As a Mum to a teenage girl, finding suitable (age appropriate) bikinis for teen girls is becoming an annual palaver.
Like many girls her age, Flea loves swimming, and being on the beach. But it’s increasingly important to Flea that her swimwear looks just right.
My girl used to be happy with board shorts and a rash vest I’d choose from somewhere like Boden. These days, it’s got to be a bikini, and she’s ridiculously particular about designs. But then – so am I.
Flea is still in her teens, she’s not 20. She doesn’t need teeny triangles or something that makes her look five years older than she is. She needs strong straps and decent coverage.
Because when you’re a young girl, nothing’s more inhibiting than worrying you might inadvertently flash some strangers on the beach. And when you’re still at school, your swimwear shouldn’t involve the need to shave your bikini line (imho).
Last summer, after a lot (seriously, a LOT) of hunting we found the crop top bikini at the top of this page. It was in the girls’ range at River Island. Flea thought it was really cute, and I was also happy with the coverage. There are loads of designs available in this year’s collection.
But River Island only provides these suits in sizes up to 11-12.
Newsflash, River Island: just because my girl is over 12, doesn’t mean I want her wearing these items…
Honestly, it’s a similar story at a lot of my go-to retailers. Either the girls’ swimwear stops at age 12, or is too revealing, or it goes too far the other way. No 13-year-old that I know wants to be wearing the same as the 5-year-old who’s building a sandcastle down the beach.
Okay, enough complaining.
We’ve put in the hard work so you don’t have to. Here are 12 fab bikinis for teen girls. We reckon they’re cool enough for the most discerning teen. But they’re practical and modest enough to please parents, too. Please note that some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I’ll make a small commission if you click through and buy.
12 of the Best Bikinis for Teen Girls & Tweens
Charmleaks High Neck Bikini, £15.99
Looking for a sporty bikini for a teen girl?
This high neck bikini from Charmleaks has many 5* reviews on Amazon and is available in a huge range of colours and patterns. It combines a high waist pant with a high neck bikini top. It looks super comfortable for teens and won’t involve re-adjusting their swimwear every time they get out of the pool.
It’s a women’s design so best for older girls in their teens, probably 13+. And you can’t argue with the price!
H&M, Sports Bikini, £17.99
H&M has a range of what they call ‘sports bikinis’ that offer great coverage plus modern styling that will meet the approval of teens. This sports top bikini costs less than £20 and is made from recycled materials. It’s lined, so won’t go see-through when it’s wet.
The design is available in this taupe colour, but also in black, with a choice of bikini bottoms to match.
Superdry, Swim Sport Bikini Top, £15 (currently half price)
In our family, Superdry is considered officially ‘cool’ by the teenager, so I was thrilled to find a really decent range of bikinis for tween and teen girls in stock this summer.
Alongside colourful regular bikinis, there are these racer style bikini tops that offer lots of coverage for younger girls, with a range of colours and designs. The crop top style and sleeveless design means they’ll still get plenty of sun without the worry of being too exposed, or catching the sun on their chest. They’re usually £29 but are currently on sale at £14.99.
New Look, Pink Ruched Bikini, £11.99
This pink bikini is so pretty and cute, and one of my teenager’s favourite bikinis for 2022. It’s less utilitarian than some of the sporty designs, with a pink gathered bikini top and ruching on the bottom. A bow completes the illusion of a tie-fastening on the top. At the same time, both parts of this bikini offer great coverage, making them age appropriate for even younger teens.
It’s currently 25% off at New Look, making this a complete BARGAIN! Buy it here.
New Look, Pink Textured Bikini Top, £11.99
Another great teen bikini buy from New Look, this textured bright pink bikini is a gorgeous option for the summer – and it’s available in three colours! I love this bikini for the wide straps, high waist, comfy stretch and fully lined fabric, making it ideal for tweens who want to wear a bikini, but need to be age-appropriate.
New Look, Rainbow Halter Bikini for Teens, £14
I don’t often see tankini designs that work well for all ages, but I think this tankini from New Look comes pretty close.The girls’ range at New Look is generally a GREAT place to look for cute, appropriate bikinis for teens and tweens. The store has women’s bikinis but also suits in a variety of styles for girls aged 11-16. This halter suit is a tankini style for girls aged 10-15, and offers a mid-rise bikini bottom with a cute rainbow trim. Buy one here.
Sunuva, Crop Halter Bikini for Teens, £44
Sunuva actually has a section on its site devoted to teens aged 9-16, with loads of mix and match options including bikinis, shorts, rash vests and crop rash vests. Check out the range here.
Everything has 50+ UVA protection, which is always a bonus in our fair-skinned family. Don’t forget to sign up to the mailing list for 20% off. I would say, 100% this is one of the best range of bikinis for teen girls that I’ve found. I love that Flea can swim on the beach, add a pair of shorts, and be instantly ready to pop for lunch somewhere.
One thing to note – the teen bikini tops (as opposed to the crop tops and halters) are teeny tiny triangle things and won’t cover up your teen’s chest if they’re anything above an A-Cup. I had to confiscate Flea’s before she had a chance to cause a public incident!
This halter bikini is lovely, though, and has a matching set of bottoms, and a rash top that Flea can wear over the top for added sun protection during the hot parts of the day.
Matalan, Candy Bikini for ages 10-16, £10
The Candy rage of girls bikinis at Matalan is suitable for teens and tweens aged 11-16 and there are a variety of styles and colours.
This modern crossover strap version is available in three colours and I think the top is fashionable enough for teens while still offering great coverage, lined fabrics and strong straps that won’t collapse every time your girl throws herself into the swimming pool. And – added bonus – they’re great value, starting at just £10.
It’s great value and I think a simple classic that will suit most picky teens! Check out the range here.
Roxy Wildness Crop Bikini Top, £36
Now, this isn’t the cheapest bikini top on the list but if you’re losing hope at finding a bikini that your teen will want to wear and that you’ll be happy with, this navy bikini crop top from Roxy might be worth a look. It’s got that summer festival/surf vibe that my teen loves, while also offering a robust option for swimming and playing in the sea. Available from amazon here.
Tommy Hilfiger Girls Bikini, £34
This Tommy Hilfiger bikini is a modern classic, with thick cross straps that are staying put no matter what, and a dark blue design that’s offering loads of coverage.
It’s available in sizes Age 8 to 14, making this a great option for younger tweens and teen girls who want to wear a bikini while being age appropriate. Get yours on Amazon here.
Monsoon, Palm Print Teen/Tween Bikini, £18
Honestly, I just love the design of this bikini from Monsoon. It’s colourful, but sophisticated. Made entirely from sustainable fabrics, it’s available in sizes from age 7 to 15, making it perfect for tweens and teens alike. Check out the Monsoon site here.
There you have it! Our guide to the best bikinis for teens this summer. Let us know your favourites in the comments!
Such a great post. I have a 13 year old too and we’ve just been on holiday… The struggle to find something appropriate was tricky!! Like you, we went for a couple of the New Look bikini’s which were perfect… It was hard to get the balance between childlike and beach babe though!!
I love your choices.
These are great ! Yes difficult to get it right – I like the Monsoon one
Perfect. Mine is not a fan of a tankini sadly, but loves the crop top style of bikini. We found one in Primark that has lots of really pretty straps, plus an overlay frill that says cool bikini without being skimpy.
In defence of Boden, my super tall seven year old has just grown out of age twelve clothes so they are a massive hit with us because she still is the little girl making a sandcastle! These are a wonderful collection though and there are quite a few would suit her without being too old so I shall be bookmarking and shopping!!
These are brilliant choices Sally! I’m actually looking for something similar to the Jack Wills suit myself. I have been wearing one piece for years and want to try to go back to a bikini but want something with more coverage. The New Look ones are very cute too!
Thank you for saving me hours trawling through websites trying to find suitable ones, I have the same problem every year for the three girls, that’s E sorted, my only problem this year is that both N and X no longer fit in teens, half the women’s choices I wouldn’t even wear myself, not everyone wants teeny tiny triangles on the beach!! Although a good excuse for a girlie shopping day!
Thank you SO MUCH for this. My small 12yr old is desperate for something that doesn’t scream “I’m still a little girl” but that actually fits her while not being totally inappropriate.
Going to go through this post with her later. Hopefully find something that we both like!
I am looking forward to going to the beach with my kids. My body isn’t perfect, but it’s a beautiful thing not to care what others think of how I look