Abstract Sandy coasts of the world are in retreat for several years. In this context, dune-spits seem to be particularly in danger. They are submitted to fast evolutions due to the modifications of climatic or anthropogenic parameters. The comparison of aerial photographs from the National Geographical Institute and the direct surveying of some spits have allowed to analyse the evolution of 15 breton dune- spits since the 1950s. Although they have different morphologies and grain size distribution, 12 of them have a negative sedimentary balance. In some cases, the interannual dynamics were continuously negative. But in some other sites, retrait and progression of the coastline alternated. Only 3 spits have a long term positive sedimentary b...