I've tested 50 bras for large busts - these are the 6 that really deliver on support

I've been wearing bras for over 40 years, and in that time I've learnt they're not all created equal. In fact, finding the best bras that combine the level of support you need with all-day comfort can feel like searching for the holy grail. If you wear a D cup or above, it can be particularly challenging, which is why I made it my mission to seek out the styles that combine modern technology with classic design and offer the ultimate in comfort and support.

As a personal stylist and trained bra fitter, I know from experience that the perfect bra will flatter your figure and can transform the way you look in your clothes. I'm a size 32FF, and over the last four years I've been testing a wide variety of bras to find the very best and most comfortable bras for large busts.

From non-wired bras that offer unrivalled comfort to the minimiser bras that will work like the best shapewear to streamline your look, there's a style to suit all requirements, and this guide will direct you to your new favourite bra. I've tried and tested them all, so I can confidently say they deliver on support and comfort.

The quick list

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The best bras for large busts: Tried and tested

Selecting the right bra can make or break a great outfit. Whether you're in your twenties or are looking for bras for more mature women, these styles will cover all your everyday and special occasion needs. You may also wish to add one of the best sports bras to your collection if you exercise regularly, or a great strapless bra for tricky necklines

I tested over 50 bras from a range of stockists and wore each style for at least four days, making a note of how it fitted, how supportive and comfortable it felt, what it looked like under a variety of clothes and finally how it looked after washing. Here's everything you need to know about the bras that offer the best support, lift, comfort and style for bigger boobs.

Best bras for Large Busts: For Small Backs

Evelyn & Bobbie is an American brand that has gained a growing UK fanbase since launching the Defy Bra at John Lewis last year. Their reputation for designing the most comfortable bras has led them to develop a new style specifically for women with smaller backs and a larger bust. It boasts two new patented technologies: EB FlexTech™ offers a flexible bra band which stays put all day, and EB Core+™, the sling that can support larger busts and replaces the need for underwire.

I was instantly attracted to the promise of separation between the bust, which isn't something you ordinarily find with bralet designs that compress the bust into shape. This bra is a hybrid of a regular T-shirt bra and a less-structured bralet. It has a traditional clasp fastening at the back, with 4 rows of hooks and eyes to give flexibility of fit and the ability to tighten the bra as it stretches over time. The front of the bra is seam-free, soft and smooth. It also has generous back panels, making it a great option if you're looking for bras to banish back fat.

The bra fit very firmly at first (I felt that the band was too tight), but the brand suggests wearing it three times to allow the fabric to mould to your body, and I found this to be correct. This bra provided me with a firm level of support throughout the day, with no bouncing when walking around. The bra completely covers the breast tissue with a medium level of compression. There was no overspill at the cups or underarms. This wire-free design is very comfortable to wear. I found it to be flexible and easy to move in, with no digging in. The firm band and under-cup technology worked to support my bust throughout the day.

It's the most expensive on our list, but the impressive technology and clever features are well worth the extra money. Surprisingly, it's machine washable too, which is a big bonus.

Find out more in my full Evelyn & Bobbie Busty Non-Wired Bra Review

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Best bras for Large Busts: Ultimate Support

Curvy Kate caters for women with large boobs (the average size they sell is a 34G). I wear a size 32FF, but for this review, I wore a size 32G, as it's the smallest size available. The bra fitted well on the cups, with no overspill or gaping, but the band felt tighter than usual. I predict that this bra will 'give' slightly over time and the band will stretch; however, you may want to go up a band size if you are between sizes.

The cups are made from 3 panels that completely encapsulate, lift and centre the breasts. The lower and side panels are lined with a firm mesh, and the upper panel is made from a sheer, more stretchy fabric. The straps are smooth, easy to adjust and are set closer together than on a balcony bra, making it a good choice for women with narrow or sloping shoulders.

I liked the simple style of this bra. I wore it under a mid-weight jumper, and you couldn't see any hint of the bra below. It also worked under a silky top, too; the firm back panels helped to smooth any lumps or bumps. The bra is easy to care for (simply hand-wash and drip dry), and there has been no change in appearance after several washes.

If you are looking for a bra that gives you maximum support, up to a K cup, and will work under most clothes in your wardrobe, this will earn its keep.

Find out more in my full Curvy Kate WonderFully Full Cup Side Support Bra Review

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Best Bras for large busts: Best for Cleavage

This bra is all about glamour. That said, it doesn't fall down in the practical stakes either. Fantasie is a brand with an excellent reputation in the specialist large-cup market, and they recently introduced a plunge version of their bestselling Fusion bra. It's a great bra if you want to create a cleavage effect while still feeling contained and confident that you aren't going to flash more than you intended! Other styles I trialled for this category left my boobs feeling squashed or were too padded and increased the volume, which I didn't feel comfortable in.

I find V-necklines are a flattering choice for my curvy figure, but if the neckline is too low, my bra shows. I often have to resort to a safety pin to conceal it, but this solves the problem. It's made from delicate lace fabric with lower cut inner cups, so the upper part of the cup exposes the breast beneath. The inner cups are slightly padded and made from the same foam fabric as a moulded T-shirt bra, which lifts the breasts, bringing them forward towards the centre of the bra. I normally wear a size 32FF, but I tried this in size 34F as I find Fantasie bras fit tighter around the band than other lingerie brands. It fitted well, with no overspill or gaping. It was incredibly comfortable to wear - the underwires are set wide to ensure they encircle the breast without touching the actual breast tissue, and the lace fabric was soft and stretchy.

As a result of the cups being lower-cut, this bra does not provide the same level of coverage as a full-cup style, but I still felt contained and supported. The underwiring, along with the firm back panels and substantial straps, provides anchorage so the bra feels sturdy. I have worn this bra on many occasions, including a night out where I put it to the test on the dancefloor and can confirm it stayed in place and provided support, although the lower-cut cups did result in some jiggling!

I have hand washed the bra several times in warm water using a gentle lingerie liquid soap. After frequent washing, the bra has remained in perfect condition.

Find out more in my full Fantasie Fusion Lace Padded Plunge Bra Review

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Best Bras for Large Busts: Great Under Tight Tops

A T-shirt bra is the best solution if you like to wear sheer or close-fitting tops and want a bra that will completely disappear. John Lewis is one of the UK's leading lingerie stockists, and out of all the T-shirt bras I tested, this was the one that combined a sleek, smooth finish with great support.

My go-to full-cup bras give me the level of support I need, but are made from lacy fabrics with trims that show under tight-fitting clothes. This bra is made from incredibly soft fabric and has moulded, seam-free cups that offer a practical solution to the problem. All of the edges are bonded rather than stitched, which contributes to the smooth finish. The straps were adjustable and also very smooth. The underwiring is flexible and moves with your body. There are no fabric labels inside the bra, and the washing instructions are printed directly onto the underside of the clasp.

T-shirt bras work by containing and compressing your boobs into preformed moulded cups, which give you a soft and natural shape. When I was wearing this bra, my boobs felt slightly squashed into place, rather than the uplifting, forward-projecting effect that you get with a full-cup bra. The padding works to smooth the nipple area, preventing any show-through on thin fabrics. Due to the moulded nature of the bra, I did get a little gaping at the base of the straps where my boobs have lost some fullness.

It gave me a good amount of support, and my only discomfort with this bra came from the padding, which made me feel overly warm on a hot, sunny day. But in general, it proved to be very comfortable. Due to the bonded seams and edges of the bra, it needs to be hand-washed to retain its shape, and ideally, stored flat and unfolded to keep its shape.

Find out more in my full John Lewis Sofia Smooth Underwired T-Shirt Bra Review

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Best Bras for Large Busts: Value For Money

Amazon stocks a vast range of bras, including well-known labels such as Triumph and Fantasie. They also sell their own brand designs, which are often more affordable. I discovered the Delimira Minimiser bra when I was compiling my research, and it has tested well, so when I saw the Delimira Full Coverage Underwired Bra, I wanted to see if it would be a more affordable alternative to the Curvy Kate Wonderfully Full Cup style.

The bra is made from a stretch lace that has a slightly shiny finish. The lower part of the cups is lined with cotton jersey fabric. The metal underwires are encased in the lower band. The straps are 1.5cm wide and are flexible, smooth and easy to adjust. The straps are set closer together, making it a good choice for women with narrow or sloping shoulders.

The bra fitted well on the cups, with no overspill or gaping, but the band felt less supportive than the Fantasie Fusion Plunge bra. Overall, the bra fitted well, but I recommend ordering a few sizes and returning any that aren't the perfect fit.

I wore the bra while performing everyday activities, including shopping and walking my dog. The bra provided enough support to ensure I felt comfortable doing these low-impact tasks, but I felt uncomfortable when I had to run for the bus!

I wore this bra for a full day and night and found it more comfortable than many of my other full-cup bras. The cotton lining felt cool and breathable. The straps aren't padded and are very stretchy, and I noticed that they started to dig in slightly towards the end of the day. I rectified this by tightening the back band in order to get more support.

Find out more in my full Delimira Full Coverage Underwired Bra Review

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Best Bras For Large Busts: All-day Comfort

Apart from a brief period in life when I was pregnant and then breastfeeding, I've always felt more confident in wired bras, even sports bras. However, in the past few years, the technology and new fabrics available have allowed lingerie designers to develop ways to support the bust without any rigid structure, even for women with big boobs.

After discussing the pros and cons of non-wired styles with my friend Debbie Harper, Head of Styling at Good Morning Britain, she recommended this M&S bestseller. "It's comfortable enough to wear all day long while I'm at work in the studio", she said.

It wasn't available in my usual 32FF, so I went to be fitted and was offered a 32G. It fitted perfectly, with no overspill, bulges or gaping. I couldn't feel the hidden support structure, and the adjustable straps felt secure and didn't slip down. The underband fitted snugly and felt comfortable for most of the day.

If you usually wear an underwired full-cup bra, you will find that this bralette offers you less support than you are used to. I didn't feel as confident as usual when I had to run for the bus, but for general activities, the support was good enough. If you lead a very active lifestyle, you may find that you require more structure, but this bra was easily the most comfortable of the bras I tested.

Unlike many bralette styles, which are usually plain, this one is made from a daisy stretch lace that gives it a feminine and pretty appearance. The other huge advantage of this bra is that it can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle at a low temperature. I can confirm there has been no change to the look, shape or support after wearing and washing at least ten times.

Find out more in my full M&S Lace Non-Padded Bralette F-H Review

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Which bra is right for me?

Bras that just missed the list

I tested over 50 bras, from a wide range of stockists for this feature, and it was a tricky task to narrow it down. The top three that just missed the list were:

How we tested the best bras for large busts

Finding the best bra that will suit you is a very personal choice, as we all vary in shape and size. I am a size 12/14, and most of my bras are a size 32FF, but as you will see from my reviews above, sizes can vary between brands. I tested 50 bras in a variety of styles and sizes for this trial, and in some cases, I was fitted in-store by a professional and in others, I ordered online and bought a couple of different sizes of the same bra and returned the ill-fitting ones. You must buy the correct size to ensure a comfortable fit.

I also considered the price of each bra and decided to limit my trial to mostly stick to bras priced between £30 and £60, as in my experience, this is the average amount that most women expect to spend. Once I found my perfect size, I then wore each style for at least four days. I have a busy life, and although I didn't exercise in these bras, I did put them to the test with lots of walking, jogging for the bus, dancing at a party and general everyday activities to be sure that the products I chose for this breakdown offered all-day support. I then washed them to test their staying power, too.

These are the main factors I considered for this trial:

• Fit and support: Once I had determined that I was wearing the correct size, I then considered exactly how the bra fitted. I made note of how supported I felt by the cups - was there any over-spill or bulging? Did the underwiring feel comfortable, or did it start to dig in after a few hours? Did the straps stay in place, and were they easy to adjust? Was the clasp easy to use, and in general, how comfortable did it feel throughout the day?
• Quality of materials: I considered the fabric and how it felt against my skin. I looked at the construction of the bra and made note of how well it was made, paying particular attention to the seams and how the underwires were concealed. I looked at the clasp and compared the amount of hook and eye fastening that was used, and whether they were sturdy enough to keep the bra in place. I then washed each bra once, following the manufacturer's instructions and checked for any changes in the quality, fit or comfort. I will continue to wear the styles and ensure this feature is updated if I feel that further wear and washing diminish the quality.
• Style: I set out to test every type of bra that a woman might need in day-to-day life. As a fashion stylist, I know that some styles are more suitable than others under certain outfits, and I wanted to cover as many solutions as possible. From practical bras that create a smooth silhouette to more sexy styles that create a cleavage, I tried them all.

You can also learn more about how we test bras in this detailed guide.

How to choose

The best bras for big boobs involve a lot more design technology than you might think, and for the most part, they are a feat of engineering. If you wear a size D cup or above, you should consider buying your bras from a specialist lingerie brand that embraces this design technology. It is possible to find large-cup bras at budget retailers, but I would advise shopping in the sales at the brands with a good reputation for fit and instead save money by buying past-season styles. Here's a quick checklist to remind you of the key criteria to look out for when shopping that will help you decipher if a bra is going to work for you.

• Fit: Getting this right is key to lasting comfort. It's best to get professionally measured if you can, and always opt for bra styles that are measured by cup and band size rather than S, M, L, etc. If you're unsure of the fit or size you're after, we always recommend ordering a few sizes to find the one that works best for you.
• Style: What do you need your bra to do? Are you looking for an everyday style that will work under the majority of your outfits? Do you need extra support, or is comfort your priority? Has the bra got to work with a tricky neckline? Do you want to minimise your bust or show off your cleavage? Use my guide above to help you decide what style works for you, or ask a professional fitter for help.
• Price: What's your budget? Larger-sized bras do not have to be expensive, and once you know your size and preferred style, you can get some great bargains in the sales or on Amazon. Much like shopping for the best jeans for your body type, you can spend a fortune on expensive designer lingerie if you want, but I don't believe the bras will be any more supportive or comfortable than the styles that topped my list.

How to get the right fit

The most sensible way to find your bra size is to be fitted by a professional bra fitter at a department store or lingerie specialist. Many companies offer virtual fittings too, via their websites. If you prefer to work out your own size, follow our 3-step guide below.

Step 1 - Start by wearing a bra that you feel most comfortable in and measure in inches directly under your bust, keeping the tape tight and level around your body. If this number is odd, you will have to add or subtract an inch to find your size.

Step 2 - Measure around the fullest part of your bust (usually the nipple line), keeping the tape level all the way around your back.

Step 3 - Subtract your band size (from step 1) from your bust size (from step 2) and use the difference to calculate your cup size. For example, if you have zero difference in inches, you are AA cup size, 1 inch = A cup, 2 inches = B cup, 3 inches a C cup, and so on.

But beware! Bra sizes are not standardised; each brand will fit differently, and it's impossible to find the right fit based on size alone. You need to pay close attention to the look and feel of the bra. Here are the signs to look out for...

1. Your bra rides up at the back - This is a sign that the band size is too big. The band should fit firmly and provide 80% of the support.

2. Underwires digging in - The underwire should not rest on the actual breast tissue or cut in under the arms. Go up a cup size.

3. Bulging cups - The top of the breast should fit smoothly into the cups without overspill. If in doubt, go up a cup size.

4. Gaping at the front - The centre front of the bra must lie flat against the breast bone without sitting on any breast tissue. This is a sign that your cup size is too small.

5. Uncomfortable straps - You should be able to fit two fingers comfortably under the straps. If they dig in, consider going up a cup size and down a band size.

Tip: When trying on a bra for the first time, fasten it on the loosest hook. Over time, your bra will stretch as you wash and wear it, which will allow you to fasten it tighter as this happens.

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FAQs

What bra lifts and separates large breasts?

A balcony bra is specifically designed to lift and separate breasts. The straps are set wider apart, and the centre gore sits higher to widen the gap between the two breasts. I call this 'the milkmaid effect', and it works with square or scooped necklines.

What kind of bras are good for big busts?

This does come down to personal preference and may be more dependent on your bust shape than just your size. However, a wired full cup bra is generally speaking the best bra shape for large busts as it supports all of the breast tissue. A full coverage bra won't work for every occasion, but if you're looking for an uplifting everyday choice, a full cup design is, in my opinion, the best choice.

Lingerie stylist and bra expert Katie Weir advises: "A balcony bra with side support is amazing for a fuller bust as it projects all of the breast tissue forward into the centre of the body for a perky, uplifted shape.

"Fuller bust bras, which are full cup with a stretch top cup, are great for holding the bust tissue right to the top of the cup with zero gaping.

"Fuller bust brands generally have a 3-hook back band, which is perfect for offering firm and comfortable support. 80% of the bra support comes from the back band, so it is important to have a firm grip!"

The answer to the padded vs non-padded bra debate lies more in personal preference and the final look you want to create. A heavily padded bra will add volume and increase the size of your bust. A lightly padded/moulded design will create a rounded, more even shape without increasing the overall size. A bra with no padding will simply keep your breasts supported without any increase in volume, and generally reposition their shape to look perkier.

Chantelle Garrood

Chantelle is a lingerie expert and trained bra fitter who has worked in the lingerie industry for over 10 years. She shares her bra fitting tips, lingerie reviews and body positive posts on her Instagram account @thebraexpert

Katie Weir

Katie is a renowned bra expert and lingerie stylist with over 16 years of experience in the lingerie and swimwear industry. With a specialist focus on fuller bust fittings, she has worked alongside leading brands such as Curvy Kate, Freya and Panache, shaping the conversation around support, body confidence and inclusive sizing. Her expertise has been featured in top publications including Stylist, Grazia and The Telegraph.