Shein Kids Swim Review [2026]
Today we’re talking all about Shein kid’s swimsuits in this unsponsored review (I bought every one of these swimsuits myself and all opinions are my own).
Shein Kids Swimsuit Review: Girls and Boys
We’ve been ordering swimsuits from Shein since 2022, so this review is now backed by four full summers of sand, chlorine, sunscreen, and a whole lot of washing. Living in California, my kids are in and out of the water nine-plus months of the year, which means a swimsuit gets put through more here in one year than it might somewhere with a short summer. That’s a big part of why I waited to write this: I wanted to actually see how these suits held up over time, not just how cute they looked the day they arrived. (It’s the same 100 hours guarantee promise I make on everything I review here.)
Over the years I’ve ordered a handful of girls suits and one boys suit. Just like with everything else, Shein has a million darling kids swim options when you search. They’re almost all under $20, with plenty under $10 once you factor in a coupon. At that price they’re cheaper than Target. The real questions are:
- Will they hold up to playing in sand and chlorine all summer?
- Will they be comfortable?
- Will they run true to size?
- And the one I get asked most now: do they have any sun protection?
What I compared Shein swim against
To give you a frame of reference, I’m comparing Shein kids’ swim to the other suits we’ve owned in the same stretch of time:
- Amazon (Hope + Henry line)
- J.Crew
- Hanna Andersson
- Target
- Ralph Lauren
- Millie Loves Lily (I love their boy’s swim shorties)
Here’s how Shein kids swimsuits stack up.
First impressions of Shein kids swim
Every one of the girls swimsuits I’ve ordered has been so cute right out of the bag. They don’t seem drastically different from something I’d order from Amazon or Target.
The pair of boy’s swim trunks, on the other hand, was disappointing. They were thin and unlined. I was pretty convinced my picky 7-year-old, who cares a lot about comfort and is used to wearing nicer suits, would never choose to put them on.
Shein kids swimsuit fit and sizing
Shein kids swimsuits fit true to size, or a tiny bit big, so go ahead and order your child’s regular swim size. If your kid is between sizes or you want a suit to stretch into next summer, sizing up one is a safe bet since the fabric has a little give. I have not had to size up or down to make a suit work, which is more than I can say for some of the fast-fashion clothing I’ve ordered.
Shein kids swimsuit quality (this is where I was surprised)
This is the part that changed my mind. I expected a $7 swimsuit to be a fun option for a few months one summer and then get tossed. I expected the colors to fade in the wash the way our Target and Amazon suits do.
Instead, the color and vibrancy have held up through a full year of wearing and washing. In the same stretch where a $25 Hope + Henry suit from Amazon faded from vibrant to pastel, our Shein suits kept their color. The pink striped suit my daughter wears in these photos went well over a year of being washed and worn dozens of times before it started to show real wear.
Are they the same quality as a $50 J.Crew suit? No. But they have held up as well as, and in some cases better than, suits costing two to three times more.
Shein vs. the other brands: a quick comparison
Here’s the at-a-glance version after four summers of testing these side by side:
| Brand | Typical price (kids) | Color after ~1 year | Fit | Lining / quality notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shein | $7–$20 | Held vibrant | True to size | Girls suits surprisingly durable; boys trunks thin |
| Target | $15–$25 | Faded noticeably | True to size | Fine for a season, fades fast |
| Amazon (Hope + Henry) | ~$25 | Faded to pastel | True to size | Cute prints, color didn’t last for us |
| Hanna Andersson | $30–$45 | Held well | True to size | Durable, great UPF options |
| J.Crew | $40–$55 | Held well | True to size | Best overall quality, highest price |
Do Shein kids swimsuits have UPF or sun protection?
As far as I can tell, there’s no added UPF or UV protection built into the Shein kids suits we’ve ordered, and the listings don’t advertise any. If sun protection is your top priority (especially for a baby or for long beach days), this is the one real trade-off versus a brand like Hanna Andersson, which makes UPF 50+ a selling point.
What we do: for full days in the sun, I put my kids in a UPF rash guard or a swim cover-up over their suit and stay on top of reapplying sunscreen. A cute, cheap Shein one-piece plus a good rash guard has been a budget-friendly combo that still keeps little shoulders covered. Or we just use the Shein suits for a one our pool day vs a full day at the beach. If you want the suit itself to do the sun-blocking work, spend up for a labeled UPF suit instead.
How to make Shein swimsuits last
A big reason ours have lasted is care, and swimsuit care is the same no matter where the suit came from. A few habits that have kept ours going:
- Skip the dryer. Lay flat or hang to dry in the shade, since heat and direct sun are what break down the elastic and color.
- Wash gentle and cold, and skip the fabric softener.
- Avoid sitting on rough pool decks in the suit, which is what pills and snags the fabric fastest.
What about Shein boys swim trunks?
I still generally avoid buying boys swim trunks from Shein. The one pair we ordered was unlined and thin. That said, my son has worn them several times without complaining and reports they’re “pretty comfortable.” So if you’re on a tight budget, they’re not a bad option, I just wouldn’t make them your only pair.
Also, I only ordered one pair four years ago so they might have improved since then. Shein carries a million different SKUs so check the reviews and there have got to be some good options on there.
Shop my current Shein kids swim picks
Shein kids swim tends to sell out fast and not get restocked, so exact suits come and go. Here are the styles I’d point you to this season:
- Girls floral one piece (giving Agua Bendita and I want it in my size)
- Girls textured one piece (under $10 and comes in lots of colors)
- Boys striped swim trunks
Shein kids swim: the verdict
We’re big fans of the one-piece girls swimsuits we’ve ordered from Shein over the years. They aren’t $50-suit quality, but they hold up as well as (or better than) the $20-plus suits we’ve had from Target and Amazon, and they cost a fraction of the price. If you want built-in sun protection, look elsewhere or layer a rash guard. But for cute, durable, budget girls swim that survives a real California summer, Shein has earned a spot in our pool bag.
If Shein shopping in general is new to you, you might also want to read Is Shein Legit in 2026? The Good and the Bad After 10 Years of Shopping and my full Shein Kids Clothes Review + Tips Before You Order. You can find every Shein review and tip in one place over at my Shein Hub.
Shein Kids Swim FAQ
If you’re looking for a cute swimsuit for your kids on a budget, these are great options!
Shein kids swimsuits don’t compare to the quality of J.Crew but, in our experience, they last longer than suits 2-3x the price from Amazon or Target. They don’t fall apart and the ones we’ve had have lasted my kids over a year (by which time they’re growing out of suits anyway).
The one Shein boy’s swimsuit we ordered was unlined and I don’t plan on ordering another one. My son doesn’t complain and picks to wear it from time to time.
We’ve had one Shein suit for a year and a half (worn regularly for at least 12 months of that) and it is about time to retire. It has stretched out a bit and there is some popsicle stain I can’t seem to get out (which is my fault).
Depending on how often you swim, how hard your kids are on swimsuits, these might not be ones you pass down from kid to kid but they’ll last you a full summer or two of swimming.
No, as far as I can tell, there is no additional UV protection in Shein kids swimsuits.
Yes, in our experience Shein kids swimsuits run true to size or just slightly big. Order your child’s regular swim size, and size up one if you want a little extra room to grow into for next summer.
No. The Shein kids suits we’ve ordered don’t have any added UPF or UV protection, and it isn’t advertised on the listings. If sun coverage is a priority, layer a UPF rash guard or cover-up over the suit, or choose a brand like Hanna Andersson that builds in UPF 50+.
Shop Shein Girl’s Swim Picks (under $10)
