No bra, no problem. These expert-approved tank tops with built-in bras offer comfy support

Our featured picks

Lululemon Ebb to Street Tank Top

Uniqlo Ribbed Cropped Sleeveless Bra Top

Read our review

Base layers like bodysuits and plain T-shirts are great to have on hand, but tank tops with built-in bras might just be our favorite of all. This athleisure staple offers a 2-in-1 fashion solution for those days when you don’t feel like wearing a real bra, but still want some support. They’re also ideal for layering in spring and summer, and most styles offer a level of sweat-wicking too. It’s no wonder we’ve seen them blow up on TikTok again and again.

Giving you the freedom to go braless, these tops perfectly balance function and style. You can wear them to your workout class or even layer them under a denim jacket or cardigan for a cute and comfortable look.

Our editors, who have tested tons of athleisure wear and workout clothes, have more than a few favorites to share, and we also tapped fitness and style experts to help home in on what makes a great tank top with a built-in bra.

Best tank tops with built-in bras

Beyond Yoga Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank Top

"This tank top is incredibly soft — I have to stop myself from putting it straight on once it's out from the laundry," CNN Underscored associate editor Jillian Tracy said. "I love pairing it with the matching Beyond Yoga leggings for a relaxed athleisure look, but it's not so sporty that you can't wear it with a pair of jeans and a sweater too." The spaghetti strap top is made with a four-way stretch material that offers light support.

Uniqlo Ribbed Cropped Sleeveless Bra Top

For an everyday look, CNN Underscored senior lifestyle editor Tamara Kraus recommends this tank top from Uniqlo. She bought two of them because they're so wearable. “They've become a warm weather staple in my closet, and I tell everyone about them,” Kraus said. “They're so versatile too. I wear them with athleisure or with a silk skirt for an elevated yet effortless look. I love that I don't have to worry about finding the right bra to go under it when I'm rushing to get ready in the morning.”

Read our review

Lululemon Align Tank Top

Ashley Rogers, certified personal trainer and Pilates instructor, said this Lululemon top is one of her favorites. "The built-in bra offers light to medium support, which is perfect for low-impact activities like Pilates, where you don’t need heavy support but still want something that feels secure," she said. "The fabric is breathable and stretchy, so it’s comfortable for both your workout and the rest of your day, and it has a sleek design that works great outside the studio too." It comes in a ton of colors and you can even snag some on sale.

Athleta Transcend Square-Neck Crop Sports Bra

Tracy owns two of these tanks, describing them as “soft, stretchy and snug.” On top of its moisture-wicking material and UPF 40+ rating, the tank has diverse sizing ranging from A to DD. This piece offers a more customized fit for anyone who's struggled to find bra tops that work for both their band and bust sizing.

Paka Women's Essential Tank

You can catch CNN Underscored copy editor Rena Behar wearing her Paka Essential Tank around the clock. It’s her go-to top for long travel days; she’s worn it on long drives and red-eye flights alike. If you’re more generously endowed, as she put it, you’ll likely need more support than the built-in shelf bra for high-impact activities, but it will still see you through everyday activities and gentle workouts. It’s layerable and has wide straps for more coverage. The cotton and Tencel blend material is designed to keep you cool, and Behar said it's very soft.

Abercrombie & Fitch Bra-Free '90s Cami

Multiple editors highlighted Abercrombie & Fitch's Bra-Free Line for making some of our favorite bra-free tops, and the '90s Cami is a specific favorite of Kraus and our associate testing writer Gareen Puglia. The '90s Cami has become a part of Puglia’s summer uniform thanks to its ample coverage (especially as someone with a larger bust), and though the spaghetti straps are thin, she likes that they’re adjustable. Meanwhile, Kraus called out the versatility of the square-neck style and said it’s perfect for layering under a cardigan. The brand also has a double-layered '90s cami that offers a 2-in-1 effect.

Lemedy Padded Yoga Tank Top

This workout tank top was all over TikTok a few years ago, convincing our fashion and beauty editor Sophie Shaw to try it out. She grabbed it in black and then quickly bought another in olive green because she loved it so much. It's made with a high-quality material that is fairly compressive, so it’s great for workouts, walking the dog and lounging. Both of Shaw's tank tops have held up well over three-plus years, which is pretty impressive considering the price.

Abercrombie & Fitch Bra-Free Lace-Trim Rib Cami

Shaw highlights this cami as her go-to layering piece. A thick lace trim embellishes the V-neckline, straps and hem, adding a romantic flair to the tank top. While the straps are thin, the ribbed material is on the thicker side. Style it with a cardigan, or have the lace trim peek out from under a cropped crewneck sweater. The details are too cute not to show off.

Hikerkind Trail Tank

Tracy loves this simple, yet stylish top from Hikerkind that's equipped with removable cups. “Though it's made for the outdoors, the delicate, open mesh back and criss-cross front makes this tank feel almost too nice to wear with my dusty hiking pants,” she said, adding that she’d just as easily reach for it as a going-out top. The coverage and built-in support will make you reach for this tank again and again.

Prana Heavana Essential Bralette

Puglia is obsessed with this cropped style that offers comfort on the trail and at home. While it’s designed for A to C cups, Puglia felt supported for her much larger cup size, though the scoop neckline was more revealing (something to keep in mind if you have a larger bust). The fabric feels like a light hug and is all-around smoothing. Plus, the material is UPF 50+ rated, making it a no-brainer for your next outdoor adventure.

J.Crew Stretch Cotton Shelf-Bra Tank Top

Stylist and personal shopper Zoë Hennessey recommends the J.Crew Stretch Cotton Shelf-Bra Tank Top for summer. The spaghetti straps are adjustable, a must to get the most out of this kind of bra-free style. It’s available in six colors, from bold hues to everyday neutrals you can style with linen pants, denim and more.

Splits59 Airweight Tank

When celebrity trainer Lauren Kleban is looking for built-in support, she turns to Splits59, crediting its chic designs for “taking you from studio to street and still looking put together and polished,” she said. The Airweight Tank is a full-length, seamless style with racerback straps for a subtle sporty look. Shaw also has this top and said it’s a lightweight material you can wear from errands to your next workout class and beyond, though it’s more sheer than other athletic tops.

Hanes CoolDri Women's Crop Tank With Built-in Shelf Bra, 3-Pack

Puglia loves lounging this scoop-neck style that doesn’t feel constrictive. Would she recommend you run a mile in this tank? Not quite, but the built-in bra and wide straps are perfect for an evening walk or a work-from-home day. It's worth noting the lightweight material is quick-drying, so working up a bit of a sweat during low-impact activities shouldn’t be a problem. And if you’re looking to stock up on your tank tops, three for under $50 is a great value.

All in Motion Everyday Soft High Neck Cropped Support Tank Top

"I'm not exaggerating when I say I own the All In Motion tank top in every color," CNN Underscored associate testing writer Carolina Gazal said. "They're perfect for layering under a sweater, running errands and even light gym sessions. The fabric feels like butter and rivals some higher-end athleisure brands — at just $25."

Lululemon Glow Up Tank Top Medium Support

Hannah Shelly, teacher and VP of retail and brand partnerships at The Class, said this Lululemon tank top is "compressive and supportive without feeling restrictive." It puts performance first with a contoured fit made for medium impact workouts. This specific tank top is designed to support B/C cup sizes.

Lululemon Align High-Neck Tank Top

Lululemon's Align collection has been a longstanding favorite, which is why we also love the high-neck version of the tank too. Made with the soft yet supportive Nulu fabric, this tank top flexes through your yoga flows and outside of the fitness studio. We love how lightweight it is for spring and summer layering too.

Read our review

Lululemon Ebb to Street Tank Top

Shaw has had this tank top since 2014 and it still looks and feels as good as new. It has a body-hugging fit and is cut a bit longer than her other workout tanks, so you can move freely and stretch without the risk of the top riding up. It's also a great low-maintenance option since it's machine-washable and can even go in the dryer.

What to look for in a tank top with a built-in bra

Whether you’re picking a workout top or something that you can wear daily, Shelly said that it’s important that your tank top makes you feel confident and comfortable. And the key to feeling good in a tank top with a built-in bra is support. This means you’ll want to look for tank tops made with stretchy, body-hugging fabric that offers a bit of compression too. The elastic band that goes under the bust shouldn’t be overlooked, either. It should be an inch in width and made of a durable elastic that snaps back to its original shape after washing and wearing your top.

Athletic tank tops will offer the most support, since these are made for higher impact activities. Even so, there are a range of choices. For Pilates, for example, Rogers said tank tops with light to medium support are a fit for most. “The fabric should be stretchy and breathable, so that you can move comfortably through all those stretches and twists,” she said. This is also a good baseline for what to look for in a tank top for your day to day too, since most won’t need heavy compression.

Those with larger chests who are looking for some extra support may want to opt for styles that have thicker straps or a higher neckline, which will help hold up the bust.

FAQs

What is the difference between a built-in bra and a shelf bra?

A shelf bra is a type of built-in bra, which consists of an additional layer of fabric over the bust and an elastic band. This extra layer may only extend across the front of the top, or it can also go all the way around the tank top. A shelf bra may also come with removable foam cups that provide some extra structure and coverage. All of the options included in this roundup feature shelf bras.

A built-in bra has structured cups and may also have an underwire like a traditional bra.

What's the best material for a tank top with built-in bra?

“When shopping for a tank with a built-in bra, fabric is the first thing I consider,” Hennessey said. “It needs to be soft, substantial enough to provide support and coverage, and have enough stretch for all-day comfort.” If you’re looking for a built-in bra top for your next workout, Kleban recommends the material also be moisture-wicking.

The tops we rounded up offer a range of cotton, polyester and nylon fabrications, along with some elastane or spandex blends for that extra stretch.

Meet our experts

For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights.

• Zoë Hennessey, fashion stylist and personal shopper
• Lauren Kleban, celebrity trainer and founder of LekFit
• Ashley Rogers, certified personal trainer and Pilates instructor
• Hannah Shelly, teacher and VP of retail and brand partnerships at The Class

Why trust CNN Underscored

CNN Underscored editors and writers ensure every product included in an article is thoroughly vetted and something we ourselves would feel comfortable buying and using. Our team has many decades of collective experience researching, testing and recommending products across every category — from fashion and food, to home goods and health, to electronics and everything in between — and we’re committed to using that expertise to help you make the most of your money and live a better life.

For this story, CNN Underscored fashion and beauty editor Sophie Shaw and associate testing writer Gareen Puglia consulted other Underscored editors about their favorite tank tops with built-in bras. They also asked fitness and fashion experts for their recommendations.

Some information for this report was gathered via edition.cnn.com.