Period Panty Size Chart: How to Measure and Choose the Right Fit

The short answer: Measure your waist at its narrowest point, usually just above your belly button, and your hips at the fullest part of your bottom, using a soft tailor's tape held snug but not tight. Match both numbers to the size guide on the product page you are buying from. Fabpad's adult period panties come in S to 4XL, and teen pairs are sized by age. A period panty should sit close at the legs without digging in, so go by your measurements, not the size you usually buy.

Why size matters more in a period panty than in regular underwear

With ordinary underwear, a size too big is just a bit baggy. With a period panty, fit is part of how it works. The absorbent core sits in the gusset, the part between your legs, and a leak-resistant barrier runs underneath it. Both only do their job if the gusset stays flat against your body and the leg openings sit close to your skin.

If the panty is too loose, small gaps open at the legs when you sit, squat or walk. Flow that reaches the edge of the gusset can escape through those gaps, and that is the commonest reason for leaks at the sides. If it is too tight, the waistband digs in, the fabric rolls down and the leg elastic leaves red marks by evening.

So the aim is not "comfortable and loose" but "snug and comfortable". Getting the size right is the single easiest thing you can do to make a period panty work well, before you even think about style or flow.

What you need before you measure

You only need two things, and a mirror helps you check the tape is level at the back:

• A soft tape measure. The flexible cloth or plastic kind a tailor uses. You can buy one at any tailor's shop or stationery shop for very little. A metal measuring tape from a toolbox will not curve around your body properly.
• Thin underwear or bare skin. Measuring over jeans, a petticoat or a thick nightie adds centimetres and can push you into the wrong size.

If you find it hard to reach round, ask your mum, sister, a friend or your tailor to help. Tailors in India measure waists and hips every day, and they can do it in a minute.

How to measure your waist and hips, step by step

Get ready

Stand up straight and relaxed, with your feet together. Breathe out normally. Do not suck your tummy in or push it out, because the panty will sit on your body as it really is, not as it looks when you hold your breath.

Measure your waist

1. Find the narrowest part of your torso. For most people this is just above the belly button. If you are not sure, bend to one side: the crease that forms is roughly your natural waist.
2. Wrap the tape around your body at that level, keeping it flat and level at the back.
3. Hold it snug against your skin, but not tight enough to press in.
4. Read the number where the tape meets the zero end, after breathing out.

Measure your hips

1. Keep your feet together.
2. Find the fullest part of your bottom. Look in the mirror from the side: it is the widest point, usually a few inches below your hip bones.
3. Wrap the tape around at that level, keeping it straight and level all the way round.
4. Again, snug but not tight, then read the number.

Double-check

Measure each one twice. If the two readings differ, take a third and use the middle one.

Standard period panty size chart

Fabpad's adult reusable period panties, the Mid Waist Period Panty, the High Waist Period Panty and Period Boy Shorts, come in seven sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL and 4XL. Underwear brands commonly size women's briefs on a chart like the one below, with waist and hip ranges that step up by about 2 inches (5 cm) for each size. Use it as your starting point.

Important: this is a general chart. Exact ranges vary a little between brands and between styles, and each product page on fabpad.in has its own size guide. Please confirm your size on the page of the exact style you are ordering, even if you have used this chart.

Reading the chart: two worked examples

Example 1: both numbers in one size

Meera's waist is 29 inches and her hips are 38 inches. Both sit inside the M range, waist 28 to 30 and hip 37 to 39. Her size is M. Simple.

Example 2: waist and hips in different sizes

Kavya's waist is 31 inches, which is L, but her hips are 38 inches, which is M. This is very common, and the next section explains how to think it through. The short version: check the size guide on the product page for that style, and ask Fabpad's customer care if you are still unsure.

If your waist and hips are in different sizes, or you fall between sizes

Very few bodies match a size chart perfectly. Plenty of people have a fuller tummy and narrower hips, or a small waist and fuller hips. You might also land exactly on the line between two sizes, for example a 28 inch waist, which is the top of S and the bottom of M.

Think about what each choice risks

There is no single rule that suits every body, but it helps to know what can go wrong in each direction:

• Choosing the bigger size risks a loose fit at the leg openings and gusset. That is the most common cause of side leaks, and the gusset can also sag or bunch.
• Choosing the smaller size risks a waistband that digs in and rolls down, and leg elastic that leaves marks after a long day.

Ask yourself where you usually have trouble with ordinary underwear. If your regular panties tend to gape at the legs, a period panty that is too big will do the same, but with flow involved. If waistbands always roll on you, that tells you something too.

What to do next

1. Open the size guide on the product page for the exact style you want, since its ranges may differ slightly from the general chart above.
2. Re-measure both numbers once more, standing relaxed and breathing out.
3. If you are still unsure, contact Fabpad customer care through the website and share both measurements. They can tell you how that style tends to fit.

One thing to avoid: sizing up "for comfort" because you have always bought loose underwear. A period panty needs to sit close to work well.

Sizing for teenagers

The Period Panty for Teens is sized by age rather than S, M and L. The sizes are 10 to 12 years, 12 to 14 years, 14 to 16 years, 16 to 18 years and 18 to 20 years.

Age is a starting point, not the whole answer. Two 13-year-olds in the same class can be very different heights and builds. It is still worth measuring her waist and hips with a tailor's tape and checking them against the size guide on the teen product page before ordering. If she is between two age sizes, follow the measurements rather than buying bigger "to grow into", because a loose pair is far more likely to leak.

Teenagers grow quickly, so re-check the fit every few months, or whenever she says a pair feels tight at the legs or the waistband has started rolling. Older teens with a more adult build may fit better in adult sizes. Our guide Period Panties for Teens: A Parent's Guide covers choosing, washing and the first-week plan in more detail.

When to measure again

Your size is not fixed for life. Re-measure before you order more pairs if any of these apply:

• Pregnancy. Your waist and hips change through pregnancy, and many people do not use period panties again until after the birth.
• After childbirth. Your tummy, hips and the muscles around your middle take time to settle. The NHS notes that the tummy muscles often separate during pregnancy and the gap usually closes by about 8 weeks after birth. Measure again in the weeks after delivery, and again a few months later. A C-section scar can also change where a waistband feels comfortable.
• Weight change. Gaining or losing even a few kilos can move you across a size on the chart, especially if the change shows more at your waist or hips.
• Teen growth spurts. As above, every few months.
• A long gap. If you last measured a year or more ago, take two minutes and check.

It is also a good idea to measure on a normal day rather than the most bloated day just before your period, so your numbers reflect how your body usually is.

Signs your size is wrong once you start wearing them

Fabpad's own advice is to test a new period panty at home first, so you learn how long it lasts on your flow before wearing it out. Cleveland Clinic also suggests trying a pair at home on a lighter day, so that any fit problems or leaks are easy to deal with. That home trial is also the best time to check the size.

Signs the size may be too big:

• gaps at the leg openings when you sit or squat
• leaks at the sides even though the gusset is not full
• the gusset bunching or sagging between your legs
• the panty slipping down as you walk

Signs the size may be too small:

• the waistband rolling down or folding over
• red marks or digging at the legs or waist
• the panty riding up at the back

Not every problem is a sizing problem. Rolling, riding up and leaks can also come from the style, how long you wear a pair, or how it has been washed. Our troubleshooting guide, Period Panty Rolling, Bunching or Leaking? Causes and Fixes, goes through each one with its cause and fix.

Once you know your size: choosing a style

Size and style are two separate decisions. Your size comes from your measurements. Your style depends on your flow, your clothes and the time of day.

• The Mid Waist Period Panty sits at your natural waist, like everyday underwear.
• The High Waist Period Panty gives more front-to-back coverage and tummy coverage, useful on heavy days and nights.
• Period Boy Shorts have a longer leg and a wider absorbent zone, handy for nights, skirts and dresses.

To match a style to your flow and routine, read One Period Panty, Every Flow. If you wear XL and above, our guide to Plus-Size Period Panties: A Guide to Fit, Coverage and Comfort covers tummy coverage, thigh chafing and comfort in Indian heat. On fabpad.in, buying more pairs gives a bigger discount, so once you are confident about your size, a mix of styles in one order works out better per pair.

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy my usual underwear size? Not automatically. Underwear sizes vary a lot between brands, and many people buy regular panties loose. Measure your waist and hips and use the size guide on the product page instead.

Do I measure in inches or centimetres? Either works. The chart above gives both. If you only have one, 1 inch equals 2.54 cm.

Is this chart the same as Fabpad's own size guide? It is a general guide to standard sizing. Each Fabpad product page has its own size guide, and sizing can differ slightly between styles, so confirm your size on the page for the style you are buying.

My measurements are bigger than 4XL. What can I use? If your waist or hips are above the 4XL range on the size guide, the reusable styles may not fit you well. Our plus-size guide talks through alternatives such as disposable period panties and pads.

Will a period panty stretch after washing? Washed gently in cold water and air-dried, it should keep its fit for many cycles. Hot water, tumble drying and fabric softener can affect the fabric and elastic. See How to Wash Period Panties So They Last.

How do I measure my daughter for a teen period panty? The same way: waist just above the belly button, hips at the fullest part of the bottom, tape snug but not tight. Then check the teen product page's guide alongside her age size.

Can I wear my usual size after having a baby? Possibly not straight away. Your body changes after birth and keeps settling for weeks to months, so re-measure before ordering.

Related reading

• Plus-Size Period Panties: A Guide to Fit, Coverage and Comfort
• Period Panty Rolling, Bunching or Leaking? Causes and Fixes
• High-Waist vs Mid-Rise Period Panties: Which Is Better for Heavy Flow?
• First Time Using Period Panties: What to Expect

Sources: Cleveland Clinic: What Is Period Underwear and Does It Work?, Great Ormond Street Hospital: Period products, NHS: Your post-pregnancy body