Muay Thai Shorts

Wide-cut shorts built for knees and kicks — the traditional Thai pattern, not a boxing short with a different print.

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Why Thai shorts are cut the way they are

Muay Thai shorts look oversized next to every other kind of fight short, and that is the design rather than a sizing error. The leg is cut wide and the hem sits high on the thigh so nothing catches when a knee comes up or a kick travels above the waist. Put a boxer in Thai shorts and they look comically short; put a Thai fighter in boxing shorts and they cannot throw a head kick without the fabric stopping the leg.

The difference from MMA shorts matters more than the difference from boxing shorts. Fight shorts for MMA are cut close and built from four-way stretch with a flat closure, because grappling means anything loose becomes a handle and anything bulky becomes a pressure point on the mat. Thai shorts are loose satin or polyester with a wide elasticated or drawcord waist, because nobody is taking you down and the only thing the cut has to do is stay out of the way of your legs. Wearing Thai shorts to a grappling round is how you find out what a fistful of loose satin does in a scramble.

Size on your waist, not on a letter. Thai shorts run on a wide elasticated waistband that sits on the hip, and the traditional pattern is sized generously through the seat — most people take the size matching their actual waist measurement rather than sizing up the way they would with fight shorts. If you are between sizes, the drawcord takes up more slack than it lets out, so the smaller size is usually the safer pick.

The high-cut leg is a legal requirement in competition as much as a comfort one: sanctioned Muay Thai requires shorts that leave the knee clear so knee strikes can be seen and scored. Anything cut to the knee reads as kickboxing kit and will be sent back to change at most Thai rules events.

Satin is the traditional shell and still the most common. It is light, it dries fast, and it slides rather than grips, which is what you want against a shin. Polyester blends cost less and hold a print better; both are fine for training. Wash cold and hang dry either way — a hot dryer will cook the sheen off satin and shrink the waistband elastic faster than anything else you do to them.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Muay Thai shorts and MMA shorts?
Muay Thai shorts are loose, short and wide-legged so knees and high kicks travel freely. MMA fight shorts are cut close in four-way stretch with a flat closure, because loose fabric becomes a grip and a seam becomes a pressure point on the mat. They are not interchangeable in either direction.
How should Muay Thai shorts fit?
Loose through the leg and sitting on the hip, with the hem high enough on the thigh that a knee strike is unobstructed. Size to your actual waist measurement — the traditional cut is already generous through the seat, and the drawcord takes up slack better than it lets it out.
Why are Muay Thai shorts so short?
So the knee stays clear. It is a comfort matter in training and a rules matter in competition: Thai rules require the knee to be visible so knee strikes can be scored, and knee-length shorts get sent back to change.
Can I wear Muay Thai shorts for kickboxing or MMA?
For kickboxing, yes — the movement is close enough. For MMA or any grappling, no. Loose satin is something for a training partner to grab, and the wide leg rides badly on the ground.
How do I wash Muay Thai shorts?
Cold wash, hang dry. Heat dulls satin and shortens the life of the waistband elastic faster than any amount of training does.