12 of the Best Comfy Summer Dresses for under $40 on Amazon

Grecerelle Casual Dress is a lovely, simple style to start our list. You can wear this long maxi dress on a hot summer day, and the lightweight, thin fabric will keep you cool and comfy for a day by the pool or beach or dressed up for a night out.

The fabric is a 95% rayon and 5% spandex blend, which is a pretty popular fabrication for the dresses on this list because it is soft, stretchy, and breathable. The use of rayon helps these dresses maintain an affordable price while still feeling super soft and comfy.

A few notable things about this Grecerelle pick- it has pockets which is always a huge plus on a dress, especially if they are large enough to fit a phone. It also has adjustable straps, which are great to help you get a good fit.

Available from Amazon

You can’t go wrong with a t-shirt dress, and you really can’t go wrong with a long-length t-shirt dress. A highly rated, good quality option is the Daily Ritual Lived-in Cotton Maxi Dress.

What is cool about this style is not only is it 100% cotton, the cotton has also been treated with a softening enzyme, so it feels like your favorite broken-in t-shirt.

Fans of this design love it because it is lightweight (but not see-through), breathable and exceptionally versatile, making it perfect for everyday wear when you aren’t quite sure where your day will take you.

Available from Amazon

A beautiful flowy strapless design is this dress from Yidarton. Since it is a boho maxi style, you need to be a little careful with the length, depending on your height and size.

The fabric is a cotton blend that is a little thin but feels super soft and cool in hot summer weather. Since it is so light and airy, the fabric adds to the flowy feel of the design.

If you are looking for a long comfy relaxing sundress, this could very well be the design for you. The material is cool, light, and perfect if you are in a hot climate.

Available from Amazon

Amazon shoppers love this DB Moon design that has an empire waist and features that popular 95% rayon and 5% spandex blend that we mentioned above. Reviewers describe the material as lightweight, flowy, soft, and stretchy. This design features all-important pockets, and (bonus!) they are actually deep enough to fit most phones.

This dress is loved for its high comfort level. Some women love the softness and stretchiness of this design so much that they wear this as a nightgown. The length tends to fall around the knees on most women, so it is cool and still flattering, especially if you like to show a bit of leg.

One caution about this pick is that a few of the colors are a little on the sheer side and may need a slip or under layer, if you are wearing it out of the house.

Available from Amazon

Summer is the best time to wear floral prints, and a beautiful cotton sundress is an excellent way to do it. One favorite for many Amazon shoppers is this PrettyGarden Women’s Sundress. It is a cute mini dress style that is 100% cotton and features adjustable spaghetti straps for a flattering fit.

A lot of reviewers call this “the perfect summer dress” for a hot day. It is lightweight, and the pattern and colors are beautiful.

If you have a larger bust, you may have issues with the buttons down the front gaping a bit on some of the sizes- but it does fit most shapes really nicely.

Available from Amazon

Styleworld’s V Neck Floral Spaghetti Strap Dress has a lot of great things going for it. It is a swing dress design that is pretty much universally flattering. It also has pockets, which everyone loves on a dress, especially in the age of cell phones.

Reviewers say the fabric is breathable and comfy, even in sweltering climates.  Sometimes with v-neck dresses, the plunge can be too deep and make you feel really exposed, but this style doesn’t have that problem. The straps are adjustable to help get a good fit on the chest and adjust how much cleavage is shown.

The hem generally hits most women around the knee or slightly above, which reviewers appreciate. Also, the fabric is thick enough that it’s not see-through, and it’s also soft and keeps you cool.

If you are interested in this dress, many people recommend you go with the Amazon suggested size, not the product’s size chart, to ensure you get the right fit.

Available from Amazon

A wonderful cotton summer dress that is a favorite for the over 50s age range is the Nautica Women’s Breton Stripes Sleeveless V-Neck Stretch Cotton Polo Dress. It is 95% cotton and 5% elastane blend that is soft, stretchy, and breathable.

Women love this style because it is of great quality fabric, flattering fit and because it can easily be dressed up or down.

Available from Amazon

A summer dress that is popular for plus-size women looking for a comfy, flattering design is the Verdusa Batwing Sleeve Caftan Harem Oversized Maxi Dress. As far as comfort goes, it doesn’t get better than this dress. The fabric is (again!) 95% rayon and 5% spandex.

Call it a harem, a caftan, or a maxi dress – whatever you choose, you won’t find this style tight or restricting, just pure comfort. Women love the fit, feel and look of this design.

You can add a belt to it to jazz it up or wear it loose and flowy. Even though it is pretty loose and baggy, reviewers say that it is actually really flattering and stylish while feeling like you are wearing pajamas.

Available from Amazon

Not to leave out the ladies who love a good bodycon dress, this cute style from BTFBM is a great option for summer when you want to look cute and also be really comfy.

This top is basically a t-shirt, while the skirt is a wrap front that has a slimming effect. It has a pretty casual vibe for a bodycon style, but women love the material.

One thing to be aware of is the hem isn’t finished, so this isn’t a great option for work since it is pretty casual. Some ladies love the unfinished hem, others don’t like it at all, but it does give it a different look.

Available from Amazon

My personal favorite on this list is the Lamilus Women’s Summer Casual Ruffle Sleeve Button-Down A-Line Swing Dress. This pretty style is made from a very comfy, soft, and lightweight fabric. It comes in a rainbow of colors, and it is perfect for almost anything you can think of doing in the warmer months.

The sleeves are the standout feature of this dress, making it super flattering. You can wear it casually or more formally, depending on how you accessorize it.

Available from Amazon

Amazon Essentials Women’s Short-Sleeve V-Neck Swing Dress is a versatile style that ticks all of the boxes in terms of comfort. Great fabric, flattering swing design, great length- check, check and check.

It is made from the popular 95% rayon and 5% elastane fabrication popular with dresses sold on Amazon. Shoppers love that jersey knit has a wonderful silky drape to it, and it is thick enough not to be see-through but light enough to feel airy. The other great thing about this design is that you can wear it in pajamas in a pinch since it is so soft.

Available from Amazon

If you are looking for a style that can work for various occasions, the VIISHOW Women’s Short Sleeve Loose Plain Maxi Dresses Casual Long Dresses with Pockets may be a good choice for you.

Reviewers rave about the soft and comfy fabric and that it is a perfect design for any casual setting. Shoppers also love the fit that is flattering without being too revealing.

Available from Amazon