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Bra Sizing Guide

It is estimated that about two thirds of women in the UK are wearing a bra that is the incorrect size for them.

Breast size can change significantly over the years, especially before and after pregnancy, breastfeeding and weight loss or gain. There may also be a general redistribution of our weight as we get older.

The following guide will give you an idea as to your bra size. However, it is just an approximation and will not work for all women - you will also need to try a bra on to make sure that it is comfortable for you.

Measuring your bra size

Take the measurements over the top of a bra that feels comfortable to you.

1. Measure just underneath the bra line around the rib cage with a soft tape measure. The tape measure should be taught but not tight or digging in. Ensure that the tape measure is smooth and level. To get the bra size, and 5" to this measurement. So if you measure 29", your back size is 34". However, if you measure 28", thus giving a back size of 33", it would be wise to try on both the 32" and 34" sizes to see which gives you a better fit. If your measurement is not exact, eg 29.7", round it to the nearest inch, in this case 30".
   
   
2. Measure around the bust at the fullest point, again ensuring that the tape measure is level, smooth and taught but not tight. The difference between this measurement and your back size will give your cup size. For example, if your back size was 34" and your bust measurement was 37", you would wear a size 34C.
   
   Use this table to check the cup size:
   
   

   Difference	Cup Size
   Difference < 1"	AA
   1"	A
   2"	B
   3"	C
   4"	D
   5"	DD
   6"	E
   7 "	F
   8 "	FF
   9 "	G
   10 "	H
   11 "	HH
   12 "	J

Note that the above cup sizes are approximate and can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Use the above table as a guide only - it is not set in stone. Also, some manufacturers of sizes larger than DD have different labelling conventions, replacing FF by G, G by H etc - check with the manufacturer concerned what their cup size labelling convention is.

Checking your bra fits correctly

The above measurements are just a guide. You will still need to try one or more bras on to guarantee a perfect fit. Here are some problems with bras and possible solutions:

1. The bra rides up your back - the back size is too big (measurement 1 above).
2. The bra digs in under your arms - the back size is too small.
3. The cups gape or wrinkle - the cup size is too big.
4. Your boobs overflow the cups - the cup size is too small.
5. The shoulder straps dig in. It may be that the straps are too tight. However, if the shoulder straps dig in and the back is riding up, it could be that the back size is too big.
6. Your boobs drop under the bottom of the cup - probably a combination of the back size being too big and the cup size being too small - experiment with different sizes until you find one that doesn't exhibit this problem.