The 8 Best Tummy Control Swimsuits for Total Confidence
Updated: May 16, 2023The best tummy control bathing suits are brilliantly designed, incredibly flattering and total game changers.
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With summer heating up, more and more brands are offering bathing suits that complement every body type—like the best tummy control swimsuits that camouflage or compress anything you’d rather not highlight. Many also utilize thoughtful details that create a flattering illusion. “Features like ruching along the sides or across the front of the swimsuit are visually slimming,” says Elise Armitage, founder of What the Fab. “Diagonal seams are super flattering too, and I also love a one-piece swimsuit with a tie at the waist for extra tummy control and an overall slimming effect.”
If this sounds exactly like what you’re looking for, you’re in luck. We’ve rounded up the best tummy control swimsuits, whether you prefer a tummy control one-piece or a two-piece. Finding the perfect suit is as easy and stress-free as buying other summer essentials like sunscreen, flip-flops, beach bags, beach towels, beach chairs and sun hats.
The best tummy control swimsuits
- Best overall: Smismivo Tummy Control Swimsuit
- Best value: Cupshe Bright Day Shirring One-Piece Tummy Control Swimsuit
- Best swim dress: Zando Athletic One-Piece Tummy Control Swim Dress
- Best two-piece: Angerella Vintage High-Waisted Polka Dot Bathing Suit
- Best plus size: Aqua Eve Plus Size One-Piece Swimsuit
- Best one-piece: Hilor One-Piece Crossover Swimsuit
- Best one-shoulder: Summersalt Sidestroke
- Best bikini bottom: Empetua High-Waisted Control Bikini Bottom
Best overall
Smismivo Tummy Control Swimsuit
With more than 19,000 five-star Amazon ratings, this stylish-looking tummy control swimsuit is a winner. The ruching on the torso is incredibly flattering, and the wrap-style top takes the attention away from the midsection. Moreover, an adjustable halter neck provides support and shaping, and the removable, padded push-up bra comes fully lined to give extra confidence. It also looks a lot more expensive than it actually is—and will instantly elevate your style on the beach and beyond.
Just ask verified Amazon reviewer Shanille, who admits, “I have a pretty good gut on me, and this fit amazing. I felt worried because it looked so small when I got it. But it slipped on perfectly, and the tummy control part was spot on. This is my newest favorite swimsuit.”
Pros
- Flattering front ruching
- Affordable
- Available in 30 colors and prints
- 28,000 Amazon ratings with a 4.4-star average
- Available in sizes S to 5XL
Cons
- Moderate backside coverage
Best value
Cupshe Bright Day Shirring One-Piece Tummy Control Swimsuit
At less than $35, this popular Cupshe suit is the best bet for a budget-friendly option, and it has more than 16,500 five-star ratings on Amazon to back that up. The flattering side ruching works its tummy-flattening magic without squeezing the midsection and making you uncomfortable. This Amazon best seller is available in 24 colors to easily buy more than one.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Side ruching without compression
- Available in 24 colors and in sizes XS to XL
- 24,000 Amazon ratings with a 4.4-star average
Cons
- A little cheeky
Best swim dress
Zando Athletic One-Piece Tummy Control Swim Dress
This adorable suit, which has more than 7,500 five-star ratings, looks more like a modern tennis dress, making it easy to go from activity to activity at an all-inclusive resort. Its skirt, which is high-waisted for more shaping, takes the attention away from the tummy, and the crisscrossing on the torso is flattering and visually slimming. Plus, if you’re looking to cover up a little more—or, more specifically, cover the butt—this is the suit for you.
“I’m 37 years old and this is honestly the very first swimsuit that I’ve fit properly and have felt confident in!” says five-star reviewer Amanda Kruse. “I’m usually the mom sitting outside the pool wearing a dress. Not anymore! I am so ready for swimming!
Pros
- The built-in boyshorts with tummy control offers additional coverage and support
- Available in more than 44 prints and colors
- Comes in sizes 2 to 22
- 11,000 Amazon ratings with a 4.2-star average
Cons
- Some reviewers wish the skirt was a little longer
Best two-piece
Angerella Vintage High-Waisted Polka Dot Bathing Suit
How cute is this vintage-inspired suit? The exaggerated retro look complements curvy figures, and the ruching on the bottoms adds a flattering detail. And women love it, as evidenced by its 9,900-plus glowing reviews on Amazon. This polka dot number is available in more than 45 colors and prints, and you’ll likely want to buy more than one of them.
Plus, this bathing suit has another perk that personal stylists love: You’ll make a ton of use out of the tummy control bottoms by mixing things up with any choice on top. “A fabulous bottom will add variety to a swim collection because you can mix and match dozens of tops with it,” notes Casey Brown, a body image and self-love advocate.
Pros
- High-waisted bottoms cover the tummy
- Available in a wide variety of colors and patterns
- Quick-drying fabric
- Available in sizes S to 2XL
- Nearly 10,000 Amazon five-star ratings and over 2,000 five-star reviews
Cons
- Only available as a set
Best plus size
Aqua Eve Plus Size One-Piece Swimsuit
There are so many features that make this Aqua Eve one-piece a terrific plus-size tummy control swimsuit: Its V-neck is flattering without being too revealing, its shirred front tummy control design is slimming, and its removable padded push-up bra is supportive. Plus, if you choose one of the suits with a solid black bottom, it will flatter the tummy even further.
“After a long, painful search for a decent swimsuit, this is the answer to my prayers. Not exaggerating,” writes five-star reviewer Kristin. “This is such a perfect fit, and I feel good in it.” Available in sizes 12 to 28, it’s definitely one of our top picks for plus-size swimwear.
Pros
- The dark bottom camouflages the tummy, and the floral top draws the eye up
- Offers full coverage on the bottom
- Available in 28 patterns and colors
- 1,8000 Amazon ratings with a 4.4-star average
Cons
- Some reviewers say the padded bra moves around a little
Best one-piece
Hilor One-Piece Crossover Swimsuit
It’s easy to see why this Hilor bathing suit has more than 17,200 five-star ratings. “It’s super flattering, and it looks amazing on,” says reviewer Julie, who liked it so much that she bought a second suit. It comes in nearly 50 pretty patterns and colors, so you’re sure to find one (or two) for the next beach trip.
New mom Sarah calls it a “perfect postpartum confidence booster” that brilliantly accentuates all the right curves and disguises the others. She explains, “The thought of a sheer middle made me uneasy, but it actually creates a pretty awesome optical illusion and makes the waist look smaller.”
Pros
- Stretchy striped bands around the waist create a slimming silhouette
- Comfortable tummy control panel
- Available in dozens of patterns and colors
- 26,000 Amazon ratings with a 4.2-star average
Cons
- Tall women may find it a little short in the torso
Best one-shoulder
Summersalt Sidestroke
The Sidestroke sold out a whopping 25 times in 2017 when it first launched. What makes it so amazing? “A good tummy control swimsuit—like this one—is made of a high-compression material,” says Brown. “It works like shapewear to keep everything in place, but lets you eat, drink and move around comfortably.” Plus, the diagonal, color-blocked lines and the dark bottom provide an instantly slimming effect, not to mention an incredibly stylish one.
Pros
- The fabric has four times the compression of regular swimwear
- Diagonal color-blocking is also slimming
- Full-coverage bottom
- 6,400 reviews with a 4.5-star average
Cons
- No cups or padding
Best bikini bottom
Empetua High-Waisted Control Bikini Bottom
These empowering swimsuit pics prove there’s no one bikini body, and Empetua makes the best tummy control bottoms for women who are wary of rocking a two-piece swimsuit. They’re high-waisted to cover the tummy, and feature light compression and a tummy-shaping panel that women love.
“I have been wearing one-piece bathing suits since my kids were born, but these bottoms really gave me the confidence I needed,” says one reviewer. Ruching enhances the look, which another reviewer calls “just perfect,” adding that these bottoms fit snugly without creating “the dreaded muffin top.” Pair with a summer hat and you’ll be ready to hit the beach.
Pros
- Tummy-shaping panel and ruching
- Sold on its own, so pair it with any top
- Full backside coverage
- 700 reviews with a 4.5-star average
Cons
- Some reviewers say it’s a little long for shorter women
What to look for when buying the best tummy control swimsuit
When shopping for the best tummy control swimsuits, consider the fabric, design, style, support and comfort. Like plus-size shapewear, look for swimsuits made of high-quality, stretchy fabric to hug the body and everything in place. Finding a suit that has ruching, shirring or power-mesh lining helps smooth out the midsection and provide a slimming effect.
Choosing a style that flatters the body is important as well, whether it’s a one-piece or tankini. A high-neckline or halter style can draw attention upwards and away from the midsection.
Additionally, look for swimsuits with supportive features such as underwires similar to the ones in bras or adjustable straps. This helps lift and shape the bust, providing a more flattering silhouette. Comfort is also key when shopping for the best tummy control swimsuit. They are snug enough to stay in place, but not so tight that they cause discomfort or restrict movement.
How we found the best tummy control swimsuits
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
Do high-waisted swimsuits make you look thinner?
High-waisted swimsuits create the illusion of a slimmer appearance by elongating the torso and accentuating the waistline. They also provide tummy control and smooth out any bulges or bumps in the midsection. By covering the belly button and extending higher up on the waist, high-waisted swimsuits create a streamlined and slimming effect, especially when paired with a top that offers support and coverage.
What makes a swimsuit tummy control?
Tummy control swimsuits come designed with specific features to smooth out and shape the midsection area, creating a slimmer and more toned appearance. Ruching, power mesh lining and paneling all accentuate the best parts of the torso. A high-waisted design and underwire support flatter the figure and promote a slimming effect to the midsection.
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Sources:
- Elise Armitage, founder of What the Fab
- Casey Walker Brown, body-image and self-love advocate and founder of Street, Beats and Eats
