The best anti-chafing shorts are a must for any that's found themselves googling "what can I wear to stop my thighs rubbing?" As someone with a curvy lower body, I spent many years dreading the moment that temperatures crept up and the sun came out, trying to come up with solutions to quell the incessant chafing of my upper thighs.
As soon as summer rolled around, all I wanted to wear was my favourite summer dresses and skirts but I found myself swapping to shorts or linen trousers instead to avoid the discomfort that hot days brought with them until I discovered anti-chafing shorts.
Usually made of a stretchy, lightweight fabric that glides seamlessly against itself, these subtle additions to your outfit will make all the difference if you suffer from chafing thighs. I tried and tested what the high street had to offer to find the best anti-chafing shorts in 2025 for every body shape, size and outfit.
The quick list: top 6 anti-chafing shorts
Not all anti-chafing shorts are made equal. Some are made of cotton, which makes them more breathable, while others are super fine and stretchy to allow for minimal disruption to your outfit. There's also a plethora of leg lengths, waist heights and colours to choose from; there's even a pair that works with thigh-high slits, so you're not limited on the best wedding guest outfit.
Many pairs will often also feature the kinds of clever smoothing panels and sculpting details that are found in the best shapewear so that you can get double the use.
Best anti-chafing shorts 2025 - tried and tested
Many anti-chafing shorts have a mid-thigh length in the leg but Jockey's Skimmies offer a shorter leg length which is ideal for wearing under higher hemlines or a great option if you're looking for a petite-friendly pair.
Made from a super-lightweight material, this style from John Lewis is one of its bestsellers and it's easy to see why. I tried a medium and the fit is more than generous, meaning that there's no seams digging in anywhere, and the fabric of my favourite satin slip skirt glides over with no catching.
While many brands only offer two or three colour options - usually, black, white and a caucasian nude, you can trust Marks & Spencer to offer a wider range that provides options for many more skin tones, with a total of seven options to choose from.
Spanx might be considered by many to be the market leader for its innovative shapewear but these one-size-fits-all anti-chafe shorts have shot straight to the top of my list with their soft, stretchy fabric that I quickly forgot I was wearing.
Made from organic cotton with Heiq Smart temp technology designed to keep you cool and dry, these boxer-inspired shorts kept me feeling airy during a heatwave, despite the fabric being thicker than other pairs.
With soft, ribbed wider bands than most other pairs, Next's anti-chafe shorts were one of the most comfortable pairs that I tried. The wide ribbed bands mean that there is no seam rolling and they stay perfectly in place all day.
BEST ANTI-CHAFE SHORTS: TRIED AND TESTED, in-depth analysis
When it comes to the best anti-chafe shorts for you, there are many things to consider such as how much coverage you want on your thighs, both in terms of the length and thickness of the fabric, whether they're for every day wear or for a specific outfit and even the colour that will be suit your skin tone or the outfit they are being worn under.
With a huge selection on the high street, finding the right pair can seem daunting, but as a big fan of anti-chafe shorts, I've tried and tested a variety of lengths, fabrics and styles from the leading brands to help cut through the noise and share the best ones I found.
ANTI-CHAFE SHORTS: BEST FOR PETITES
Standing at 5'3" on a good day, Jockey Skimmies short length slip shorts have long been my go-to choice of anti-chafing shorts when I want to wear a dress with a higher hemline.
With a shorter in-seam than many other pairs, you can confidently wear short dresses and skirts without worrying about your shorts flashing underneath. However, the shorter length does mean that if you do anything vigorous such as run for a bus, there is more scope for them to ride up, so it's worth bearing this in mind if you're looking for a pair to wear under clothing with a longer hemline.
Unlike many pairs on the market, these have a low waistband which can feel strange if you're wearing clothing with a higher waist but ultimately this doesn't impact on the fit of the product and could be more comfortable if you're wearing a drop-waisted dress.
ANTI-CHAFE SHORTS: BEST LONG LENGTH
There's nothing worse than a pair of anti-chafing shorts that dig in at the seams, but John Lewis' anti-chafing shorts have a generous enough cut to ensure that this isn't a problem. Made from a super-stretchy polyamide-elastane fabric, they slip on easily and sit flush to even the softest parts of my thighs and tummy.
While many anti-chafing shorts will also offer the features of the best shapewear with slimming panels, these do not have any, which makes them one of the most comfortable pairs that I've worn. They also offer premium coverage, with the waistband sitting almost on my ribs and the leg seams finishing halfway down my thighs.
When it comes to how to wear a satin slip skirt, I always ensure I have a pair of shorts underneath for comfort. I wore this pair for a day under my leopard print satin slip skirt to see how they would hold up, and was pleasantly surprised. Thanks to the smooth seams and high waistband, they were entirely invisible under my skirt, and neither the waistband nor thigh seams rolled. After about 30 minutes, I forgot I was wearing them entirely. They also have a cotton gusset, which allows them to be worn without underwear.
ANTI-CHAFE SHORTS: BEST FOR SKIN TONES
While many brands only offer black, white and a caucasian-based nude tone, Marks & Spencer have set a precedent with its broad range of skin tone options that are available alongside black and white options.
By offering such an inclusive selection of colours, it's easier to closely match your anti-chafe shorts to your skin tone, sparing blushes as well, by minimising the contrasting colours visible, should the world be offered a glimpse of what lies underneath your outfit on a breezier day.
Featuring Cool Comfort™ technology and a touch of cotton in the fabrication, these anti-chafe shorts keep me chafe-free and cool all day. Plus, the wide ribbed style of banding around both the waistband and thighs meant that this style stayed in place at all times. Sold in pairs, these were also some of the best value shorts, working out at £10 a pair.
ANTI-CHAFE SHORTS: BEST ONE SIZE FITS ALL
When this pair of anti-chafe shorts from cult-favourite shapewear favourite Spanx first arrived, they appeared to be child-sized and reading the label that promised one size fits all, I was very dubious but once I'd wriggled into them, I was very pleasantly surprised.
Made from a four-way stretch Nylon-Elastane mix, this elastic-seam free pair were a joy to wear as the fabric is superlight, moulding instantly to your body - an ideal choice for a hot day. As a size UK 10/12, these fitted me perfectly and didn't move from their position, with no thigh seam rolling or waistband folding.
While there is definitely plenty of give in these anti-chafe shorts and the brand says that the fabric can stretch up to 400 per cent, when I tried stretching them to capacity, they allowed for approximately a 34 inch waist; if you're bigger than a size 18, these may not be the right ones for you. Equally, if you're on the smaller side, you may find that these feel overly generous when trying them on.
ANTI-CHAFE SHORTS: BEST COTTON
With a quirky men's underwear brief-like design, the Sloggi Ever Ease Shorts were the only pair of anti-chafe shorts that I tried made from cotton, but despite the thicker fabric, they felt just as cool as even the finest material pairs.
Utilising Sloggi's Heiq Smart Temp technology which adjusts to your body temperature, the brand promises to keep you cool and dry all day. I wore these on a day when the temperatures were tipping 30 celsius and felt cool and comfortable all day, making them the ideal anti-chafing when wondering what to wear in the heat.
Featuring a 5 inch inseam and high-waisted design, these anti-chafe shorts have a substantial amount of coverage and unlike many other brands, Sloggi offer a feminine mauve colour instead of a typical Caucasian skin tone as well as cream and black options. Thanks to the thicker cotton fabric, these could also easily double as regular shorts when worn with a longer t-shirt on scorching days.
ANTI-CHAFE SHORTS: BEST EVERYDAY
Similar in design to Marks & Spencer's anti-chafe shorts, Next's offering also feature wide ribbed seamless cuffs on the thighs and a soft ribbed waistband to help your shorts remain in place all day.
However, one advantage with Next's styles is that they come in sets of two with the option to mix certain colours, so rather than buying a pair in a single shade, you have the option to purchase nude and white pairs together, or black and nude sets as well as single skin tone pairs.
Slipping these on under a dress, the high rise and wide waistband style means that they stay in place without any folding over or rolling on the thighs - I don't experience any discomfort all day and quickly forget that I'm wearing them.
FAQs
What should I look for in a pair of anti-chafing shorts?
When shopping for a pair of anti-chafe shorts, think about what outfit you'll be wearing them with, although a pair in a similar colour to your skin tone will work under every outfit. If you're wearing a white skirt, make sure to slip a skin tone pair rather than white underneath as white under white is more visible.
It's also crucial to consider the length of your outfit's hem - if you're wearing a a dress or skirt with a higher hemline or split, look for a pair with a shorter inseam that finish higher on the thigh to avoid any flashes of your anti-chafe shorts peeking out.
What alternatives are there to anti-chafing shorts?
If you're not a huge fan of wearing another layer under your outfit, there are several other options, such as anti-chafe bands that are worn only on the thighs or our favourite, Mega Babe Thigh Rescue. This glide-on formula prevents friction between your thighs and also comes in a handy mini version for on-the-go top ups.
Do you wear underwear with anti-chafing shorts?
Whether you wear underwear under your anti-chafe shorts comes down largely to personal preference - most brands incorporate some degree of gusset within the shorts to allow them to be worn as underwear but if you'd like to get repeat wears from your pair, it's best to wear a pair of knickers underneath - swap out lacy styles for a pair of the best no show underwear to create a smooth silhouette.
