5 Best Pumping Bras
Express breastmilk hands-free with one of these bras designed to work with your breast pump.
Tested by Lexie SachsExecutive Director, Strategy & Operations
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Lactating women might not only want a great nursing bra and a nursing pillow, but also a bra that's built to make pumping hands-free. That's because most nursing moms also pump so that others can serve their baby breastmilk from a baby bottle. A 2024 study in the Journal of Pediatrics found that using a pump is associated with being able to provide breast milk longer — on average, pumping moms in the study breastfed for 21 weeks longer than those who didn’t pump at all.
Many pumping bras can do double duty — allowing you to pull down two layers to nurse, or just one layer to hold a traditional pump. For this list, our Good Housekeeping Institute experts focused on the bras that do the best job of holding a traditional or hands-free breast pump in place for easy pumping at home, at work or away, and that are comfortable enough to wear all day.
Kindred Bravely Sublime Contour Hands Free Bra
Pros
- Molded cups look smooth under clothes
- Comfortable enough to wear all day
Cons
- Most expensive on our list
It may be the most expensive on our list, but several of our tester moms and our Lab pros who are new parents are big fans of the Kindred Bravely Sublime, which is also our top pick for the best nursing bra and a winner of a previous Parenting Award. "I’m not pumping anymore and I still love wearing this one," a tester told us. It has smooth, molded cups that keep you looking "normal" all day even as your breasts swell and shrink through the cycles of nursing and pumping.
The brand confirms that this works with the flanges of popular, traditional pumps like Spectra and Medela as well as with hands-free pumps such as the Willow and the Elvie. It fastens with hook-and-eye closures in the back and the brand includes a two-inch optional extender.
Sizes: S, M, L, XL and 1X for cup sizes B–D and E–I | Colors: Black, Twilight (mauve) and Beige (pictured) | Fabric, according to the brand: 91% nylon, 9% spandex | Care: Hand wash and line dry
RELATED: The Best Hands-Free Breast Pumps
Pros
- Affordable price
- Good choice for moms who like the feel of cotton
Cons
- Not as supportive as some others
If you're looking for a good pumping bra under $25, this is our recommendation. Our Textiles Lab has evaluated Momcozy bras and our Lab pros say they are great quality for the price. More than 35,000 five-star Amazon reviews back that up, though a common complaint is that this soft, thin cotton bra is not as supportive as others. Some moms may find the thinner fabric to be less supportive but more comfortable, so the tradeoff can be worth it.
This bra holds standard traditional pumps like those from Spectra and Lansinoh as well as wearable breast pumps. (Momcozy makes its own hands-free wearable pump, called the M5 Breast Pump.) If you're still pregnant, the brand's affordable Omni Maternity Nursing Bra won one of our most recent Parenting Awards for its seamless design with built-in padding.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL and XXL for cup sizes A–G and band sizes 30–44 | Colors: Black, Beige, Blue, Mocha (tan) and Gray (pictured) | Fabric, according to the brand: 93% cotton, 7% spandex | Care: Hand wash and line dry
Simple Wishes Supermom Fixed Padding Pumping Bra
Pros
- Comes in sizes for smaller breasts
- Fixed padding
Cons
- Need to use the comfort sling for the best pump support
This winner of one of our previous Parenting Awards earns high marks for its fixed padding (instead of removable cups that can shift around) and straps that are both convertible and adjustable. Because of the padding, the cup size starting at A and the band size starting at 30, we've found this to be among the best for smaller breasts.
One of our testers said she was able to pump on one side while nursing her baby on the other using this bra. Testers agreed that this nylon-and-spandex bra is both comfortable and supportive. It fastens with hook-and-loop closures and comes with a two-inch extender. Several online reviewers recommended using the optional Comfort Sling that comes with it to extend the bra cup for wearable pumps like the Willow and Elvie and to help hold up standard pumps like the Spectra as they become heavy with milk.
If you need to spend less, check out the Simple Wishes original Hands-Free Pumping Bra to save a few dollars. However it's a strapless bustier rather than a bra with straps, so we prefer the newer one, which you can easily leave on all day between pumping sessions.
Sizes: Cups sizes A–H, band sizes 30–44 | Colors: Beige, Brown, Pink and Black (pictured) | Fabric, according to the brand: 80% nylon, 20% spandex ) | Care: Machine wash cold and line dry
RELATED: How to Measure Your Bra Size
Bravado 2-in-1 Pumping & Nursing Bra
Pros
- Full-cup sizes for larger breasts
- Racerback style pulls over your head
Cons
- No added padding, a plus for some
Lactation consultant Sheila Dukas-Janakos, IBCLC, recommends this bra to clients at Healthy Horizons, a breastfeeding support company. "It's our most popular with a reasonable price and each size is also available in a full-cup version," for nursing moms with cup sizes E, F or G, Dukas-Janakos said.
You just pull this stretchy racerback bra over your head rather than using any closures in the back. It works with both traditional pumps and wearable pumps, as well as for breastfeeding. There is no added padding on this Bravado bra.
Sizes: S, M, and L all available in regular (cup sizes B, C, D) and full-cup (cup sizes E, F, G) | Colors: Pink Leopard, Gray and Black (pictured) | Fabric, according to the brand: 49% organic cotton, 32% Tencel Modal, 19% spandex | Care: Machine wash and line dry
Pros
- One fabric layer to easily transition between pumping and nursing
- Convertible straps
Cons
- On the pricier side
The Bodily bra is designed with just a single layer of fabric so it is even easier to switch between nursing and pumping while wearing the same bra. Though it's on the pricey side, the material is silky and soft, so this style gets high marks as one of the softest pumping bras.
The straps can convert to a racerback style for extra support. There's no added padding on the front and it hooks in the back. Though this picture shows it used with a wearable breast pump, you can also push the fabric aside to hold the flanges of a traditional breast pump.
Sizes: S, M, L and XL for cup sizes B–F and band sizes 32–44 | Colors: Black, Pink, Sandstone (rust) and Slate (pictured) | Fabric, according to the brand: 76% polyamide, 24% elastane | Care: Machine wash and line dry
RELATED: Expert Breastfeeding Diet and Nutrition Advice From Registered Dietitians
How we test the best bras for pumping
The Lab pros across the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab and the Parenting and Toys Lab combined forces to look at data on the best bras for pumping. Bras are evaluated in the Labs for material quality and function. At-home testers, many of whom participated in research for the annual Parenting Awards, provided real-world feedback.
As a final step, we combed through online reviews to get a better sense of the pros and cons of each bra, and we spoke to Sheila Dukas-Janakos, IBCLC, CEO of Healthy Horizons, which serves both corporations and consumers with breastfeeding support.
What to look for when shopping for the best pumping bra
When you're lactating, avoid underwire or a bra that's too tight, as either can affect your milk ducts and your supply. For a great pumping bra, you'll want:
✔️ Comfort: A good pumping bra shouldn’t dig into your shoulders or ribs. It should have a snug fit, but not so tight that you can't sit or move around with ease.
✔️ Stretch: Lactation consultant Dukas-Janakos likes bras sized small, medium, large and so on to reflect the fact that lactating women don't stay the exact numerical size all day — they fluctuate. "That's why stretch is important," she said. "Brands do make bra extenders, but most people don't want to be bothered with those. They want a bra that will stretch."
✔️ Stability: The sole purpose of a pumping bra is to allow for hands-free control of breast shields and bottles. The bra should firmly hold the pump equipment without feeling wobbly or slippery. Make sure you can move around, sit, stand up and lean forward without causing the flanges or bottles to fall.
✔️ Versatility: The ideal pumping bra can work with a traditional pump and a wearable pump in addition to nursing. "The majority of people get their traditional pump from their insurance coverage and then buy themselves a wearable version too," Dukas-Janakos said. Wearable pumps can in theory be worn inside nearly any kind of bra, but a supportive pumping bra should be especially built to stretch to fit them.
Can you hack a sports bra into a pumping bra?
We've had Lab pros do just that, with the catch that you should only wear it while you pump because a regular sports bra is too compressive for lactating women to wear all day without affecting their milk supply, said lactation consultant Dukas-Janakos.
"To use a sports bra, cut a small hole at the nipple (you can always make it larger, but don’t make it too large to start) and insert the flange when it’s time to pump," said Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping Institute Executive Director, Strategy & Operations, and a mom of two who learned this trick from another Lab analyst. "I liked being able to wear my preferred bra all day and just slip this one on for pumping sessions."
Nowadays, many moms like to have one bra they can wear all day without ever needing to change, which is the appeal of the pumping bras on our list. Dukas-Janakos liked that bras are evolving. "Back in the day we had to get creative!" she said. "I remember cutting up diapers to use as nursing pads before we had those. But cutting a hole in your sports bra can cause it to run and the hole can grow bigger than intended, so purchasing a bra that's built for both nursing and pumping might be better."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Scientists, engineers and market experts have evaluated consumer products at the Good Housekeeping Institute for more than 100 years. Our Good Housekeeping Seal has been a badge of trust for generations. Every week, our pros publish new lists of tried-and-tested products including must-haves for new parents like the best crib mattresses and the best infant car seats.
This list was written by Contributing Editor Jessica Hartshorn who nursed and pumped for two years for each of her two children while she worked at American Baby magazine. She went on to be a senior editor at Parents magazine, covering the juvenile products market, before joining the Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting and Toys Lab to help evaluate products such as the best double strollers and judge submissions for programs such as the Family Travel Awards and the Parenting Awards.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
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