6 best adult diapers of 2025

My search for the best adult diapers began about two years ago, when my 96-year-old mom had increasing difficulty with nighttime bathroom visits and using her bedside commode. It’s a familiar journey for many of us who are caring for aging parents. While bladder control issues affect nearly half of all adults, older women are especially vulnerable. “Incontinence is the most common pelvic floor disorder, impacting 63% of adult women,” says urogynecologist Samantha Pulliam, chief medical officer at Axena Health. In fact, the risk rises with age, with up to 75% of women over 65 experiencing urine leakage.

While the loss of bladder control is common, it isn’t normal, according to Pulliam. It’s a medical condition whose cause is important to understand. Typical triggers include stress, being postpartum and changes to the body that are part of the aging process, but it’s best to hace a urologist or urogynecologist provide a proper diagnosis. “Because incontinence is a progressive disorder that can get worse over time, it’s often easier to take care of before it worsens,” says Pulliam.

Most treatments begin with targeted pelvic floor exercises, sometimes combined with medication. However, when it comes to management options, adult diapers — designed to absorb and lock in urine or bowel leaks, keep you dry and eliminate odors — are often part of the plan. Available styles include diapers, tabbed briefs and pull-ups, with options varying in size, absorbency level and materials.

Though millions rely on adult diapers, Pulliam cautions against considering them your only solution. Doing so without a diagnosis and guidance can create a false sense of security, keeping you from addressing the underlying issue. Proper use is also crucial. For example, if not changed regularly, they can lead to dermatitis and increased risk of urinary tract infections.

If you’ve decided absorbent products are right for your situation, choosing from the many available options can feel overwhelming. Our list of the best adult diapers of 2025 can help simplify your choice.

Best overall adult diapers

More adult diapers we like for 2025

Types of adult diapers

When choosing protection, it’s important to understand the different options available, each designed to meet specific needs. Here’s a quick overview of the most common types:

• Overnight diapers: Designed for extended wear, overnight diapers offer higher absorbency and leak protection and are easier to change because of their resealable tabs.

• Pull-ups: Less bulky than diapers, pull-ups resemble regular underwear, promoting independence and discretion.

• Sex-specific adult diapers: Adult diapers marketed to men often have extra absorbency in the front, while the absorbency in those designed for women is usually distributed evenly.

• Bariatric diapers: Specifically designed for larger individuals, offering a wider fit and greater capacity.

How we chose the best adult diapers

We know choosing the best adult diapers is a personal decision that affects your daily comfort and confidence. That’s why we took time to thoroughly test 11 different products, while gathering insights from the medical professionals who understand these needs best — ob-gyns, urogynecologists, urologists and home health aides who work with these products every day.

Having helped family members navigate these choices ourselves, we focused on the practical details that make a real difference: how products feel during daily activities, how well they protect and whether they truly deliver on their promises. We’re sharing what we learned to make your decision easier.

Other products we tested

In our search for the best adult diapers, we evaluated several products that fell short in key areas and didn’t make our top-picks list:

• Attends Underwear: While popular with care facilities due to their low cost, our testers found that they quickly fell apart when wet.

• Cardinal Health Sure Care Plus Protective Underwear: Another favorite in many professional settings, these pull-ups offer better comfort and absorption than basic options, but our testers found two key drawbacks: they run warm and the material is prone to tearing, even when dry.

• Prevail Per-Fit 360-Degree Daily Briefs: Some online reviewers rave about the thinner, more comfortable profile and stretchable wings. However, our testers were disappointed with weak absorption and unreliable tabs that tear easily and won’t reseal.

• Depend Night Defense and Depend Fresh Protection: The blush color and slim profile scored well among testers and caregivers and both versions offer good absorption for 5 to 8 hours. The problem? Depends Night Defense is supposed to work for up to 12 hours. These widely available pull-ups are a decent choice, though they don’t match our top picks’ performance.

FAQs

How do I choose the right size and absorbency level of adult diapers?

To help you figure out your right size, measure your waist (just below your belly button) and hips (at their widest). Some brands recommend measuring your thighs, too, so be sure to follow your diaper-of-choice’s directions. “Finding products that fit snug enough to provide a leak-proof fit is essential,” says Aleece Fosnight, a board-certified physician assistant. But even careful measuring doesn’t guarantee a perfect fit. “People have different wardrobes and severity of leakage, so the best method to finding the right fit is to test them out,” says Sara Brescia, DO, an OB-GYN in Englewood, NJ. You can do this by purchasing a small variety of two or three different styles and/or asking your healthcare team for free samples to see which is best. In the end, the right size adult diaper should be snug, but not too tight, allowing for easy movement.

How often should adult diapers be changed?

Adult diapers need regular attention throughout the day to ensure comfort and prevent skin issues. A good general rule is to change them every 4 to 6 hours, checking every 2 hours to make sure everything is okay. Some people, like those who are bedridden in nursing homes, need more frequent changes — about every 2 to 3 hours. And of course, anytime a diaper becomes wet, soiled or feels heavy, it’s important to change it right away.

How do I prevent diaper rash and skin irritation?

A key factor in preventing skin issues is changing adult diapers frequently — at least every 4 to 6 hours and as soon as possible when wet or soiled. Beyond this essential practice, choose adult diapers with breathable materials, like cotton or cloth-like backsheets. This’ll help reduce skin breakdown and improve comfort. “Reusable products often provide better breathability than disposables,” says Fosnight. At the same time, look for products with antimicrobial features, which can help reduce bacteria that cause urinary tract and skin infections.

For additional protection, consider applying a protective barrier cream. Moisture barrier creams made specifically for incontinence (like Baza) or skin protectants like A&D cream work well. Apply after cleaning and drying the area thoroughly. Always consult your healthcare provider before applying any cream.

Where can I buy adult diapers discreetly?

Major online retailers like Amazon, CVS and Walmart can deliver adult diapers in standard shipping boxes with no indication of the contents. Other options include incontinence product suppliers and distributors like NorthShore, HDIS, WellBefore, Carewell and LL Medico. Some of these sites offer monthly subscriptions and can also alert you to products that can be purchased through FSA/HSA accounts.

Are there eco-friendly adult diaper options available?

Yes! Companies like Wellness, Threaded Armor and InControl offer organic cloth and eco-friendly adult diapers. Many of these are reusable.

Meet our experts

• Ursilla Gray, Shorena Mrevlishvili, Brismeidy Rosario and Fatou Diaw, certified home health aides with a combined experience of more than 30 years

Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.

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