Give your bust a boost with these expert-approved push-up bras! (Spanx, Zappos, Victoria's Secret)(Amazon)
Push-up bras have come a long way since the stiff cups and uncomfortable straps of our high school days. Today’s versions are designed for comfort as much as lift, giving you shape, support and a little extra oomph — without the poking underwires or cardboard feel.
And they’re not just about cleavage anymore. “Push-up bras are evolving with more silhouettes and levels of boosting for enhancing the bust,” said Dora Lau, founder of Dora L International, an intimate apparel design and sourcing company. In other words, you can now find push-up bras that look and feel sophisticated, no matter your style.
Since different levels of lift create different effects, we consulted bra specialists and our own team of shopping experts to narrow down our top picks. From lightly padded everyday bras to strapless styles and bra options for fuller busts, these are the best push-up bras worth adding to your lingerie drawer.
Update, Aug. 29, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick remains unchanged.
There are a few key factors to consider when choosing a push-up bra, according to Melissa Keippel, senior apparel buyer at Zappos, and Dora Lau, founder of Dora L International, an intimate apparel design, development and sourcing company.
Lift: Push-up bras have different levels of volume and lift, so Keippel said you first need to decide “the amount of ‘push’ you want in the bra. A light amount of padding will give you a subtle, more natural-looking boost, while a highly padded push-up can make you look up to two cup sizes larger."
Comfort: “When it comes to bras, comfort should always be your top concern. The goal is to feel good all day, not just to look good for a moment,” said Lau. Be open to trying a few different brands, cup sizes and silhouettes to find the ideal option for your cleavage.
Silhouette: “Push-up bras are evolving with more silhouettes and levels of push-up for enhancing and shaping the bust,” said Lau. “Neckline shapes also vary, with curvy balconette necklines or plunge open necklines designed to complement a variety of outfit needs,” she added. Keippel also suggested adding one that has convertible straps. “It is always nice to have convertibility in a bra so you can wear it for multiple different occasions,” she told us.
Size: As with any bra, finding your correct size is essential to choosing an option that is comfortable and supportive. You may think if you want your cup size to look bigger you should opt for a larger size, but Lau doesn’t recommend that. Instead, “fit push-up bras to your actual cup size,” she said, for them to work properly.
To find out which push-up bras really deliver that extra oomph, we consulted bra experts, fashion buyers and our own team of shopping pros about what to look for depending on your needs. Beyond combing through product specs and thousands of shopper reviews, we also asked this crew which push-up bras they actually own and wear themselves.
Luckily, it is easy to figure out your correct size, and you can do this in just a few minutes at home. “First, you will need a tape measure (measuring unit should be inches) to take your rib and bust measurements,” said Noemi Diaz-Justino, VP of design at lingerie brand True & Co. “Holding the tape measure parallel to the floor, wrap it snug (not tight) around your rib cage. If the measurement is an odd number, add 5 inches. If the measurement is an even number, add 4 inches.
Next, keeping the tape measure parallel to the floor, wrap the tape measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust, then subtract the rib measurement (with the added inches) from the bust measurement. The difference will determine your cup size.
The guide for cup sizes goes like this:
1 inch = A cup
2 inches = B cup,
3 inches = C cup
4 inches = D cup
5 inches = DD,
6 inches = DDD
A push-up bra is designed with padding that helps give volume and lift to the breasts to give you a fuller look. “It enhances the fullness of your breasts, and depending on the style of push-up bra you select, the lift can range from a gentle enhancement to a more dramatic lift,” said Lau.
Yes. “With their extra padding designed to enhance cleavage, push-up bras are surprisingly comfortable and perfect for everyday wear," said Lau. The extra padding in push-up bras in no way affects breast health and is totally safe to wear daily if you so choose. Ultimately, it depends on the look you are going for that day, as well as your support needs. “Push-up bras even offer solid support for larger busts and can even help relieve back pain related to larger breast sizes, making them a real win when it comes to comfort,” Lau added.
Depending on the amount of padding it has, a good push-up bra can “add one to two cup sizes of lift and enhancement,” Keippel told us. And a larger-looking cup size is not the only benefit of a push-up bra. According to Lau, “The true benefit is how it defines your shape. Larger-breasted women might prefer a push-up bra for the lift and shape, while a smaller-breasted woman might prefer a push-up bra for uplift and the added volume it creates.”
Noemi Diaz-Justino, VP of design at True & Co
Dora Lau, founder of Dora L International
Melissa Keippel, senior apparel buyer at Zappos