Whether you're hitting purchase on that plane ticket for a summer getaway or planning for a much-anticipated beach resort vacation, days of poolside relaxation and reveling in the sun are soon to come — and we're here to help you prepare a chic closet for when that time finally rolls around. After all, what's more stylish than sitting by the water with a cocktail in hand while fielding compliments about your newest swimwear cover-up? Absolutely nothing.
These affordable cover-ups will protect your skin from the sun while catching everyone's attention. We know you can never have enough options for yourself, so that's why we found plenty of the hottest cover-ups on the market — including one option that won a Shop TODAY Travel Gear Award!
What material beach cover-up is best? | What length cover-up is best for your body? | Shop TODAY Travel Gear Award winner | Expert Picks | Editor favorites | How we chose | Meet the experts
Travel Gear Awards winner$79.00$79.00
What material beach cover-up is best?
Are you ready to strut your stuff on a white sand beach, but looking for a little extra coverage? Choosing the right swimsuit cover-up may be overwhelming, but don't fret!
"When it comes to choosing the best fabric for beach cover-up, comfort, breathability and quick-drying properties are important factors to consider," says personal stylist Charline Zeroual. "You want your fabrics to be light and airy because they should work to keep you cool," she says.
Zeroual recommends the following materials when searching for your ideal cover-up:
- Cotton: "Cotton is one of the most common fabrics for beachwear. It is a natural and sustainable fabric that is breathable and comfortable to wear in warm and humid weather," Zeroual explains. "It is soft, breathable, and absorbs moisture well, which is great for beach activities. Cotton fabrics like chambray or lightweight cotton blends are my favorite choices for beach attire," she continues.
- Linen: "Linen is a natural fabric known for its durability, breathability and lightweight feel. It allows air to circulate, keeping your body cool and comfortable even in hot weather," says Zeroual. "Linen also dries quickly, which is very practical when it comes to beach attire," she explains.
- Gauze: "This natural material is super soft and breathable, perfect for beach attire," says Zeroual.
- Mesh: "Mesh fabric is often used in beach cover-ups, swimwear, and accessories. It is lightweight, breathable, and allows air and water to pass through easily, keeping you cool and comfortable," explains Zeroual.
Doreen Brennan, who is the senior vice president of design and brand strategy at Cupshe, is also a fan of breathable fabrics that are soft and comfortable when it comes to cover-ups. She says that "100% cotton, 100% linen super soft jerseys or rayon blends and knits are great!" Brennan continues, "Not only do you look good, but you also feel super comfortable in these fabrics."
What length cover-up is best for your body?
The good news about cover-ups is that they are extremely versatile and cater to many shapes and sizes. "For women with a larger bust: a cinched tunic or a kimono can give a bit of coverage while highlighting legs," recommends Zeroual.
"If you have a smaller bust, try a fun romper to flatter your body, or pair cover-up pants with a bikini top. If you’re looking for a plus-size cover up, consider a fun tank dress or a shirt dress," Zeroual suggests. "If you’re looking for a petite cover-up look for a maxi dress to elongate your figure," she says.
Brennan recommends investing in a mini length cover-up, a midi length coverup, and a maxi dress coverup. Why? "That way, you can always be comfortable and fit for the occasion; for instance, a maxi dress is great for the beach and then for the bar," explains Brennan.
Shop TODAY Travel Gear Award winner
The award winner: L.L. Bean Hooded Tunic Sand Beach Cover-Up
- Feminine ruching
- May run small
Award: Best Overall Beach Cover-Up | Category: Beach Cover-Up
For commerce photo editor Kara Birnbaum, a trip to the beach often means a sunburned scalp. But thanks to the included hood on this cover-up, that problem is now eliminated. With its with UPF 50+ rated material, the style is designed to protect you from head to knee against harsh sun rays. Plus, it comes in six colors.
"The dress feels very high quality as well and feels like a good length," says Birnbaum. "The zipper length is nice because it allows you to either be modest or show off a little, which most cover ups are normally the extreme of either
Expert-recommended swimsuit cover-ups
For the Hamptons: Cupshe Short Sleeve Cut-Out Cover-Up Dress
- Stylish
- Comfortable
- May run big
Colorways: Five | Sizes: XS-XL | Materials: Polyester
Christina Stein, personal stylist and CEO of Style by Christina, recommends this budget-friendly swimsuit cover-up from Cupshe. Stein loves this darling dress because it is simple, the price is affordable, and you can wear it beyond the pool on vacation. It also comes in a variety of hues, like hot pink and beige.
For the vision in white: Dokotoo Swimsuit Beach Cover Up
- Not too transparent
- Soft and comfortable
- Great for the beach or pool
- May run big
Colorways: 27 | Sizes: XS-XXL | Materials: Polyester
"This beach dress comes in multiple colors, is fairly inexpensive and it comes in sizes up to XXL," says Stein. With its lightweight, soft material, this classy cover-up will keep you cool all summer long. You can also wear this adorable dress out to brunch with friends or to a backyard barbeque.
For the fashionista: Echo New York Delamere Patched Sarong Scarf
- Provides great coverage
- Stylish
- Comfortable
- One size
Colorways: Two | Size: One size | Materials: cotton, modal, cupro
"My personal favorite is the Pareo!" shares Rita Abramson, the stylist and designer behind RiStyled Style & Design Consultants, LLC. "This one gives you the option of wearing it higher on the body like a strapless dress or lower like a skirt if you want to show off your bikini or bathing suit top!" Abramson explains.
For a button-down moment: Tommy Bahama Boyfriend Shirt Cover-Up
- Comfortable
- Chic
- May run small
Colorways: One | Sizes: XS-XL | Materials: Cotton
"A white button-down cover-up is always a great classic option. It works with any color or pattern of shoes, hats, accessories," says Abramson. This trendy option is made of lightweight cotton and features a front button closure. Pair this cover-up with a flattering swimsuit underneath and you'll be ready to strut your stuff down the pier.
For some bold color: Seafolly Breeze Beach Shirt
- Comes in fun colors
- Comfortable
- Hand wash
Colorways: Two | Sizes: XS-XL | Materials: Cotton
"I love a summer set and this vibrant yellow is perfect for apres sun," says Samantha Brown, a New York-based celebrity stylist and author of "Dressing Up: Pip’s Truly Fashionable Tale". The top and pants are sold separately, but the beach shirt alone provides lots of coverage and offers a cute, oversized look.
For the nautical one: Tnuck Beach Capri Blue Majolica Tile Bondie Coverup
- Lightweight
- Flowy
- May run slightly large
Colorways: Four | Sizes: XS-XXXL | Materials: Viscose
"If you're looking for a bit more color, this cover up is fun and goes up to a size XXXL," explains Stein. This flirty frock features a V-neckline, three-quarter length sleeves and tassel neckties. Complete the look with a pair of comfortable flip flops and you're ready to hit the beach!
For the trend-setter: Mytheresa Jennifer Crochet Cotton Minidress
- Crochet style
- Figure flattering
- Pricey
Colorways: One | Sizes: XS-XL | Materials: Cotton
If you're headed to a beach wedding or just looking to splurge this season, this cotton minidress is all the rage. "Crochet is everywhere this season and this green provides a strong pop of color," explains Brown. Heads will turn when you slip on this stunning green number at the beach or community pool.
Shop TODAY editor-loved cover-ups
For the breezy look: Ekouaer Cover Up Shirt
- Doubles as a dress
- Provides great coverage
- Comfortable
- May wrinkle easily
Colorways: 22 | Sizes: S-3XL | Fabric: Polyester
Shop TODAY contributor Jewel Elizabeth loves that this cover-up can double as a dress. This cute, oversized shirt comes in nearly two dozen shades and up to size 3X for a more inclusive fit. This classy cover-up makes the perfect beach accessory for strolling along the shore.
For the stylish beach goer: Venus Bandeau Dress
- Comfortable
- Fashionable
- May run long
Colorways: Three | Sizes: XS-3X | Material: Polyester
Associate editor Allie Wise has been ordering beach cover-ups from Venus since she was a teenager. This bandeau dress is her absolute favorite due it's stylish design and flattering fit. Allie isn't the only one who is a fan of this cover-up as a whopping 94% of customers on the brand's website would recommend this flirty frock to a friend.
For the bold and daring: Mara Beach Pant with Side Slits
- Lightweight
- Fun patterns
- May run big
Colorways: Three | Sizes: 6-24 | Material: Rayon
Associate editor Lauren Witonsky refers to these as the "comfiest, airiest beach pants you will ever wear!" Not only do these pants offer inclusive sizing, but they also come in three unique colors and patterns.
"Sometimes I even wear them out at night during the summer since I love the side slit style so much," Witonsky says.
For the runway model: Josephine Crochet Maxi Dress
- Very breathable
- Comfortable
- Delicate to wash
Colorways: One | Sizes: XS-XL | Materials: Acrylic
"I loved this dress the moment I tried it on," says commerce writer Jannely Espinal. "I wore this for a spa day in Miami Beach and felt like a tropical princess. It’s super breathable, flattering and comfortable. While is see-through, the design allows you to show-off your bathing suit design with elegance. This is a fun cover-up to showcase your personal style without being too revealing (in my opinion)," she explains.
Back to the basics: Sanori Swim White Wavy Sorrento Sarong
- Adjustable
- Stylish
- Only one size
Colorways: Six | Sizes: One size
Witonsky is also obsessed with this side-tie sarong that gives just a little more coverage when leaving the pool or beach. "I have the white one but love that it comes in a bunch of neutral colors to go with bikinis from the collection — or swimsuits you already own! There is only one size, but it’s super stretchy and easy to adjust," she says.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best beach cover-ups for this story using a few methods: enlisting the recommendations of a personal stylist as well as a swimsuit brand executive, combing through top-rated user reviews and selecting shopping editor favorites.
Meet the experts
- Charline Zeroual is a French sustainable personal stylist based in Los Angeles.
- Doreen Brennan is the senior vice president of design and brand strategy at Cupshe.
- Christina Stein is a personal stylist and CEO of Style by Christina.
- Rita Abramson is a stylist, designer and owner of RiStyled Style & Design Consultants, LLC.
- Samantha Brown is a New York-based celebrity stylist and author of "Dressing Up: Pip’s Truly Fashionable Tale"
