What Size Pad Should I Get?

Inches will give you the general size of the pad, but it's hard imagining how that looks on your underwear. Note that pads don't always come exactly to size and sometimes they can shrink depending on the material. Synthetic fibers generally don't shrink but materials like cotton and knits do. Even after pre-washing there's a possibility that the fabric can shrink a little more.

I found some underwear that I don't wear, so I used it to hopefully help you better gauge what size pad you need. Had I made this reference page before buying my pads, it would've been really helpful when making my purchases.

*The pads will be about 1/2 inch shorter than the pattern photos displayed*

Pantyliners

If you need a little protection for spotting, 5 inch to 7 inch pantyliners are a good option. They're also good if you're using a menstrual cup because they'll catch any leaking.

Pantyliners (moderate to heavy)/ Regulars (light)

8 and 9 inch pads are good for light bleeders. If you tend to have a heavier flow on the first day, you may prefer to use these sizes as pantyliners.

Regulars (moderate to heavy)/Overnights (light)

10 and 11 inch pads can be used for heavy bleeders as regulars. Or, they can be used as overnights for light bleeders.

Overnights (heavy)/Postpartum

Pads above 12 inches are best as overnights for heavy bleeders. Overnights above 13 inches are often grouped together with postpartum pads. The actual core is usually no longer than 14 inches and the rest is just fabric to provide extra coverage. If you're not wearing menstrual underwear, having something that covers the full area can be nice to have.