Breasts come in many shapes and sizes. The same is true of bras. Yet, somehow, during our pubescent years, we’re often taught that there are just a few: sports bras, T-shirt bras and push-up bras, all for different moments and movements. In reality, the sports bra that works for your bust might be too unsupportive for your best friend, or the push-up bra that you rely on every day may be too supportive for your big-breasted bestie. That’s why it’s important to understand the best bras for your breast shape.
“Determining your own breast shape can help you choose the right styles to fit and flatter you,” says brand experience manager at Cosabella, Caroline Peaslee. The most common breast shapes include wide set, close set, athletic, asymmetrical, round, full volume, low volume and bell. It’s worth noting, however, that breasts can be a combination of any of these shapes. And in some instances, boobs can be symmetrical, though that’s less of a natural phenomenon.
Not sure where you fall on the breast shape spectrum? Ahead, discover the key characteristics of each breast shape, plus the best bras for each.
Featured experts
- Caroline Peaslee is a brand experience manager at Cosabella
- Jené Luciani-Sena is a bra expert
- Hannale Klubnick is a LIVELY Experience store manager and fit expert
- Dawn Kenney is Wacoal’s national fit expert director
- Amelia Newman is an intimates technical designer at Adore Me
Wide-Set
Also known as east-west breasts, wide-set breasts “point outward rather than front and center,” Peaslee says. “The nipples usually aim outward, and there is space between your breasts at the chest (usually at least three fingers of space between).”
Not sure if you have wide-set breasts? “Put one of your hands into a fist and place it right over your sternum,” instructs Jené Luciani-Sena, AKA The Bra Expert. “If your knuckles aren’t touching either breast, there’s a good chance you have breasts that are splayed.”
Another indicator of wide-set breasts? The breast tissue starts under or nearly under the arm, says LIVELY Experience store manager and fit expert Hannale Klubnick, who points out that most women have wide-set breasts as opposed to close-set.
When shopping for the best bras for wide-set breasts, Luciani-Sena says side support is key. “Look for a bra that can help bring breasts front and center for a more flattering silhouette, as splayed breasts can tend to make you appear wider,” she says. “I recommend a supportive wire-free style that doesn’t have a center bridge between the cups or a balconette style which pushes breasts up without padding and centers the bust within the body frame. You should look for bras that have open wires that do not cut into breast tissue and bras that have side slings, which help push breast tissue inward.”
A few expert-backed picks include the Glamorise Front-Closure T-Back WonderWire Bra ($59), Truekind Supportive Comfort Wireless Shaping Bra ($60) and Adore Me Nymphadora Contour Balconette Bra ($50).
Other great options? “Unlined bras with seams help contour breast tissue for a natural, more rounded shape,” Luciani-Sena adds. Meanwhile, Peaslee recommends a bra with added side support fabric and wider sides, which can help center and bring breasts in, like the Cosabella Ushuaya Curvy Bra ($160). She also recommends looking for bras with a front closure, like the Cosabella Forever Front Closure Underwire Bra ($110)—to help pull breasts in. Front closure bras “help alleviate the gap between your breasts and center them,” she explains.
Close-Set
If when doing the exercise above, you noticed that your hand overlapped your breast tissue, you have close-set boobs. “Having close-set breasts means that the bulk of your breast tissue is centered on your torso and sits in front of your body when you’re standing up straight with no bra on,” Klubnick explains. She notes that close-set full breasts are a rare combination, which means finding a bra that provides coverage and support can be challenging. Klubnick recommends looking for deeper cups with plunging necklines like Lively The All-Day T-Shirt Bra ($45) or Lively The Crochet Lace Unlined Plunge Bra ($48). “These styles will offer you lift and comfort without the quad boob,” she exclaims.
People with close-set shallow breasts have many options, says Klubnick. “Plunge bras work great, T-shirt bras will be your go-to, and all the bralettes of the world will be comfy and light,” she reveals. When it comes to close-set shallow breasts, Klubnick says it’s more about what to avoid, like “bras that have deep or full-coverage cups—these styles will feel like you can’t fill them out no matter what size you get,” she warns. She recommends Lively The Crochet Lace Deep V No-Wire Push Up ($48) and Lively The All-Day Plunge Bralette ($38).
Athletic
Athletic breasts are on the smaller size, often A or B cups, with minimal volume and usually a wider band size, sometimes as a result of sports and weightlifting, says Peaslee. “Athletic breasts can have a round shape with a flat appearance or can have a teardrop shape with more bottom fullness,” Luciani-Sena adds. “They usually appear less full than rounder breasts and have nipples that point forward.”
When shopping for bras for athletic breasts, Luciani-Sena says to “look for styles with center panels and wires that wrap up around the sides or have firmer, wider side wings for extra support. It’s also helpful to look for a bra that has some contoured padding on the underside of the cup, which is intended to push breast tissue up and give the illusion of fullness at the top of the breasts (as opposed to padding throughout the entire cup which just makes breasts look larger but won’t change the shape).” A couple of her favorites include the Truekind Daily Comfort Wireless Shaper Bra ($50) and Bare Necessities The Side Support Bra ($43).
Hoping for more suggestions? Peaslee says that padded bras or bralettes are good options. Triangle-shaped bras are great for flattering this shape, as well. Peaslee recommends the Cosabella Abrima Underwire Bra ($140). Meanwhile, she says that a plunging bra like the Cosabella Never Say Never Plungie Longline Bralette ($80) can help accentuate cleavage, while demi cup or balconette bras, like the Cosabella Paradiso Underwire Demi Cup Bra ($110) can help add some lift without the help of padding.
Asymmetrical
Asymmetrical breasts are exactly as they sound, with one breast considerably larger than the other. Peaslee says the size difference is generally half a cup or a full cup size.
Because of the size disparity, shopping for asymmetrical breasts can present a challenge. “When finding the best fit for an uneven breast shape, getting the cup correct is job number one,” says Dawn Kenney, Wacoal‘s national fit expert director. “Finding a style that has a fit flexible fabric will flex to fit the larger breast and fit the smaller breast without gapping in the cup.”
Bralettes or bras with memory foam or removable inserts are also great options because they’ll mold to your shape more easily, Peaslee reveals, recommending the Cosabella Forte Underwire Bra ($110), which has removable padding. Meanwhile, Luciani-Sena is a fan of the Unerstance Symmetry Wireless Lightly Padded Demi Bra ($59). “It comes with removable pads for uneven breasts,” she says. “You can use the included padding or your own. The ‘pocket’ opening is stretchy and can accommodate a range of inserts.” Other expert-recommended bras for asymmetrical breasts include the Wacoal Shape Revelation® Uneven Underwire Bra ($76), Rhonda Shear Ahh Bra Generation with Removable Pads ($28) and Wacoal Halo Lace Underwire Bra ($58).
When shopping for asymmetrical breasts, Peaslee and Luciani-Sena suggest fitting the larger breast first and then adding inserts for the smaller breast if needed.
Full Volume
Full volume breasts, also known as round breasts, are full at the top and bottom, says Amelia Newman, Intimates Technical Designer at Adore Me. People with round, full breasts are fortunate in that they can wear most bra styles without the need for much enhancement, whether in the form of padding or specialty straps, Newman points out. Still, Luciani-Sena says the right bra will enhance this already-coveted breast shape. “Full-coverage bras are a great option for round breasts as they offer complete support and ensure that the breast tissue is well-contained, preventing any spillage,” she reveals, noting that the Paramour by Felina Marvelous T-Shirt Side Smoothing Bra ($48) is a top pick. Other popular picks include the Wacoal Visual Effects Minimizer Bra ($72) and Truekind Wireless Lift T-Shirt Bra ($55).
Not sure if you have full breasts? “Having full breasts means that your breast volume starts higher up, towards your clavicles,” says Klubnick. “Still confused? Tap your chest from your clavicles down towards your breasts. The more squish (aka breast tissue and fat) closer to your clavicles, the more full you are.”
Low Volume
As opposed to full-volume, low-volume breasts, “sit lower or wider with little to no volume across your chest above your breasts,” Klubnick says. Due to the bottom-heavy nature of the breasts, low-volume boobs tend to look saggier overall. While this could be a natural breast shape, Peaslee says, it can also happen with age, weight loss or after breastfeeding.
If your goal is to even out the appearance of your low-volume breasts, Peaslee recommends a push-up bra. “The bump-up/push-up padding helps center and push the breasts up, giving you a sexy décolletage and the lift you’re missing,” she explains, suggesting the Cosabella Never Say Never Pushie Push-Up Bra ($110). Alternatively, a demi cup bra, like the Cosabella Soire Confidence Demi Cup Bra ($100), “helps lift without a whole lot of padding and also gives great décolletage,” Peaslee adds. “We call these Date Night bras because though this style works easily for every day, it’s a flattering style, great for going out and showing off.”
Bell
Also known as teardrop, bell breasts sit somewhere in between low- and full-volume breasts. “Teardrop breasts are where the fullness is at the bottom of the breast, [with] the majority of the breast tissue beneath the nipple placement,” Newman says. “From the side, there is a gentle sloping shape from top to bottom, with the top being more hollow.” While this may sound similar to low-volume breasts, Newman points out that bell breasts are more voluminous overall.
Since they’re quite similar to the low-volume shape, Newman says that demi and balconette bras also work well for bell breasts. Extra padding isn’t always necessary though, as wire silhouettes will offer ample lift on their own. As such, the exact level of padding you choose will be based on how much cleavage you hope to achieve. A few suitable bra options to choose from include the Adore Me Dusana Push Up ($60), Adore Me Colete Contour ($55) and Torrid Full-Coverage Balconette Lightly Lined Smooth 360° Back Smoothing Bra ($50).
