Size Guide
A bra should be supportive, functional, and fun all at the same time. When you get fitted for a bra, you are not only getting fitted for a body type, but a personality as well. Wearing the correct bra size and style changes your whole persona. You become more confident, proud, and comfortable; giving you the confidence to do what you dream of doing.
Measuring yourself for a bra is an art and not an exact science, but our fit guide can provide you with a useful starting point! Read along for all of our hidden secrets from Hourglass Lingerie's fit experts.
How to Measure Your Bra Size
It’s best to measure yourself when you’re wearing a bra. Make sure it has no padding and is not a minimizer bra. A Bralette or T-Shirt bra is perfect for fitting.
1. Find your band size
To get your band size pull a tape measure around your torso, right underneath your breasts. Make sure that it lies flat at the back and in a horizontal line all the way round. Pull it real snug to get an accurate measurement.
When you take these measurements, round to the closest whole, even inch, either up or down. This number is your band size.
Examples:
If you measure 29 ½", round to 30"
If you measure 28 3⁄8", round to 28"
If you measure exactly between band sizes (e.g. 29"), we recommend rounding up for the most comfortable fit.
2. Measure your bust
To get your cup size, measure around your torso across the fullest part of your breast. Again, make sure that the tape measure is at the same level all the way round, but this time take care not to pull it tight.
Round up or down to the nearest inch—this will be your bust measurement.
3. Determine your cup size
Subtract your original underbust measurement from your overbust measurement. The difference is your cup size (See chart below).
Example: If you measured 38" around your bust and 33" around your band, 38 - 33 = 5" difference between your band and your bust, giving you a DD cup.
Need help? Input your measurements into our handy calculator below to get your recommended bra size.
| Difference (in) | UK Cup Size | US Cup Size | EU Cup Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-½" | AA | AA | AA |
| ½-1" | A | A | A |
| 2" | B | B | B |
| 3" | C | C | C |
| 4" | D | D | D |
| 5" | DD | DD/E | E |
| 6" | E | DDD/F | F |
| 7" | F | DDDD/G | G |
| 8" | FF | H | H |
| 9" | G | I | I |
| 10" | GG | J | J |
| 11" | H | K | K |
| 12" | HH | L | L |
| 13" | J | M | M |
| 14" | JJ | N | N |
| 15" | K | O | O |
| 16" | KK | P | P |
| 17" | L | Q | Q |
| 18" | LL | R | R |
Find your perfect fit
Use our bra size calculator to find your ideal size based on your measurements.
Your recommended bra size is:
This is an estimate. Fit may vary by brand and style. We recommend trying on bras to find your perfect fit.
Difference Between DDD and E Cup?
Once you get past the D cup sizes and larger, there tends to be a discrepancy among brands as to what to call sizes beyond a D cup.
When buying online, always check the description or size chart to figure out what sizing method is being used.
Hint: If you see double letters past a D (e.g. FF), it's UK sizing!
Band Sizes: Plus 4 vs Plus 0
After finding your size using our guide you may be saying, "But I have a bra that fits me perfectly and it's a completely different size!" If you keep buying bras in the same size and wondering why they all fit so differently—it may be because of something called "plus 4" sizing.
Plus 4 sizing is a method that takes the nearest even band measurement and adds 4 to get the band size (e.g. a 30" band is labeled as 34).
Plus 0 sizing is when the band measurement equals the band size (e.g. 30" underbust is a 30 band). Most UK brands use plus 0 sizing, which is one of many reasons we at Hourglass Lingerie love them so much.
Part of what makes bra shopping so tricky is that brands don't always tell you what method they use. Some brands will even use the plus 0 method when making their bras and the plus 4 method for their size charts (e.g. a 34 band = 34" but they tell you to get a 38). Crazy, right?! That's why it's important to focus on how the bra fits, not what the tag says.
The size I measured doesn't fit. Why?
Measurements are a great starting point for figuring out your size, but getting the right fit usually takes more trial and error. Breast shape, back fat distribution, sternum width, and more can all affect your measurements and how bras fit you. We always recommend going to a store to try on different sizes and styles, or better yet getting a professional bra fitting at a specialty lingerie store so someone else can do the hard work for you!
Bra Fitting Tips
Along with our size guide, we have compiled a list of our BEST Bra Fitting Tips to show you how a bra is supposed to fit. Follow these tips while you are sizing yourself to ensure the most accurate and easy fitting possible!
Sister Sizing
Even if you know your correct bra size, not every bra will be the right fit. Some brands and styles run large, while others run small. This is where sister sizing comes into play. Sister sizing is is an alternate size where the cup volume stays the same even though the band size and cup letter changes. Knowing your sister size can help you out when "your size" doesn't fit right.
Use our calculator below to figure out your sister sizes.
Find Your Sister Sizes
Your Sister Sizes
Personalized Bra Fitting
This article was jammed packed with everything you need to know about bra sizing, but we understand just how overwhelming that can be! Attempting to fit yourself can be costly, confusing, and frustrating.
Allow us to take some of the pressure off and call today to schedule your bra fitting at Hourglass Lingerie! All fittings are done by our fitting specialists for free in a one-on-one, personal environment. Come on it for the perfect fit on the first try!
