Searching for your perfect bra can feel like a never-ending journey. For starters, there are so many styles to choose from — strapless bras, bralettes, wireless and more with differences in padding, closures and support. Not to mention, you want to make sure you’re investing in a quality bra that will feel good, look good and hold up well over time.
Fiber scientists and apparel experts in the Textiles Lab have evaluated more than 200 bra styles over the past few years. We assess each one in the Lab for properties like stretch recovery, construction and how well they hold up to repeated laundering. We also have had over 500 consumer testers — ranging from people with small cup sizes to larger busts — try them out and share their thoughts on fit, comfort, appearance and more. Our latest test included testers with AA–H cup sizes and 30–48 band sizes.
1
Best Overall
Natori Pure Luxe Custom Coverage Bra
Pros
- Smooth fabric with comfortable fit
- Good support
- Wide range of cup sizes available
Cons
- Lace straps are noticeable under some tops
This style earned the top spot in both our Lab and consumer tests; those with both small and large cup sizes rated it the most comfortable bra of the bunch. On top of that, it proved to be durable in our Lab testing; it washed well and retained its shape even after we stretched it out. In fact, it’s the bra our experts have preferred to wear for years, even after trying dozens of styles on the market.
It’s a traditional bra that’s ideal for everyday wear thanks to its foam cups, supportive underwire, adjustable straps and hook-eye closure. It has plenty of coverage throughout, yet remains invisible under most clothing, though a few testers shared that the lace straps were noticeable under some tops. It also comes in a variety of colors — including neutral shades and vibrant hues — and a wide range of cup sizes.
Band sizes: 30–38 | Cup sizes: B–G | Colors: 30 options | Style notes: Underwire, adjustable straps, hook-eye closure, demi padding
2
Best Value
Maidenform One Fab Fit Modern Demi Convertible Underwire Bra
Pros
- Affordable price
- Testers said the fabric felt smooth and soft
- Lightly padded for lift
Cons
- Shrunk a bit in Lab tests
At just around $20, this affordable bra outperformed other styles that were quadruple its price. It received perfect scores from testers for comfort, support and fit. For added versatility, it features convertible straps, making it easy to wear this bra as a racerback for extra lift and support. The cups are lightly padded which also adds some lift and prevents gaping, but we found it’s not too bulky. This bra is labeled as a demi style, but it offers more coverage up top than most other demi style bras we tested.
We appreciated its super smooth nylon/polyester fabric. This bra maintained its shape after being stretched in our Lab, acing our stretch recovery tests. Just be sure to hand-wash this bra carefully for best results, as it shrunk a bit when we machine-laundered it.
Band sizes: 32–42 | Cup sizes: A–DD | Colors: 13 options | Style notes: Underwire, convertible racerback straps, lightly padded, demi style
3
Best T-Shirt Bra
Hanes Ultimate T-Shirt Soft Underwire Bra
Pros
- Soft and comfortable material
- Convertible straps
- Tagless design
Cons
- Limited sizes available
Designed with comfort in mind, this bra uses a super soft and stretchy fabric that feels like a cozy T-shirt, and it’s tagless to prevent irritation. It also has adjustable straps with a built-in hook so you can convert it to a racerback for more versatility. This style has an underwire for lift and support and foam cups for a smooth look under clothes with excellent nipple coverage.
The Hanes Ultimate T-Shirt Bra washed well in our laundering tests without any shrinkage. The downside is the sizes are more limited than other bras we’ve evaluated, and it didn’t bounce back to shape as well as others in our stretch recovery tests, meaning it may stretch out over time.
Band sizes: 34–40 | Cup sizes: A–DD | Colors: 8 options | Style notes: Underwire, convertible straps, hook-eye closure, lightly lined
4
Most Popular
ThirdLove 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra
Pros
- Vast assortment of colors and sizes, including half cup sizes
- Generous return policy with free return shipping
- Smoothing panels
Cons
- Didn’t retain its shape as well as others
ThirdLove is one of the most searched-for bra brands online, thanks in part to its inclusive features that help you find the perfect fit. First, you take a quiz to help you pick out the right style and size, then you get free shipping and a generous 60-day return period to make sure you love it.
The brand is also unique in the wide range of sizes it offers. This popular style goes up to a 44 band size and comes in half-cup sizes for anyone who’s in between. The website shows the bras on several models so you can see how it fits different body types.
The T-shirt bra is intended for everyday wear with its underwire for lift, foam cups to shape and pleated straps to prevent slippage on your shoulders. Plus, it held up well to washing in the Lab, though it didn’t fully regain its shape after we stretched it out.
Band sizes: 32–44 | Cup sizes: A–H, including half cup sizes | Colors: 15 options | Style notes: Underwire, adjustable pleated straps, hook-eye closure, thin memory foam cups
5
Best for Large Busts (Over DDD Cup Size)
Freya Idol Moulded Balcony Bra
Pros
- Cup sizes up to L
- Supportive yet stylish
- Good shaping benefits
Cons
- Some online reviewers say it runs small
Finding a good bra can be especially difficult if you have a larger cup size, but this fashionable yet functional style may end your shopping struggles. It goes up to a UK cup size HH (which is equivalent to a US cup size L) and it performed exceptionally well in our tests. It was durable in our Lab’s evaluations without any issues to report, and our tester panel loved wearing it.
The thoughtful design offers support yet still works with most clothing because the cut isn’t too high and the straps aren’t too wide. It’s adjustable and has an underwire for good separation, plus soft cups for a rounded shape. Although our testers found it to fit nicely, some online reviewers share that it runs on the smaller side, so be sure to review the size chart before buying, especially since it’s offered in UK cup sizing.
Band sizes: 28–38 | Cup sizes: B–HH (UK sizing; equivalent to B–L in US sizing) | Colors: 11 options | Style notes: Underwire, adjustable straps, hook-eye closure, lightly lined
6
Best for Small Busts
Pepper Classic All You Bra
Pros
- No gaping, according to testers
- Stays hidden under clothes
- Designed specifically for smaller chests
Cons
- Testers found this bra to be less durable than other styles they own
This brand designs its bras specifically for AA-, A- and B-cup wearers, unlike other bra designs that may just be scaled down to fit smaller cup sizes. This bra is specifically designed to prevent gaping for a smooth fit under clothes — and testers reported that the brand succeeds, praising its great fit on smaller chests. The cups are lightly lined for modest coverage and shaping without excess material.
Because many people with smaller chests are forced to wear bras not properly designed for them, many testers were unsure of their proper size and had to try a few to find their best fit.
In our Lab testing, Pepper bras stayed in great condition after stretch recovery tests and after laundering them five times, but some testers reported durability issues with their Pepper bras, noticing some fraying and even torn straps. We also tested the brand’s wire-free bra and T-shirt bra, and both were popular among testers with smaller chests too.
Band sizes: 30–42 | Cup sizes: AA–B | Colors: 11 options | Style notes: Underwire, contoured cups, mesh overlay, adjustable straps
7
Best Wireless
Olga Easy Does It No Bulge Bra
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Perfect scores for comfort, support and fit
- Smoothing benefits
Cons
- Less separation for larger cup sizes
- Stretched out a bit in Lab tests
This bra outperformed dozens of other wireless bra styles, earning high ratings in every area of our consumer evaluations. It has a band for support instead of an underwire and its adjustable straps and hook-eye closure in the back allow for a custom fit. Plus, the fabric is stretchy so it moves with you like a second skin. It also has smoothing panels for side support and to eliminate bulges.
Unlike most bras where you shop by the band and cup size, this one ranges from small to 3X and has a size guide to follow when you buy. It’s designed for band sizes 34 through 46 — which is a wider range than most styles, though it only specifies cup sizes B to DD in its size chart. And while it offers great shaping benefits with some built-in padding, it doesn’t separate as well as underwire bras.
Sizes: S-3XL (covers sizes 36B-46C) | Colors: 19 options | Style notes: Wireless, adjustable straps, hook-eye closure, foam-lined cups, extra coverage side panels
8
Best Unlined
Cuup The Plunge in Mesh
Pros
- Support without padding
- Testers loved the fit of the straps
- Sexy silhouette and mesh material
Cons
- Less coverage and shape than padded bras
An unlined bra is for anyone who prefers to avoid padding in the cups, regardless of bra size. This lightweight style has the separation and support of an underwire bra with mesh fabric in the cup area. It also has a flattering plunge neckline for a sexy silhouette.
Another standout feature of this bra is its straps: They lie flat without slipping and are the ideal width to be supportive yet discreet. The mesh material is surprisingly substantial yet soft to comfortably hold your breasts in place. Because of the see-through material, nipples can be slightly visible. If you prefer more coverage, we recommend checking out the brand’s microfiber fabrication that’s fully opaque.
Band sizes: 30–44 | Cup sizes: A–H | Colors: 19 options | Style notes: Underwire, adjustable straps, hook-eye closure, unlined
9
Best Strapless
Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless Bra
Pros
- Stays in place all day
- Fits a wide range of cup sizes
- Multiple shades of nudes
Cons
- Some online reviewers said the bra band digs in
This bra proves you don’t have to sacrifice support to go strapless. In fact, it had higher scores from our testers than many of the non-strapless styles we analyzed. It uses silicone strips along the top of the cup and on the band that help it stay in place as you move, and it features wide side panels with boning for more stability and smoothing benefits. Our testers said the bra was comfortable, but a few online reviewers noted that although the bra stayed put, the silicone strips and boning dug in. It was especially loved by people with full figures and larger busts.
It held up well in our Lab tests without shrinking or stretching out. It also comes with removable straps so you can wear it as a traditional bra, halter, criss-cross or one-shoulder style. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors and a wide range of band and cup sizes.
Band sizes: 30–44 | Cup sizes: B–H | Colors: 5 options | Style notes: Underwire, removable convertible straps, hook-eye closure, light padding, non-slip binding around band
10
Best Bralette
Harper Wilde Bliss Bralette
- Soft and smooth material
- Flattering V-neckline
- Durable in our Lab tests
Cons
- Only somewhat supportive, according to testers
Testers were obsessed with the luxuriously soft feel of this Harper Wilde bralette and gave it high scores across the board, especially for comfort and fit.
Made with nylon/elastane fabric, this bra has a soft yet smooth feel without foam, wires or cups. It has a thick bottom band to offer decent support, though not as much as a traditional underwire or a contoured wire-free bra. We love that this style is available up to a 6XL, which the brand says is suitable for up to a 50DDD.
While many bralettes we tested stretched out substantially in our Lab testing, this bralette proved to be durable. It received a perfect score in our stretch recovery test, returning to its original shape. It also barely shrunk after being machine washed on the gentle cycle and hung up to dry.
Sizes: XS-6XL (suitable for cup sizes A-DDD and band sizes 30-50) | Colors: 12 options | Style notes: Wireless, non-adjustable straps, pull-on, no padding
