The 5 Best Carpal Tunnel Braces of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Pain in the carpal tunnel region can make everyday activities like typing at your computer challenging if left untreated. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can start as a slight pain in your hand or a tingle 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.

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. 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. 

There are limitations: 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. 

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 rated the carpal tunnel braces on a scale of 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (highly recommend) for effectiveness, comfort, and adjustability. 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.

We Also Tested

• MUELLER Green Fitted Wrist Brace at Amazon: In testing, this brace was the most uncomfortable product we tried. It was excessively tight, with little room for adjustments, even on an average-sized hand. 
• BraceUP Adjustable Wrist Wraps at Amazon: This wrap was comfortable and easy to adjust but almost too flexible to provide any noticeable support or relief.
• Featol Carpal Tunnel Wrist Brace at Amazon: 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 the Carpal Tunnel Braces

To find the best carpal tunnel braces, we asked editors experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome to evaluate their braces for effectiveness, comfort, and adjustability. We read the manufacturer’s instructions for use, placed the brace on the arm or hand with symptoms, and wore the brace for four weeks only at night while sleeping. 

For 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 amount of support without being too firm or rigid scored high for comfort. For adjustability, we considered how easy it was to adjust the brace with one hand. For effectiveness, we rated our overall symptom improvement after four weeks of nightly use. 

We also spoke to experts to discuss what to look for when selecting carpal tunnel braces. The experts we spoke to included:

• Physical therapist Susan Eby of Eby Physical Therapy in New York City
• Heather Swain, DPT, owner of Ally Total Physical Therapy in Toledo, Ohio
• Karena Wu, DPT, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City

What to Look For in a Carpal Tunnel Brace

Cost 

According to Heather Swain, DPT, owner of Ally Total Physical Therapy, a carpal tunnel brace can cost anywhere from $5 to $50. But spending more money does not necessarily mean it will be a more effective brace, she warns, so you don’t have to break the budget. It’s better to choose a more comfortable and effective brace, even one at the lower end of the price range, than an expensive one you can’t wear or that doesn’t work. 

Comfort and Fit 

Carpal tunnel braces are designed to be rigid enough to immobilize the wrist, says Karena Wu, DPT, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy. And it’s important that it fits you well enough to provide that support: It shouldn’t be so tight that it increases compression and pain symptoms nor so loose that it doesn’t neutralize the wrist at all.  

Because you’ll be wearing the brace, ideally, for six to eight hours per day, it should also be comfortable, which means the material shouldn’t rub or irritate your skin. You’ll know you’ve found the right brace for you when you feel better using it, notes Wu: “It should almost immediately make a positive change in [your] symptoms and feel good on [your wrist].” 

When choosing a carpal tunnel brace, ensure it fits you well and isn’t bulky, says Karena Wu, DPT, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City. Bulky braces will interfere with your activities (even if it’s just sleeping!), and one-size-fits-all braces can pose a problem for anyone who doesn’t fit the prescribed sizing, such as petite people.

Adjustability  

Our hands are as different as we are, so a one-size-fits-all brace will never truly be one-size-fits-all. If you can’t find a brace with different sizes, make sure you choose one with velcro straps, says Wu, so you can adjust the fit to your hand. With adjustable straps, you can tighten or loosen the brace as needed, depending on your activity level.

You may also want to consider if the adjustability of a brace allows for you to switch back and forth between the left and right hand, says Swain. Otherwise, you’ll need two separate braces if you experience symptoms in both hands.

Material  

Most braces are made from neoprene, nylon, cotton, or a combination of these materials. There’s no single material that’s best for wrist braces, but there are some things to consider Swain notes:

• Breathability. If your hands are prone to swelling, trapping them in a material that retains heat will only make your swelling worse.
• Washability. If you expect your brace to get dirty—either from going about your day or sweating during the night—you’ll need to know if it can be washed (and, if so, how). Check to see if your brace is machine washable or hand wash/spot clean only. 

Design 

Most carpal tunnel braces are made with a rigid insert along the palmar side of the brace, says Wu, to keep the wrist in a neutral position. These braces usually have adjustable straps so you can create a comfortable fit. 

However, some people prefer to use compression-style arthritis gloves, which are less bulky and more flexible but still provide ample wrist support. These are trickier to size correctly, though, unless they’re stretchy enough to accommodate a wide range of hand sizes.

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.