How Do You Know Your Bra Size

Shopping for a new bra can be frustrating. Sizes can vary quite a bit from make to brand — so it's not unusual for the same person to vesture several unlike sizes of bras. Simply don't get discouraged. Tools like a bra size fitting calculator can help. Employ these tips to notice a comfortable bra that'due south correct for you.

You know how the size of jeans and other habiliment can vary a ton between brands — or even within the same brand? Unfortunately, the same is truthful for bras. This is due to a number of factors ranging from the textile and style to the fit model they used. (A fit model is a person the designer works with to check the fit of a clothing item on a real body).

As bra adept Linda Becker told the Huffington Postal service, "Even in the same company, sometimes the bras all run differently, and a 34B [in one style] is not the same as another 34B."

And so where does that get out the average bra shopper? It'south important to realize that bra sizes aren't an exact scientific discipline — and yous may have to try a lot of duds before you notice one that really fits.

That said, knowing your measurements and agreement what they mean can provide you with a good idea of where to start. Many upscale lingerie stores offering professional fittings — though even these can vary, depending on the exact method they employ and regular sometime human error. If you'd rather find your bra size in the condolement of your own home, there are tools and tricks to aid you practice it.

How to Find Your Bra Size at Domicile

If you desire to get the cocky-measuring road, you lot'll demand to find your ring and cup size using a measuring tape. Bra sizes combine numbers for the band size with letters for the cup size. Before y'all start, make sure yous're wearing an unpadded bra — that will make the measurements more accurate.

Follow these steps to find your bra size:

Notice your band size. Wrap a measuring record around your back, simply under your breasts (where the band of a bra usually sits). That'south your band size.
Find your bosom size. At present wrap the measuring tape around your dorsum, but this fourth dimension concord it across the fullest office of your breasts. That's your bust size.
Subtract your band size from your bosom size. The divergence between these 2 numbers shows how far your breasts extend from your ribcage.
Use that number to find your cup size. Now you tin can use the number you got in pace three to find your cup size on a bra size chart.

Bra size charts may vary a fleck from brand to brand, but hither's an example of a U.Southward. bra size chart. Remember, the numbers are what you get (in inches) when you subtract your ring size from your bust size:

1 = A Cup
2 = B Loving cup
3 = C Cup
4 = D Cup
5 = DD or East Loving cup
6 = DDD or F Cup
vii = DDDD or Grand Cup
eight = H Cup

And so on — for every inch of departure between band and bust size, you go upward a letter in cup size.

One time you have your cup size, combine it with your band size. If your band is 38 and your loving cup is D, your size is a 34D — or at least that'southward a good place to start!

Don't Feel Similar Reading a Chart? Use a Bra Size Fitting Estimator

If you lot don't experience like doing subtraction and reading a chart, in that location are enough of cool online tools that will practice the piece of work for y'all. Some bra size plumbing fixtures calculators are more basic, like this one from Bare Necessities. Some become beyond the numbers to take into business relationship things like the shape of your breasts — like this tool from Third Love.

Want to get even more thorough? 1 well-reviewed and pop tool is the A Bra That Fits Calculator, which was created with the feedback of a very active and supportive Reddit forum. This tool doesn't cease at band and bust measurements — information technology asks you to accept six different measurements to notice a more than precise fit.

Cheque for a Good Fit

Ultimately, finding the perfect bra will primarily come up down to knowing what to look for in the plumbing equipment room, or when trying on bras at home later on shopping online. Follow these tips:

Check the band. Nigh of the back up in your bra comes from the band, and then this is key. Try raising your artillery above your head. Ideally, the band would stay pretty much in place.
Bank check the cups. If the cups leave gaps around your breasts, they're probably besides big. And if you're spilling out over the superlative, that's an obvious sign that they're too small.
Check the straps. The straps should fit snug over your shoulders, without slipping off or digging into your pare.

It'due south also totally common to have ane breast that's slightly bigger than the other. In this case, you lot'll want to go with the one that fits the larger chest. If the departure is adequately small, try finding a bra fabricated from a stretchy cloth that will naturally suit to the size of each breast. If it's larger, expect for a bra with removable inserts and wear the insert only on the smaller side.