Nearly all women have worn an ill-fitted bra at least once and are familiar with just how uncomfortable it can be. Whether you’re wearing a bra that’s too small or too big, regularly wearing an ill-fitted bra is not only agonizing but can also lead to back pain, chafing, breast sagging, and even posture issues.
This article will talk about the different bra cup sizes from the smallest to the biggest and present a guide on correctly measuring your bra cup and making trips to the lingerie store so much easier for you!
Bra Cup Sizes Smallest to Biggest
#1. A, AA, and AAA
This size has a 1-inch difference between the band and bust size. These are generally the smallest bra sizes and are often needed by teenagers or petite women. While it is pretty uncommon to find these sizes in stores, more specialty lingerie stores would cater to this size.
#2. B Cup
A B cup will have a difference of 2 inches between the band and bust size. As there are no BB or BBB cup sizes, if you find a little bit of difference in measurement, try an A or C cup to find the next best fit.
#3. C Cup
With a C cup bra, the difference between the bust and the band size is 3 inches. Just like the B cup, if your measurement is a little above or below the 3-inch mark, try the next smaller or larger size.
#4. D, DD, and DDD
The most common cup size across Europe, the UK, and the US, D cup bras are widely available. The bust and band size have a 4-inch difference. Individuals with D, DD, or DDD cups tend to have heavy breasts, so choosing bras that can offer adequate support is necessary to avoid discomfort.
#5. E Cup
There is a 5-inch difference in the bust and band measurement for an E cup. Not many brands have an E cup bra, but several shops do have DD cup sizes as close alternatives.
#6. F and FF Cup
The F cup has a difference of six inches in the bust and band size. In most cases, a bra in this size would require you to shop in a specialty shop or have it custom-fitted for you. It is recommended that you get a professionally made F cup bra as it would help reduce the backache brought on by a bigger bust.
#7. G Cup
A difference of 7 or 8 inches between bust and band size will require a woman to wear a G cup bra. With this size, proper support is crucial to ensure there is no chronic back pain. There are several specialized as well as online stores that offer a variety of esthetic bras in this size.
#8. H CUP, HH, and Beyond
Bras of H cup size and beyond are less common, but they do exist. The largest bra size available in the United States is O with a nearly 150inch difference between the band and bust size.
How to Measure Your Bra Size
Not knowing your bra size is, unfortunately, a common problem for women, but this is not your fault since bra sizes across different brands are not the same. The best way to tackle this issue is to take your measurements and determine your bra size in the comfort of your home.
Get a measuring tape and paper to write your measurements on.
Step 1: Measuring Band Size
Measure the circumference of your ribcage directly under your breasts. Make sure the measuring tape is level and snug, and pick the nearest whole number.
Next, if the nearest whole number is an even number, add four inches (if your underbust measured 32 inches, your band size would be 36 inches), and five if the number is odd to get the final measurement.
Step 2: Measuring Bust Size
Measuring your bust measurement is more straightforward. Simply wrap the tape loosely around the nipple level and round the value up to the nearest whole number.
Step 3: Looking for Your Cup Size
Subtract the value of the band measurement from the bust value.
For example, if your bust measured 41 inches and band 36 inches, subtract 36 from 41 and you get 5.
You can now check the various bra size charts online, look for this final value and you have your cup size. In this case, the difference of 5 means the bra cup size is a DD.
