Bra measuring guide
Wearing a great fitting bra will help your clothes look and feel great. Unfortunately, more than 70% of women are wearing the wrong size and style of bra.
Use this easy guide to discover the correct bra and cup size for you.
1. Bra size (band measurement)
Without any clothes on your top half, including a bra, measure yourself in inches around the ribcage below your bust, making sure the tape measure is tight and doesn’t slide down at the back. This gives you your band measurement.
- The general rule of thumb for all measuring is: less than half an inch, round DOWN, more than half an inch, round UP. So if your initial measurement is 32.25 inches, call it 32.
- Calculate your bra size. If the band measurement is 33 or less, add 5 to that number. Over 33 inches add 3. Round odd numbers up to even.
2. Cup size
Measure yourself in inches around the fullest part of your breasts, usually over the nipples – the tape measure should be loose.
To work out the cup size, subtract the band measurement from the breast measurement = difference.
Check the difference against the chart below:
| Difference | UK | USA | Europe |
| Less than one inch | AA | AA | AA |
| Same size | A | A | A |
| Up to one inch | B | B | B |
| Up to two inches | C | C | C |
| Up to three inches | D | D | D |
| Up to four inches | DD | DD | E |
| Up to five inches | E | DDD | F |
| Up to six inches | F | E | G |
| Up to seven inches | FF | F | H |
| Up to eight inches | G | FF | I |
 |
Example 1:
If the band measurement was 26 inches, then add 5 to find the bra size. This adds up to 31, so round this up to the next even number = 32
The measurement around the fullest part of the breast was 35 inches, then 35 minus 32 = 3 giving a cup size of D (see the table above)
Select from bras which are size 32D
Example 2:
If the band measurement was 34.5 inches, then add 3 to find the bra size. This adds up to 37.5, so round this up to the next even number = 38
The measurement around the fullest part of the breast was 39 inches, then 39 minus 38 = 1 giving a cup size of B (see the table above)
Select from bras which are size 38B
This is a guideline only; as with tops, dresses, suits, etc. not all manufacturers produce the same shapes and sizes. You will have to try some different bras on and see which feel most comfortable and give you enough support.
The average bust size in the UK is now 36C – so the back size is 36 and the cup size is C.
Treat yourself with courtesy and respect – get fitted properly!
If in doubt, have yourself measured properly at a specialist lingerie shop.
In the UK, Marks and Spencer offer a bra-fitting service that certainly helped me to update my undies drawer!
And I strongly suggest that you re-measure yourself regularly or go to an expert. Your body changes with the seasons, with your moods, with your monthly cycle, with your diet, with exercise (or lack of it).
Don’t take for granted that your bosom will always remain the same – because YOU certainly don’t.
