiness.

Many adult briefs also feature wetness indicators that let you or a caretaker know when the garment requires a change. Adult briefs are typically unisex and provide both urine and fecal incontinence protection ranging from moderate to overnight absorbency levels.

Guards and boosters

Many incontinence manufacturers produce guards for men and pads for women. And some brands, like Because Market and Tranquility, also offer boosters to insert into other incontinence products, like briefs or pull-ups, to enhance absorption and provide extra protection against leaks.

Like boosters, male incontinence guards adhere inside your regular underwear and fit around the male anatomy to allow for leak protection without the bulk of disposable briefs or pull-ups. These products are generally less expensive than pull-ups or adult briefs and are most appropriate for those with minor urinary leakage.

There are some key details to keep in mind when you’re shopping for incontinence underwear. Whether you’re looking for yourself, a loved one, or someone in your care, considering each of these factors can help you find the product that best suits your requirements.

Best overall, best budget pick, best for daytime comfort, best for overnight comfort, best subscription service

We picked Because Market as our overall winner based on the comfort, cost, fit, discretion, and absorbency of its products. Because Market's tabbed option is unisex, while the pull-up underwear is gender-specific, so you'll be getting absorbency and fit specifically designed for the male physique if you go with the latter.

None of the other options in our recommendations for men offer a subscription deal (unless you find one through a vendor), so Because Market’s 10% off each order with the ability to pause, cancel, or adjust your subscription at any time is a great feature of the brand. And these savings are in addition to the products already being fairly cost-effective compared to some other options, like Tranquility or MoliCare.

Also, discreet packaging, which isn’t always a guarantee with other incontinence product vendors, is something we appreciate Because Market offering.

Testing results

In our liquid-volume stress testing, Because Market’s products held up really well — there were no leaks at the maximum recommended capacities (even when held upside down and jostled around). And the products we tested could probably hold an additional few ounces of fluid if absolutely necessary. Tranquility’s offerings were similar in this regard, as were Prevail’s Daily Male Guards.

Available products

Because Market produces women's and men's pull-up style underwear, tabbed briefs, pads, guards, boosters, and bed protectors. We’ve gathered information about the company’s products for men below.

Pricing

Because Market's incontinence underwear options — including boosters, guards, and bed protectors — are FSA/HSA eligible, as are many other incontinence product brands, including Tranquility and Prevail.

Because Market’s pricing depends on the size for which you’re shopping. The following prices are for items in a small-to-medium size, but prices go up the bigger they get. At the time of this review, a 40-count pack of S/M Premium Maximum Plus Underwear for Men costs $32.00, while size XXL of the same underwear costs $46.64.

Because Market's Subscribe & Save option is its primary asset. By enrolling in its membership plan, you not only save 10% off all orders, but you no longer have to worry about running out or having to make last-minute trips to the pharmacy. You can also cancel your subscription at any time without fees or repercussions, though the process includes several strongly worded and intentionally confusing attempts to retain your business. Most other subscription deals for incontinence products sold through vendors are only for 5% off, in comparison, and the option of discreet shipping can vary by seller.

Standard shipping costs $2.99, but Because Market provides free shipping on all orders over $25. For orders going to Alaska or Hawaii, there is an additional $12.99 charge.

Runner-up best overall, most style options, best for heavier men, best for bowel incontinence

Tranquility offers the widest range of styles and sizes we found throughout our research. Its briefs and pull-ups utilize superabsorbent polymers that help keep you dry, odor-free, and comfortable throughout the night. Sometimes written as SAP, superabsorbent polymers are materials commonly used in diapers and feminine hygiene products that can hold many times their weight in fluid.10 For example, Tranquility’s SmartCore briefs (our product choice for bowel incontinence) were able to be pushed past the recommended limit of 34oz to nearly 40oz.

Our testers felt Tranquility’s offerings were a bit too bulky for daytime use. However, everyone’s needs and preferences are unique, so you might feel differently. If you’d like to try them for yourself first, Tranquility offers samples for many of its products through its website. (For instance, you can order samples for Tranquility’s SmartCore briefs on its product page.)

We also appreciate Tranquility’s transparency in capacity measurements since a lot of incontinence brands, like Prevail, use drops or words like “maximum absorbency” without any context as to what that means for the true absorbency of the product. Because Market is similarly transparent with absorbency information.

Testing results

In our liquid-volume testing, each Tranquility product we evaluated was able to hold more fluid than the recommended amounts while maintaining a dry-to-the-touch feeling.

Available products

Tranquility produces a multitude of disposable incontinence items, including:

• Overnight pull-up underwear
• Overnight tab top briefs
• Daytime tab-style options
• Daytime pull-up underwear
• Two varieties of bariatric disposable tabbed briefs
• Booster pads in various absorbencies
• Underpads (in multiple sizes, styles, and absorbencies)
• Swimmates
• Personal care pads
• Male guards
• Extra care items, like cleansing wipes

With so many options to go over, we’ll only take a closer look at some of Tranquility’s more commonly available styles and bariatric offerings. Additionally, before purchasing from Tranquility, it’s important to know that the company’s sizing goes by the widest part of your body between the waist and hip.

Pricing

You can purchase Tranquility incontinence products from several online retailers, pharmacies, and even some big box stores. The chart below details the average prices for medium (or available) sizes we found for the items listed in the previous section. While noticeably more expensive than Because Market or Prevail, Tranquility’s wide range of styles and sizes could make it worthwhile, depending on your needs and preferences.

Best guards

Prevail is one of the more popular household names you might think of when considering incontinence products. While inexpensive and easy to find for purchase, we found that the brand’s underwear options (particularly the unisex option, Nu-Fit) performed poorly in volume testing, with the products unable to hold anywhere near the suggested fluid amounts. Even though testers found them to fit really well and appreciated the packaging offering instructions, leaking at low volumes was a problem during stress tests. We wouldn’t recommend Prevail’s full underwear options for anything above light leakage. Many customer reviews we found echoed this sentiment as well.

However, Prevail’s Daily Male Guards performed surprisingly well. While testers didn’t find them quite as comfortable as those offered by Because Market, they held up just as well in absorbency and leak protection during volume testing. We also found that Prevail’s guards can hold a little over two cups, comparable to Because Market Men's Guards. And, especially when you buy in bulk, Prevail’s guards are the most affordable option by far. This high absorbency at a low cost is why Prevail earned our pick for best guards.

As a brand, Prevail tends to use a lot of trademarked words and technologies without actually explaining what these mean or do. We wish Prevail offered the same type of transparency as Tranquility or Because Market in this regard. Prevail can say it uses Maxsorb Gel, Dri-Fit technology, and Omni Odor Guard, but this doesn’t explain to the consumer how these factors work or what benefits they may have over what competitors offer.

Testing results

Our Prevail testing results were mixed (as noted above) due to the discrepancies in performance between the Daily Male Guards and the company’s Nu-Fit offering.

Available products

Prevail is a popular brand with a long history and several budget-friendly offerings for male incontinence products, including:

• Pull-up underwear
• Unisex adult diapers/briefs
• Male guards
• Underpads (for bedding)
• Disposable washcloths

We've detailed Prevails guards, along with a couple of its men’s underwear options, for you to compare below.

Pricing

Prevail products are available through many online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores. Our price comparison below lists the average prices we’ve seen (for size medium), but this can vary by seller and size. Some online retailers also offer subscriptions or auto-ship savings for incontinence products.

Best absorbency, best for mobility issues

Available in five absorbencies, 6D-10D ("D" being short for "drops"), MoliCare offers the highest absorbency out of all the incontinence underwear we've found. The brand’s 10D option had a maximum absorbency of up to eight cups during our testing. While this is less than the absorbency suggested by the company (almost 15 cups), it’s still very impressive. In comparison, most other overnight options, like those from Because Market or Tranquility, can only hold up to about 4-6 cups.

Additionally, MoliCare’s Premium Elastic Disposable Briefs offer tabbed closures that allow for easier changing and disposal by caregivers. The company states that this product can be applied in either a standing or lying position. But, no matter the position, this product may be easiest to use with the help of a caretaker — especially since some of our testers felt it was a bit difficult to put on without assistance.

With such high absorbency potential, easy changing (for a caregiver), and other benefits like pH balance, leg cuffs, and odor neutralizers, MoliCare’s Premium Elastic Disposable Brief also earned our pick as the best option for those with mobility issues.

If some bulk under your clothes and a noticeable crinkling noise aren’t deal breakers, then the main drawbacks to MoliCare’s Premium Elastic Disposable Briefs are the high price and smaller size range. Most other incontinence brands offer products that go at least up to a 2XL, with Tranquility offering options up to 5XL.

Testing results

MoliCare’s Premium Elastic Disposable Briefs were definitely the most absorbent item we tested. As noted above, it couldn’t hold the suggested maximum of 15 cups (the equivalent volume of "10D" or "10 drops") without feeling wet; it started to get noticeably wet at 8.25 cups. However, the eight cups it could hold is impressive in comparison to other incontinence options. Just be cautious about exceeding eight cups.

Pricing

MoliCare is an Australian brand with some products available through various U.S. online retailers, including Carewell, where we obtained the Premium Elastic Brief pricing. Carewell does offer an Autoship & Save option to reduce the price by 30% on your first auto-ship (and only the first one), then 5% on future orders of select brands.

This isn’t the best subscription option we’ve seen on incontinence products (that’s still Because Market’s subscription plan), but Carewell is one of the only U.S. vendors we found that offers MoliCare with a discount — which we appreciate because MoliCare products are pretty pricey. However, the only available varieties at the time of writing this review were 6D, 8D, and 10D, so prices for 7D and 9D are unknown.

Best washable

We chose Wearever as the best washable incontinence underwear for men. While other, more prominent washable brands exist for men, like Confitex, Wearever boasts a much higher absorbency at a lower cost. Ranging from regular to maximum absorbency, Wearever’s men’s washables can hold anywhere from 0.5-2 cups (147 - 473mL). In comparison, Confitex’s maximum absorbency underwear only holds 100mL, which is less than Wearever’s lightest option, at nearly double the price. Additionally, the least expensive Wearever option is $18.99 while Confitex’s is $39.90. Wearever also offers free shipping on orders over $60.

If your goal is better sustainability, but you’re on the fence about having to wash your incontinence products, then Because Market may be a better option for you.

Available products

Wearever’s washable incontinence product styles for men include:

• Briefs
• H-Fly Boxer Briefs
• Boxers
• Regular Boxer Briefs

Even though Wearever has a variety of styles to suit many preferences, a rather disappointing drawback to us is that certain styles are linked to certain absorbencies. For example, if you require at least two cups worth of absorbency, you won’t be able to use Wearever’s Boxers, which only hold up to 5oz. We wish the company offered multiple absorbencies per style instead of essentially “locking” a style to an absorbency. This isn’t as much of an issue if you’re searching for briefs, though, as the brand offers briefs in regular, super, and maximum absorbencies (0.5-2 cups).

Pricing

While Wearever’s products are more affordable than other washable options on the market, like Confitex, they’re still much more expensive per article than disposable options. Ultimately, the cost will be worthwhile or not depending on your preferences and priorities for your personal incontinence care — and also if you don’t mind having to wash your incontinence products. The chart below details the least expensive offering currently available per absorbency category in size medium.