For more of the Cut’s favorite fashion, beauty, and home finds, sign up for the weekly Cut Shop Newsletter.
If you have bigger boobs and play sports, you know that good bounce-containment options can be hard to find. (Basic sports bras and bralettes don’t always cut it.) It might also be a challenge to get dressed: Sweaters can look lumpy, while skimpier pieces like tank tops and slip dresses are equally tricky if you don’t want thick straps showing. However, a good minimizer bra will comfortably compress your chest and can take inches off your bust line, creating a smooth silhouette so your clothes fit correctly, and it’s a great bounce-containment option.
Regardless of the style or the fit you’re looking for, life’s too short to wear an ugly bra, and Palep agrees. However, it can take some trial and error to find the best minimizer for you, so we’ve pored over reviews and listed 21 good places to start, according to experts and Cut Shop editors.
SO, you’re looking for the best minimizer bras?
➼ FAQs
➼ Our top picks
➼ More tried-and-true options
➼ Our experts
.
Our Top Picks:
The Unlined Option
Sizes: 32C - 44H | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage, unpadded | Clasp: Hook and eye
Thirdlove’s extensive size range is why it’s a favorite with shoppers. This minimizer is unlined and takes two inches off your bust for a smooth and comfortable fit. Cosmopolitan’s digital creative director, Abby Silverman, constantly turns to this style because of its minimal look, and she raves about how soft it is. The more than 700 reviewers who give it a perfect five-star rating on the site can also attest to the comfort.
The One to Buy in Bulk
Sizes: 32C - 40G | Materials: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage, unpadded | Clasp: Hook and eye
A bra you forget you’re wearing? Sign us up! According to one reviewer, this bra fits so well that they forget they have it on. Shopping Writer Brooke LaMantia loves this brand for its full coverage tops and affordable prices. Best of all, you can bundle and save, so grab both colors while they’re still in stock.
If You Hate Padding
Sizes: 36B - 50I | Materials: Nylon, Elastane | Silhouette: Full coverage, no wire | Clasp: Hook and eye
This bra will do its job without any padding, wires, or other uncomfortable elements. One customer wrote a hilarious and star-studded review titled “Suddenly. Out of poorly fit darkness, there was light. Bra light.” You should probably read the whole thing.
If You Want Lots of Compression
Sizes: 34C - 50H | Materials: Polyester, Polyamide, Elastane | Silhouette: Full coverage | Clasp: Hook and eye
Customers love this bra for its comfort levels and and secure coverage. One reviewer explained, “This granny bra is the best thing that ever happened to my huge ta-tas.” (If you want something similar that’s less of a sports bra, this also seems promising.)
A Sleek T-shirt Bra
Sizes: 34C - 44G | Materials: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage, seamless | Clasp: Hook and eye
Fans like how soft this bra is. One brutally honest customer wrote, “I finally don’t feel like a walking circus tent. The straps are padded so they are less likely to cause welts in my shoulders like the ones that are permanently there. I’m so thankful to have taken a chance on this.”
The Lacy Option
Sizes: 34C - 46I | Materials: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage, unlined | Clasp: Hook and eye
This bra is unlined, and reviewers insist it still minimizes without the padding and has the added bonus of comfort.
If You Need Something Simple
Sizes: 32DD - 44DDD | Materials: Polyester | Silhouette: Full coverage, seamless | Clasp: Hook and eye
You need something for everyday wear, and this is it. The lightweight bra smoothes and shapes without looking or feeling bulky.
.
More Tried-and-True Options:
The Best Racerback Option
Sizes: 32B - 38 DD | Materials: 100 percent cotton | Silhouette: Full coverage, lightly lined | Clasp: Front closure
This versatile racerback features Spanx’s signature SmartStretch Straps that are comfortable and dig-free. In addition, the back of the bra is made from hosiery to help smooth lumps and bumps while also providing support. It’s no wonder this is one of Spanx’s best-selling bras.
The Simple One
Sizes: XS - 3X | Materials: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage, removable pads | Clasp: None
This is designed to provide an invisible look underneath clothing while still offering support. One satisfied customer even wrote that wearing most bras is a form of torture for her, but wearing this one isn’t. Do you need higher praise?
The Sexy One
Sizes: 30B - 48G | Materials: Polyamide, Elastane, Polyester | Silhouette: Full coverage, unlined | Clasp: Front closure
Who said a minimizing bra can’t be hot? “I am large-chested, and it supports me just right without being tight,” writes one pleased reviewer. “It lets my breasts sit [the way that feels] most comfortable. I love love love it.”
The Best Sports Bra for Workouts
Sizes: 34B - 40DDD | Materials: Spandex, polyester | Silhouette: Sports bra | Clasp: None
If you’re full-figured and can’t seem to find a sports bra that holds up during high-impact workouts, this Natori option that’s specially designed for larger breasts will be your new best friend. It has ultralight stretch foam and adjustable straps to helps minimize movement, plus it features moisture-wicking fabric to keep you comfortable during a sweaty workout.
The Best Strapless Option
Sizes: 34C - 40DD | Materials: Nylon, Elastane | Silhouette: Sweetheart-neck | Clasp: Hook and eye
For busty women, strapless bras have long been the enemy. Thankfully, this one works — reviewers noted that it lifts, supports, smooths, and minimizes your bust line up to 1.5 inches. It even comes with removable straps that adjust any way you please.
Another Pretty Option
Sizes: 32D-44G | Material: Polyamide, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage | Clasp: Hook and eye
Reviewers love that this bra doesn’t look like a minimizer bra; it comes in a handful of shades from pretty blush and muted tones to a few bolder colors that are currently on sale. But this bra is more than just looks: Reviewers also love how comfortable it is while still offering support and a great fit.
An Option That Clasps in the Front
Sizes: 30B - 48G | Materials: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage with U-shaped notch | Clasp: Front closure, Hook and eye
Comfort meets function in this bra. One customer gave it her sincerest seal of approval and wrote, “I have NEVER loved a bra. I would tell my husband that I wanted a boob job just so I could [keep] the girls where they belonged … Then I found this gem and couldn’t be happier.”
A Supportive Sports Bra
Sizes: XS - 3X | Material: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage, no underwire | Clasp: Hook and eye
If you hate all the poking and discomfort that comes with wireless bras, consider this supportive option. With sheer mesh panels, adjustable straps, and lots of support, reviewers say this bra is minimizing without sacrificing comfort or style.
A Camisole Option
Sizes: 34C - 50J | Material: Polyester, Polyamide, Elastane | Silhouette: Full coverage, high neckline | Clasp: Hook and eye
This bra offers support without the suffocating feeling of some sports bras, thanks to its breathable open-air mesh bust. Customers gush over its fit and say it is perfect for moderate exercise. One wrote, “No longer do I have to stuff myself into three sports bras, crushing my bosom and my soul, to be able to get a good workout.”
If You Want Plus-size Options
Sizes: 32F - 42G | Material: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage | Clasp: Hook and eye
This lace-lined bra is one of Palep’s favorites because it’s made with bigger bust sizes in mind. The thicker band and larger cups offer lots of support and comfort. You can also grab it in cup sizes up to G.
A Post Surgery Option
Sizes: XS - 2X | Material: Nylon, Spandex | Silhouette: Full coverage | Clasp: Front clasp, Hook and eye
Whether you’re just looking for a compressive sports bra or wanting a bra that holds your breasts in after a surgery (like a reduction or mastectomy), this option from AnaOno is a lifesaver. It has stretchy cups and a cooling mesh back and helps with back and shoulder pain.
The Everyday Option
Sizes: 30H - 36H | Material: Polyamide, Elastane | Silhouette: Mesh | Clasp: Hook and eye
Skip the padding altogether with Palep’s favorite everyday bra. The mesh option is cute and comfortable while still smoothing and keeping things in place.
The Underwire Sports Bra
Sizes: 28DD - 40GG | Materials: Elastane, Polyester, Polyamide | Silhouette: Full coverage, Padded | Clasp: J-hook and eye
This sports bra is the best of both worlds, adding gel-encased wires to support your chest and keep your breasts separated while remaining comfortable enough to wear every day or for high-intensity workouts.
The Supremely Comfortable One
Sizes: 32DD - 42DDD | Materials: Nylon, Elastane | Silhouette: Full coverage, lined | Clasp: Hook and eye
Seamless and smooth, this bra features side slings for added support and minimizes your bust up to an inch.
.
FAQs
What should you look for in minimizing bra?
Fit. A minimizer bra, like any bra, should fit properly. When your bra of choice lies flat at the center between your breasts, the straps are comfortable, the band doesn’t ride up, and the wires don’t dig in, that’s how you know you found the one, according to Journelle CEO Sapna Palep. No double-boob or side-boob situations here.
What styles can minimizers come in?
Minimizer bras can come in as many different styles as any regular bra can. Think underwire, padded, strapless, backless, sports bras, etc.
.
Our Experts
- Sapna Palep, Journelle CEO.
- Lauren Adhav, Los Angeles–based fashion and beauty editor who is now a Cut Shop contributor.
- Hanna Flanagan, shopping writer and editor at the Cut.
