The best one-piece swimsuits put a modern spin on the once-frumpy silhouette: It’s now easy to find bold prints, sleek cutouts and stylish designs that also feel great to wear, thanks to flexible fabrics and body-shaping details. Our top pick overall is the Summersalt Sidestroke, which proves that fashion and comfort are not mutually exclusive. If you’re swimsuit shopping on a budget, we recommend Aerie’s popular strappy one-piece that’s currently under $40.
The best one-piece swimsuits strike a balance between comfort and style.
Whether you’re relaxing in a cabana chair or swimming laps, you’ll want a one-piece that provides support, keeps you cool and holds up well in the wash. Ahead, we rounded up top-rated options from a variety brands, many of which are loved by Forbes Vetted editors. (Looking for something different? Check out our extensive shopping guide on the best swimsuit brands for styles across the board.)
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Best One-Piece Swimsuit Overall: Summersalt The Sidestroke
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Best Affordable One-Piece Swimsuit: Aerie Strappy Full-Coverage
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Best One-Piece Swimsuit On Amazon: Cupshe Deep V-Neck
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Best One-Piece Swimsuit For Small Busts: Andie The Laguna
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Best One-Piece Swimsuit For Large Busts: Panache Anya Riva
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Best Tummy-Control One-Piece Swimsuit: TA3 Lifty
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Best One-Piece Swimsuit For Large Torsos: J.Crew Ruched V-Neck Swimsuit
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Best Sporty One-Piece Swimsuit: Athleta Maldives
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Best One-Piece Swimsuit With Full-Bottom Coverage: Land’s End Carmela
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Best Cheeky One-Piece Swimsuit: Skims Scoop Neck One-Piece
MOST POPULAR
Summersalt
Summersalt The Sidestroke
Sizes: 2 to 24 | Colors: 12 total, including White Sand and Sea Urchin | Materials: 78% recycled polyamide, 22% elastane
Summersalt designs its swimwear for real women’s bodies: The brand took over 1.5 million measurements from 10,000 women when creating its highly rated suits, including its best-selling Sidestroke style. This colorful swimsuit features an ultra-flattering one-shoulder design, providing plenty of coverage while looking anything but frumpy. (It’s also available in a Long Torso version.) Summersalt’s swimwear is sustainably made of recycled polyamide fabric, created from post-consumer nylon—just another reason why we named it the best brand for one-pieces in our roundup of the Best Swimsuit Brands.
What our editors say: “Summersalt’s one-piece swimsuits truly live up to the hype,” says senior branded content editor Victoria Hess, who owns the Sidestroke and the Marina. “They are comfortable, affordable, high-quality and incredibly flattering—and I love the choice of colors and prints available. Most importantly, these suits stay put while I’m wrangling my two young boys at the beach or pool.”
American Eagle Outfitters
Aerie Strappy Full-Coverage
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Colors: Black | Materials: 80% nylon, 20% elastane
Featuring a simple, clean silhouette, this one-piece from Aerie is perfect for the no-nonsense shopper who wants a swimsuit that’s flattering, practical and affordable. It has full coverage throughout the seat and a gently sloping V-shaped neckline, as well as removable pads in the bust. A strappy back adds a hint of intrigue while also allowing you to manually tighten the suit to your liking.
What our editors say: “This classic black swimsuit has served me well both at pool parties and at the beach,” says updates writer Claire Epting. “The strappy back not only looks cool, it also makes it easy to adjust the tightness of the suit. It’s a bit thinner than other one-pieces I’ve owned, so I can’t imagine it will hold up for several years—but at this price, it’s definitely worth the buy.”
Sizes: XS to XL | Colors: 7 total, including Dark Blue and Brick Red | Materials: 80% nylon, 20% spandex
With an inclusive size range and a huge variety of one-piece styles including cutouts, halter tops and crisscross backs, Cupshe is a reliable option that satisfies a lot of budgets. This one-piece is a winner thanks to its plunging V-shaped neckline, criss-cross back and adjustable straps. The cups are designed with removable pads so you can control the amount of coverage you receive.
Sizes: XS to 3X; long torso sizes available | Colors: 2 total, including White and Black | Materials: 82% nylon, 18% spandex
The Laguna has a cheeky bottom and a low back with adjustable straps that help you achieve the perfect fit. Available in ribbed and smooth fabric options, the versatile one-piece can also be worn on dry land with jeans or shorts. The bust is designed with soft, removable cups that provide extra lift and support, making this suit a great option for smaller chests.
What our editors say: “The Laguna has quickly become my go-to swimsuit in the summer thanks to the comfortable fabric, low back and removable soft cups for added support,” says lifestyle commerce editor Katherine Louie. “I also love that Andie swimsuits have adjustable straps and removable padding; I have a small chest and the padding gives me extra shape and provides a more ‘lifted’ look.”
Bare Necessities
Panache Anya Riva
Sizes: 30D to 40K | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Fiery Red | Materials: 80% polyamide, 20% elastane
Designed with double-layer balconette cups, this retro-inspired underwire swimsuit provides maximum support for larger chests. Adjustable straps and a snap-back closure ensure everything stays in place. Sizing is based on your bra measurements—simply pick your band and cup size; Panache’s UK sizing runs up to a K-cup (which is equivalent to an O-cup in US sizing).
Sizes: XS to 4X, A to J/K; short and extra-long sizes available | Colors: 4 total, including Black and Orchid | Materials: 75% nylon, 25% spandex
Fashion designer Leila Shams created TA3 after three years of prototyping and fitting, ultimately achieving her goal of designing supportive and sculpting shapewear-inspired swimsuits. The Lifty comes with a unique patent-pending corset innovation, which uses hidden shaping panels and curve-enhancing back lacing. Choose your cup size in addition to your swimsuit size to get the perfect fit—you even have the option of short and extra-long lengths.
Swimsuits For All
Swimsuits For All Sarong Front Swimsuit
Sizes: 8 to 34 | Colors: 13 total, including Spice Hibiscus and Turquoise Starburst | Materials: 82% nylon, 18% spandex
Swimsuits For All tops our list of the Best Plus-Size Swimsuits, with its extensive selection of styles in sizes up to 34. Its popular Sarong Front Swimsuit is thoughtfully designed with sewn-in soft cups, a supportive mesh shelf bra and compressive lining for tummy control. Pick from an array of punchy, vibrant prints.
J.Crew
J.Crew Ruched V-Neck Swimsuit
Sizes: 0 to 24; long torso sizes available | Colors: 10 total, including Cool Cypress and Navy | Materials: 82% recycled nylon, 18% elastane
This best-selling style from J.Crew comes in two lengths—classic and long-torso. With a ruched bodice and a high-rise back, this suit offers plenty of coverage so you can swim, lounge and play to your heart’s content. The thick, stretchy fabric features built-in UPF 50 sun protection and is made with recycled materials.
Sizes: XXS to XL | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Tulip Pink | Material: 75% recycled nylon, 25% Lycra
Whether you’re swimming, surfing or paddleboarding, active days call for a supportive swimsuit. Athleta’s Maldives one-piece is made of a quick-drying, UPF 40+ fabric that’s sourced from recycled materials. Its high-neck design and supportive back clasp ensure that everything stays in place as you move. There’s also a pair of removable cups in the bust for controllable coverage.
What our editors say: “I highly recommend Athelta swimwear,” says home and kitchen editor Sholeen Damarwala, who owns three of the brand’s pieces, including the Maldives style. “The material is thick, washes incredibly well without pilling and most importantly, provides plenty of coverage. The designs are also timeless and quite chic.”
Land’s End
Land’s End Carmela
Sizes: 4 to 24 | Colors: 3 total, including Blackberry and Rich Coffee | Materials: Nylon, Lycra Xtra Life spandex
The Land’s End Carmela swimsuit is a great option for those who prefer full coverage throughout the seat. It has ruching around the underwire bust and shirring at the waist, accentuating your curves without revealing too much skin. The criss-cross design in the back is a cute detail that also adds extra support. Another highlight is Land’s End’s long-lasting fabric, which offers UPF 50 sun protection and superior stretch recovery.
What our editors say: “I own the Land’s End Carmela swimsuit in Black, as I prefer more coverage (I don’t tan; I burn),” says consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs. “When I traveled to South Beach for a week last year, the swimsuit felt comfortable to wear for hours at the beach. The material feels durable and it looks great for beach days.”
Skims
Skims Scoop Neck One-Piece
Sizes: XXS to 4X | Colors: 8 total, including Onyx and Cocoa | Material: 76% recycled nylon, 24% spandex
Skims’ shapewear is designed to enhance your curves and its swimwear line doesn’t disappoint. This classic one-piece suit features a scoop neck, a deep scoop back and a cheeky bottom, perfect for sunbathing at the beach or pool. In addition to neutral shades like Onyx and Desert, it also comes in a bold Neon Orchid hue.
What our editors say: “Skims has become my new go-to brand for swimsuits—I own the Scoop Neck One-Piece and Signature Swim Triangle Top, both of which have a high-quality feel and classic look,” says senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold. “The only thing I’d note is that the styles are somewhat revealing and tend to run small, so if you’re looking for more coverage, consider sizing up.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- The Forbes Vetted team has researched, written and published multiple in-depth shopping guides on swimwear topics, from tummy-control swimsuits to men’s swim trunks.
- All of our selections were approved by deputy editor Kari Molvar, Forbes Vetted’s in-house style expert who oversees our extensive catalog of fashion stories.
- We tapped our team of editors to get personal recommendations for the best one-piece swimsuits: senior branded content editor Victoria Hess, lifestyle commerce editor Katherine Louie, home and kitchen editor Sholeen Damarwala, consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs and senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold.
- This article is regularly refreshed to ensure our picks remain relevant and best suited to shoppers’ tastes and budgets. In its latest March 2024 update, fashion writer Claire Epting revamped our list with new styles like the Summersalt Sidestroke, the Andie Laguna and the Athleta Maldives.
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