If you’re in the market for the most comfortable bra available for your shape and size, you know that sifting through the various styles and many bra brands can feel daunting. But whether you’re looking for the best bra for small busts, the best bra for large breasts, or a wireless bra that does it all, there are options out there that tick all your boxes. Here, you’ll find the best support bras and the most comfortable bras in a number of styles.
To make sure your bra is truly supportive and comfy, it’s important to figure out the type of support you’ll need. This varies based on the natural shape of your breasts.
Meet the Experts: Ryan Neinstein, M.D., a plastic surgeon in New York City; Lisa Curbello, owner of The Bra Chick; and Elisabeth Dale, founder of The Breast Life and author of The Bra Zone.
“The strength and integrity of your breast tissue are primarily coded in your DNA, which comes from your parents,” says Ryan Neinstein, M.D., a plastic surgeon in New York City. Other things that can impact your breast perkiness include significant weight changes, breastfeeding, smoking, and other habits that lead to a loss of skin elasticity, such as sun damage.
Whatever the cause, a good bra can help give you that support you need—but investing in one that’s also comfortable is key. Luckily, we found the best comfortable yet supportive bras out there, so you can not only look good but feel good, too.
Our top picks
Ready to shop? Check out our picks for comfortable and supportive bras for every shape and cup size below.
Best Overall Bra
This bra from Natori earned the top spot in testing performed by the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab and was rated the most comfortable bra by their panel of testers, including those with small and large cup sizes. Lab testing proved the bra to be durable; it washed well and kept its shape after the Lab stretched it out.
This bra offers nearly invisible coverage and support, with foam cups, supportive underwire, adjustable straps, and hook-eye closure. However, a few testers shared that the lace straps were noticeable under some tops. It is also available in a wide range of colors and cup sizes. One B-cup tester said, “The inside of the bra is super smooth and feels good on my skin. I could wear it under any thin T-shirt, and it didn’t show through.” A DD-cup reviewer noted, “It was perfect in every way! It felt invisible but did its job perfectly.”
Best Lightweight Bra
Looking for a bra that has a super-lightweight, barely-there feel but still offers great support? This wireless (and super affordable!) bra from Hanes is a customer favorite. It has over 23,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.
“I hardly know I’m wearing this wireless T-shirt bra! Lightly padded, smooth, and silky, perfect fit...It’s so lightweight, it almost vanishes under clothing,” said one user. “It’s just as supportive as a wire bra. The only difference is zero pain at the end of the day,” another wrote.
Best Seamless Bra With Underwire
Cult-favorite brand Cuup makes bras that people seem to love. Our senior commerce editor, Christie Calucchia, recommends this bra for its versatility—and lack of lining. “This is the ultimate everyday, T-shirt bra. Despite not having traditional padding, the unlined bra is supportive thanks to lightweight, flexible underwire and adjustable straps. I especially love how the cups blend into the straps without causing puckering. Fair warning: Because it’s unlined, it has been known to show nipples when worn with thin clothing, but it doesn’t bother me enough not to. I recommend this bra (and the brand) to anyone who will listen.”
Best Bra With Underwire
This full-coverage bra lifts and separates like a dream. It lifts from underneath the cups and the sides. So not only do your breasts go up, but they also move forward. Plus, it features a sexy illusion neckline that adds a little something extra to the style.
“This is my absolute favorite bra! This is my third time buying it, and I finally decided to write a review,” said a shopper. “I have it in black and white, and I love how much coverage it gives me. I wear a 38C, I’m 5’7” and a size 18, so this bra really helps to make me feel comfortable and also beautiful. I will continue to buy this as long as they are selling it!”
Best Value Bra
Unlike other bras with underwires that irritate the skin and cause discomfort, this sleek-looking bra has a soft cloud foam underwire that feels great. Its seamless cups provide extra coverage while still giving you a sexy shape. Plus, its back and side smoothing creates a sleek look under clothing for a zero-bulge look. The other great thing is that the thin adjustable straps sit comfortably on your shoulders without digging into your skin.
“I have a really hard time finding bras that fit because my breasts are full on the bottom and a bit far apart. I have a fair amount of ‘underarm boob,’ or whatever you want to call it,” explained one Amazon reviewer. “There has never been a bra that fits me as well as this one. It supports everything and tucks in my underarm fat without being too loose for the tops of my breasts. It’s super soft and comfy and gives a great silhouette, too.”
Best Plus-Size Bra
Another comfortable bra for women with large breasts, the supportive, foam-cushioned bands in this wireless bra cross over and under the cup to lift, separate, and support the breasts. The wide, cushioned, adjustable shoulder straps won’t dig into your shoulders or slide down your arms either. Plus, the wide bottom band prevents it from riding up.
“I wear a 42H. This bra fits well and supports me as well as my old bra and is about as comfortable as a bra can be,” wrote one pleased Amazon customer. “The straps are much wider than my last one, so I am getting used to them, but it’s not painful. I am pleasantly surprised and ordered two more immediately!”
Best T-shirt Push-Up Bra
Yes, a T-shirt bra can make your girls look perky! We love the smooth and seamless foam cups that give your breasts added cleavage, shape, and a subtle push-up effect. Even better: It has adjustable straps that can be worn with a criss-cross design for additional support for women with bigger busts.
“This bra is amazing! Super comfy, and the color is great for my complexion as an African-American woman. The lift is just enough,” wrote one reviewer. Another Amazon customer added, “This bra exceeded my expectations in every way! The built-in lift is gradual from the sides and bottom without being obvious that it’s padded.”
Best Bra for Large Busts
This bra gives the best of all worlds: support, comfort, and beauty. Oftentimes bustier ladies feel that they need to sacrifice beauty for function, and this bra ensures that you do not go without. An editor favorite, it’s a bra you can flaunt under a sheer top or wear under your favorite t-shirt.
“As someone with a large bust, finding sexy supportive bras takes a ton of trial and error. But this bra by Wacoal not only lifts and separates, but it also comes in a variety of colors and features adorable lace,” says Prevention’s deputy editor Emily Goldman. “The straps are on the thinner side but don’t dig in, and the cups don’t create a dreaded four-boob scenario. The only down side is the underwire can start to pinch after repeated wear (I’m talking about wearing every day for months). It’s still my go-to bra!”
Best Wireless Bra
Don’t think you have to give up your dreams of the perfect boob-boosting bra just because underwires aren’t your thing. “Technology in bras has come a long way,” Lisa Curbello, owner of The Bra Chick, says. “Many new styles are able to give separation, shape, and lift without an underwire.” This one provides support from the bottom up, giving you a natural lift. And its straps are wide, adjustable, and cushioned to prevent slipping and digging.
“I wear a size 38DDD and needed a cheap bra that I could wear around the house or under some layers. I wasn’t in the market for something ultra-sexy or that’ll give me an epic cleavage. This pretty much fits the bill for that type of bra,” wrote one Amazon customer. “It’s comfortable and keeps the girls nicely supported, and it was cheap enough that I’m going to be purchasing a couple more. The fabric is nice and actually feels like it’s going to last a decent amount of time.”
Best Front-Close Bra
This bra from the well-known shapewear brand, Spanx, offers an innovative design that impressed testers at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab. The front-closure clasp makes putting the bra on and taking it off easier than traditional bras, and it uses a soft hosiery-like material for the back and shoulder straps.
While the bra is not adjustable, it is stretchy and conforms to the body. The downside is the material didn’t bounce back to shape as well as other styles during Lab tests. However, the bra still offers superior support with its underwire and full-coverage cups. One C-cup tester said, “I liked the fabric and that the straps were very comfortable. It was very easy to wear, and I barely noticed it on all day.” It was also “hands down, the most comfortable bra I have ever worn,” according to a DD-cup tester.
Best Balconette Bra
“If your breasts are less firm, try a demi-cup or balconette-style bra to give you that more rounded, ‘muffin top’ look,” says Elisabeth Dale, founder of The Breast Life and author of The Bra Zone. This comfortable bra has spacer padding for breathability and a balconette neckline fit for scoop- and square-neck tops. You can adjust the straps while you have the bra on, since the hardwire is on the front. Plus, it converts into a racerback.
“This bra is my new all time favorite. It’s so comfortable and breathable,” wrote a reviewer. “It’s supportive but still feels light. Keeps the nipples under control without feeling like I’m drowning in padding. And I especially love the silkier band on this bra.”
Best Strapless Bra
Whether you’re wearing a formal strapless gown for a wedding or a casual tank for the beach, this supportive bra will keep your girls lifted and in place. It’s made with a double knit fabric that shapes and smooths things out from all angles, and has three hook-and-eye closures for additional security. Each bra also comes with two adjustable straps that you can wear criss-cross style.
An Amazon customer who had been looking for a black strapless bra to wear under a lace sweetheart dress said this bra was the perfect fit: “I ordered a 40DD and it fit perfectly. Given the size of my girls, I wasn’t sure that this bra could do the job, but it did great. It doesn’t strap everything in tight like a strapped bra might, but it provides excellent support.”
Best Plunge Bra
ThirdLove has made waves in the undergarment industry ever since they began promoting their half-cup bras. The goal was to provide a bra that was both supportive and fit accurately with no compromises. Its plunge bra gives you some lift and padding thanks to its removable inserts. Offering minimal coverage, the bra’s side panels and back strap are smoothing, and the flexible underwire shouldn’t poke your skin.
“I’ve never had a bra with any sort of extra padding because I feel it makes me look unnatural, but this one is perfect! Just the right amount of lift and coverage. Also incredibly comfortable,” said one reviewer.
Best Overall Push-Up Bra
Looking for a lot of lift without a big price tag? This bra comes in a variety of colors and features adjustable and convertible straps so you can get the best fit possible, and change your bra’s style according to your neckline.
“This is a very nice fitting bra. The push-up is correctly situated on the bottom of the cup, but also on the outer inside side,” one reviewer wrote. “The push-up gives you the lift and extra size you need, but the bra is full coverage and does not push you out in the middle. The underwires are covered and end where they will not dig into the side of your body. There’s just the right amount of side material, so it is not up in your underarm. There are double straps in the back that I think will be good, so the strap will not slip off the shoulder.”
Best Everyday T-Shirt Bra
This lightly padded bra offers just the right amount of lift creating a totally natural look. Plus, it has an adjustable underwire so you’ll never experience pinching. It also has a seamless stretch band and a soft fabric lining on the cups to keep you comfortable all day.
“This is my favorite bra. It fits me well, the straps don’t fall down, and it’s very comfortable,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “It keeps the girls in place—they don’t jiggle and they’re perfectly positioned, up high and perky.”
Best Bralette
An extra comfy bra that can go with you from lounging around your home to a yoga class is just what you need. This one from cult-favorite brand Skims offers light support for those XS-4X. With over 4,000 ratings and nearly five stars on the brand’s website, shoppers love the bra.
“On a daily basis, I prefer to wear comfortable bralettes over traditional bras. I love this option from Skims because while it offers a barely-there feel, it still provides just enough support and looks great underneath all of my clothes,” says our assistant editor, Shannen Zitz.
Best Bra to Move In
Built with seamless cups that provide full coverage and a comfortable satin underwire, this affordable bra allows you to customize your fit without any digging or poking. And because this bra is also made with a combination of nylon and Spandex, it gives you more freedom of movement.
One Amazon customer, who had been on a search for the perfect T-shirt bra, wrote: “These bras fit like a dream. So comfortable, no pinching. It looks smooth in the front when wearing T-shirts and various thinner shirts. There are no weird lines from the bra. I ordered three to try and now they are all I wear.”
Best Breathable Bra
Rihanna knows what the world wants from its lingerie, and this bra does not disappoint. One of her favorite designs from her collection, the Savage Not Sorry Microfiber & Lace Half Cup Bra features stretch iridescent lace, sheer tulle, and cool-to-the-touch microfiber to keep you and your girls feeling fresh and stylish.
One reviewer noted: “Sexy, comfortable, and smooth under clothing. No pokey wires or stays! A+++.”
Best Wireless Bra for Big Busts
Available in small to 3XL, the Defy Bra truly defies belief. When Prevention’s deputy editor (who is over a DD) gave this wireless bra a try, she was shocked. “It provided incredible support without underwire—which is something I thought was a myth in bras for large busted ladies,” Goldman said. This bra comes in a variety of colors too and works beautifully under a T-shirt.
How to choose the most comfortable bras
✔️ Get fitted by a pro: “It’s important to get professionally fitted by a bra expert who is familiar with all of the bra brands and how each one fits,” says Curbello. She’s been doing bra fittings for more than 23 years and says about 85% of the women who come in are wearing the wrong size! If you’re purchasing a bra online and can’t do an in-person fitting, check out the measuring guidelines for that specific brand to help find a good fit.
✔️ Think outside the (size) box: Don’t stay stuck on one size. “All styles and brands have different fit standards, so you may very well wear two or three sizes, depending on the manufacturing and materials,” says Dale. So try on different sizes and styles until you find the fit that’s right for you.
✔️ Try a sister size: If you find a bra that’s just right in one area (the band, for instance) but a little too small or too big in the other (cup size), give your bra’s “sister sizes” a try. Sister sizes are basically one size up or down from your actual size. “If you’re going down a band size, you will have to go up a cup in order to get the same fit,” Dale says. And if you go up a band size, you’ll need to move down one cup size, she adds. So, for example, if you normally wear a 34C, a 32D and a 36B would be your bra’s sister sizes.
✔️ Splurge a little: There are tons of bras available to fit any budget, but try not to bypass a bra immediately based on its price tag. “It’s worth spending a little more on a perfectly-fitting, high-quality bra that will give you the lift you want and the comfort you need,” Curbello says.
How to know if a bra fits properly
According to Dale, the proper fit of your bra largely depends on the specific type of bra you’re wearing. “If it’s an underwire, you want the center of the bra (the gore) to lay flat against your breastbone (not gapping),” she says. “The front and back band should be at the same height or even and parallel to the floor. And the straps shouldn’t be digging into your shoulders.” Another important thing to check for a proper fit: The cups of your bra should enclose the whole breast. “You want to get all your breast tissue inside the cups to make sure nothing is spilling out over the top or a wire or seam isn’t sitting on or pinching your skin,” Dale explains.
Which type of bra is most comfortable?
With many different options for bras out there, you might be wondering which type will offer the most comfort: Wireless or underwired? Wireless bras will likely feel less restrictive and more lightweight than bras with underwires, as they’re usually softer and more flexible—but they might also not provide the same level of support as an underwired bra. On the other hand, underwired bras might be more comfortable as they offer more support and lift during the course of the day, especially for those with larger busts. Ultimately, it may depend on your own personal preference, comfort, and body type.
How to care for your bra
Properly washing your bras ensures their longevity. According to Dale, bras should typically be hand washed, or, if machine washing, placed in a laundry bag and washed on the delicate cycle with cold water. Never put a bra in a dryer, she adds—the heat can stretch and ruin the elastic material of the bras—and instead make sure to air-dry them.
When it comes to properly storing your bras, you can “stack” bras that are padded or contoured—while with lace underwire bras or bralettes, you can fold them in two, says Dale.
When to replace a bra
It may be time to replace your bra if it no longer fits well or if it doesn’t feel as comfortable or supportive—or if the bra has gone through normal wear and tear. Signs that your bra is worn out include if the band or straps are loose, the cups are wrinkled, or if the fabric is frayed and damaged. “If you can easily place a couple of finger under the band of the bra on the tightest setting, the band is likely shot,” Dale says.
How we chose the most comfortable bras
We consulted experts Ryan Neinstein, M.D., a plastic surgeon in New York City; Lisa Curbello, owner of The Bra Chick; and Elisabeth Dale, founder of The Breast Life and author of The Bra Zone. We also conducted our own research on the best bras, and sifted through hundreds of online reviews to find the best bras available.
The Natori Pure Luxe Custom Coverage Bra and the Spanx Bra-llelujah! Full Coverage Bra were tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab.
Why Trust Us
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
Additional writing by Tamekia Reece
Shannen Zitz is an Assistant Editor at Prevention, where she covers all things lifestyle, wellness, beauty, and relationships. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Prevention, she graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor's degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.