How Are Breasts Sized?

The proper-fitting bra is essential to a woman's comfort and to her appearance. A bra that is too small will be uncomfortable and it will show in her clothing. If the bra is too large it may be more comfortable, but it will not serve its intended purpose and it will detract from her overall appearance. A proper-fitting bra depends on your ability to measure yourself correctly. You will also need to know the proper method to determine your breast size (cup size).

Mesure For The Band Size

Be certain to keep the tape measure level and parallel with the ground. Wrap it around your body just below your breasts. Exhale all air from your lungs and pull the tape measure tight against your body. Write down the measurement. If the measurement is an even number, add 4 inches. If the number is odd, add 5 inches. Example: The measurement is 34 inches, which is an even number, so you will add 4 inches for a total of 38 inches. This is your band size.

Measure Your Breasts

Take the tape measure and place it around the fullest part of your breasts. Once again, make certain to keep the tape measure level and parallel to the ground. Take a normal breath and read the measurement before exhaling. Round any fraction to the next highest number. This is the number you will need to calculate your breast size.

Calculate Your Bra Size

You now have two measurements, your band size and your breast measurement. Your breast measurement will always be larger than the band size. As a general rule, each inch of difference between the band size and breast measurement is equivalent to one cup size. Example: Our band size measurement was 34 inches and we added the 4 inches for a total of 38 inches---the breast measurement is 42 inches. This is a difference of 4 inches, which is equivalent to four cup sizes.

Breast (Cup) Sizes

In Europe, cup sizes start at A and proceed in order---A, B, C, D, E, F, G. In the United States, cup sizes are done differently. Cups sizes in the U.S. also start at A but differ slightly when they reach the plus sizes. In the U.S., the cup sizes are A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, DDDD. In some brands, the DDDD may be a G, an F or perhaps an FF. For this reason, your bra size might vary slightly from one brand to another.

Misconceptions

The 34D cup size is not the same as the 40D cup size. The reason for this is that the breast measurement is how far your breasts project from you chest. This does not mean all D cup breasts take up the same volume. For this reason, the cup size in a 40D will be larger than the cup for a 34D. This, combined with the differences in manufacturers, make it essential for you to try on different bra sizes in order to get just the right fit. Tip: You should not measure yourself during your period as your breasts may be swollen and you will not get a true measurement.