Chest Binding, Explained!
"What is a binder?" "Are they safe?" "Where do I a buy a good binder?" - All of your questions answered!
I get a lot of questions about binders and binding in other spaces, and I hope this post helps to explain what binders are and what they do, guidelines and best practices for safety, and the best brands to buy!
Simply put, chest binding is the act of compressing breasts/chests to achieve a flatter look and profile under clothing. These undergarments are called “binders”. People who have breasts may choose to do so for a variety of reasons, and it is not limited to people of any specific gender. Most common are trans and non-binary folks looking to be flatter or smoother to help ease gender dysphoria or body dysmorphia, but both cis women and cis men can bind as well. Some examples are when women bind for athletics, dancing, acting, or to just be more comfortable, and for men with gynecomastia (an increase in the amount of breast gland tissue in boys or men) or general comfort. Anyone can have body dysmorphia.
Binders are made from materials that are designed to compress tissue in specific areas, not constrict tissue all around the chest and ribcage (front, back, and sides). Binders have panels (in varying levels of firmness) in the front and back to compress tissue, with stretchy panels on the sides and parts of the back to allow for breathing, movement, and tissue distribution. Most binders are pulled over the head and down the body, and can be rather difficult to pull on and off (many of us have had the experience of being stuck in a binder when it gathers around the shoulders/arm pits 😅, but eventually you do wiggle out!). Binders should always be measured as per the seller’s specifications, and don’t size down unless they say you can. Many brands will instruct you to keep all of your chest tissue in front of the chest (with nipples facing front and center), to evenly distribute tissue and allow excess tissue to spread towards the armpits and sides, while others will have you push the tissue to the sides as much as you can.
Ace bandages, plastic wrap, duct tape, rigid corsets, or any other non-elastic material should never be used for binding, because they constrict your whole rib cage and tissue in a tube around the body. Total constriction around the whole chest creates a huge risk for bruised, dislocated, or cracked ribs; the inability to breathe properly; and a great deal of pain. You can do permanent damage to your ribs by using constriction, and it can prevent you from binding at all in the future. Unfortunately, many youth and some adults will resort to these options due to unsupportive family or a lack of funding, and the more we can do to discourage this, the better. I’ll cover more on ways to obtain binders later in the article.
The maximum daily recommendation for binding is 8 hours a day, but 4-6 hours is better. Even with these guidelines, some people will push the limit to 9-12 hours a day, and honestly, I can’t say that I’ve never done the same. If someone is to wear a binder for 8+ hours, it's recommended that they take a break or two from wearing it throughout the day. Youth should really only wear a binder for 4-6 hours max (less is best), because their bodies are still growing and changing. It’s highly recommended that folks take days off between binding for safety and protection.
Even in with a good binder, there are still problems that can develop depending on each individual’s body. If someone wears a binder too long consistently, or a binder that is too small, it can lead to rib damage, skin irritation and breakouts, breathing problems, back and shoulder pain, acid reflux, and overheating. Additional problems arise if someone has a chronic condition such as a connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, asthma, or scoliosis (among other conditions). This will greatly depend on someone’s body, and no one body is the same. In addition, you have to watch out for overheating, since you are wearing another layer (or layers, depending on the binder). Not everyone experiences symptoms like these even with binding for far too long in a day, and every body is different!
When you first wear a new binder, you should be able to take deep breaths and let them out without pain or restriction in your ribs. In addition, you should be able to fit two fingers underneath the binder under your armpit/edge of the rib cage (it wiil be snug, but not cut into your fingers). If you either can’t deep breathe without pain, or can’t fit two fingers between the binder and your ribs, those are the signs that the binder is too small for you.
Nobody should ever wear a binder overnight to sleep in! Never!
When exercising or doing heavy physical work, only use a binder / top that is specifically listed that they are safe and designed for these purposes.
When looking for a binder, consider what style you desire and what you’d feel most comfortable in. The most common styles are half tank binders and full length binders, with some sellers making a medium length binder. Full length binders can function as an undershirt under a button down or other top, which can be really nice for wearing less layers. Half / medium tank binders can be more comfortable for others! It is truly up to your personal preference which style you want.
All binders come with washing and cleaning instructions that you should follow. In general, hand wash and air dry your binders to make them last longer.
Stay away from binders from unknown or dodgy brands without an actual website. If you are looking on Amazon, Ebay, Alibaba, or another similar site, really investigate the seller. While a lot of them are cheaper, you get what you pay for and they may be dangerous to wear.
In addition, I strongly recommend that you avoid side zip/clasp binders from sites like Amazon, Ebay, or Alibaba. Almost all of those binders you’ll find are still designed like an ace bandage around your ribcage and constrict your whole chest rather than compress. I really only recommended zipper and clasp binders from brands listed below that make them safely, which can and do cost a lot more, or those made/altered by sewists / seamstress that are directly experienced in these alterations (there is a Facebook group that specializes in this, but at the moment, I cannot find it for the life of me. If I find it I’ll put it in the comments).
For example, a 4+ star rated binder on Amazon is the XUJI zip binder, but many reports from trans and non-binary people elsewhere who have tried them say that they experienced some severe rib pain and breathing issues, despite their high rating on Amazon (likely inflated by bots and fake accounts). People say that they constrict rather than compress, which creates the ace bandage effect. They don't have a website that I could find directly describing their brand or materials, other than other retailers that carry that product.
Brands & Binder Options
There are a bunch of different brands, but these are my recommendations and the recommendations of many others within the community of binder wearers. Every brand of binder will have their own measurement system and you have to measure your size using their guidelines, but I’m including their stated size ranges. I’m also including their costs and shipping information, to make it easier for you to compare the total cost of a binder! Also included is information on their packaging and if it is discreet, so that someone else picking up the box in your household doesn’t know what is inside. All of the binder companies that I recommend are LGBTQIA+ owned, except for Underworks.
Light Compression Options
I recommend trying only very lightly compressing tops for youth with growing bodies and for those who don’t know if their body will tolerate binding.
The TomboyX Compression Top comes in sizes XS - 6X. They have a variety of colors and styles now, including ones specifically for swimming and a few front zip up styles. You can exercise and easily move around in this top. These will definitely not achieve a flat look, but can smooth things out and look a little smaller in the chest area.
They are unfortunately pricier now than when they were first introduced (starts at $65 USD), but are sometimes on sale (as of the time of publishing this post, several are on sale for 20% - 40% off).
Shipping costs $7.95 USD for US shipping, shipping to Canada costs $11 CAD, and shipping to other countries is calculated based on your location.
Underwork’s Extreme MagiCotton Sports and Binding Bra is the one I wear a lot when my pain is too bad to wear a more compressive binder. It’s safe to work out in. It comes with front and back panels like a stronger binder, but is much more stretchy. It is designed to not ride up, which is pretty great! I really like this one! They are measured by bust size and come in 32 - 44 inches, and thus not size inclusive, which is a huge downside. I’m at the max size.
It’s much more affordable than the TomboyX compression top, at $35 USD.
Many of the brands below also have lighter compression options!
Recommended Binders & brands:
Underworks
Underwork’s “Men’s Compression Shirts” are binders for all types of chests. They come in a variety of styles and degrees of compression, and you can filter by how much compression you desire and what length you are looking for. I particularly like the “Mens Cotton Concealer Compression Chest Binder Tank” because it has the compression only around the chest, and the bottom half is just plain cotton tank material that I wear as an undershirt. Another one I’ve tried is the Tri-top Chest Binder which is one of their “extreme compression” styles that have very very firm panels (although it’s too much and too uncomfortable for me to wear due to chronic pain). Their high and extreme compression styles are some of the most firm binders you can buy. As with the Magicotton sport and binding bra (above), they are unfortunately not a size inclusive brand and binder sizes range from men’s XS to 4X, with larger sizes being more expensive.
Underworks binders are very affordable with most under $40 USD. This is the best budget binder company with binders that ACTUALLY work and are reputable, IF they make your size.
Their shipping is not specifically discrete; if I recall correctly, mine came in a plastic style soft package that was labeled as Underworks.
Underworks is made in the USA with very reasonable shipping costs (under $10 USD domestic for the continental US with free shipping available at certain order price points, and $30+ USD to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. They ship internationally (to selected countries) at varying shipping costs.
For Them
For Them is another US binder company that makes two types of binders - the Binder All Day, and the Binder Max. The Binder All Day is designed for all-day, every day wear, and thus they don’t design them to make you completely flat. However, they still do compress really nicely! The Binder Max offers a lot of compression, and is recommended to wear for less than 6 hours a day. I have one of each and I really like both styles for different days, although I don’t wear the Binder Max as often due to my chronic pain. Both styles have a size finder that asks about your experience with binding and your apex chest measurement in inches (the fullest part of your chest, comes with a video guide), and then tells you your binder size. They come in sizes of 28 - 63 inches with each size fit tested on various bodies, which is pretty awesome. They are the only Black owned company that I know of for binders.
The All-Day binder costs $55 USD, while the Binder Max costs $64 USD.
They have discreet shipping, with orders arriving in a plain cardboard box with a label that does not mention that it’s a binder.
They ship within the US, the UK, and the EU, and shipping costs are calculated at checkout.
Shapeshifters
Shapeshifters is a bespoke binder company that makes custom binders directly fitted to your body, with a HUGE variety of options including zipper and clasp styles, short, medium, and long lengths, differencing neck and armpit styles, more or less compression panels, and strap sizes. They are fully size inclusive and will custom make your size, at any size. They have an extremely comprehensive guide on correct sizing that you must look at to ensure the correct fit. They also make a sports bra style that just has you input your underchest and chest measurements. They have a super huge variety of colors and materials, and you can definitely find a perfect binder look for you! Seriously, there are so many color and style options that it’s almost overwhelming. They are made in the US and Shapeshifters is regarded as making the highest quality binders you can get!
At the bottom of the page, you can select what currency to show.
These binders do cost a lot, at $80 - $115 USD, not including additions like a zipper (an extra $22 - $25 USD)
They have discreet shipping, with orders arriving in unmarked cardboard boxes with just a return address on the outside. For international orders, the customs form lists the binder as “clothing”.
You have to make sure your measurements are correct. They do make alterations within 45 days that require you to mail back the binder at your own cost.
They will ship anywhere in the world, and shipping costs are based on location.
Origami Customs
Origami Customs is a company in Canada that makes binders that are custom to your size for no additional costs, and are fully size inclusive! They make binders in low, medium, and higher compression options, in bra, racerback, and tank styles. They include a side-open racerback binder that has safe side hook and eye closures that is great for those who have mobility issues or difficulties getting a binder on over your head, and for those with larger chests! Their binders are designed for all-day wear, thus are described as not designed to likely not get you completely flat, but to keep you comfortable, contained, and breathing without pain. You can exercise in both the low and medium compression styles.
At the bottom of the page, you can select what currency to show.
Their binders start at $85 CAD ($64 USD).
Packaging is discreet, with no external logo. However, their soft plastic packaging will be labeled as “Origami Customs” with the address of the company. For international shipping, the customs form lists the binder as “clothing”.
They ship internationally with costs calculated at check out.
Spectrum Outfitters
Spectrum Outfitters is located in the UK and is really highly regarded. Due to the UK Brexit customs debacle, they are the most affordable brand for people located within the UK, and they do have both a UK site and a US site. They have long, medium, and short styles. Spectrum also offers a Binder Light, which has less compression and is designed for all-day wear, and you can exercise in it. All of their binders are swim-safe. They are pretty size inclusive, ranging from 2XS to 7XL. For every purchase, they plant a tree, which is cool!
At the bottom of the page, you can select what currency to show.
The Binder Light costs £34 GBP ($41 USD) while the regular binder costs £40 GBP ($46 USD).
They ship discretely, with plain boxes with no logo. On customs forms, the binder is called a vest. On bank statements, they are labeled “SPJONES”.
They ship in the UK and internationally (with customs fees already included in the pricing for EU countries), with shipping calculated when you go to purchase. Shipping is free for UK customers over £30 GBP, which is perfect when you buy one of their binders!
Sock Drawer Heroes
Sock Drawer Heroes is an Australian company that people from Australia and the surrounding countries say are amazing. They range in sizes 2XS to 5XL, with full length and half length binders. They describe their brand as being very sensory-friendly, with non itchy seams, no tags, and soft fabric. They also sell the Underworks brand, and is a great way to obtain those binders without paying shipping costs from the US.
At the bottom of the page, you can select what currency to show.
The Sock Drawer Heroes binders start at $76 AUD ($53 USD), while the Underworks binders start at $66 AUD ($46 USD).
Their packaging is discreet and sent in an unbranded package with a name of “E Spencer” and the return address. Items are wrapped in brown paper for additional privacy.
Shipping starts at $10.95 AUD for orders within Australia, $18 AUD for New Zealand, and $29.95 AUD (and maybe $29.95 USD too? Their website isn’t clear on that) for international shipping.
I wish I had better recommendations for binders made outside of the US, Canada, and the UK, and I have looked, but I can’t find reputable sources or companies that have reviews I can trust! I’m sure they’re out there though, and if anyone has any resources, I’d love if you could leave them in the comments!
Binders I cant recommend
I’m listing these binders because I either do not know enough about them, they haven’t had enough reviews, or because they receive mixed or terrible reviews.
UrBody makes a compression top that is reported to be slightly more compressing than the TomboyX compression top, but not as much as a true binder. There are some reviews from off their website, but not as many as I’d like to get a true idea of their quality. Some people seem to love them, and others say they function just like a regular sports bra.
Some EU binder companies are Untag, Amorsensory, Ursym, Binderme, and Paxsies. I list them because shipping from major binder companies that I recommend isn’t always accessible internationally and folks have noted them as options. I know literally nothing about them and if you’re in the EU, please do your due diligence with looking at reviews especially from other sites like reddit where reviews aren’t curated by the companies.
The Trans Guy Supply brand binders get mixed reviews. Some people are impressed, while others have issues with their quality and their placement of chest tissue. Some people say that they have received the wrong size binder even after measuring, which can be dangerous when they are too small. People do not recommend them for larger chests. Reviewers also say that there isn’t enough stretchiness to the fabric and that it constricts too much. Others love them. I don’t feel comfortable recommending them.
GC2B is well-known company and used to make great binders, but since 2021 their quality has decreased dramatically after they switched manufacturers or suppliers. The labeled sizing of the binder is really variable in actuality, and they tend to fall apart really easily in the binding material after just one to two hand washes. People report that they are having breathing and rib issues with the post 2021 quality binders. They refuse to refund money or issue replacements even though this is a long-standing issue. I cannot recommend them.
Binders from Amazon / Ebay / Alibaba. They can be cheap. They can have people who say that they’ve never had a problem. But most people DO have problems or have had health issues develop after leaving an initial good review but updating it later. I really really strongly recommend that you don’t go this route.
Taping:
There is a method that some people find more useful than binding, which is called taping. Taping spreads your chest tissue out into your armpits and sides, and is done using KT tape. You can wear the tape for several days at a time, and you’re able to swim, exercise and sleep while wearing KT tape. Taping tends to work best for those with smaller chests, although it can definitely be used for larger chests too! There are specific methods for how to apply the tape and how to remove the tape without hurting your skin, and you will need to follow a video guide when learning how to use it
Never ever ever consider using any other type of tape for chest taping due to both skin and tissue safety! Never!
The most commonly recommended brand is called TransTape, and if this interests you, check them out! For clarity, TransTape is a brand name of KT tape. They have video guides that show how to tape safely, and they make a starter kit, which includes nipple guards, jojoba removal oil, and a salve for massaging into your chest after taping. If you’re in Australia or New Zealand (or nearby countries), Sock Drawer Heroes also sells binding tape with their own set of guides.
You can also just buy KT tape (which you can find on sites like Amazon or in stores, and you can also swim/sleep/exercise in), nipple guards, your own jojoba or vitamin E oil, and shea/coco butter, and buying your own supplies might be less expensive than the “official” starter kit.
I don’t have any direct experience with taping, so thus I’ll leave learning more about it as an exercise to the reader.
What if I can’t get flat due to my chest size? What if I can’t bind at all?
When you have a large chest or are on the fat spectrum, it can be really difficult or impossible to achieve a flat look, and there’s no real way around that. There are size inclusive brands as listed above, and they can help to contain, compress, and smooth out your chest, which can still alleviate some dysphoria or dysmorphia. But unfortunately, we have to be realistic with what our bodies can do.
Some people are just unable to bind at all, including those with conditions like scoliosis, asthma, fibromyalgia, connective tissue disease, chronic pain, dense breasts, previous rib damage, or for many other reasons.
For me, I have not had top surgery yet (the full removal of breast tissue), and I have very dense breasts that don’t compress much and make it difficult to achieve a flat look even in my really good binders. I am also on the low end of the fat spectrum (I mention this because am fat-positive and believe in fat liberation, while I still have a great deal of social privilege in this regard) and have fibromyalgia and undifferentiated connective tissue disease that cause chronic pain that is better on some days than others. I can be smoother and somewhat compressed, but there’s no way for me to ever be flat or even close to it.
When people cannot safely bind, comfortably bind, or achieve a flat look, there are different clothing styles that may help. I typically wear flannels and button up shirts with an open front because I like wearing graphic tanks under them. I size up my shirts and flannels, and the extra room on both the tank and the outer layer helps me out a bit in the chest area by hiding the curves some. I also feel comfy in a big ol’ hoodie. However; in general, clothing that is too baggy, especially around the arms, sleeves, and shoulders, can accentuate a larger chest where the fabric drapes. Wearing a lot of layers over a sports bra can help smooth things out. Wearing dark colors is helpful in reducing shadows and depth. If you want to wear bright colors, try patterns that are distracting, causing people to notice the chest less. I am not a fashion expert, but these are things I see recommended most often, and your mileage may vary.
Affordable or Free Binder Options
Binders can be really expensive, as evidenced above. The cheapest option is likely to be Underworks, since their binders all cost less than $40 USD (not including shipping), and are really good quality for their budget price with a range of compression options. But I know that a lot of people don’t have $40 to spend, that they don’t come in their sizes since they don’t offer inclusive sizing, and/or that brand is not available in their country or too costly to ship.
First, I suggest looking for second hand binders. Used binders can be great options for those on a budget, and you can get some really high quality binders for free or for very little money, especially from trans and non-binary folks who have had top surgery and thus don’t need their binders anymore. I suggest looking on social media for a local trans or LGBTQIA+ group, gender clinic, a general LGBTQIA+ non-profit community center, or trans clothing swap or give-away groups. Some may be more worn out than others, and while worn out binders don’t bind very well, they will still do something. And sometimes you can get nearly new binders that someone only wore once or twice, or decided that they just didn’t like the style!
There are charity programs that exist that will give new or gently used binders out for free to those in need, and they are country, region, or local area based. It’s definitely harder to obtain a binder through a program due to many people needing one, but putting yourself on a list or in a lottery doesn’t hurt! Some of these programs have age limits. You can google your state/province/country with “free binder” to see if there is a charity that corresponds with your location. These lists of country-based charities may be helpful.
Final Notes
It takes some trial and error to find a binder you are comfortable in, what style you like, how long you can wear it, and how many days off you have to take before you can bind again. All of these things are different for everyone and are highly personal! Measure yourself carefully, and check out the return policy for a company you are interested in. If you’ve bought a style, worn it a few times, and decided you don’t like it but can’t return it, consider gifting it to someone in need if you have the means and ability.
Learning how to bind safely is critical in ensuring that you don’t cause permanent damage to your body! Please please be safe, and don’t resort to the ace bandages or other such constricting methods. It’s in your best interest to keep your body protected, not cause yourself rib damage, and to keep breathing properly, and if you bind in unsafe ways, you may eventually not be able to bind at all!
I hope that this has helped you or a loved one in figuring out the basics of chest binding, seeing if it is right for you or someone you care about, and learning about reputable brands that you can purchase from with the knowledge that you’re buying something safe! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below!
Thank you so much for this! Very informative!