We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Orthopedic & Physical Therapy Products Home Office Ergonomics Guide Home Office Ergonomics Guide Overview The 5 Best Carpal Tunnel Braces, Tested and Reviewed Our top picks are comfortable and adjustable and can be switched between the left and right hands. By Sarah Bradley Updated on March 26, 2024 Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, DPT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Print Verywell Health / Amelia Manley Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can start as a slight pain in your hand or an itch that runs down to your fingers, but over time, the symptoms can worsen into persistent pain or numbness. Besides seeing a doctor or physical therapist, a wrist brace is an affordable treatment option at home to reduce your symptoms. Since carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in the wrist is compressed, a brace can keep your wrist in a neutral position, reducing that compression and strain. Physical therapist Susan Eby of Eby Physical Therapy in New York City says wrist braces can effectively relieve carpal tunnel symptoms, particularly in the early stages. To find the best on the market, we tested 12 carpal tunnel braces by having editors each use one at night while they slept for four weeks. During testing, we evaluated the braces for effectiveness, comfort, adjustability, and value. We also had a doctor of physical therapy from our Medical Expert Board review this article for medical accuracy regarding carpal tunnel syndrome, how to use carpal tunnel braces, and the best way to evaluate them. The Limitations of Carpel Tunnel Braces The experts we spoke to recommended only wearing the brace at night unless your symptoms prevent you from being able to function during the day without one. It’s also important to make sure your symptoms are actually due to carpal tunnel syndrome and not something like arthritis. But in the right circumstances, a brace can go a long way toward providing relief. Our Top Picks Best Overall: BRACEOWL Carpal Tunnel Brace at Amazon ($24) Jump to Review Best Overall Runner-Up: Action Tribex Wrist Support Brace at Amazon ($16) Jump to Review Best Budget: Wellgate PerfectFit Wrist Brace at Amazon ($17) Jump to Review Most Comfortable: ComfyBrace Sleep Support Brace at Amazon ($17) Jump to Review Best Glove: Copper Compression Arthritis Gloves at Amazon ($28) Jump to Review In This Article Expand The Limitations of Carpel Tunnel Braces Our Picks We Also Tested How We Tested What to Look For FAQs Why Trust Verywell Health Best Overall BRACEOWL Carpal Tunnel Brace Amazon View On Amazon $24 View On Braceowl.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 4/5 Comfort 4/5 Adjustability 5/5 Overall Value 5/5 Pros Three adjustable straps Can be worn on left or right hand Works quickly with just a few uses Cons Could be more breathable Why We Recommend It A true superstar at relieving wrist pain, the BRACEOWL Carpal Tunnel Wrist Brace impressed us with its easy adjustability and nighttime comfort, making it our best overall pick. After just a few uses, one of our editors noticed that most of her pain was gone when using her computer during the day. It also performed well regarding adjustability. The straps were easy to adjust, and the brace adapted to both the left and right hand without any trouble. The BRACEOWL remained completely compatible with sleep. It didn't interfere with a comfortable night's sleep, and its benefits (legitimate effectiveness at preventing carpal tunnel pain) were well worth it. Compared to some of the other braces we tested, the BRACEOWL was as comfortable and offered as much relief. Keep in Mind The brace could be more breathable for sleeping, but almost every carpal tunnel brace will be somewhat noticeable at night. Key Specs: Sizes: One size | Adjustable: Yes | Material: Cotton/nylon/neoprene | Washing Instructions: Not specified Verywell Health / Cheyann Neades Verywell Health / Cheyann Neades Verywell Health / Cheyann Neades Verywell Health / Cheyann Neades Best Overall Runner-Up Action Tribex Wrist Support Brace Amazon View On Amazon $16 View On Actiontribex.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 5/5 Comfort 3.5/5 Adjustability 5/5 Overall Value 4/5 Pros Very comfortable at night Easy to adjust Budget-friendly Cons Not ideal for daytime use Why We Recommend It The Action Tribex Wrist Support Brace is another great carpal tunnel brace option. We couldn’t have been happier with how comfortable the brace was to wear at night, and we thought the brace was highly adjustable for how securely it fits around the hand. The brace gave us a nice, snug fit that kept the wrist in a neutral position and relieved the ache from being on the computer all day, The bottom line? If you’re looking for a sleep brace exclusively, the Action Tribex may be more comfortable than the best overall pick. It does wonders for relieving hand pain, so while it can’t be worn throughout the day, anyone seeking all-night support will find this the perfect option. Keep in Mind It's in the runner-up position because the product packaging is a bit misleading. The product descriptions and marketing give the impression that this brace can also be used during the day while working at a desk, which our experts advise against. Plus, when we attempted to use the brace at a desk to see how it performed, we found it too confining and uncomfortable. Key Specs: Sizes: One size | Adjustable: Yes | Material: Neoprene | Washing Instructions: Not specified Verywell Health / Daniela Galvez Verywell Health / Daniela Galvez Verywell Health / Daniela Galvez Best Budget Wellgate PerfectFit Wrist Brace Amazon View On Amazon $17 View On Walmart $17 View On Hsastore.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 4/5 Comfort 4/5 Adjustability 4/5 Overall Value 4/5 Pros Light, breathable material Comfortable for sleeping Affordable Cons Sized for women, so may not accommodate larger wrists Takes time to find the right fit Why We Recommend It The Wellgate PerfectFit Wrist Brace is often marked down to astonishingly low sales prices, but even when it’s full-priced, our testing showed it is still a good-quality, comfortable, and effective carpal tunnel brace. It felt secure during sleep, the material was light and breathable, and wearing it at night reduced wrist pain the next day. Getting the right fit took some time, but initial tightness disappeared once we adjusted the straps correctly. Overall, we thought the Wellgate brace was a good budget pick that was generally comfortable and useful in relieving pain. Keep in Mind This one isn’t a miracle worker, and it’s sized for women’s hands (according to the manufacturer), so adjustability is limited. Keep in Mind Key Specs: Sizes: One size, left or right | Adjustable: Yes | Material: Memory foam | Washing Instructions: Hand wash in cold soapy water and air dry Verywell Health / Katie Macdonald Verywell Health / Katie Macdonald Most Comfortable ComfyBrace Sleep Support Brace Amazon View On Amazon $17 View On Walmart $17 Our Ratings Effectiveness 2/5 Comfort 3.5/5 Adjustability 5/5 Overall Value 2.5/5 Pros Soft, comfortable cushioning Doesn’t overheat during sleep Lots of adjustability for larger sizes Cons Too big for smaller wrists Needs to be hand washed Why We Recommend It Although the ComfyBrace Night Wrist Sleep Support Brace would be most effective for someone with larger wrists, we appreciated how comfortable and adjustable it was. With a soft, squishy cushion and breathable fabric, the brace didn’t heat up during sleep. It also offered a lot of flexibility in sizing down to a certain point (and can be used on either hand, eliminating the need to buy two). Keep in Mind That said, if your wrists are smaller, getting a secure and snug fit can be difficult. People with smaller wrists should consider a different product. Key Specs: Sizes: One size | Adjustable: Yes | Material: Neoprene | Washing Instructions: Hand wash Verywell Heath / Kelly Morse Verywell Heath / Kelly Morse Best Glove Copper Compression Arthritis Gloves Copper Compression View On Amazon $28 View On CVS $20 View On Walgreens $20 Our Ratings Effectiveness 4/5 Comfort 4/5 Adjustability 5/5 Overall Value 4/5 Pros Snug, secure fit Adapts to hands Offers streamlined support Cons Fabric is not breathable More expensive than other options Why We Recommend It The Copper Compression Arthritis Gloves are a snug and comfortable option for anyone looking for streamlined support for their carpal tunnel. In testing, we found these gloves to be flexible and supportive but not cumbersome, providing firm support that molded to the hand. They did a good job of keeping hands from twisting or turning (i.e., preventing movements that can aggravate carpal tunnel symptoms). While the gloves aren’t technically adjustable, their stretchy construction allows them to adapt to various hand sizes. If you’re looking for glove-style wrist support, these gloves are top-notch in effectiveness and adjustability. Keep in Mind If you run hot at night or usually have sweaty palms, you might want to search for more breathable gloves. Key Specs: Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large | Adjustable: No | Material: Nylon | Washing Instructions: Not specified Verywell Health / Jessica Hill We Also Tested MUELLER Green Fitted Wrist Brace: This brace was the most uncomfortable product we tested. It was excessively tight, with little room for adjustments even on an average-sized hand. BraceUP Adjustable Wrist Wraps: This wrap was comfortable and easy to adjust but almost too flexible to provide any noticeable support or relief.Featol Carpal Tunnel Wrist Brace: We found the design of this brace to be too bulky for comfort and lacking coverage in a key area (between the thumb and pointer finger) where we needed extra support. How We Tested Carpal Tunnel Braces To find the best carpal tunnel braces, we tested 12 by having editors each use one at night while they slept for four weeks. We assessed the braces based on expert guidance and the following criteria: Effectiveness: We placed the brace on the arm or hand with symptoms and wore it only at night while sleeping for four weeks. We evaluated our overall symptom improvement after four weeks of nightly use. Comfort: We considered fit, wrist position, and hardness. Braces that held our wrists in neutral positions, allowed for mobility in the fingers and thumbs, and provided the right support without being too firm or rigid scored high for comfort.Adjustability: We considered how easy it was to adjust the brace with one hand and whether it was adaptable to left- and right-handed users.Value: After the test concluded, we performed a performance-to-price point assessment to judge whether the financial cost matched the value received. What to Look For in a Carpal Tunnel Brace Comfort and fit: Karena Wu, DPT, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy, says carpal tunnel braces are designed to be rigid enough to immobilize the wrist. They should fit well enough to provide that support, but they shouldn't be so tight they increase compression and pain symptoms, so loose that they don't neutralize the wrist, or bulky enough to interfere with daily life. Wu says that once you have them on, you should immediately feel a positive change in your symptoms. Adjustability: Wu says to choose one with Velcro straps so that you can adjust, tighten, and loosen the fit to your hand. Heather Swain, DPT, owner of Ally Total Physical Therapy, also suggests considering whether the brace's adjustability allows you to switch back and forth between the left and right hand. Otherwise, if you experience symptoms in both hands, you'll need two braces. Material: Swain notes that you should look for breathable material, especially if you're prone to sweating, and washability so you can care for and clean them properly. Most braces are made from neoprene, nylon, cotton, or a combination. Design: Wu says that most carpal tunnel braces are made with a rigid insert along the palmar side of the brace to keep the wrist in a neutral position. These braces usually have adjustable straps so you can create a comfortable fit. Compression-style arthritis gloves are less bulky and flexible but provide ample wrist support. However, these are trickier to size correctly unless they're stretchy enough to accommodate a wide range of hand sizes. Our Experts: We also spoke to experts to discuss what to look for when selecting carpal tunnel braces. The experts we spoke to included: Susan Eby, Physical therapist of Eby Physical Therapy in New York CityHeather Swain, DPT, owner of Ally Total Physical Therapy in Toledo, OhioKarena Wu, DPT, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City Frequently Asked Questions Do braces work for carpal tunnel syndrome? Braces are generally effective as long as your symptoms are actually caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. But it's hard to know exactly how effective they are since people are often misdiagnosed. If your symptoms aren't caused by carpal tunnel, a brace designed for carpal tunnel won't help much. What type of brace is best for carpal tunnel? Eby says braces that stabilize the wrist in a neutral or slightly extended position should help ease symptoms. The brace should be snug but not tight, allow comfortable finger movement, and not worsen symptoms by placing too much pressure on the wrist. Most of our experts warned against one-size-fits-all braces, though if you have an average-sized hand and wrist, you may be able to wear one comfortably. How many hours a day should you wear a carpal tunnel brace? Swain says you should wear a brace for six to eight hours, even at night. Avoid wearing the brace all day, as this can negatively affect your muscles and circulation. Take frequent breaks if you need to use the brace during the day and at night. Eby says you can wear the brace regularly for about four to six weeks, then gradually decrease use for about four additional weeks. You don’t want to wear a brace indefinitely or for long periods unless under the supervision of a doctor. How long does it take for a wrist brace to help carpal tunnel? There’s no definitive answer. For most cases of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, says Eby, symptoms should resolve within six to 12 weeks. More severe cases, however, may require carpal tunnel release surgery.You can maximize the results of your brace, Eby adds, by addressing any underlying causes that might be contributing to your symptoms; consider making workplace modifications, improving your posture, increasing therapeutic exercises, and seeking care for medical conditions that can exacerbate carpal tunnel syndrome, like arthritis and ganglion cysts. Why Trust Verywell Health Sarah Bradley has been a freelance writer since 2017, tackling health commerce articles, product reviews, and shopping guides on everything from dry skin moisturizers and wart removers to menstrual cups and toothbrushes for braces. As someone who spends several hours per day on a computer, she has suffered carpal tunnel pain before and knows how important it is to find a comfortable and well-fitting brace to alleviate her symptoms. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. (n.d.). See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit