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How are bra sizes determined?

Measuring the correct bra size for a healthier body

Bra sizes are determined by band size and cup size. Find out how to determine correct bra size for your body and why many women end up with the wrong size.

According to a recent study from the University of Portsmouth in the UK, many women wear bras that are either the wrong size or not properly designed for their body. What’s worse, the study goes on to state that these poor choices can also lead to irreparable damage to the structure of the breast. On this page, you will learn how to determine your correct bra size.

Determining bra size requires two measurements: the number of inches around the chest beneath the bust (band size) and the number of inches around the fullest part of the chest (cup size).

Measuring Band Size

To determine band size, measure around the chest, placing the measuring tape just below the breasts. (If you are measuring across the shoulder blades, you are measuring too high.) The tape measure should be tight enough for a snug fit but should not be so tight that it causes any bulging of the skin. Once you have the measurement, add four if it’s an even number or five if it’s odd. This will give you your band size. (For example, if you have a chest circumference of 27 inches, add five to get a band size of 32.)

Measuring Cup Size

To measure cup size, measure around the fullest part of your bust. Each inch of difference between your bust measurement and your band measurement represents a cup size: one inch corresponds to an A cup, two inches corresponds to a B cup, three inches corresponds to a C cup, and so on. For example, if your band measurement is 29 inches and your cup measurement is 31 inches, the difference is two inches, meaning you would need a B cup.

How to Determine an Accurate Measurement

Ideally, these measurements should be taken with your arms hanging at your sides, thus it is almost impossible to take accurate measurements yourself. To get the most exact measurements, it is best to have someone else measure your chest and bust for you. Most lingerie departments have employees who are trained to measure chest size, and they can usually recommend the best styles for different breast sizes and shapes.

Sports Bras

Sports bras generally run in small, medium and large rather than chest-band and cup-size measurements. It is important to find a supportive sports bra that secures the breasts without becoming painful. If you find that your sports bra doesn’t provide enough support, you might try wearing two at once.

Why Women Wear the Wrong Bra Sizes

Many women wear the wrong bra size due to aesthetic and economic factors, the industry’s unwillingness to change the sizing system, and consumers’ lack of knowledge about how bras are ideally supposed to fit. One reason women have trouble finding the right bra size might be because the current sizing system is overly simplistic. The current A, B, C, D formula, which originated in the lingerie industry in the 1930s or 1940s, has never been surpassed by a more complicated system that takes the volume and shape of the breasts into account, which are the key factors to finding a proper fit. Some researches are, however, working on new bra-sizing formulas that may become standard in the future.

Many women also wear ill-fitting bras because they don’t realize how often breast size fluctuates during a woman’s lifetime. Breast size can change due to aging, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, and menopause. Losing or gaining 5 pounds generally leads to a change in breast size. Most undergarment experts recommend women get their bra size remeasured every six to 12 months.

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