Bra Sizing & FAQ's:
All About Cups, Bands, Straps, and Snaps.

Finding the right bra doesn't have to be an ordeal if you know the basics of bra sizing. There are two parts to a bra's size: the chest size (also called the band size) and the cup size. The chest, or band, size is the part of the bra that runs across a girl's chest and around her back. The cups are the parts of the bra that hold the breasts. Bras come in many sizes, which are different combinations of the chest sizes (shown as numbers - in the United States, these are 32, 34, 36, etc.) and cup sizes (shown as letters - AA, A, B, C, etc.) It's important to get both the chest and cup sizes right to ensure a proper fit.

 If you wear a bra that's the wrong chest size, the bra's band will either feel tight and uncomfortable around your rib cage or it will be too loose and ride up your breasts. Bras that are too small in the cup will compress a the boobs and force them to bulge out the sides (think armpit boobs). And cups that are too big can wrinkle and pucker, which won't look good under clothes. So how do you calculate your chest and cup measurements? It's easy, and it's something you can do in the privacy of your own room at home. All that you need is a tape measure.

1) Find your band size: take a tape measure and measure around your chest just under your arms. Remember to stand up straight. If it's an odd number, like 33, go to the next higher even number, in this case band size 34.

2) Find your cup size: measure around the fullest point of your bust across your nipples. Do this with your bra on. If this number is 1 inch more than your band size, your cup size is an A. Two inches more than your band size, you're a B, etc. See the table below.

Learn more about bra sizing by reading our BRA FAQ's or visit our Lingerie Guide