Girls' Swimsuits

A girls' swimsuit is built for one of three uses: pool and beach play, swim team practice and meets, or learn-to-swim and water safety. Girls' swimwear on this page covers one-piece swimsuits, tankinis, two-piece sets, swim dresses, rash guard sets, and float suits across baby through teen sizing. The right pick comes down to age, activity, and how often the suit hits chlorinated pool water.

One-Piece Swimsuits, Tankinis, and Two-Piece Sets

• One-Piece Swimsuits: Full torso coverage in scoopneck, V-neck, square-neck, and high-neck cuts. The standard pick for swim lessons and full-day pool sessions where the suit needs to stay in place during active swimming. Builds across Speedo, TYR, Sporti, and Dolfin for everyday use.

• Tankini Sets: A tank-style top paired with separate bottoms, covering the midsection like a one-piece with the convenience of a two-piece for bathroom breaks. Boyshort, skirted, and moderate-coverage bottoms are standard.

• Rash Guard Sets and Sunsuits: A matching long-sleeve or short-sleeve UPF 50+ top paired with a swim bottom, or a single-piece sunsuit covering torso and shoulders. The best pick for beach days, snorkeling, and long outdoor pool sessions where UV protection is the bigger concern. See girls' rash guards and girls' sunsuits.

• Swim Dresses: A one-piece swimsuit with an attached skirt layer, adding torso and upper-thigh coverage. The standard pick for shoppers wanting more coverage in a single piece.

Competition and Swim Team Suits

For swim team practice and meets, chlorine-resistant polyester one-pieces in racerback, crossback, and micro-back cuts stay put through flip turns and starts. Speedo, TYR, Arena, and Dolfin all produce junior-sized competition suits at $30 to $60. Tech suits compress the body for race day in entry-level, mid-tier, and elite tiers, with separate sizing for 12-and-under swimmers. See girls' competition and training swimsuits for race-day and practice cuts. Many teams require a black or solid-color suit for daily practice.

Sizing by Age

Girls' swimwear is sized in five brackets: Baby (0-24M), Toddler (2T, 3T, 4T, 4, 5), Little Kid (6, 6X), Big Kid (7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16), and Junior (Performance Kids 20 through 30). Each brand publishes its own size chart, so measuring chest, waist, and hip and matching to the chart gives the best fit. Sizing runs tighter on competition cuts than on fashion or recreational cuts, so check the fit notes on swim team suits. Many parents size up on everyday suits to extend the usable season as kids grow.

Sun Protection and Learn-to-Swim Gear

UPF 50+ fabric blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays, the highest rating available. Long-sleeve rash guards extend sun protection across the torso and arms during long pool or beach days. For extra leg coverage during paddling and beach play, see girls' board shorts. For babies and pre-walkers, girls' swim diapers are required at most public pools for children not yet potty-trained. Float suits add foam panels in the chest and back to keep new swimmers level in the water during first lessons.

Care and Durability

A chlorine-resistant polyester suit lasts one to two seasons of regular pool use. Standard nylon-spandex suits last a few months of frequent pool use before the fabric starts to thin or fade. Rinse the suit in cool fresh water after every swim to wash out chlorine and sunblock, avoid the dryer, and lay flat to dry away from direct sun. For growing kids, size is usually the limiting factor before fabric wears out. Pack a separate dry bag for the wet suit on travel days so the rest of the gear stays dry.