Getting the right bra size
Measuring yourself
Even though measuring yourself will give you your theoretical bra size, you have to consider that everyone is shaped differently - so your measured bra size should only be considered a starting point to finding the perfect bra.
Taking your bra measurement is simple, requiring only two steps. To begin, you will need two items:
- a reasonably comfortable bra
- a dressmakers measuring tape, which measures in inches
The bra does not have to fit perfectly - if it did, then this exercise would not be necessary!
Step 1: Measure and calculate your band size
Wearing your comfortable bra, take your measuring tape and pass it around your back bringing the ends forward at a line directly under your bust. Making sure the tape is straight and level around your back, pull it taught but not too tight to be uncomfortable, and take your under-bust measurement in inches. (if the measurement is not exactly to the inch, then round this down to the lower number)
- If this is an odd number - add 5
- If this is an even number - add 4
This gives you your band size - this is your theoretical bra size in inches. Remember your band-size!!
Step 2: Measure and calculate your cup size
Next, take the tape measure and again passing it around your back, keeping it level, take a measurement over the fullest part of your bust in inches. Make sure the bra you are wearing is not too baggy as to cause an oversized measurement here. We need that tape to be taught but not too tight to dig in and cause discomfort. This gives you your over-bust measurement in inches. With this number, use the following table to determine your cup size by asking yourself this question:
Is your over-bust measurement (from step 2) smaller or bigger than your band size (from step1)?
-
- If it is:
- Smaller
- Same size
- 1" bigger
- 2" bigger
- 3" bigger
- 4" bigger
- 5" bigger
- 6" bigger
- 7" bigger
- 8" bigger
- 9" bigger
- 10" bigger
- 11" bigger
- 12" bigger
- 13" bigger
- 14" bigger
- UK*
- AA
- A
- B
- C
- D
- DD
- E
- F
- FF
- G
- GG
- H
- HH
- J
- JJ
- K
- USA*
- AA
- A
- B
- C
- D
- DD/E
- DDD/F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- -
- EUROPE*
- AA
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- -
- -
- ITALY*
- -
- A
- B
- C
- D
- DD
- E
- F
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- AUSTRALIA*
- -
- A
- B
- C
- D
- DD
- E
- F
- FF
- G
- GG
- H
- HH
- J
- JJ
- -
*Read your cup size from the appropriate column for your location
So let's try it out with an example:
In step 1:
.. you get an under-bust measurement of 27.5 inches - we round this down to 27 inches (we always round down).
Because this is an odd number, you add 5 to get your band size.
So this example gives a band size of 32 inches.Then in step 2:
.. you get an over-bust measurement of 34 inches. This is 2" bigger than your band size from step 1.Using the table, this would give you a cup size of C.
So your theoretical Bra size would be 32C*.
(*32 is your band size and C is your cup size)
Even though you now know how to measure your bra size, remember that this should only be used as a starting point. All women are different shapes and sizes so this measurement alone is often far from perfect. The only reliable method is to follow the professional route by trying on bras to find the perferct fit. Please take a look at our guide and video in our next section which takes you through the process of - finding the perfect fit.