The Ultimate Guide for Finding Your Bra Size

In 2008, a company that manufactures bras conducted a study to see if women are wearing the correct size bra. As it turns out, we aren’t. Triumph – the company that completed the study – found that 80% of women wear a bra in the wrong size.

You’ve probably heard that statistic before. However, the part that may be new is that 70% of these women were wearing bras that are too small, while the remaining 10% wore bras that are too big.

Finding the right sized bra isn’t necessarily easy. Each store has styles that fit differently, depending on the material, cut, and internal sizing guides. Throw in some bra with padding, some with push up, and some that are thinly lined, and you’ve got a variety of bras to choose from that are all labeled as the same size but don’t fit the same.

Am I Wearing the Right Size?

Now that you know so many women are wearing the wrong bra size, you’re probably wondering if yours is right. There are some signs that indicate you are wearing the wrong size. In order to make sure you always have the right size, get a bra sizing every year. Over time your bust will change – hello, gravity – so you need to stay up to date with getting the right size.

Too Small	Too Big
The band rides up your back, instead of sitting straight across.	You have the bra done up on the tightest hooks and you can fit more than two fingers between the band and your back.
The band or straps dig in or pinch your skin.	You feel the bra slide around under your clothes.
You overflow the cups.	There is a gap between your breast and the top of the cup.

Tips for Larger Cup Sizes

Larger busts need more support for the simple reason that there is more there to work with. Fortunately, there are some tips for getting extra support from your bra.

Choose a bra with a higher center gore.

The higher this bit is, the more support you’ll have in the front. This is because more of the fabric of the cups is attached to it, so it is harder for the cups to flop forward.

Look for wider straps.

As any ladies with large busts know, the girls can get heavy during the day. This leads to straps that dig into your shoulders, resulting in bruises, red marks, and sometimes cuts.  

Wider straps help deal with this. Instead of having all of the weight of your bust being held up by a quarter-inch of elastic, it is held up by a wider strap. Because there is more fabric, the weight is distributed more evenly.

Get wider wings.

This also helps with weight distribution. Instead of having a flimsy foundation, wider wings take some of the pressure off the straps. It will also help prevent the band from digging in under your arms.

Pick higher cut cups.

Cups that are cut lower – often called “demi” cut – are not as supportive as full cups. Since the fabric doesn’t go up as high on your bust, there is less material to hold everything in place.

Find Your Size

Despite the fact that each store sizes their bras differently, having an accurate measurement to start with will save you tons of time and trouble. You can get measured at any lingerie store, or you can do it yourself before you go.

Measuring yourself at home will give you the most accurate measurement, because you can measure without having a shirt or extra padding from your current bra getting in the way. All you need is a measuring tape.

Step 1- Put on a bra without any padding.

Having extra padding or fabric will change the measurement. You’ll end up with a higher number because of the added material. If you’re at home, skip putting on a shirt.

Step 2 – Measure.

Use a tape measure to find your inches in the following areas, and record the numbers as you go:

The Band

Wrap the tape around yourself under your bust. Make sure the tape is even all the way around, and not higher in the back than it is in the front.

The Bust

Above Your Bust – Wrap the tape just above your bust. This is where the straps and the cups meet. Once the tape is in the right place, put both your arms down at your sides to get the most accurate measurement.

On Your Bust – Wrap the tape around your bust at the fullest part. Put your arms down, hold the tape lightly with your fingers, and take a deep breath. The tape should be snug but not tight. This is the number part of your bra size.

If you come up with an odd number on either measurement, round down to the nearest even number.

Step 3 – Calculate your size.

Bust size minus band size = bra size. This gives you the letter part of your bra size.

Each inch in difference is a cup size. Check the following chart for quick reference. Please note these are Canadian/American sizes. Some stores will use repetitive letters (e.g. DDDD) whereas others will use the next letter in the alphabet (e.g. DDDD = G).

DIFFERENCE (in inches)	CUP SIZE
Less than 1	AA
1	A
2	B
3	C
4	D
5	DD/E
6	DDD/F
7	DDDD/G
8	H
9	I
10	J
11	K
12	L
13	M
14	N

Step 4 – Put the parts together.

Your bust measurement is the number part of the bra size, and the calculated difference in inches is the letter part.

For example, if you measured your bust as 40 inches, and the difference you calculated is 4 inches, your bra size is 40D.

Before You Buy

Before you buy a cute new bra in the size you calculated, make sure you try it on. As we mentioned, each store fits a bit differently, so you may find that the size you figured out isn’t what the store says. Each manufacturer has a margin of error, which can be as much as an inch. For most items, this doesn’t make much difference, but for a bra it can change your cup or band size.

Follow these tips for trying on potential bras to avoid bringing home the wrong one.

1 - Use your calculated size as a starting point, and try on a few different styles in that size. A padded bra will fit differently than a lightly lined one.

2 - Do the jump test. In the fitting room, jump up and down. If anything comes flying out, you’ve got the wrong size. Of course, bits will move, but bouncing is acceptable. Bend forward, and make sure you don’t tip out of the cups.

3 – Pick one from the back of the drawer. The ones at the front, or on top of the table, have likely been tried on by someone else. If it was the wrong size, it has probably been stretched out. This will impact how it fits you.

4 – Try it on the loosest hook. Unfortunately, the elastic doesn’t last forever and over time your bra will stretch out. The bra will be at its most snug when you first buy it. Having it fit comfortably on the loosest hook means you can tighten it as it stretches out instead of buying a new bra.