How To Measure Yourself For a New Bra

Anyone who’s found The One knows that a good bra is essential to feeling and looking great. It can improve posture, reduce back pain, make your clothing look better, and at the very least, make you feel more confident.

It’s all too easy to wear the wrong bra size, so if you find yourself squirming inside your cups, tugging at the band of your bra, and looking forward to the moment you can discard it after a long day, read on. We’ll help you find your perfect fit.

Before You Start

Have a friend (or your partner) to help you with the measurements.
When taking measurements, be sure to stand up straight and exhale fully.
Note: Inches do not equal size, meaning 34 inches does not equal a size 34 band (Ugh, confusing, I know, but we didn’t make the rules).

Step 1: Bra Band

Take off your top and wear an unlined, non-padded bra. Now run the measuring tape all the way around your back where your band sits, being careful to keep the tape level. It should be as snug as possible without digging. If you don’t get a whole number, round to the nearest whole number, and then use the chart below to find your band size.

Step 2: Cup Size

Run the measuring tape around your back, just under your shoulder blades, and up around the fullest part of your bust. The tape should just skim the bra in front.

Now, subtract the difference

subtract your band size from your bust measurement. The difference in inches corresponds to your cup size below.

If you have purchased a bra (either from us, or elsewhere) and the size isn’t quite right, it’s easy to work out what’s gone wrong and how to find the right size for you.

SIZING GUIDELINES

DIFFERENCE	CUP SIZE
1″	A
2″	B
3″	C
4″	D
5″	DD or E
6″	DDD or F
7″	G

EXPERT TIP

Bra cups are ‘cross graded’ which means the same cup is used for several different ‘sister’ sizes. If your band is too tight, but the cup fits perfectly, then you need to go up a band size and down a cup size (this will make the band 2″ longer, but the cup the same as the first size).

SISTER SIZES

For example, the sizes 30D, 32C, 34B and 36A all have the same cup volume and use the same underwire. The difference between those sizes is the band.

WIRE	BRA SIZE
28	30A
30	30B	32A
32	30C	32B	34A
34	30D	32C	34B	36A
36	30DD	32D	34C	36B	38A
38	30DDD	32DD	34D	36C	38B	40A
40	30G	32DDD	34DD	36D	38C	40B
42	30H	32G	34DDD	36DD	38D
44	30I	32H	34G	36DDD	38DD	40D
46	30J	32I	34H	36G	38DDD	40DD
48		32J	34I	36H	38G	40DDD
50			34J	36I	38H	40G
52				36J	38I	40H
54					38J	40I
56						40J