How to Measure Your Bra Size: A Comprehensive Guide
Finding the right bra size is essential for comfort, support, and confidence. Many women wear bras that don't fit properly, leading to discomfort and potential health issues. At Sunny Melbourne, we want to ensure that you have the knowledge you need to find your perfect fit.
Need conversion for European to USA sizing? Scroll all the way down to find our conversion table!
Here’s a step-by-step guide to measuring your bra size accurately.
Why Accurate Measurement Matters
Wearing a correctly fitted bra can prevent back and shoulder pain, improve posture, and boost your overall confidence. An ill-fitting bra, on the other hand, can cause discomfort, irritation, and even skin damage. With a little effort and the right tools, you can measure your bra size at home with ease.
What You’ll Need
- A soft measuring tape
- A mirror
- A well-fitting, non-padded bra
Step 1: Measure Your Band Size
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Wear a Well-Fitting Bra: Start with a non-padded bra that offers minimal lift and shaping. This will give you the most accurate measurements.
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Measure Under Your Bust: Wrap the measuring tape snugly around your rib cage, just under your bust. Make sure the tape is level and straight across your back. Exhale to get the smallest possible measurement. Record this number in inches. If it's an odd number, round it to the nearest even number. This is your band size.
Example: If you measure 31 inches, round up to 32. This is your band size.
Step 2: Measure Your Bust Size
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Measure at the Fullest Part of Your Bust: With the tape measure around your back, bring it across the fullest part of your bust. Keep the tape measure level and ensure it’s not too tight or too loose. Record this measurement in inches.
Tip: It may help to look in a mirror to ensure the tape is straight and at the right level.
Step 3: Calculate Your Cup Size
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Subtract Your Band Size from Your Bust Measurement: The difference between these two measurements will determine your cup size. Each inch of difference corresponds to a cup size. For example, a 1-inch difference is an A cup, a 2-inch difference is a B cup, and so on.
Cup Size Chart:
- 1 inch = A
- 2 inches = B
- 3 inches = C
- 4 inches = D
- 5 inches = DD/E
- 6 inches = DDD/F
Example: If your bust measurement is 36 inches and your band size is 32 inches, the difference is 4 inches, which corresponds to a D cup.
Step 4: Combine Your Measurements
Your final bra size combines your band size and cup size. Using our examples:
- Band size: 32
- Cup size: D
Therefore, your bra size would be 32D.
Additional Tips
- Check the Fit: The band should be snug but not tight, and the cups should fully contain your breasts without spillage or gaps.
- Adjust Straps: Ensure that the straps are adjusted to provide support without digging into your shoulders.
- Regular Re-Measurement: Re-measure every six months or whenever you experience significant weight changes, pregnancy, or other body changes.
Common Fit Issues and Solutions
- Band Riding Up: This indicates the band is too large. Consider going down a band size.
- Cup Spillage: If your breasts overflow the cups, try a larger cup size.
- Gaps in Cups: This suggests the cups are too big. Go down a cup size.
By taking the time to measure your bra size accurately, you can ensure better comfort, support, and confidence in your everyday wear.
Bra Sizing Conversions
UK/US | EUR | Australia / NZ | France / Spain |
32A | 70A | 10AA | 85A |
32B | 70B | 10A | 85B |
32C | 70C | 10B | 85C |
32D | 70D | 10C | 85D |
32DD | 70E | 10D | 85E |
32E | 70F | 10DD | 85F |
32F | 70G | 10E | 85G |
32G | 70H | 10F | 85H |
32H | 70I | 10G | 85I |
34A | 75A | 12AA | 90A |
34B | 75B | 12A | 90B |
34C | 75C | 12B | 90C |
34D | 75D | 12C | 90D |
34DD | 75E | 12D | 90E |
34E | 75F | 12DD | 90F |
34F | 75G | 12E | 90G |
34G | 75H | 12F | 90H |
34H | 75I | 12G | 90I |
36A | 80A | 14AA | 95A |
36B | 80B | 14A | 95B |
36C | 80C | 14B | 95C |
36D | 80D | 14C | 95D |
36DD | 80E | 14D | 95E |
36E | 80F | 14DD | 95F |
36F | 80G | 14E | 95G |
36G | 80H | 14F | 95H |
36H | 80I | 14G | 95I |
38A | 85A | 16AA | 100A |
38B | 85B | 16A | 100B |
38C | 85C | 16B | 100C |
38D | 85D | 16C | 100D |
38DD | 85E | 16D | 100E |
38E | 85F | 16DD | 100F |
38F | 85G | 16E | 100G |
38G | 85H | 16F | 100H |
38H | 85I | 16G | 100I |
40A | 90A | 18AA | 105A |
40B | 90B | 18A | 105B |
40C | 90C | 18B | 105C |
40D | 90D | 18C | 105D |
40DD | 90E | 18D | 105E |
40E | 90F | 18DD | 105F |
40F | 90G | 18E | 105G |
40G | 90H | 18F | 105H |
40H | 90I | 18G | 105I |
42A | 95A | 20AA | 110A |
42B | 95B | 20A | 110B |
42C | 95C | 20B | 110C |
42D | 95D | 20C | 110D |
42DD | 95E | 20D | 110E |
42E | 95F | 20DD | 110F |
42F | 95G | 20E | 110G |
42G | 95H | 20F | 110H |
42H | 95I | 20G | 110I |
44A | 100A | 22AA | 115A |
44B | 100B | 22A | 115B |
44C | 100C | 22B | 115C |
44D | 100D | 22C | 115D |
44DD | 100E | 22D | 115E |
44E | 100F | 22DD | 115F |
44F | 100G | 22E | 115G |
44G | 100H | 22F | 115H |
44H | 100I | 22G | 115I |
46A | 105A | 24AA | 120A |
46B | 105B | 24A | 120B |
46C | 105C | 24B | 120C |
46D | 105D | 24C | 120D |
46DD | 105E | 24D | 120E |
46E | 105F | 24DD | 120F |
46F | 105G | 24E | 120G |
46G | 105H | 24F | 120H |
46H | 105I | 24G | 120I |
48A | 110A | 26AA | 125A |
48B | 110B | 26A | 125B |
48C | 110C | 26B | 125C |
48D | 110D | 26C | 125D |
48DD | 110E | 26D | 125E |
48E | 110F | 26DD | 125F |
48F | 110G | 26E | 125G |
48G | 110H | 26F | 125H |
48H | 110I | 26G | 125I |