Bra Sizes

Braless? You should really consider trying an IRL bra.

For many women, bra sizing is something they’re just not sure about. It’s a topic that can be horrifyingly frustrating and bewildering for some to navigate on their own. If you find yourself in this boat, the following article will give guidance on how to figure out your bra size and what it means for you.

Bra Sizing: A Primer

Bra sizing incorporates three components: band size (expressed in inches), cup size (usually a letter or sequence of numbers; i.e. AA, A, B, C), and whether the cup is a full-coverage or demi-cup. You will usually find your current bra size on the tag of your favorite bra or on the website you purchased it from. Bra sizes are based on standard international measurements—the same for any country around the world—so that they may be interchangeable between brands and even between countries.

The most important thing to keep in mind when figuring out your bra size is to find a measurement method that best suits your personal body type and comfort level. The results will be different for every woman, so there’s no one way to do it. Here are some methods you can try (note: the majority of these methods are going to require assistance; however, if you are comfortable with yourself and your body, you can certainly measure yourself at home).

Standard tape measure: The standard method of measuring yourself is with a tape measure. For this method, you will need a pencil and some kind of guide (i.e. a tape measure, the correct size of bra band that you wear, or your current bra size). Though personally I have found that the tape measure measurement is not always consistent with the girl-next-door, I have heard countless stories of women transitioning from European brands to American brands finding that their measurements have changed drastically in terms of cup and band size.

Determine your band size by wrapping the tape measure around your back directly under your bust. For a tighter, more supportive fit, you will want to add an inch or so to this measurement (i.e. if the tightest part of your bra band is 29 inches, make sure that you’re measuring at 30 inches). Now add 4 inches. This is your conversion factor for converting cm to inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm). Multiply this number by itself to get the result in centimetres. If this number is 30 or greater, then you are likely an AAA/A bra size; anything less than 28 means that you are likely a B cup or smaller (i.e.

Conclusion:  The tape measure method works, but it is not fool-proof and results can differ from person to person. If you feel uncomfortable with this method, there are a number of alternatives available for you to try.

Conventional Bra Sizing Method (Measurements in Centimetres):   It is important to remember that the conventional bra sizing method is based on separate band size and cup size measurements. Band sizes may also be labeled on the tag of your bra, or online shopping sites such as Hervé Léger often have a band size conversion chart.

1. Figure out what the average American or European woman’s band size would be for your current cup size if you were making the change across brands.