The most common way to calculate your cup size is by subtracting your band size from your bust size and using the difference to find your cup size according to a bra size chart.
Subtract your calculated band size (Step 1) from your bust measurement (Step 2) and refer to the bra cup size chart here. Your bra size is your band size with your cup size. Example: 37 inches (bust) – 34 inches (band) = 3 inches. That's a 34C.
Bra Size Chart
| Under Bust Size | Bra Size | Easy-Fit Size |
|---|
| * Measurement in Inches. Letter sizes (S-3XL) vary by style. |
| 26" to 27" | 32 | Small |
| 28" to 29" | 34 | Small |
| 30" to 31" | 36 | Small |
Here's a chart of standard size differences and how they equate to cup sizes:
- If your bust size is less than 1 inch bigger than your band size, you're a cup size AA.
- 1-inch difference = A.
- 2-inch difference = B.
- 3-inch difference = C.
- 4-inch difference = D.
- 5-inch difference = DD.
- 6-inch difference = DDD or F.
Your bra band should fit nice and snug around your torso. The band should not easily pull away from your body, either in the front or the back. The band should sit straight and parallel to the floor. Often, a wider bra band will lay flatter and can smooth out this issue.
It was designed as a method for measuring way back in the 1950s when bras were made from silk and satin and did not stretch. The 4 inches extra allowed breathing room, something which in 2015 is completely redundant as all bras now have elastic and stretch in them. So scrap this old technique!
To determine the cup size:Measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust. Subtract the band size from this measurement. Example: if your ribcage measurement is 31, and your bust measurement is 37, your bra size is a 34C: 31+3=34, so 34 is your band size. Since 37-34= 3, you've got a C cup.
When you first get your bra, you should always wear it on the loosest hook, where the band should fit snuggly without digging in — you should be able to slip two fingers underneath the band to know you've found your perfect fit. If it's uncomfortable or feels too restrictive, your band may be too small.
The fitter will always accommodate your needs and will follow your comfort level. Next, the Allure fitter will take two measurements: one around your rib cage just below your breast tissue, and next around the fullest section of your breast tissue. The first measurement is for your band; the second is for your cup.
It's normal to be a little hesitant about getting a bra fitting. Whether you've had three bra fittings or none – the situation can make some women uncomfortable. It could be because there's a stranger in your personal space. All are perfectly normal ways to feel about getting a bra fitting.
The DD is bigger, by the same amount as between an A and a B cup. A DD cup size means the breast have more volume than a D, whereas a 34 to a 36 means the ribcage is wider at the point under the breasts.
"If you don't wear a bra, your breasts will sag," says Dr. Ross. "If there's a lack of proper, long-term support, breast tissue will stretch and become saggy, regardless of breast size." Aside from the aesthetics, a lack of proper support (i.e. not wearing a bra) can also potentially lead to pain.
Talk with your doctor before trying any of these home remedies.
- Exercise. Regular exercise can help shed chest fat and strengthen the muscles underneath the breasts to reduce their size.
- Diet. What you eat plays a part in the amount of fat you store in your body.
- Green tea.
- Ginger.
- Flax seed.
- Egg whites.
- Clothing.
The average bra size for a 16-year old is nearly the same as the average bra size for a 17-year-old. This size is nearly the same as the average bra size of an American woman. Before the mid-1990s, the average bra size in the USA was a 34B. However, the size jumped to a 36C.
