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These Are the 15 Most Comfortable Bras We've Tested, Including a Smoothing Bra from Oprah's Favorite Shapewear Brand

Plus picks from popular brands like Skims, Spanx, Lively, and more

The Best Comfortable Bras
Photo:

People

If the words “comfortable” and “bra” feel oxymoronic to you, you’re not alone. Many of us on the PEOPLE team agree that finding a comfortable, soft, and supportive bra is a near-impossible feat — at least, we used to think so. After conducting countless wear tests across the whole gamut of sizing, we’re ready to convince you that comfortable bras do exist — you just have to know where to look.

The most comfortable bras should seamlessly contour your body and still provide enough shape and lift to allow you to move throughout your day feeling supported. From underwire, full coverage, or wireless bras, there’s a comfortable bra out there for every person, no matter their bust size.  

The Best Right Now

If you tend to find bras with underwire uncomfortable, then we suggest trying our best overall pick, the ultra-comfortable True & Co. Soft Form V-Neck Bralette. It provides plenty of support despite the absence of an underwire. Plus, the wider back and underarms do a great job at creating a smooth shape that flatters a variety of chest sizes.

To find the best of the best, we at PEOPLE Tested slipped on 58 of the best-selling bras that are marketed as being comfortable. In the end, we were left with 15 supportive and stylish bras that work for both large and small breasts, with no nabbing or itching.

Star Qualities
  • Smoothing back and underarms look great under a T-shirt

  • No underwire, which makes this bra so comfortable that we fell asleep in it

  • Despite the lack of underwire, we found it supportive enough for even 38DD chests

Red Flags
  • There's not much we didn't love about this comfy bra

The comfort of an under-wireless bra is not a luxury solely afforded to those with smaller chests, and this bra proves it: Even the large-chested among us found the True & Co bra to be supportive enough to go about our day without any slippage.

Where it lacks underwire support, this bra makes up for it with thicker straps that help to lift without digging into the shoulders. The fabric is soft, smooth, and thin enough to contour to your shape without leaving uncomfortable marks or dents in the skin. The wider back and underarms of the bra created a smooth shape that flattered a variety of our chest sizes, with a T-shirt or without. Though it comes with padded cups, the inserts are removable so you can go without them if you so prefer.

Perhaps our most glowing review for this True & Co. bra: Our tester accidentally fell asleep in it one night because they forgot they were even wearing it.

Size Range: XS-3X | Cut: V-neck | Materials: Nylon, elastane

Star Qualities
  • Demi-padded lace cups provide great lift without too much fabric or padding

  • Mesh back panel is lightweight and smoothing without digging in

  • Lace design won’t show through even the thinnest T-shirts

Red Flags
  • Straps pill slightly over time with machine-washing

PEOPLE staff shopping writer Cai Cramer says she has tried dozens of bras in her life, constantly searching for one that would provide enough support, feel comfortable all day, and look attractive. "I’m glad to report that all the hours I spent scouring the bra racks at department stores have finally paid off — the Natori Flora Underwire Bra is the best bra I’ve ever owned."

The molded cups are padded in a demi-shape, but the lace extends higher up on the breast to provide a supportive lift without too much coverage. This unique cut feels featherlight on the skin and allows for lots of airflow, so it helps prevent chest sweat. Cramer says it also prevents any lines from showing under even her thinnest T-shirts and doesn’t peek out of low-cut tops.

Editors Say

"Perhaps the best review I could give for the comfort of the Flora bra is that even after a long work day, I don't feel the urge to take it off as soon as I walk through my front door. Sometimes, I’ll even forget that I’m wearing a bra at all! Since falling in love with my Flora bra three years ago, I’ve found that it maintains its shape through the wash, though the straps have pilled slightly over the years." —Cai Cramer

Size Range: 30-36, B-G | Cut: Demi padded | Materials: Nylon, spandex, mesh

Star Qualities
  • One of the most comfortable bras we’ve tried

  • Provided enough support for light activity

Red Flags
  • No padding means that nipples may show through

One of our testers called this wireless bra the most comfortable one she’s ever worn. The Hanes Pullover Bra has over 19,000 five-star ratings at Amazon, with thousands of reviews praising its supreme comfort.

We found it stretched to the perfect fit, provided enough support for daily activities like chores and errands, and held up well after washing. We only wish this bra had a bit more lining in the cups since it didn’t provide all the coverage we were hoping for.

Size Range: S–3XL | Cut: Full coverage, pullover | Materials: Nylon, spandex

Star Qualities
  • Smoothing back looks nearly undetectable under a T-shirt

  • Cups are lightly padded with shaping underwire that gives a flattering lift

  • Straps are wide and soft and don't dig into shoulders

Red Flags
  • Straps aren’t adjustable

  • Size range is more limited

We wouldn’t expect less than glowing results from the comfortable shapewear brand that Oprah loves, and the Spanx Bra-llelujah! bra didn’t disappoint. The front-closure bra features a back panel that's made entirely from a super-soft hosiery material, giving a smooth appearance without any bumps, lines, or rolls.

The bra’s cups are lightly padded and gave us a flattering shape and lift across a variety of sizes. The straps are wide and soft, which was a major relief from classic bra shoulder pain for our DDD-chested tester. We were initially concerned that the lack of shoulder adjustability wouldn’t work for the whole gamut of bra sizes, but we were delightfully surprised that the straps sat comfortably on all of us without gapping or digging.

A larger range of size options for the cups would make this bra our new best friend, but we found that the sizes may not correlate to traditional bra sizing.

Size Range: 32-40, A-DD | Cut: Full coverage, front clasp | Materials: Nylon, elastane, lycra

Star Qualities
  • Provides full, supportive coverage, even on a size 38DD chest

  • Light padding is smoothing and provides a nice shape without increasing bust size

Red Flags
  • Fabric pilled slightly after machine washing and drying

Finding a bra that fully supports larger chests, fits well, and feels comfortable enough to wear all day is a difficult feat, but we think that we might have struck gold with the Soma Intimates Perfect Coverage Bra. We had testers with 36DD and 38DD cup sizes test out this bra, and we couldn’t have been happier with the results. 

The padding is light and smoothing, with underwire that didn’t poke us at all during the multiple 8+ hour days we spent testing it. The back panel is smooth and comfortable, made from a soft elastic with three rows of closure. The cups are lined with soft brushed microfiber, which feels smooth against the skin and also helps to keep the breasts safely tucked inside without slipping. 

The bra fabric did pill slightly after machine washing, though the shape and fit remained as good as the very first wear. 

Size Range: 32-42, B-DDD | Cut: Full coverage | Materials: Nylon, spandex

Best Full-Coverage

Skims T-Shirt Bra

SKIMS Fits Everybody T-Shirt Bra
PHOTO: Skims
Star Qualities
  • Fuller cups provide great coverage and a smooth shape that looks undetectable under T-shirts

  • Looks brand new after multiple wears and washes

  • Available in one of the most expansive size ranges for both cup and band size

Red Flags
  • Hard to find the right fit for large chests, so this bra might be best suited for small to moderate-sized chests

Kim Kardashian’s intimates line is known for delivering comfortable undergarments, and the Fits Everybody T-Shirt Bra lives up to the hype. We were surprised at just how comfortable the full-coverage cups are, even on our testers with smaller chests. The bra cups are soft to the touch, the band is wide and has a soft smoothing effect that looks seamless under clothes, and the underwire gives lots of support. Plus, the Everybody bra is available in an impressive size range, from A to H in the cup and 30 to 46 in the band, which is one of the most comprehensive size ranges of any of the bras we tested.

Our favorite part about this bra across the board is how good it looked under shirts. We didn’t get any pesky bra lines or obvious cup gapping through the thin T-shirt fabric. It also washed very well and looked practically as good as new, even after a rough hand scrubbing. The one downside is that it was harder to find the right size for larger chests in our testing.

Deal Alert!

The Skims Fits Everybody T-shirt Bra is currently 48% off select colors at skims.com.

Size Range: A-H, 30-46 | Cut: Full coverage | Materials: Polyamide, elastane

SKIMS Fits Everybody T-shirt Bra on wood surface
People.

People

Best Adjustable Straps

Harper Wilde Base T-Shirt Bra

Harper Wilde Base T-Shirt Bra
PHOTO: Harper Wilde
Star Qualities
  • Front-adjusting straps can be worn in standard or racerback shapes with convenient J-hook

  • Made from soft microfiber fabric, with cups that mold to the shape of your breast

Red Flags
  • Band may dig into your back after a day of wear

Whether you prefer to wear tank tops or racerbacks, the Harper Wilde Base T-Shirt Bra has you covered with adjustable straps and a convenient J-hook that easily transforms the straps into a racerback. Another smartly designed feature that we loved about the Base bra is the front-adjusting straps, which make it much easier to fit the bra to us than the standard back-adjust method.

The bra itself is made with soft microfiber fabric, with lightly lined cups that mold to the shape of your breast for a comfortable fit. At the end of the day, the one thing that held us back from giving this bra perfect marks was the band, which runs small (and dug into our backs after a few hours of wear).

Size Range: 32-42, A-DDD | Cut: Full coverage | Materials: Microfiber

Star Qualities
  • Doesn’t roll, bend, or dig into the skin

  • One of the most supportive wireless bras we’ve tried

Red Flags
  • Only offers band sizes 32–38

  • Slightly itchy material could irritate sensitive skin

The Natori wireless bra is the perfect mix of support and comfort. It doesn’t roll, bend, or dig into the skin. With a super breathable fabric, this bra stays comfortable all day (though if you have sensitive skin, you might find the material itchy).

We were shocked at the level of support this wireless bra provided for larger cup sizes — it even stayed in place while we did jumping jacks and stretches. We were disappointed that this bra only comes in band sizes 32–38, and we’re hoping Natori expands the sizing so all body types can experience this super comfortable and supportive bra.

Size Range: 32-38, C–G | Cut: Full coverage, V-neck | Materials: Nylon, elastane

Experts Say

"No, people with larger chests do not necessarily need an underwire for support. You should look for and expect the same fit and support in a wireless bra as you would in an underwire bra." —Cami Raymond, senior design director and bra fit expert at Ruby Ribbon

Best for Small Busts

Pepper All You Bra

Pepper Classic All You Bra
PHOTO: Pepper
Star Qualities
  • Designed specifically for smaller chests and fit a 34A cup comfortably without any gapping

Red Flags
  • Only available in cup sizes from AA to B

Bras that were designed for people with larger cup sizes are often ill-fitting for smaller sizes, with cups that are too narrow or form gaps between the fabric and the breast. The Pepper Classic All You Bra was designed specifically for small breasts. In fact, it’s not even available in a cup size above B, although it’s available in a band size range from 30 to 40. 

No more gapping cups or wonky-fitting bands — the Classic All You Bra fit our size 34A tester in all the right places. The cut has a moderate plunge, with a sleek mesh overlay on top of soft cups that provides just the right amount of coverage for small chests. We could barely feel the bra’s underwire but appreciate the lifted shape and support it provided. At the end of a long day of testing out this bra, we forgot we were wearing a supportive underwire bra and not a cotton bralette. 

Size Range: AA-B, 30-40 | Cut: Plunge | Materials: Polyamide, elastane, mesh

Star Qualities
  • Silky-soft material feels lightweight on the skin

  • Light padding does not add extra bulk to the chest area

  • Features one of the best size ranges we tested

  • Scoop-neck cut provides medium coverage without causing spillage

Red Flags
  • Did not provide great nipple coverage

Who says that comfortable bras need to be full-coverage or out-of-style? Not the CUUP Scoop Bra. It has just the right amount of plunge to make us feel sexy without creating any spillage. Our medium and large-breasted testers agreed: This is one of the most comfortable bras they've ever tried. 

Not only is the fabric super soft and supple against the skin, but the straps are slightly thicker than normal bra straps so that they don’t dig into the shoulders at all, even on a size E chest. It boasts light padding and comfortable underwire support that provides a great lift without any discomfort. It also looks great under a T-shirt or dress, and the silky material feels super lightweight against the skin.

One of the downsides to the lightweight cups is that we could slightly see the shape of the nipples poking through, which is something to keep in mind. 

Size Range: 30-44, A-H | Cut: Scoop | Materials: Polyamide, elastane

Star Qualities
  • Super soft, silky material feels lightweight

  • Underwire provides shape without padding in the cups

  • Held up well in the washer and dryer

Red Flags
  • No padding means that nipples may show through

  • We found the underwire a bit uncomfortable

If you’re searching for a bra with a soft, silky material that wraps around you like a luxurious hug, this is it. With no padding and light shaping support, the Thirdlove 24/7 Second Skin Unlined Bra is a full-coverage bra that’s nearly invisible under clothes. 

One of our favorite things about the ThirdLove bra is just how easy it is to take care of. Even after a trip through the washer and dryer, the Second Skin bra looked good as new. Though this bra doesn’t have padding in the cups (which means the shape of your nipple might show through), it does have an underwire, which can be either a pro or a con.

The underwire provides a little bit of lift and support, which is great if that’s what you’re looking for, but we also found it to be slightly uncomfortable and left a red mark on the rib after a five-hour day of wear (which is also pretty standard with underwire).

Size Range: 32-44, A-H | Cut: Full coverage | Materials: Microfiber, nylon, spandex

Star Qualities
  • Smooth bands, straps, and cups are nearly invisible under a T-shirt

  • Band stayed put throughout the day and feels extra secure with three hook-eye closures

Red Flags
  • Cups may cause slight overspill of cleavage

Bra lines that show through T-shirts can make your outfit feel frumpy. So, when it came to finding the best T-shirt bra, we wanted to make sure that our selection showed no lines under even thin tees. The T-Shirt Bra from Lively beat our expectations. The band fit snugly and comfortably without sliding and was clasped with a triple hook-eye closure that helped us feel more secure. The fabric feels soft and high-quality, despite the low price. 

We especially like the lacy fabric on the back of the straps, which looked completely smooth under clothes, felt soft against the skin, and added a cute touch to an otherwise standard bra. The coverage is medium-to-full, with soft, opaque padding. Our DD-sized tester did notice that some of their breast spilled over the top of the cup, so if you have a fuller upper bust, we recommend going up a cup size.

Size Range: 32-38, A-DDD | Cut: Full coverage | Materials: Nylon, spandex

Star Qualities
  • Comfortable enough to forget it’s there!

  • Smoothing, so we didn’t see lines through our clothes

  • Wireless

Red Flags
  • Might not be supportive enough for those with larger busts

We all know the relief of taking your bra off at the end of the day, but when you forget it’s even there? Now that’s true comfort. This Shapermint bra was so comfortable that our tester with a triple-D bust forgot to take it off before bedtime. She slept all night in the wireless bra, thanks to the soft fabric that never digs into the skin. We found the bra was smoothing as well, though it worked better as a lounge bra — not all of our testers thought it was supportive enough for large busts, meaning they would rather wear it around the house.

Size Range: S–4XL | Cut: Full coverage | Materials: Nylon, spandex

Star Qualities
  • Super soft microfiber material never dug into our skin

  • Adjustable straps allow for a better fit

  • Wireless

Red Flags
  • Runs big in the cups

We love this wireless Calvin Klein bra that kept us comfortable all day while also providing enough support for casual wear. The bra never dug into our skin, and the microfiber material was super soft. We appreciated the adjustable straps, though we didn’t get the sizing quite right. This bra comes in sizes XS–XL, rather than traditional bra sizing, which we found to be a bit tricky — we recommend you size down for the perfect fit. 

Size Range: XS–XL | Cut: Demi | Materials: Nylon, elastane

Star Qualities
  • Super soft modal material

  • Doesn’t roll, bend, or dig into skin

  • Band is wireless yet supportive

Red Flags
  • We didn’t get a perfect fit based on the size guide

The Cuup wireless bra surprised us with the amount of support it provided while still remaining comfortable. Flexible boning provides lift without the rigidity of underwire, and this support works on smaller and larger busts. We were impressed with the lightweight, soft modal material that kept us feeling comfortable all day long.

Our only qualm: We weren’t able to get an accurate fit based on the online size guide, leaving us with either spillage or gaps in the cups. Luckily, Cuup does have a generous 60-day return policy, along with thousands of U.S. drop-off locations for a super easy return.

Size Range: 30–42 | Cut: Plunge | Materials: Modal, spandex

What to Know About Comfortable Bras

Material 

When it comes to the most comfortable material that a bra can be made from, you’ll find that most of the softest bras are made from blends of nylon, elastane, or spandex. The material that’s right for you is ultimately up to your preference, whether it's a softer, cozy brushed microfiber or a silky-smooth, stretchier material that can help you keep cooler. You'll often find most bralettes, for instance, are constructed from a super comfy material like a seamless microfiber. Raymond tells PEOPLE that she recommends opting for fabrics that are "sweat-wicking" to help you stay dry throughout the day.

Shape and Cut 

The shape of a bra is integral to its comfort, and the right shape for you comes down to preference. While full-coverage bras like the Soma Intimates Perfect Coverage Bra often offer the most support, which can be beneficial for larger chests, some people might find that they prefer to have a less coverage cup, such as a demi or V-neck bra, which won’t be visible in lower cut tops. Fit expert at Nordstrom, Nati Rodriguez, advises shoppers to look for a bra that they won’t spill out of — a.k.a. the top of the breast isn’t squeezed over the top edge of the bra — which can lead to discomfort.

Support 

Just like with a regular or plus-size sports bra, one of the most important aspects of a bra (especially for those with larger breasts) is the support. Underwire, which is a small piece of wire that sits underneath the cup of the bra, is meant to help lift the breasts and help create a rounder shape without putting more strain on the shoulders. Some with larger breasts might also favor minimizer bras that provide a more streamlined silhouette under form-fitting clothes. Rodriguez shares that many shoppers looking for a comfortable bra feel hesitant about choosing one with an underwire because they can sometimes dig into the ribs uncomfortably, often preferring wireless bras. However, an underwire bra can be very comfortable, Rodriguez shares, as long as it’s well-fitting, with the underwire tucked under the breasts and curving into the armpits.

The bra straps and material are also important factors in potential support. Thicker straps can help to distribute the weight of the breast across a larger area, which ultimately means less weight on your shoulders.

Price Range

Bras are one of those everyday essentials that tend to be worth the expense. After all, you’ll likely wear it more often than most clothing items in your closet. "It’s important to take into consideration that the construction of a bra is complex, and there are many different parts that need to come together to provide functional support as well as comfort, which means they’ll need to use more expensive materials than other garments," Raymond says. That doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to find a cute, comfortable, and supportive bra. Usually, you can expect to pay anywhere between $40 to $75 for a high-quality bra.

A brown colored bra on a patterned background

People

Behind the Scenes

To find the most comfortable bras, we tested the best-selling bras on the market, allocating them to women with bra sizes that ranged from 32A to 38F who put the bras to the test in the real world.

  • Fit: We started by ensuring that every tester had a properly fitting bra according to the size charts on each bra manufacturer’s website. We noted the type of clasp, closure, and straps each bra came with before wearing.
  • Comfort: We then wore each bra every day for a week for a minimum of four hours a day. During our wear tests, we tried on a variety of T-shirts over the bras to test whether the outline of the bra could be seen under clothing.
  • Care: Finally, we washed each bra to test how well they held up through the cleaning process.

Each bra was rated on a scale of one to five for fit, support, comfort, adjustability, and quality. In the end, we were left with the 15 most comfortable bras that are both functional and attractive.

Why Trust PEOPLE? 

Cai Cramer is a staff shopping writer, covering the best products across the beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle spaces. To inform this story, Cai used insights from the PEOPLE Tested labs to compile a heavily researched list of the most comfortable bras for women to help shoppers find well-priced, comfortable, and beautifully designed bras they can wear for years.

Our Expert Panel

  • Nati Rodriguez is a bra fit expert at Nordstrom who supplied tips on how to find a bra that fits correctly.
  • Cami Raymond is the senior design director at online lingerie brand Ruby Ribbon who shared information on what to look for in a comfortable bra.

What Is PEOPLE Tested? 

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. 

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