The Best Bikini Tops for a Bigger Bust, According to Professionals

If you've ever sized up in a bikini top just to get enough cup, you already know the problem. The cups finally fit, and now the band is loose, the straps slide, and the whole thing rides up the second you move. Sizing up doesn't give you support. It just gives you a bigger top that fits wrong in new places.

We fit bigger busts in our Mission Beach store every single day, and we've learned which tops hold up in real life (waves, boardwalk, boat day) and which only look good on a hanger. This is the guide we'd give you across the counter, written down.

"My friend who has trouble finding swimsuits due to cup size was able to find a lot of options that worked! Definitely recommend." — Google review

Start here: real cup sizing

Most swim brands size tops like t-shirts: S, M, L, XL. A few add a "D" or "DD" option at the end of the run, which helps, but it's still one cup size stuck onto one band size. If you're a 34DD, a 36D, and a 38C all walking into the same fitting room, a "D-Cup" top is going to fit one of you.

True cup sizing means the top comes in band and cup combinations, the same way a bra does. In our store, Sunsets is the only brand that does this properly. Their tops run from 32D all the way up to 40F and 36H, with E, F, G and H cups in the styles built for them. It is the reason Sunsets is the first rack we walk you to.

A quick note on how Sunsets labels sizes: a tag that says 36D/38C means that top fits both a 36D and a 38C, because the cup volume is the same. If you know your bra size, you can read the tag and get it right the first time.

"The bikini top that I purchased fit me perfectly. I'm a 34DDD so it's really hard to find anything that fits and covers. I bought one top and I will be back for another one." — Google review

Underwire or wire-free?

Most of what we recommend for a bigger bust has an underwire, and for good reason. The wire does the lifting so the straps don't have to, keeps the cups from shifting when you swim, and holds its shape after a long day in salt water. If you've only tried underwire in cheap suits where the wire pokes, a well-made one is a different experience.

That said, some people just don't like wire, and that's fine. Sunsets makes wire-free tops in cup sizes too. Look for a wide underband, molded or removable cups, and a hook closure in the back instead of a tie. Those three things carry most of the load a wire would.

Straps: over the shoulder, not around the neck

This is the tip people thank us for most. A halter puts all the weight of your bust on a single tie at the back of your neck, and by the end of a beach day you can feel it. Over-the-shoulder straps spread that weight across your shoulders and back the way a bra does.

If you can get straps that cross in the back, even better. A crossback pulls the cups in and up, stops the straps from slipping off your shoulders, and gives you more support than straight straps without adding bulk. Plain over-the-shoulder straps still work well if a crossback isn't your style, as long as they're wide and adjustable.

Halters aren't off the table. We carry supportive halters with underwire and a proper back closure, and for a pool day they're great. Just don't make one your every-day suit if neck strain is already something you deal with.

Our Sunsets picks

All of these come in true cup sizing. Here's where to start depending on what you want.

For everyday support: Vienna V-Wire Bikini Top The top we sell most to a D cup and up. Underwire, a flattering V neckline, wide adjustable straps, and a hook back. It's the one to try first if you don't know where to start.

For adjustable coverage: Kauai Keyhole Bikini Top Underwire with a keyhole at the center you can open or close to change how much you show. Adjustable straps and a back closure, sized from 32D up.

For a crossover neckline: Elsie Bikini Top A V-neck crossover with wide straps and a standout back. Sized by cup from 32D/34C through 40D/42C.

For a crossback: Brandi Bralette Bikini Top Criss-cross strapping in the back with full adjustability, so you can dial in the support. A good wire-free option.

For a halter done right: Muse Halter Bikini Top If you love a halter neckline, this is the one we trust. Underwire and a back closure do the work so the neck tie doesn't have to.

For strapless: Iconic Twist Bandeau Bikini Top An underwire bandeau with a three-position hook back and straps you can detach. One of the few strapless tops we'll recommend for a D cup and up.

For more coverage: the Sunsets tankinis The Forever Tankini is our widest size run, with a separate E through H cup version that goes up to 40E/38F/36G. The Anya Tankini hides an underwire bra inside a sleek tank, and the Simone Tankini has a crossover neckline with side shirring.

Pair any of these with the Hannah High Waist or Unforgettable bottoms. Both come in the same prints and run XS through XL plus 14 and 16, and the Hannah goes up to an 18.

If you want something else: PQ Swim, L*Space and Maaji

Sunsets is the deepest size range, but it isn't the only option. These three brands add a D or DD cup to their regular size run. They skip the band sizing, so they work best if you're on the smaller end of a bigger bust, roughly a 32 to 36 band in a D or DD.

PQ Swim offers a D cup on almost every top they make, and a DD on a few. If you want the lace, macrame and embroidered looks PQ is known for, the Lace Bralette goes up to DD, and the Roxy Underwire and Rosebud Underwire tops give you balconette lift in a D.

L*Space adds a D cup to select styles. The Marlee Pullover and Sunrise Shell tops both come in a D, and the Tori Underwire is built like your favorite bra, with underwire, a three-point back, and wide straps.

Maaji sizes by letter rather than cup, but some of their styles run all the way to 3XL, which is rare in designer swim. If you need a bigger band more than a bigger cup, Maaji is worth a look.

The quick checklist

If you remember nothing else, look for these before you buy:

• Real cup sizing, or at least a dedicated D or DD option
• Underwire, unless you know you don't want it
• Straps that go over the shoulder, ideally crossing in the back
• A wide band with a hook closure, not a tie
• Adjustable straps so you can set the lift yourself

And two things to skip: a halter as your only suit, and sizing up to get cup room. Both cost you support.

Come get fitted

The best way to find the right top is to try it on with someone who does this all day. We're at 728 Ventura Place in Mission Beach, steps from Belmont Park, open daily. Bring your bra size if you know it, and we'll pull the right Sunsets styles before you've finished looking around.

"I am a 49 year old woman who wears a 36G cup. Needless to say, I despise swimsuit shopping... The Bikini Shoppe popped up as a shop that carries cup sizes of 36G; I had no idea... For the first time I actually felt sexy in a suit! She showed me how to wear the suits, which made such a difference in my body type. I even took her advice of trying on items I would NEVER try on and they looked amazing on me... It has been 3 months and the two suits I bought feel great and look great on me. I HIGHLY recommend this shop to all the ladies who have a difficult time wearing and finding swimsuits like me." — Yelp review

Can't make it in? Shop our Sunsets collection and underwire tops online, and read our guide on how to measure yourself first so you order the right size. If you're deciding on bottoms too, our high-waisted vs. low-rise post will help.