How To Measure Your Bra Size At Home
Stand upright without a bra on, and using measuring tape, measure around your back and under your bust, where the band of a bra would usually sit. Make sure the tape is going around in a steady, even line. It should feel snug, but not tight
Scoring the perfect pair of everyday jeans or a dress you can’t wait to dance the night away in? That’s the kind of shopping that feels like a special treat. But buying a new bra? You probably dread the day you need to add something, anything to your undergarments collection.
It’s not your fault, experts say. Frankly, the intimates industry has made it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience, let alone find a decent fit, because bras are undeniably technical garments. No two breasts are the same—not even the two sitting next to one another on the same person. Shapes vary, volumes are not equal, and those variables can change—a lot—from year to year and even month to month, depending on life events like pregnancy, weight fluctuations, lifestyle changes, or illness.
When shopping for a bra, the number one problem women face is the lack of sizes carried in stores, says Laura Burke, intimate apparel stylist, certified bra fit expert, and founder of Fit by Burke in Larchmont, New York. Most stores usually carry around 40 “standard sizes,” which are a combination of band sizes 32–38 and cup sizes B–D, she explains. The problem? “Today, there are actually closer to 200 sizes available, running all the way up to an N cup,” says Burke.
And even when you visit a certified bra fit expert and zero in on your “true” size, you can’t just pluck that size off the rack and call it a day. “No manufacturer cuts their bras the same way,” says Helene T. Delince, founder of The Fitting Curve in Rockville Center, New York. “Even within the same brand, one style might fit and the other might not.” Fabrics, wire, and general style can all affect the fit, and ultimately, the size of the bra.
Bra shopping is so complicated, in fact, that only a small percentage of shoppers walk out of the store with their true size, says Burke.
And, unfortunately, when you’re not wearing the right bra size, it can not only affect how your clothes look and fit, but can also lead to a lot of discomfort—particularly for women with large busts. “[Wearing the wrong size] can actually lead to headaches, back pain, and overall posture problems,” says Laura Henny, owner of The Rack Shack in Brooklyn, New York.
This is particularly an issue if your bra is too tight, as that can restrict the movement of your ribcage and chest, leading to back discomfort or posture issues down the road, says Winnie Yu, PT, DPT, CSCS, a physical therapist at Bespoke Physical Therapy in New York. “A compromised ability of the thorax to expand can also lead to less airflow with each breath,” she adds.
“Over time, if you are limiting the natural airflow with each breath, you may be depriving the brain of oxygen and experience headaches when wearing the bra.” What’s more: If the chest cannot expand properly, you will begin to use your accessory muscles, a.k.a. those in the upper chest and neck, to breathe. This overcompensation can lead to muscular imbalances, as well as neck and upper back issues, says Yu, which, over time, can be linked with headaches and even migraines.
To help you avoid this—sometimes quite literal—headache, Women’s Health tapped four bra experts to identify common bra fit issues and explain how to effectively measure your bra size, whether you’re shopping for an everyday T-shirt bra, a bralette for lounging, a sports bra for impact, or a strapless or backless bra for your slinkiest dress.
Signs You’re Wearing the Wrong Size
All of these issues point to some type of fit problem. Spillage, for example, typically means the cup is too small, while gaping tends to point to a bra that’s too large, says Henny.
The best solution, according to all four bra fit experts, is to visit a professional fitter who is trained to not only give you the most accurate bust measurements, but also has a wealth of knowledge about bra shapes and types. That said, not everyone has the means or access to a pro bra fitter, which is why it’s also a good idea to measure your bra size at home.
How to Measure Your Bra Size at Home
1. Determine your bra band size.
Using a tailor’s measuring tape—the soft, malleable kind—measure the circumference of your body around your ribcage directly underneath your breast fold, or where your breast is attached to your body, says Henny. The tape should be level and snug against your body. The number in inches correlates to your band size. If you’re in between standard band sizes, which are all even numbers, round up. For example, if you measure 33 inches, round up to the nearest size: 34 inches. Even if you’re just over—let’s say you measure 32.5 inches, it’s still wise to round up to 34, says Henny.
2. Measure your bust.
Next, while wearing your best-fitting unpadded bra, measure yourself at the fullest part of your bust (typically in line with the nipples). This time the tape shouldn’t be so snug, but rather glide right over the breast tissue. Record the number in inches to the nearest round number. So if you measure a 38.5, you’d record 39.
3. Calculate your cup size.
Here’s where the math comes in. In order to determine your cup size, you have to find the difference between your band size and bust size. For example, if your band size is a 34, but your bust is measuring a 38, there’s a 4 point difference: A is 1, B is 2, C is 3, and D is 4. So, in this case, your cup size is a D. When you put the two together, you’ll get your overall size: 34D.
