How to Measure a Bathing Suit Top Size

When bathing suit season comes around, you could find yourself needing a new bikini. Even if you think you remember your size from last year, it might have changed. For the best fit, take new measurements every time you purchase a new bathing suit. If you have a friend to help, it will make the process easier and more accurate.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cloth tape measure

1. Stand up straight, wearing only your bra, with your arms straight out from your sides. You will look like a letter "T."

2. Have your friend wrap the cloth tape measure around your bust at the fullest part. The tape measure needs to be flat all the way around, at the same level, and snug without being too tight. Make a note of this number in inches.

3. Round the number up, if it is between inches, but the difference is greater than or equal to 1/2 inch. For instance, if your measurement was 33 1/2 inches, you will round this up to 34.

4. Round an uneven number down, if the difference between the numbers is less than 1/2 inch. For example, a measurement of 35 3/8 inches will be rounded down to 35.

5. Refer to a chart for bathing suit sizes to determine the size of your top. Generally, 33 will be size 4, and for every 1-inch increase in bust size, your top will increase 1 size. A bust that is 34 inches is size 6, 35 inches is size 8, and so forth (see Resources).

Resources

• Swim suit buyer's guide and size chart