Best Bras for Side Support
Wearing the right bra should make you feel supported, comfortable, and confident. If you prefer to keep your side boob covered and contained, pick bras that are designed to give you side coverage. Today, we compiled a list of our best bras for side support.
Bra Side Boob Causes & Solutions
“Side boob” refers to the extra flesh near the armpit area. You may be looking to eliminate side boob if it feels uncomfortable or if you want a more streamlined silhouette under your clothes.
To get rid of this bra problem:
First, make sure you’re wearing the right bra size:
Dramatic side spillage suggests you are wearing a cup size that is too small. Visible spillage out of the top, bottom, or side of the bra usually means the cup size is at least 2-3 cups too small.
When your bra fits correctly, the cups should fully encapsulate your breasts with no overflow anywhere. For a quick size check, you can use our size calculator.
Also, check if you’re wearing the right bra style: Your bra’s underwire should go around the base of your breasts, not sitting on top of them and crushing them. If your bra’s side wire is sitting on your breast tissue and that’s what’s causing the side spillage, you may have wider roots. Browse our collection of bras with wider underwire.
Try taller side underwire: When the side wire is too low, your flesh could pool on the tip of the underwire, creating side spillage.
If there’s a big gap between where the underwire ends and your armpit (more than 3 fingers’ space), try a bra with taller side underwire.
Generally, when the side wire and wings go up higher, the bra offers more side coverage and support.
Bra Side Boob Causes & Solutions
“Side boob” refers to the extra flesh near the armpit area.
You may be looking to eliminate side boob if it feels uncomfortable or if you want a more streamlined silhouette under your clothes.
To get rid of this bra problem:
First, make sure you’re wearing the right bra size:
Dramatic side spillage suggests you are wearing a cup size that is too small. Visible spillage out of the top, bottom, or side of the bra usually means the cup size is at least 2-3 cups too small.
When your bra fits correctly, the cups should fully encapsulate your breasts with no overflow anywhere.
For a quick size check, you can use our size calculator.
Also, check if you’re wearing the right bra style:
Your bra’s underwire should go around the base of your breasts, not sitting on top of them and crushing them.
If your bra’s side wire is sitting on your breast tissue and that’s what’s causing the side spillage, you may have wider roots.
Browse our collection of bras with wider underwire.
Try taller side underwire: When the side wire is too low, your flesh could pool on the tip of the underwire, creating side spillage.
If there’s a big gap between where the underwire ends and your armpit (more than 3 fingers’ space), try a bra with taller side underwire.
Generally, when the side wire and wings go up higher, the bra offers more side coverage and support.
Here are our best bras for side support
Below are our best bras for side boob with a variety of underwire widths, cup types, etc.
Side coverage near the armpit
Sidney FlexWire Molded Unpadded Demi Bra
- Stretchy side panel comfortably covers side boob
- Underwire comes up lower on the sides so it doesn’t dig in
- Average width underwire (our signature FlexWire™ is softer than traditional wire)
- Good option if you also want good separation and medium lift
Available sizes: 30-48, C-H
Side coverage near the armpit
Sidney FlexWire Molded Unpadded Demi Bra
- Stretchy side panel comfortably covers side boob
- Underwire comes up lower on the sides so it doesn’t dig in
- Average width underwire (our signature FlexWire™ is softer than traditional wire)
- Good option if you also want good separation and medium lift
Available sizes: 30-48, C-H
A bra for both side boob and back bulges
Ivy Full Coverage Underwire Bra
- This bra offers both side and back coverage
- The cotton cups are soft, flexible, and breathable
- Works well for top-full breasts*
- Made for average to narrow breast roots
*= most of your breast tissue is above the nipple
Available sizes: 30-44, C-J
A bra for both side boob and back bulges
Ivy Full Coverage Underwire Bra
- This bra offers both side and back coverage
- The cotton cups are soft, flexible, and breathable
- Works well for top-full breasts*
- Made for average to narrow breast roots
*= most of your breast tissue is above the nipple
Available sizes: 30-44, C-J
If you're looking for a bra with seamed cups
Salma FlexWire Full Coverage Lace Bra
- Taller side underwire, sufficient coverage even for those who are taller or have longer torsos
- Wide underwire won’t dig into your side breast tissue
- Stretchy cups fit a variety of breast shapes
- For those who want a bit of minimizing without a lot of compression
Available sizes: 30-48, D-J
If you're looking for a bra with seamed cups
Salma FlexWire Full Coverage Lace Bra
- Taller side underwire, sufficient coverage even for those who are taller or have longer torsos
- Wide underwire won’t dig into your side breast tissue
- Stretchy cups fit a variety of breast shapes
- For those who want a bit of minimizing without a lot of compression
Available sizes: 30-48, D-J
Side support paired with breathable spacer fabric
Spacer Air Shea 2.0 FlexWire Unpadded Bra
- The tall side wire provides good side coverage
- Perfect for wider roots
- Contours, minimizes, and lifts
- Spacer fabric is lightweight and breathable
Available sizes: 30-44, D-H
Side support paired with breathable spacer fabric
Spacer Air Shea 2.0 FlexWire Unpadded Bra
- The tall side wire provides good side coverage
- Perfect for wider roots
- Contours, minimizes, and lifts
- Spacer fabric is lightweight and breathable
Available sizes: 30-44, D-H
An upcoming wireless option!
Ginger Wireless Smooth Lace Full Coverage Bra
- This bra is an updated version of Amber, but with adjustable shoulder straps
- High side + back coverage
- Light cotton cups provide nipple coverage (great for a smooth look under clothes!)
- It’s very lifting for a wireless bra
Available sizes: 30-48, DD-J
An upcoming wireless option!
Ginger Wireless Smooth Lace Full Coverage Bra
- This bra is an updated version of Amber, but with adjustable shoulder straps
- High side + back coverage
- Light cotton cups provide nipple coverage (great for a smooth look under clothes!)
- It’s very lifting for a wireless bra
Available sizes: 30-48, DD-J
That concludes our list of best bras for side boob. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below. If you can’t find what you’re looking for or if you have ideas for new products, email us at hello@understance.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more questions and answers about bras, check out this blog post.
2. Why does my bra dig into the side of my breast?
Your bra may be digging into the side of your breast because the cups are too small or the underwire is too narrow.
In a well-fitting bra, the cups should encapsulate your entire breast and the underwire should contour your breast tissue (not sitting on top of it and damaging it).
Try either sizing up the cups or wearing a bra with wider underwire.
3. Why does my bra bulge at the sides?
Your bra flares out at the sides when the cups are too small. When a bra fits properly, it should not gap or wrinkle anywhere. When this happens, we recommend starting at the beginning and remeasuring your bra size (click here for our size calculator).
4. Why doesn’t my bra fit correctly?
There could be many reasons why you’re experiencing bra problems. Here’s our troubleshooting guide to help you out! It outlines and explains common bra issues related to the underwire, cups, band, and shoulder straps, and offers solutions.
If the issue you’re facing isn’t in our troubleshooting guide or if you just want more information, book a virtual fitting with one of our fit specialists. During the fitting, you don’t have to be on camera if you don’t want to.
5. How do I keep my bra from digging under my armpits?
If your bra is digging into your armpit area, then the underwire is too tall on the sides. Try a bra with shorter underwire.
If side support is something you’re looking for, but bras with taller underwire don’t work for you, check out our Cate, Simone, and Kali. They offer medium side coverage.
6. How do you know if your bra fits properly?
First, ensure that the bra is on correctly by doing the scoop and swoop. The scoop and swoop makes sure that all your breast tissue is in the cups and eliminates gapping.
Then, check for the following:
- The band: Your bra band should be parallel to the floor.
- The straps: When moving around, your shoulder straps should stay put and not dig in/cut into your body.
- The cups: Your breasts should be fully contained by the cups with no overflow or gapping anywhere.
- The underwire: The underwire should be contouring and supporting your breast tissue, not sitting on top of it and damaging it.
- The center gore (where the underwire meets in the middle): The center gore should lightly touch your sternum and keep your breasts separated, but not dig in or cause any irritation. (Exceptions: you have very center-full breasts that are painful to separate when supported, you have an inverted sternum, you’re wearing a wireless bra)
If the bra meets all the above criteria, but feels punishing to wear, don’t settle for it. If the bra feels good on you (regardless of the criteria), that’s the only thing that matters. Wear what makes you feel comfortable and supported.
These guidelines exist to get you closer to the right fit. However, if you are generally unhappy with your bra, we recommend sticking to those guidelines and experiencing a technically correct fit at least once. (See the difference between technical fit vs. relaxed fit.)
Read our full fit check guide here.