So you think you know what a D cup looks like? It’s huge, of course, the biggest size they sell, aside from DD, which is just for celebrities and porn stars who have fake boobs. (/sarcasm)
And C? Well, that’s just on the larger side of average.
B? About a handful, small but just about right.
A? Small, and that’s that.
AA? Non existent.
NOPE, AFRAID NOT.
It’s all relative. If you’re worried we’re going to go all Maths on you now, don’t worry, we’ll try to keep it simple. So the above photo – what size does that look to you? You might be chiming up with a D cup, pretty big but not huge. I’ll tell you, that’s me, and I’m currently a 28GG…
As you might remember from our How To Measure Yourself video, cup size is relative to band size.
This means that Person A might measure 38in overbust and be wearing a cup size GG, and Person B might also measure 38in overbust but wear a cup size D. What you’re missing there is the band size. Person A is a 28GG – she measures (around) 28in underbust and 38in overbust; Person B is a 34D – she measures (around) 34in underbust and 38in overbust.
Below are two images. The first is a 28GG; the second is a 34D – same overbust measurement, different cup size. They look similar, but cup-wise, one is a GG, the other a D – think about that!
Vice versa, Person X might measure 43in overbust and wear a cup size E. Person Y might measure 34in overbust and also wear a cup size E. Person X is a 38E; Person Y is a 28E. Same cup size, different overbust measurement.
See what I mean? A ‘D cup’ doesn’t look like anything unless you know what the band size is. A D cup might be ‘big’ or ‘small’ or just ‘average’. A G cup doesn’t look like anything either – take a look at these images of women, all in D and G cups:
(Images from Fuller Figure Fuller Bust)
The image below shows how women of different cup sizes can have breasts that look the same size. We call this sister sizing as you can get the same cup ‘volume’ by going up a band size but down a cup size, or down a band size and up a cup size.
So now we’ve established that, what do you think of cup sizes now? Those ‘core’ sizes that we get at high street stores and even at some larger lingerie chains of 32-38 A-D are actually fairly uncommon when you think about it. Having an A-D cup means having 1-4in difference between your underbust and overbust, which in reality is not that much. That means the biggest difference women can have is 4in. In reality, even women who have ‘small’ breasts (in society’s eyes) sometimes have more than a 4in difference – they might just have a shallow shape to their breasts.
Most women are actually wearing these sizes because they pick up the nearest volume cup that fits them, meaning that I, as a 28FF/G was wearing 32DDs and 34Ds for years because I didn’t know that there was anything else. DD was the biggest cup size I could find anywhere, aside from the one E I found in La Senza years ago, so I found one of the Es that had a band size that wasn’t too big on me and wore it (I think that was a 30E, and the closest I ever got to my true bra size!).
We’ve been conditioned to think that sizes are what they are because of marketing and the media. When you’re told that Katie Price is a 32DD post breast enhancement, you believe it because “32 is the smallest band size” and “DD is the largest cup size” – she has a tiny frame (we know because we saw her in real life, and she was teeny in stature!) and huge boobs, so that must be right. Again, I’m going to shout, NOPE. Here’s a 32DD – Katie Price boobs lookalikes? Not really.
Because 32 isn’t the smallest, and DD isn’t the biggest.
That would mean only a 5in difference between her underbust and overbust. I’ve seen her in real life and she truly was tiny in frame: I’d estimate her at closer to a 26JJ or even a 24K (oh yes, that is possible, although getting your hands on one might be some trouble!). She probably would be in a 28J instead as these are more readily available, but I would never put her in a 30 or 32 band, way too big!
Society has conditioned us with poorly fitting bras being used to demonstrate an “enviable cleavage” – Victoria’s Secret are very guilty of this, as are ASOS, despite the fact that they sell bras that should fit the models if they’re in the correct size. This is a common viral graphic that is often shared about “big boobs” too:
What do you think? At a 28G, should I “get a reduction”?! Do you look at Charley wearing a 30D and say: “Dang?!” (well, you might do because her boobs are that awesome, but you might not be saying it in shock about the size!).
As we mentioned in our How To Check If Your Bra Fits post, studies have shown that 76% of women overestimate their band size, and 84% underestimate their cup size. If they had more availability and opportunity to try the correct size, as well as education in how bra sizing works (which we’re trying to play our part in!), maybe they’d find themselves much better supported, looking and feeling better in the right size bra!
Many of the images in this post have come from the Bra Band Project which is no longer active. This was an invaluable resource to anyone trying to figure out bra sizing and getting their heads around the fact that bra sizes are not what they seem.
If you’ve just found out you’re a DD+ cup size and don’t know where to shop, check out a few of our favourite bras – all of these come in DD+ sizes!
Don’t forget that if you try our measuring guide or the bra size calculator we recommend and come up with what sounds like a huge size to you, it probably isn’t as big as you thought. You may want to also check out our post on A Bra That Fits for further advice once you’ve found your size or check out our Bra Fitting 101 page for more info. If you want to try out some bras in your new size but don’t have a boutique or store near you that offers that size, we recommend trying Amazon (especially if you have Prime for free quick delivery and returns) which offers a large range of sizes, styles and brands – good luck!
We’ve also got reviews for Big Cups and Little Cups, as well as Guest Cups from other size ranges – check them out!
Lol…. Storm in a D CUP??! Couldnt resist it.
lol i came here because i cannot BELIEVE Jessica Henwick is a “34 A” yet her boobs are huge. i do not get it. still don’t lol
I’m 13 and I have bigger boobs than her.
– Her boobs aren’t that huge they actually look like a 34A
34A means that she would measure around 34″ underbust and 35″ overbust – the difference of 1″ is actually very very small when you look at it in terms of circumference, so it would be an almost unnoticeable difference between underbust and overbust most likely for anyone who wears a true 34A.
I’m a 42 dd n I’m really big
Huge? Are we talking about the same person? Her boobs are small. If they’re huge then mine are out of this world (which they are actually).
I work at a bra store, Soma, and I get this confusion all the time. I will have customers REFUSE to wear a bra that’s a DD or DDD or G and will instead INSIST on going up in the band just so the cup will say D. Even when I explain that the cup volume is the exact same as that smaller band. We try at Soma so hard to get people into properly fitting bras so that they will feel and look better but some people just refuse to move past this mindset. I myself am a 38DDD (or 38F) and it’s a pain to have people act so shocked when I tell them.
I have saggy boobies, how do you check the size of them when they hang but when in a bra they are all squished up and look smaller and perkier? Yea I am basically an idiot when it comes to bras… Also when I go to get a reduction and lift and am asked how big I want my boobs I will now be clueless I always thought I wanted to be a 36D or DD but guess Idk now lol
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for your question. Pendulous breasts like yours are actually a lot more common than people think and can definitely still be measured 🙂 The A Bra That Fits group have a way of measuring which uses 5 different measurements so they can find the best bra size to fit your shape – I’d definitely recommend popping over there to have a look to see if they can help you.
In terms of having a reduction and lift, unfortunately it seems like a lot of the doctors performing these still run to the A= small, B= small-medium, C= medium, D=big, DD=really big misconception, so I’ve heard it can be really difficult to tell them accurately how you want them without misunderstanding! If you decide to go ahead with one, it might help to take along a photo of what you’d like your breasts to look like afterwards, so maybe a celebrity with a size you’d like for you.
Hope that helps a bit 🙂
I’m a 36D it’s a reasonable size and bras aren’t overly expensive lol, I find my bras at primary for e.g.
to be a 36D that means your ribcage measures 36″ and your breasts measure 40″…. is your ribcage really 36″ around?
i’m sixteen and wear around a 28D and when i tell people this they don’t believe me because i look around what you’d think is a b cup. i try to tell them its about the band size, i can fill a 32B but the band is too big so wearing the D is more comfortable and more support
It can be really frustrating when people don’t understand about how cup sizes are relative. Charley is a very similar size to you and has found before that people don’t think she looks like a “D cup” because they have preconceptions of what that looks like. Hopefully there’ll be a bit more understanding of it in future, and maybe show this post to people if they question it?!
So, yours is indeed B cup, although you use D cup doesn’t mean your boobs are D Sized, it’s just B Sized. Alternatively, a person with boobs of small size uses bigger size bras just because her band is bigger not her boobs 😉 .. yours is still a B cup sized 😉
Hi Sherm!
Actually there’s no such thing as “B sized” or “D sized” – it all depends on what your band size is! So a 28B would look very different from a 42B – the 28B would be about 28″ underbust and 30″ bust, whereas the 42B would be about 42″ underbust and 44″ bust – they might both be wearing B cups but are very differently sized.
So if a person’s band size should be bigger than what they already wear, they wouldn’t want to go up in the letter sizes – they would end up with cups too big and band too small then.
It’s all relative to the band size – a B cup isn’t a B cup without the band! And a person might even wear a B cup in one band size (ie. 32B) but their sister size of 28D in another bra depending on comfort and the brand. We like to think that no one has a static cup or band size – just like clothes, you can be a different size in every store!
very well explained I’ve been for years with the wrong bra size,thanks for the info.
you are wrong
I have a small band yet I still wear a D28 cup
if you have a bigger band then go for B36 or something
No her correct size goes with the band size. You CAN wear what they call a sister size by either going up in Band and down in cup or down in Band and up in cup but your TRUE size is based off your Band measurements
So ive been havong side boob soreness. Nothing medically going on and doc said to get resized….I normally wear a 36B. I measured and 32 D…..holy cow! Super shocked!!! I will gladly go find a new bra that fits, doc said when I do that soreness will stop. How does a D manage to fit a b cup?! Totally baffled!!!
Hi! Ouch, that sounds sore, but maybe the resizing will help 🙂 Did you use this calculator? It’s the one we find to be most accurate. If your bra cup size is too small, you may find the wire is sitting on breast tissue which could be hurting it.
This could surprise you, but a 36B and a 32D have the same cup volume! Take a look at this image:
https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/211598882469101668/
This is called sister sizing – if you go down a band size, you go up a cup size to keep the same volume in the cup. So a 36B has the same cup size as a 34C and the 32D. People are often confused because they think is “B cup” is the same on any band size, whether it’s a 32B or a 44B for example, but actually the letter is in relation to the band. A D cup on a 32 band means your underbust is around 32″ and your bust is around 36″ – does that sound right? And a 36B means you have a 36″ underbust and 38″ bust. It can be a little confusing when you first find out, but it makes sense when you try on the bras 🙂
Definitely give the calculator I mentioned a go if you haven’t already (and don’t be shocked if your size comes out as something unexpected – I went from a 34D to a 28FF, now a 28GG!) and try a bra in that size, hope it helps!
Clarebear, a 32 D and a 36 B are essentially the same thing. You need to look past the mindset of “A cup for small boobs and D cup for large boobs”. That’s not how it works
A 32 D = 34 C = 36 B
So don’t tell them. Put on one that fits well, have them admire the new comfortable fit and let them get used to the fit and feel of it. Give them some time, THEN tell them the size.
Its a great article almost a year ago I measured myself and put the measurements in many online bra calculators and was shocked with the sizes I got. I rang up one lingerie company who told me that they didn’t have anything big enough for me and I should try Bravissimo which I was totally amazed.
I rang up Bravissimo customer services who are lovely and suggested that I was a 40D, which was quite a shock as up till then like most I thought D was massive as all the Page 3 models are D and are obviously far bigger than me. She recommended me a couple of bras which I ordered and a few days later tried them on and found that they were too small. After speaking with Bravissimo again they offered me a fitting in one of their stores I went and after trying on a dozen or more bras the fitter said the 40dd fit me best. That again was a real shock as I was completely clueless with bra sizing and thought that I couldn’t possibly be any bigger than an A. But the bra doesn’t lie.
I have since had three more fittings one at Bravissimo and two at Rigby & Peller each time they fit me differently from a 38f, to a 38g to a 40g but none seemed right.
I recently went back to Bravissimo customer services who recommended me a 36h which is quite a shock as H sounds so big but it doesn’t look big to me.
Women seem to be scared of DD+ but there is nothing to be scared about as the cup size is dependent on the band size so a 36h sounds bigger than a 28h but in reality the later is actually bigger and the size that most of these Page 3 model who claim they are a 34dd are in reality.
Most women think when they find a bra size that fits in one bra that will be the size they are in all bras but every bra style, size, colour fits differently, a white bra in a 36h will fit differently to a black bra in the same size, same style and brand. There is also the issue that many fitters still +4 inches to the back band which was needed 50 years ago when bras were made of stiff material but these days it just means that your being fitted in the wrong size.
Thank you very much for this very thorough and well-researched post. It’s very interesting.
I’d like to add a piece of information :
The two women who are featured above the title “these women are both D+ cup” are officially not D cups. They are called Gemma Sanderson (brown-haired girl, officially 34B) and Megan May Williams – or Megan Williams (blond-haired girl, officially 32C, or 83 cm). They both work for Storm Model Agency and often model for Asos.
Both Miss Sanderson and Miss Williams might fit in 30D bras, though…
I sometimes get the clothes Megan Williams models in the same size she wears (for dresses, Asos mentions the actual size the model is wearing, which is handy) as they usually fit on me. I’m a 30C/32B, so her official measurement of 32C seems rather accurate… a 32C can often wear a 30D (sister size).
Their complete measurements (at a given time. Of course, that might change as well…) have been published here :
http://www.stormmodels.com/GemmaSanderson.html?boardId=1005
http://www.bellazon.com/main/topic/47659-megan-williams/
https://www.stormmodels.com/MeganWilliams.html?boardId=1005
I wish you all the best with your blog. Keep up the good work ! Thank you !
Hi Claire!
Thanks for commenting 🙂 Thanks for the information you have on the two lovely ladies that are marked as D+, but it’s unlikely to be their “true” bra sizes. Like Charley, they may actually measure up as a size such as 28D but be able to wear a 32B comfortably due to needing less support than people like me with more volume (28G). It’s also possible that they’ve (like many people) been measured up wrongly in the past, or that the modelling agency put those sizes as they’re more “mainstream”.
Obviously I can’t say any of this for definite, but with their waist measurements from those websites being 23″ and 25″, it’s most likely that neither would measure as above a 28 band – consider that my waist and underbust measurement are usually exactly the same at 26.5-27″. For example, Gemma Sanderson is listed as a 34B and a 25″ waist – that would mean a difference of 9″ between her waist and underbust – this would be a very extreme figure considering 10″ difference between waist and (over)bust or waist and hips is seen as an “extreme vintage” figure!
The measurements for Megan Williams in the second link also actually suggest that she is definitely not a 32C – while it says “C”, her overbust measurement is given as 32.5″. Taking into account her waist measurement of 23″, she probably measures close to a 26 band, so should be wearing approximately a 26E/F (or 28DD/E since these are few and far between!). With the 32.5″ overbust measurement, if she was truly a 32 band, she would be a 32AA (0.5″ difference = AA).
And I also often buy the same size clothing as Megan Williams models on ASOS with my 28G bust, so it wouldn’t be too far out to suggest that she is a D+ size – remember it just means a 4″+ difference between underbust and bust 🙂
Hope that makes more sense to you – it just proves that you can’t trust any of the measurements you read online! Sorry if this sounds like ranting, honestly it’s not, I like the challenge of being able to figure these things out 😀
Thanks!
Sian xx
I know it is a bit late to comment but, I am fourteen and I have had trouble with my sizing. My breasts are quite low and soft for my age, and my measurements say that I should be a 34B, but I wear a 34D, because my breasts don’t fit into a B cup. I have never been properly fitted, but I am comfortable wearing a 34D in terms of size. I feel self-conscious, thought, because I am in such a big bra and I am only 14. Do you have any advice?
Hi Beth, thanks for commenting (and no worries, we’re always monitoring the comments on old posts too :)). Have you tried using this calculator for measuring before? It’s the most accurate one we’ve come across as it uses 3 different measurements across the breasts – this is perfect for softer and lower breasts. You might find that a different size is more comfortable for you, but if you’re happy in a 34D for now, there’s no reason you can’t stick with it.
I was similar to you at that age – at 12, I’d been called “surfboard” at school for being “flat chested” but by the time I was 14, I was wearing 32DDs and 34Ds (although I probably should have been around a 28F/FF). The problem is that D sounds so big to most people as we’re conditioned to think that’s a really big size, whereas in the scale of bra sizes, it’s actually closer to the smaller end of the scale! I bet if a lot of your friends were measured and fitted properly, most of them would end up being around a D too – it’s just that most people stick to smaller cup sizes as that’s what they think must be right. Even if you find other girls your age aren’t a similar size to you now, in just a few months they most likely will be, so try not to worry about it. I tend to find that making sure you’ve got a well fitting bra can help you to feel less self conscious about the size though as it will keep everything in place 🙂
Hope that helps!
I share this post with so many people,most recently my step-daughter who doesn’t believe she can be a 32DD. She says she’s definitely not a D. She believes she’s a C and so she goes way up in band size to find a bra that fits a C. She actually measures a 30E but doesn’t like the tightness of the band. We have similar measurements (she’s just slightly larger than I am and a heck of a lot firmer lol) but she doesn’t see it.
Now the funny part. I’ve been considering getting breast implants. I had a consult with a surgeon who asked what size I’d like to be. I told him that I’d like to be a G cup because my 32Ds are too small my frame. He laughed and told me I was not a 32D and he would recommend going up to a D cup to balance my frame. Even after seeing my bra size he insisted that he was a professional and at most I might be a B!
I wanted to add that, just like you, I would like shops to offer more sizes. I have trouble finding 30C bras. In France, where I live, that size is believed to be non existent. Salespeople in shops often laugh at women who are 30Cs. I discovered my size when I was once fitted in an Etam shop by a nice store manager who told me my actual size was 30C, but they only offered 32B… like every shop here.
So now I either buy from British retailers, or sew the band tighter on my French bras (ok, it’s not the end of the world, lol).
Hi again Claire!
It must be very frustrating not being able to get hold of your size in France 🙁 30C isn’t a very commonly sold size in the UK, but I can’t imagine the trouble you must have in France! If you ever need help getting hold of a UK 30C, do let us know and we’ll see what we can do for you 🙂
Thanks!
Sian
Thank you very much for your help ! And an extra big thank you for your review of the Autograph set from M&S. I’ve finally realised that they have bras in size 30C. I went to try one in a M&S shop (there are a few here), and found something very close to the products you reviewed. It’s beautiful and good quality too. Long live your blog ! ^_^
For years I wore the wrong bra size, then one day I went to Victoria’s Secret, tried on a bunch of bras and noticed I fit into the 36C (what I’d been wearing) and also the 34D, depending on if I put them on the looser or tighter hooks. I asked an employee’s advice on what she thought was best and she said “Whichever one fits best on the loosest hooks when you first buy it.” She explained how the elastic eventually stretches and gets loose, which is why the bras are designed with more hooks so you can then go with the tighter hooks. It made sense and I’m very happy I discovered my correct size. So I say go to a high end store, try on any bra you think might fit (use the loosest hooks only), see what you feel best in, and ask employee advice.
yay for this post, I’m a 28GG and the only place I can get my bras from is bravissimo (best shop in the world if you ask me!) there need to be more shops like this at more affordable prices… I’m not the only 19 year old with a huge chest and barely any money being a student. But I can’t really complain at least there is the odd shop!
I disagree -yes, cup size is relative! D doesn’t have to be big! Yes, most women wear totally ill-fitting bras! But it isn’t a thing of volume. If I were to go by volume and exact underbust measurements I’d have to wear a 34B. 32D is the size that actually fits me best. My breasts are wide, relative to a fairly small frame. There are few bras that I actually fill since a bra with the right width cups usually expects more volume. But wearing a smaller cup would hurt. There are so many variables to finding a bra that fits…
If you are happily wearing a 32D there is no way your ribcage measures 34 inches around. How wide your breasts are has nothing to do with how big your band needs to be. You just need to join a good bra community the ABraThatFits on Reddit or bratabase.com and find bras that fit your shallow wide shape. The cup is exactly about volume and shape.
Not true. I am a 30 underbust but 32 and 34’s are more comfy. My ribs and stomacc immediately potrude under my but making 30 bands uncomfortable. One of my ribs pitruded more than the other. I wear a 32f most times but measure a 30ff on most bra calculators.
I’m really glad that you made this post. As a girl with 28GG, no one believes me because I am very skinny, with natural breasts, and I wear a minimizing bra. It frustrates me so much that people look at your breasts and determine what you are. I have had to show people another one of my bras with my size on it. Thank you so much for educating people on bra size 🙂
lol Same size here. Had to show family the bra tag and then they said… That’s because it’s a weird foreign bra. -.- lol
Oh no, that’s the worst when no one believes you! You try to explain and they think you’re just trying to be “special” with a different kind of bra or something!
This is amazing! I’m a 28GG and when people ask and I tell them they’re usually shocked or say I hide it well. Yes at a GG I can feel quite big but often because I’m a dancer and surrounded by people with little or nothing!! Iol so I can feel “big” but I don’t think I “hide it” at all. I dress to suit my figure.
Although I can be self conscious in a bikini, but who doesn’t? I can sometimes struggle to find bras and bikini tops that support and fit right but I know where to look. Brands like freya are grey and specialise in “uncommon” sizing. I also never hop in a clothing store for bras, there’s just no point I make sure I go somewhere where they’ll check and fit me right. Even from a young age I’ve always made sure I’ve been properly fitted and bought my true size, like you say it’s important.
Reading this I realise why I get the response I do when freinds ask my bra size. We’re trained to think a GG is massive!! This article is brilliant! It’s not all about waistlines and hips when it comes to people of different sizes it’s about boobs as well! Thank you this article is the best I’ve read in a long time!
Hey there all! I’m a student from York, Uk, and I’m only 17 with a bra size of 28G/GG and there’s only one shop in York that do a wide range of sizes, and the only one that does my size, and that shop is called Leia, I would advice a lot of people to go to that shop, they size you correctly and will have a wide range of bra’s for you to try on, and they even have a website! It’s worth a look, I love the stuff they sell, and they nearly always have a sale on of some sort!
Hi Emzina!
Thanks for the recommendation 🙂 We’re near York too and love Leia – they’ve always been really helpful whenever we’ve been in and sell a large range of sizes in the Eveden brand (Freya, Fauve & Fantastie). We definitely advise checking it out too if anyone’s in the area!
Thanks
Sian & Charley xx
I guess I got the gist of this article -,women are wearing badly fitting bras (what’s new?). However, I’m not sure what the point of all the photographs were. If they were meant to show that similar cup sizes can look different (duh, breasts are just like anything else on the human body) or something along those lines, then the photographs should have all been taken from the same angle, all of the bras should have been the same type, color, and shape, and the lighting should have been at least similar in all of them. Otherwise, we can tell absolutely nothing, and it looks more like those fake “before and after” commercials where they’re obviously just using theatrical illusions.
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for your comment and taking the time to read the post. The photographs are unfortunately all we had access to in order to show different sizes – they are not ours, they’re from the Bra Band Project, so we weren’t able to get pictures all from the same angle or in the same lighting unfortunately, although that would have been ideal to make our point. We’re making do with the best pictures we can in order to show that (in the first example) 38″ might mean a G or a DD, and though these are very different cup sizes, they do actually look quite similar.
Thanks
Sian & Charley xx
Is 40d good or is 40ddd just to big what is a good size for me? I am 6’1″ tall please help me
Hi Jill,
Thanks for stopping by 🙂 There is no “good” size really – size is all a matter of opinion, so if you’re comfortable with it, that’s all that matters. You may want to stop by our How To Measure Your Bra Size post too to confirm that you’re in the correct size, as 40D or 40DDD can be a fairly common mis-size, especially if you’ve only ever been measured somewhere like a department store.
Thanks!
Sian
I like this post. Though I’m kinda confused on what size I am. I was recently sized to a 34 DD, my original size was 34 D since my breasts were too big for a D cup. I don’t know, my bra fits nicely but I can see some space on the top. Well only because I slouch. But yeah I love this article.
Thank you! Where did you get measured for the 34DD? I was frequently measured at a 34D/DD before I discovered the proper method of bra sizing and found out I was actually a 28FF or 30F – crazy! It sounds like you might be experiencing something similar to me, as the D cups on a 34 band were too small, but a DD was gapey at the top – apparently if the band is too big, the cups will also fit really oddly because they’ll be too shallow for you etc. I’d recommend having a look at our measurement post if you get a chance, or feel free to email us with your measurements if you need some help 🙂
Breats are beautiful any size. I love dd or e but you get what how you love. Just like men you get what size you get and thats it. All girls are beautiful no matter what size
there breast are.
I have to say this post makes me feel a lot better. I appear to have small boobs because they are wide instead of deep/protruding. I normally wear a size 34 C in demis/unlined but yesterday I was sized and was told/discovered I need to wear a 34 D in push-ups. I was shocked and not one of my friends believes me aside from the one that was there with me and saw me try it on. It’s upsetting when people (who don’t work in the bra world) think they know what you are by looking at you. I live with three well endowed busty girls who are all slight in stature, and their Ds are protruding and bulbous. They are what people think of when they hear “D.” But I’m just as much a D as they are in some cases.
It can be really frustrating when people aren’t as educated in bra fit and sizes and don’t realise that a D cup doesn’t necessarily have to be big – in fact in a lot of cases, a true D cup is usually perceived as being on the smaller side! Explaining that to people who think D or DD is the larger cup size you can get can be really hard, but in reality no one needs to know the letter on the label – it’s just a letter after all 🙂
I’ve always worn a 42DD. As of late, and I don’t know if it’s just because I’m starting to pay more attention to what fits properly, but the cup area’s are always loose on me. I’m always having to adjust myself. At the same time, I don’t know what to do. The band fits great, but the cups don’t. Do I go down a D? So it’d be a 44D? What is my best option based on what I’ve said? Really looking for some guidance haha 🙁
There are a few different reasons why the cup might feel a bit loose on you, one is that it might be too big, but it also might not be the correct shape for you or even that the band is too big (strange, I know, but if you think about the band being too big, the cups can’t hold in place properly!). I’d definitely recommend either pulling out a measuring tape yourself and getting some measurements (feel free to send them across to us or check out A Bra That Fits on Reddit for more guidance) or getting a professional fitting (although be wary that you go to somewhere good as many places use an old fashioned measuring method that doesn’t work for many people – if you let me know your general location, I can try to give some recommendations). Based on what you’ve provided, if you’re happy in a 42 band, you can always try a 42D – you wouldn’t need to go up a band size unless you feel like it’s too tight. But it’s always helpful to remeasure as you might be surprised! I thought I was a 34D for years before realising I was actually a 28FF – I didn’t realise that bras were supposed to fit like they do!
Hope that helps, and feel free to email us if you want any further advice 🙂
I went for a bra fitting only recently as I was sure they would have nothing for me as I have tiny ones. I was so surprised when she told me I’m 32D or 30DD. I had thought I’d be AAA if it existed :D. I was so happy to find out there one nice bras out there even for me!
For years I thought I had been self conscious of my chest thinking I couldn’t be bigger than an A cup looked for AA and AAA bras but then one fateful day just over two years ago came across a bra measuring guide on a website picked up a tape measure and put those figures into a bra calculator and was shocked to find out the result. I built up courage to ring up a lingerie store they said they didn’t sell anything that big I needed to try Bravissimo or Brastop.
When I called Bravissimo their customer services was lovely told her my measurement and said that was a 40d which sounded huge recommended several when they came they were too small in the cup spoke to Bravissimo again offering me a fitting in one of their stores who fitted me as a 40dd. DD sounded so big but the bra didn’t like it fitted me.
A few weeks later the bra felt to big in the bad went back and they then fitted me as a 38f now two years later I’ve been fitted as a 36hh/j and still braless my boobs are big about an E but its only when I put the bra on swoop and scooping pulling me in from my sides with a bra like Curvy Kate Madagascar that I realise how big I am but wearing a bra has stopping the painful rash I used to get under the boobs it has made my shirts fit better they are no longer tight around my bust and posture is better. Still a bit shocked each time I pick up a 36hh bra as it does look big but tried one of those 40dd bras and it gives me double quad boobs.
Ok well I know I look like I’m around a D cup and that I’ve been having fit issues lately. My measurements are 33 for my underband and 40.5 over the fullest part of my bust. The calculators I all use say I’m about a 32G or 34FF with an option to size down in the cup since my overbust was 40 and a half. I know its all relevant to the band and all but that sounds too big to me. I don’t look that big (even though I’ve been feeling like it lately), but still.
Is there any advice you can give me?
Hi Shelby, thanks for stopping by to comment! I’ve often found that if you think you look around a D cup (in old fashioned terms), your real size is usually around a FF/G – that’s what happened to me (34D –> 28FF/G) and I’ve heard it a few times. We’re conditioned to think that what is really a FF/G “looks like” a D, so we think that anything DD+ must be really big. In fact, I know a few ladies who wear a FF and still identify as small busted – it might sound crazy, but it’s true!
Your measurements do sound about right for a 34F/FF. Have you had a look at the Bra Band Project? These ladies all wear a 34F, and these wear a 34FF – do these look around your size? It may also be that you have a shallow shape to your breasts which mean that they are less pronounced from the chest and more widely spread, so they appear smaller by sight. It would be worth trying a few bras around a 34F or FF to find out what will fit you best, and bear in mind that the shape of the bra may not always be right for you. And don’t forget to scoop and swoop all the tissue into the cups – you might be surprised to find out how well they fit!
Hope this helps 🙂
I am very wide backed, and I have been wearing 40D/42C bras for ages now, but they never seem to fit me well enough (except for the 40D sports bra). I am finding ordinary bras an absolute pain in the ass to wear, and refuse to wear any because I find them painfully uncomfortable, and haven’t gotten an official size as of yet. I find that the bands are impossible to adjust/wear properly due to my broad back, but my breasts aren’t massive (they just look big because of my bone structure). Any advice on what to do here?
Any advice on where to buy bras/alternative to bras?
What are my possible bra sizes? (I don’t want to buy any online at all).
Any tips?
*The 40D bra’s straps can be adjusted is what I meant.
Hi there! It’s difficult to tell you any possible sizes without knowing your measurements, so a good place to start would be this calculator – it’s the most accurate one I’ve come across. If you enter your measurements in there, it should give you an idea of whether the bras you’re currently wearing are close to the right size or not. A lot of women using it tend to find that they’re wearing a band size that’s too big and cup sizes that are too small, so don’t panic if you get an answer like that 🙂
Once you’ve got an idea of size, if you’d prefer not to buy online, I can try to recommend a few places to you if you can let me know an idea of where you’re based – ie. UK, US etc. It’s difficult to recommend without knowing 🙂
Okay, I done the measurements and it said that my closest bra sizes were 40D, 42C and 44B. I know that sometimes Debenhams does 40 A-J cups, but that’s about it.
I’m in the UK. Do you know anymore places that can accomodate those sizes without having to go online and fork out loads of money for a custom made bra? I will even go slightly smaller if I have to.
Thanks a lot.
You’re fairly lucky in that the cup size you need is quite a common one to be able to pick up in store 🙂 I think 40 bands can be a little more difficult to find, but not impossible, so don’t worry 🙂
I don’t have a lot of experience in this size range, but I’m pretty sure Evans stock 40D and 42C. House of Fraser often have quite a good selection of bras too – online they have over 30 styles in a 40D, so I’d imagine they have some in store too. Marks and Spencers also have a very good selection of 40D bras, and they also have some that are less “bra like” if you prefer not to wear one that’s very structured if you find them uncomfortable.
Another good option might be to see if you have any independent shops around you, as these are usually very helpful – they could help to find you a well fitting and comfortable bra, and some are often happy to order in sizes for you if they don’t have them in stock.
Hope this is helpful and you manage to find something comfortable!
Hey, have a look and see if you can find a bravissimo, or a leia near you, I’m not 100% certain they do 40 back, but leia are amazing at sizing you, and bravissimo do have a wide range 🙂
Very good recommendation, thanks! I’ve only managed to visit Bravissimo once but it’s one of my biggest recommendations for a large range of sizes and good staff, and Leia are one of my favourites 🙂
Love the bras in your pictures! Can you give some info on where to find them, what brands, etc… Wearing a 38K, it’s very difficult to find attractive bras in my size that don’t look like something you’d find in your grandmother’s closet… I especially like the blue & pink one.. Thx!
Hi Angelique! I’m afraid I may not be exactly right on what all the brands are in the post as these aren’t all our pictures – they’re shared from the Bra Band Gallery where some have information, but not all of them sadly! By the blue and pink one, do you mean the first bra (in a 28GG)? I believe that one is a Cleo Melissa.
Do you wear a 38K in US or UK sizing? If UK, I’m afraid the Cleo Melissa doesn’t seem to go up to that size, the highest is a 38J.
But if you’re looking for something a bit more interesting to wear a 38K, Bravissimo have a few lovely styles (take a look here). Curvy Kate (the pink bra that the model is wearing in the D+ and G+ images) also have a few 38K bras (here are some at Figleaves, and here are some at Brastop). Panache also do some 38Ks – see a couple here at Very.co.uk, but keep an eye on their new releases as each season has new colourways (in fact, this is true of most of the brands I’ve mentioned!).
Hope that helps!
My bras right now are a 42DD and the back can get tight and my boobs don’t fit completely in the cups, half in half out but I deal because any other bra I’ve tried that’s bigger gives me no support whatsoever in the cups…
I’ve recently just measured myself (multiple times to make sure correct) and my measurements are currently
50″ chest (across)
42″ band size
So is there any sizes anyone on here could suggest trying? My boobs are extremely saggy which is why I usually stuff myself in too small of bras but again, when I tried looking at bigger sizes they are always too big to do anything but sit on my chest.. I don’t know what to do mehhhhh!
Hi Shannon!
From your measurements, it sounds like a 42FF is about your size, but if you have some “squish” underbust (ie. if you pull the tape measure tight on your underbust and it is 40″ or less), you might be able to size down to a 40FF/G – your “sister size” would be 40G, but I feel like you might be able to wear a 40FF too.
At the moment, you may not be getting enough support when you try larger cups as the band may not be tight enough – trying a 40 band may help with that. Another recommendation is to make sure you “scoop and swoop” when trying on bras so that your breasts are lifted up into the cups where the bra is designed for them to be (a lot of people end up wearing them too low – I used to before I found my correct size).
Hope that helps a bit!
Hi! I know I am very very late commenting on this post, but I just wanted to say thank you!
So many people have the wrong idea about bra sizes, and their jaws drop when I tell them I am a 32G.
I personally always thought my boobs were very big, but that was mainly because there weren’t any bra’s my size!
At this point I am willing to get a breast reduction, just because finding bra’s that fit me are such a hassle.
In regular stores you can’t get sizes below 34 here (I live in the Netherlands) so I always kind of try to make do and wear a 34F (if they even have those), even if that’s not the best size for me.
Right now I’m seriously researching plastic surgery, just because I want to wear pretty and cute bra’s that fit.
They probably can’t make my boobs smaller than a D cup (approximately, they never know exactly how they turn out) and my first reaction was “But that’s still very big!!”.
This article really helped me see things in perspective more 🙂
Hi Marieke!
We’re so glad you liked the post and found it useful in helping you see the perspective of bra sizes a little 🙂
It sounds like it must be really difficult for you to find brands and sizes that will fit you 🙁 Are you able to order online at all? I know it’ll be a little more expensive, but it might be worth it just to get one or two well fitting bras.
It can be frustrating sometimes that people don’t recognise that G cups aren’t necessarily that big, let alone D cups – I think it’s one reason why stores don’t sell more of these sizes as people don’t realise they need them! Ah well, one day!
It’s been a while! But I have been to the hospital, my insurance approved everything and I am getting a breast reduction this summer 🙂
They still don’t know what size I will be exactly, they asked what I had in mind and I just went “what is the smallest you can make them??”. They said the smallest would be around a C/D cup, as expected, and they recommended a D to keep my curvy appearence and because they want to keep things proportional, but I don’t think with a band size of 70 (32 for you) I need a lot of boob to be proportionate (if that makes sense).
I was in the city centre some time ago and walked past a bra shop (where I would never ever be able to buy anything in my size right now), and looked around for some 32C and 32D bra’s. They are so tiny and cute in comparison to the bra’s I’m used to!!! Even just the simple t-shirt bra’s are adorable, just because of the size.
Also, I will be able to wear bralettes (???! Not in my wildest dreams a year ago..) and I will need next to no support.
So I’m amazingly happy, but at the same time I’m really *worried* that they might not get as small as I want them to be. I have another appointment with my surgeon in April, so I will tell her about my worries and hopefully be reassured 🙂
What I was wondering (I did look around the site on my own for a while but it would be really helpful) if you have some links of bra reviews with women in them who are approximately a 32C/D (Or a 30D/E or a 34B/C you get my point) ! Then I have some more references, because whenever I try to google these things I get the usual stock images of women who are definitely not 32D’s (and trying to correct for band size is really difficult with these pictures).
Thanks so much anyway, I love your “big cup” reviews but I am very happy to be checking out the “little cup” reviews this fall 😀
Glad to hear that you’re getting the reduction you wanted! I’ve heard that sometimes surgeons don’t quite understand cup sizes the way that we do here, so can get the wrong idea of a D cup, but I think if they’ve said a C/D is the smallest they can go, it sounds like they might be thinking true to size 🙂
I hope it all goes really well and that you do manage to wear the super cute bras and bralettes! And hope the little cup reviews are helpful to you too! Charley, her mum (who has guest cupped for us) and her sister are in the 30C/D range, but we haven’t had anyone slightly larger (in the “average” sizes). My sister and mum might hopefully do some reviews for us soon though – they’re both around a 34D/DD, still not quite right, but around a similar size!
I came across this article whilst searching “Why do women with Ds think they have a large bust”.
I think you’ve summed it up very well. I’m currently in a 36F and my breasts are still growing, it seems likely that I would be around 34G or higher but I’ve had to compromise since no shops near me stock anything higher than an F. Your article sums up perfectly the stigma surrounding bra size, my mother and auntie didn’t understand that a 32E is a much smaller cup than a 36E and it’s so irritating when other women can’t see this. I feel maybe I should just purchase a few larger sizes on some internet sites to get a realistic feeling of what may be true to my size. Sometimes I just want to try a 32H or a similar size so people go “WOAH YOUR BOOBS ARE HUGE”, and I’ll be given the chance to correct them and state how a 38E would be about the same cup size. Fingers crossed stores will see the light and I won’t have to put up with 30D women saying “oh god my boobs are so big they’re so annoying”, you’re very informative and I’ll definitely be searching through the rest of this site. Thank you.
I disagree with the idea that anything bigger that a triple D is fake. My best friend is only seventeen and overflows her e cup bra. It’s very annoying, because we can never find her nice bras in her size. She is already saving up to get a breast reduction because her boobs are literally weighing her down (we’re both very short) and she is afraid she won’t be able to breastfeed when she’s older. Any advice due her situation? I’m not even exaggerating, her breasts are three times the size of the fake pornstar boobs.
Hi Dara – precisely what this post is about, that there are bra sizes higher than a DDD (F in UK sizes), in fact, they go commercially all the way up to a UK L (which is equivalent to a US Q)! I’m guessing you’re in the US as you mention triple D? The E cup bra you mention could be equivalent to a DD or DDD depending on the brand. It’s sad to hear that she’s already feeling that she needs a reduction at 17, but it may help her to find the correct fitting bra first before taking such a big leap, as it could be that her discomfort is causing her to feel like this. I also wore overflowing E cups at 17, and now wear a 28GG and am very happy with it – the discomfort I had is pretty much gone!
If you get her to do a few measurements and input them into this calculator – this is the most accurate one I’ve found. It’s quite likely that she will be surprised at the size it gives her, as not many people realise how high the bra size alphabet goes, and a lot of women are fitted into a band size that is too large.
If you get a suggested size for her but aren’t sure where she can find bras to fit, please feel free to drop us an email (bigcuplittlecup@gmail.com) and we’ll be happy to give you a few suggestions, especially as if you’re in the US as I guessed it can be difficult to find places to try them on and buy them from once you’re larger than a DD. Don’t worry though, as these sizes are out there, and they don’t necessarily have to be boring! These bras are all available in up to an L cup, and look how pretty they are!
Oh and I think it’s generally quite uncommon for women not to be able to breastfeed due to the size of their breasts, so tell her not to worry too much 🙂 Obviously I’m not an expert, but I’ve heard of women up to as large as K cups being able to breastfeed.
I’ll also email this response to you just in case you haven’t subscribed to the comments 🙂
Hi! Your article was fantastic!
I was just wondering if you could help me, I have a 32d bra size but I wear a 36c which is just very slightly big for me, is this a bad idea? Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Lana, thank you!
It isn’t bad for you at all to wear a bra size that’s slightly too big – as long as it’s comfortable and you’re getting what you want from a bra, whether that’s support, coverage, or just something to look pretty, that’s great 🙂 It’s not so great to wear a size that’s too small as underwires sat on breast tissue can cause more lasting damage and can be painful. But a size too big isn’t a problem 🙂
I appreciate all your help! Keep on making amazing articles!
My moms boobs are natural and she has double Ds and you just said that they were just for celebrities and porn stars… That’s a little rude don’t you think? I came here for hope because I’m thirteen and a 34C and people keep on saying rude things like that. Where D cups are too big, are unattractive. Well I’ll probably be a D cup by 15 and everyone seems to think that its a gross cup size and I’m sick of it. All I want is for people other then disgusting perverts want to have a relationship with me. But all the normal people seem to hate big cup sizes :'(
Hi Haylie, please please please read the post first before commenting and leaving! You’ve only read the first sentence and got the wrong idea completely – a D cup, or even a DD cup isn’t that big at all, in fact I’m a GG and Charley is a D cup and identifies as the “Little Cup” here! I was also a similar size to you at age 13, wearing 34Cs and 34Ds, but then I discovered I was more than likely in the wrong size. The problem is that people are made to think that D cups are massive where in reality they aren’t. And wearing the wrong size can make you feel bad about yourself. If you take a minute to read the full post, you’ll understand 🙂 And we have loads of other posts where we’re wearing D cups, DD cups and above, and I promise you, it’s not as bad as it seems 🙂
I’ll also email this comment to you to help you out!
At what point did you forget about “let’s keep it simple”? I came here for clarification and hopefully to finally understand how breast sizes look like and I believe I haven’t improved my knowledge on the field… But not to worry! I am a man so it was just out of curiosity.
Haha, we only said we’d try!! In a sentence (although this may make it more confusing!), there’s no strict definition of what breast sizes look like – a D cup can be “big” or “small”, depending on the band size and also on the unique shape of the lady who’s sporting them 🙂
I’ve just stumbled across your blog and this article is so good. I used to wear a 36D and definitely looked ‘busty’ I recently got measured at a 32F, now after losing some weight I’m 30FF, to me this sounds huge but I couldn’t get my head around why I didn’t look the Jordan and other glamour model haha. This clarifies a lot, advertising and the media has fed us so many lies!
This was so helpful. I recently got fitted for a bra after wearing a 36B for most of my boob filled life and was shocked when the woman at the store told me I was actually a 32D! I laughed her off thinking she was kidding because there was no way my small boobs were a D, but when she gave me a 32B it clearly didn’t fit at all and a 32D was perfect and comfortable. This whole event kind of blew my mind and made me research bra sizes. Your page helped a lot. I told my mom what they fit me for and she tried to argue with me that there was no way I could be a D because if I was a D I’d be weighed down by huge boobs on my tiny frame. She even went and looked up how bra sizing works and agreed that band size and cup size are relative, but that a D would still be huge. I think she may be a lost cause.
It completely blew my mind too when I first discovered I was an F/FF rather than the D I thought – I thought D was big enough as it was 😀 Ah well, my mum’s the same and doesn’t quite believe that she can have gone from a B to DD, but she does now wear a DD most of the time and agrees they’re more comfortable most of the time!
From age 12 I’ve always wore a 34A for 3 years, till I was 15. It was really uncomfortable and I was always embarrassed to ask my Mum to measure me, but yesterday I finally had the courage to ask her and she took my measurements and put them in online and it came up as me being a 32DD. I honestly started laughing and asked her how I could be that size considering my boobs really do look small. I picked out a bra online and it came this morning, when I put it on it felt really comfortable and I don’t look “busty” I do look somewhat “flat” but it feels much more nicer, and it’s easier to shop for bras now since I always had to look in the kids section for bras and it was always really embarrassing in stores! I just stumbled across your post / blog when on Google and this has really helped me so thank you 🙂
So glad you’ve managed to find a size that fits you well! It’s really sad as I’ve heard so many people say that they wore uncomfortable sizes for so long – I know I did! People tend to think of 32DD being the smallest band size and biggest cup size, but in reality it’s a size you’d find a lot of people wearing if they were measured correctly. Hope the blog continues to help!
I’m so glad this is here! I’ve just been for a bra fitting thinking (as I’d only just been 6 months ago) that I was a 34B. It turns out now I’m a 30E and I’m so shocked! I’m 19 and I thought I’d stopped growing! I LOOK like I’m a 32/34C.. Or that’s what people say and always have. Crazy! However now I’m wearing a 30E and not a 34B I have no visable cleavage which I kinda miss. They’re a bit saggy for a 19 year old 🙁
And we’re so glad you found it! This is exactly what we hoped this post would do – help people understand that a move from a smaller cup size to a larger one doesn’t mean all that much, and that “big” cup sizes don’t necessarily look big! It’s a bit frustrating finding that many well fitting bras don’t provide the cleavage we tend to look for – it mostly results from badly fitting bras! But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear these once in a while still 😉 There are some bras that come in your size range though that may give you the cleavage you want – maybe the Freya Deco? Ewa Michalak CHP and Plunge cups usually give a good cleavage, as do Comexim plunges, but these are both Polish so may be more difficult for you to order depending on where you’re based. Charley is a similar size to you though and finds that Gossard work really well for her and give her cleavage!
I currently wear a 40 dd and I don’t know if it fits quite right. I just measured myself and it says I’m a 44F, but that seems way too large. Thoughts?
Hi Bryanne!
Did you use this calculator with your measurements? How do your current 40DD bras fit (does the band ride up? Do the cups overflow or gape anywhere? Do you find the wires digging in?) and how old are they?
I’m asking these questions as if you’re measuring as a 44 band, the 40 should most definitely be too tight. If it’s quite old though, the elastic may have stretched out quite a bit allowing you to wear it more comfortably. I know the calculator can be a little off in your size range, but it usually provides a good starting point. You may end up surprised to find an F cup fitting – I know I was!
It might also be worth visiting A Bra That Fits and reading some of their info as I’m not an expert in your size range, but they might be able to help point you in the right direction too 🙂
I’m fourteen and I wear a 34E bra, and all the girls in my class act so shocked when they ask my size and I tell them. They really don’t seem that big to me, but most the girls my ages are pretty flat-chested (considering my body type, very skinny and petite, I guess I should be too, but I guess it’s just genes at play) I’m happy with my size, but I’m not even through puberty and they’re growing alarmingly fast – I went up three cup sizes in six months, and I’m scared of them getting bigger at this point because they might get a bit saggy?
Hi Morana! I’m sure if the other girls in your class were measured in the same way you are, many of them would be a similar cup size – I’d imagine most of them have visited stores like Victoria’s Secret where they’ll have been given a different (smaller) size and don’t realise. It’s also very likely that over the next few years they’ll grow too 🙂 I was similar at your age where I went from being completely flat (I was called a “surfboard” when I was 13!) to what I imagine should have been around a 28F/FF at 14 – a bit of a shock, but quite natural at your age 🙂 The amount of sag you get is usually actually dependent on your genes and your own body – some women get quite low hanging tissue naturally, others don’t. Obviously size can be a factor in it, but usually you get the drop in tissue relating to size if you go up and down in sizes quite a lot (ie. weight loss or breastfeeding). In fact, the vast majority of women do experience some “sagging” – you just don’t often realise because we don’t seem women not wearing bras very often! Wearing the correct size bra will lift up your breasts to where you want them to be , so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re properly fitted and comfortable 🙂
I’m 15, and my mother told me I’m a DDD but by the looks of this I’m Katie Price size or bigger. I sag and I’m not sure where I could go to get the most accurate measurements.
Hi Dionna! If you’re struggling to find your size, I’d recommend taking your measurements and trying this calculator – it’s the most accurate one we’ve come across. If you’re having trouble with getting the measurements yourself, you could try getting a store fitting, but make sure to try a few options as some stores measure in a way that we wouldn’t really recommend. I’m guessing you’re in the US? (Just by your use of DDD – US is the only place that really uses this :)) I wouldn’t recommend Victoria’s Secret because of their limited size range that stops at a DDD (and they’re very limited in these anyway!), but Nordstrom is supposed to be quite good, and independent stores can sometimes have a good service too. Hope this helps a bit!
Your blog is awesome, I’m so glad I came across it! I worked in a department store fitting bras for years, and I have so much I could say! We carried brands like Wacoal and Chantelle that went up to an H cup, so we’re kind of on the right track, but many customers didn’t want to listen when we measured them at a D or larger. I also wish there were more UK sizes and smaller bands available, some styles came in 30 but nothing smaller.
When I started working around bras, I had always assumed I was a 32 A or smaller because that’s usually the smallest size available. I was fascinated that I was actually a 30B, although we only carried one or two styles. The Elomi/Freya rep told me I was probably a 28D and I kind of laughed it off. But now several years later, I realize she was totally right! I recently measured myself and I’m 28 under, 32 over. A difference of 4 inches, a D cup! And yes, my boobs are still pretty darn tiny! I ordered the ONLY 28D on the Nordstrom website and it fit absolutely perfectly. I perused Amazon for a Freya and a Curvy Kate which should arrive soon. I wish The Little Bra Company did a D cup. And I obviously wish more bras came in my size, but maybe someday! Until then, I’ll keep searching the internet and posting to the Bra Band Project
TLDR I thought I was barely an A and I’m a D. It’s all relative. D is actually the small end of the spectrum. This website is awesome.
Hi Jo, thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely thoughtful comment! It’s so great to hear other people’s experiences in bra fitting, and I’m so glad you’ve got yours figured so well 🙂 Thank you for the kind words, hope to see you around here more!
You could try the 30C from The Little Bra Company, I know I did because they’re bra’s are so awesome! The band will not be as tight as you 28, but it should still be pretty firm and you can always shorten the band or take and extender and sew it onto the bra band next to the eye’s that are already on the band so that you have 3 more hooks to make the band tighter.
Thank you so much for this post (and the blog)! Before I genuinely thought that the mainstream stores’ sizes were the only options that existed. As H&M puts it, A-D are standard, DD-E are HUGE. And it’s such a shame, because their nursing bras would be the comfiest lounge bras ever. I’m still guilty of wearing a pair in 36DD, which is at least two cup sizes too small and too big in the band. ✌️
Younger I was always extremely uncomfortable with my breasts and desperately tried to squeeze into anything that was smaller than a D cup, but now that I look back I think that I must’ve been in the DD+ range at 14yo already. I actually got so upset about bras not fitting me that I wore only a binder for over two years. I stopped wearing it only a couple of months ago.
Now that I found my love for lingerie again and the fact that my size is not actually that shocking after all (30G/32FF), I feel great. Although I wish Disney bras in my size existed just to satisfy my inner child.
Hi Linus, so glad you like the post and blog! Thank you 🙂 That’s definitely how the perception feels from mainstream stores and it’s really sad. But yep, I’m definitely guilty of sizing up in the band to fit into DDs and Es – woops! I’m so glad to hear that you’ve found a love for lingerie now with a better size for you – that’s definitely how it went for me too. Though I wasn’t at the stage of wearing a binder, I thought there must be something wrong with me that bras would ride up at the back, cups would gape and dig at the front, or that was just the way bras fit. I’m so much happier now I know my size, similar to you, isn’t all that unusual!
And with you there on the Disney bras! Although we have found a few Disney inspired ones…Buttress & Snatch do an awesome Minnie Mouse inspired bra up to larger cup sizes 🙂
I read the article about the fact the most if us are in the wrong size bra. So I went to Victoria’s Secret to be properly measured. ( I also measured myself first)
I was surprised to find that I too have been wearing the wrong size forever. 52 yrs. old. I was SHOCKED when she measured 34D. I have been wearing 34Cs, 36Bs, only to have troubles with spillage over top, loose straps, side affects, not a good look. Never in my wildest dreams would I have tried on a D cup if I hadn’t read this article
. So, what did I do? I tried on my old sizes because I didn’t believe the measurement. Only to be disappointed with the results as usual. So to humor the girl I said I would go ahead and try on the 34D. To my amazement, suddenly all my stuff was contained! I have given all my old bras away and purchased several new ones in the proper fit.
Thank you for your effortsupport to educate us in the bothersome matter.
Laurie Warren.
MT
Hi Laurie, ah that’s fab to hear! I think it’s just such a shock to some people that they’re not sure what to do – for example, when I was told I was an F cup when I was first measured properly, I felt really angry 😀 But like you, trying on my old sizes compared to the new, I felt SO much better in the new size and was converted 🙂
Thanks for your lovely words and hope to see you around here again 🙂
Where can I go for a proper bra fitting?
Hi Nancy 🙂
Whereabouts are you based? If you’re in the UK, we’d recommend Bravissimo, but Debenhams, especially larger stores, can be quite good. Rigby & Peller is also a good option for fitting, but their prices if you choose to buy there are a little more expensive.
If you’re in the US, I’m not definite on recommendations. Some people say Nordstroms is quite good, but I’d keep an eye out for independent boutiques that have a large range of sizes for fitting.
It’s probably worth having a go at measuring yourself to get a ballpark idea of what size you should be – we recommend this calculator for that 🙂
I went and measured my size again and tried more bras and the woman said my size went from c to d, I kinda feel like shit I didn’t want them to get bigger , C was fine for me and it took me time to get used to it and accept it but now that my size is d, I just feel like shit and I hate my body and my boobs like the idea in my head is that only women with kids that have the size d , reading this makes me feel little bit better jut still I’m not accepting the idea of having a d cup for now and I HATE IT
🙁 So sorry to hear this! It might be worth thinking more about it in terms of numbers rather than letters, so it simply means that your bust is 4 inches bigger than your underbust (as a D cup) whereas a C cup just means 3 inches difference. In reality, that 1 inch doesn’t mean a lot as it’s the all round measurement 🙂
You also need to think about the band size too – did that change? For example, if you went from a 34C to 32D, your size hasn’t got bigger at all as these are sister sizes and have the same volume.
It’s really difficult to get the idea that a D cup is a big size, but on this blog, Char is a 30D and is the “Little Cup” – she used to wear an A or B cup because she thought her smaller size meant she couldn’t be bigger than that, but that D on the end of her bra size is just a letter and is on the smaller end of the scale.
Hope this helps you feel a little better!
Your feelings on only people with children having D+ cups, isn’t true, having children doesn’t effect what size boobs you have as there are plenty of people with children at are still in cups A and B, what effects your boobs are you genes and hormones, I personally am only 19, without children, but I am a cup size of GG, yet I’m only skinny, and it’s very muchly a family thing for me, and I have quite a few friends around my age and my weight have large boobs.
I don’t mean for this message to upset you if it does, I was only intending on this message to be informative.
Thanks for chiming in, Emma. That’s exactly the message we’re hoping this post will give – that a D cup doesn’t mean anything – it doesn’t mean that your size is big or small, resigned to porn stars or mothers. Sadly the message is still not clear to a lot of people because of what we’ve been exposed to in the media our whole lives, so hopefully this post will help more people to understand that 🙂
I’m so glad I seen this post, i have always worn a 34b and decided to get measured in debenhams as I have a wedding coming up in september.I was in shock when the lady told me I’m a 32 d? Looking at them there is no way anyone would think that.but yayyyy I’m a d lol x and my bras fit me so much nicer
Hi Kyla!
Ah yay, so glad you found this post helpful 😀 It does seem a massive shock when you’re first told you’re an entirely different size to what you thought, but when you try on the bra it all just clicks 🙂
I’m currently 14 and I got my first actual bra which is a 32a about a year ago. Before that I was wearing padded sports bras. Recently I’ve been wearing sports bras again but today I decided to put on one of my 32a bras and it hurt and I remembered why I’d been wearing the sports bras. The bra hurts because the underwire was sitting on my boobs and I was also spilling out the top and a bit on the sides. I measured myself using the calculator you linked and it said that I’m a 30dd or 32d. Also I’m Canadian.
Also I still think that I have pretty small boobs and have no idea wear to get a bra in my size.
Sorry for replying again but I just wanted to mention my measurements.
Sung Underbust:30 inches
Tight underbest:28 inches
Standing bust:33 inches
Leaning bust:35 inches
Lying bust:32 inches
Hi Chloe, no worries! Looking at your measurements, I’d suggest either a 30D (which is the same as Char) or a 32C if you’re not used to a tight band, or maybe a 30DD or 32D to try 🙂
I’m not hugely familiar with Canadian lingerie stores, but I’ve heard that Change can be quite good. Luckily your size shouldn’t be too hard to find (especially if you’d prefer to wear a 32 band) so you can also find it in more high street retailers like Victoria’s Secret (although I wouldn’t really recommend getting measured there). Do you have Nordstroms in Canada? That can also be quite good. The Butterfly Collection is also a Canada based website that sells a good range of bras but appears to be down at the moment.
Hope that helps 🙂
Aaa so you really think most of the celebs or pornstars who are bigger then D cup have fake boobs or was that just a joke for us people, the people who think that DD is the largest cup size and their is nothing after that. Because by reading the comments and articles about this topic i can say their are thousands and thousands of bustier women with cup sizes bigger then DD.
Haha yep, it’s our feeble attempt at a joke 😀 Wanted to start the article with a bit of comedy before dispelling the myth ;D
Hii I’m all my bras are b cup but they nearly cover my nipples and are uncomfortable I always have to adjust them throughout the day and the band basically tests on my boobs. But when I say I’m a C as B’s are too small people say I’m lying because my boobs are too small for a C.
What do I do ?
Hi! That does sound to me like your bra cups are too small, especially if the band is resting on breast tissue – ouch! It can be really difficult when people tell you you’re “too small” for a certain size because actually cup sizes like C or D don’t mean anything at all by themselves. Char is our Little Cup but wears a D cup (30D), so it just goes to show. I’d definitely try some different sizes if you can (try the calculator here for a ballpark idea – you may be surprised to see it gives you a larger cup size than you were expecting!), and you don’t need to tell anyone what size you’re wearing if you don’t want to 🙂
Thank you for your article! I am 33 and went to get a bra today to wear with a new dress. They asked my size and I said 34 or maybe 36 A. A sales lady measured me right away, telling me I was a 34 C. I laughed and said I was possibly a B cup. Then I went into fitting room and tried on bras and was sized again and found out I am a 34 D! My mind was blown! So was the sales lady who helped me when I kept insisting I was an A cup.
for years I have felt bad about my body because I thought I was too fat for my bras…I had it in my head the my boobs were small and if my bra didn’t fit, it was because I had the dreaded bra over hang, and needed to get in better shape. But today, when I put on the right sized bra, I felt amazing!!! If I had seen your article before, and realized how little I know about bra sizes, perhaps I would have gone to get sized sooner, and wouldn’t have had to deal with the nagging body image thoughts that come from wearing an ill fitting bra.
Hi Carrie! Wow, we love getting comments like this! It’s so amazing what a difference a better fitting bra can do for your self esteem and your comfort 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve managed to find one that fits you! So many people don’t expect a D cup to look like what it really does so we hear lots of stories of being shocked – I’m glad our post was here to help you!
As someone who is very small-busted, I was actually overjoyed at being told I was a bigger cup size. I’m a 28C/30B. I thought I was in the 32-34 AA territory, maybe even AAA because I was that flat and bony in the chest. I was glad to know that I am a sister size to a commonly sold size–32A. The downside is that many small cup bras aren’t too well-constructed to shallow, wide-set breasts. It’s like they take a mid-sized cup and scale it down. I was also glad to know that even among women of the same size, they may prefer different bras bc of different shaping and spacing.
Yay, so glad to hear that you’re really pleased at your new possible cup size! That’s definitely frustrating about mid-sized cups being scaled down for smaller busts – it happens both ways quite a bit as 34B or 34C tends to be the sample size as far as I know, which is really sad. There are a couple of companies out there that design especially for smaller busts like the Little Bra Company and Lula Lu – we haven’t tried either so can’t vouch for their quality but have seen a few other bloggers mention them before, so might be worth a try 🙂
I know exactly what you mean! When I first found my proper size, I was around a 30B, now I am actually a 28D/30C. I feel like such a snob whenever I talk about bras or go to any place that sells them…no, I am NOT a 32A like you’ve been telling me all my life, I’m a 28 D…that’s right, my little boobs are a D cup! Don’t try to tell me I’m anything else! 🙂
Bras are crazy complex, two women of the same size could still fit best in completely different styles. Unfortunately, in our 28 size range there are few options to choose from. If one style doesn’t work, we may be out of luck. I have tried ordering from Nordstrom’s website, I think there are 3 bras in my size. One worked, one didn’t, do I go ahead and try the last one? Someday I will have more options I hope!!
In response to scaling down, it really is hard to find bras for small frames. Sister sizes aren’t always the best option. If I have to pull out one of my old 32A bras, I always find that the cup digs into the side of my tissue. Definitely not suited for wide set breasts. You can really see in my proper fitting 28D that the cup goes toward my armpit and holds all my tissue.
I have tried The Little Bra Company, and I have a couple comments. Their styles tend to have a LOT of padding. Also, they only go up to a C cup. I’m glad they’re on the right track with small bands and designing for petite frames, but in my opinion they have some room for improvement. You found out you’re a B or C, I found out I’m a C or D. In their line, we’re in the biggest cup sizes. I think at a small D cup I’m still small enough to be wearing styles from a “Little” bra brand, but in their book I’m too big. I want to know how many women out there are actually wearing their AA and A cups. I wish they would give up on the idea that a D is huge and make a couple more cup sizes. But that’s their business choice, and I’m ranting!
Sorry for the longest comment ever. Darn insomnia! 🙂
Haha don’t worry about the long comment – it’s really really useful to have a perspective from someone in that size range who’s tried the Little Bra Company!
It’s definitely true that getting a bra in your proper size rather than a sister size is always going to be better – like you said, it’ll be much better in terms of projection/shallowness and covering in the right places.
And yes! It’s also really weird to think that even though people who are C, D or even DD can identify as being small busted and appear to be right at the smallest end of the scale yet the smallest companies don’t cater for them sometimes, annoying!
Do bras from the Little Bra Company work for wide-set breasts? Looking at their bras, it looks like they’re designed for petite women with short torsos and close-set breasts. I have to make sure that the underwires go out far wide enough though.
Lula Lu looks like it works better for my body shape, but they specialize in AAA-A cups. Sometimes I wonder how many of their customers are really B+ in cup with a smaller band size. That said, there are women who truly are AAA-A cups, and it’s great that they have an option.
Here’s an interesting video about fitting small-cupped women: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMQOtqT3fR0
It says that for smaller-busted women, preciseness of the shape really matters because they have less tissue to move around. On the other hand, women who are larger have more breast tissue that can be adjusted into the given shape of the cup (more malleable, wider range of motion).
Thanks for the video! I had never thought about that, but it makes sense!
I don’t have a ton of experience with TLBC because I’m more of a 28D than a 28C and thus out of their size range. I do think that their bras tend to be more for close set breasts, like you noted. I would consider myself to be fairly wide set and have trouble containing the tissue by my armpit. Sometimes it helps to go up a cup size, but in TLBC this option may not be available. The one TLBC bra I own is a 28C and is actually from their line for Target called Ariette. I would say the tissue by my armpit is pretty well contained but could still be better. The cups are small but they give me a nice push up look and that’s why I kept the bra. The other styles I have tried on have been tiny in the cups and have given me too much spill out the top. Wish I had more info for you on TLBC, but hope this helps! 🙂
As someone who is very small-busted, I was actually overjoyed at being told I was a bigger cup size. I’m a 28C/30B. I thought I was in the 32-34 AA territory, maybe even AAA because I was that flat and bony in the chest. I was glad to know that I am a sister size to a commonly sold size–32A. The downside is that many small cup bras aren’t too well-constructed to shallow, wide-set breasts. It’s like they take a mid-sized cup and scale it down. I was also glad to know that even among women of the same size, they may prefer different bras bc of different shaping and spacing.
woops, never mind the double post. My comment did go through; for some reason I thought it didn’t.
So I have man boobs. I was interested in a properly fitting bra. I have tried a few here and there and never quite found the perfect fit. So I decided to measure myself and I was astounded by the result. I used a few different bra calculators and I came up with 42DD! 42in underbust and 47 at the fullest part of bust. Can this be true? I do realize sizing is all relative but still…wow!
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 It might be worth you having a look at A Bra That Fits‘ information for fitting bras for men or transwomen as we’re not really experienced in it, sorry! Apparently the calculator is best at measuring for cis women as a male body type can be slightly different to women – for example, the “bust” measurement can be overexaggerated a little by the V shaped ribcage that most men have compared to women. It’s more likely that a 42C or D, or maybe a 44B or C might work better for you depending on what your ribcage is shaped like (a bigger band might be more comfortable), but it’s true that you could possibly be a 42DD!
Can you help me please. I’m a 32H and can never find any nice bras in my size. I’d like to have some sexy lingerie, pretty bras and cool bikinis but everything I manage to find in my size is proper granny style. Aside from that, after reading some of your posts I’m pretty sure I’m wearing the wrong size bra. The back on my bras always ride up and the straps tend to dig in. I also suffer from the “4 boob” effect and am constantly having to reshuffle and reshove my boobs down in my bras. So yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m wearing the wrong cup and back size and have been for years. I’m just worried that if I find my band size is smaller and my cup size bigger the already limited bras for girls my size will become even more limited. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
I can understand your struggle to find pretty lingerie in larger sizes as I’ve struggled before, but I promise there are places out there 🙂 Curvy Kate is a great option for larger cup sizes with a younger and more fun feel as they go all the way up to a K. I’d also recommend Bravissimo who go up to an L in some ranges, so you’ll definitely be able to find something.
It does sound like your band size is a little too big and your cup a bit too small, although it could be that your bras have gone a little worn over time. I’d recommend checking out this calculator to get an idea of what size might be best for you now then trying a few in that range to find one that is most comfortable for you 🙂 If you find you’re still able to wear an H or HH, a good brand for something a little more sexy like you mention is Scantilly. I’d also try exploring Figleaves too as they have lots of options.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for replying to my question (almost a year ago, lol). I did try the bra calculator at the time but the result came out smaller than the bra size I’m wearing now and I definitely know that isn’t the case. I think because I have pendulous breasts they’re difficult to measure accurately. Where do you recommend getting fitted where you’ll actually find your true size and not get fobbed off with a bra that doesn’t quite fit right – like I have done so many times in the past. Thank you in advance.
Jeez!
I thought I had a size B-cup but those have been hurting and barely fit so I thought I was a C, so I measured myself and I kept getting D! I thought that it wasn’t possible for my age 13 almost 14 so I measured myself like 4 more times and kept getting the same or similar results. 30 inches under the chest and 34 in. on the chest. Thanks for giving me tips about bra sizing and fitting, I’m going to go buy the proper size bra. Before this I’ve gone down to only 2 sports bras because all my other ones barely cover my boobs and worse it shows really badly through my school uniform and it would be very painfull especially when a wire broke. So yet again thank you!
So glad this helped you! It can definitely be a surprise to find out you’re not a cup size you thought you were – I was wearing a 34C at 13 but knowing more about bra fitting now, I think I should really have been a 28F or similar, but I had no idea! It’s so great to hear that you’ve found this out now though and that you can get a bra that’s more comfortable and isn’t hurting you or showing through your clothes 🙂
Great article! I used be like you and wear 34 ds in which the band was too big or 32 dds and my nipples would always come out. I wore those sizes since I was 15-16 (im now 23) because the only stores I knew of had them. Other than the one time my mom took me to a local store and they somehow fitted me in a bra that was way too big. I figured I was wearing the wrong sizes for a while now, but I was frustrated because i didn’t want to have to spend 100 dollars on a bra when someone with smaller boobs can spend 30. But I sucked it up today and bought a couple bras in a 30 f. I have yet to wear them all day, but ones a push up which I never thought looked good on me because they pushed my boobs out instead of up, turns out when it actually fits it looks hot and the band isn’t riding up my back.
Hello! I’m 14 about to turn 15 and I have triple D’s which make me super uncomfortable about my body because I’m a fit person and Bly last year I was a c Cup so this confused me how I became a DDD so fast, can you tell me?
Hi, thanks for stopping by! I’m afraid it’s what happens to your body at your age – I went from having absolutely nothing to wearing a B overnight, then up to a DD/E (DDD) over the course of a few months when I was 14 too. It’s not something that depends on how fit you are, it’s just your genes. It can feel very strange at first, but if you find a bra that fits you comfortably, it can definitely help.
You might want to use this calculator to check that you’re wearing the best fitting bra for you, and don’t worry if it comes out with a larger cup size than you expect – when I was wearing a DDD/E, it was a 32 or 34 band, but I really should have been in a 28FF or similar. These sizes are actually very similar in terms of volume but just have different letters because the band size is smaller – you might find the same thing or you might not 🙂
You mentioned being fit so I guess you do some sport? It might help you to have a well fitting sports bra then so you can carry on doing what you enjoy comfortably. We have a review of the Panache Sports bra here which might help you 🙂
Hope this helps!
I’m wondering where you got the bra in the top picture?! It’s so cute and I wear the same size as you and never find anything quite that cute(except for some sheer cups which very few give me a nice shape-like seriously who decided most bras for large breasts needed to be flimsy and see through?!)
Hi Ella, the brown/cream one from the image with the text on? That’s the Comexim Irish Coffee bra – I reviewed it here 🙂 Comexim have quite a few similar, and I also really recommend Ewa Michalak for similar ones. They’re both Polish brands which are fairly easy to order in the UK and Europe, but if you’re in the US, you can shop some of their bras at Wellfitting (you can get 10% off through our referral link here) and Zathiya. It sounds like you’re wanting padded or moulded cups in more fun or interesting prints, so you might also like to check out Panache’s Cleo range or Curvy Kate – these do have soft cups too, but quite a few foam or moulded cups too 🙂 Hope that helps!
Hi!
I need some suggestion. My friend is 32H. But it is very difficult to find the fitting bra for her size around where she lives.
Any suggestion?
Hi Sarah! Whereabouts does your friend live?
If she’s in the UK, Bravissimo is a really good option and there a quite a few of those spaced around the country. Debenhams is also not too bad, and Rigby & Peller, although an expensive option, were good at fitting when we visited. I wouldn’t recommend Marks & Spencers for a fitting experience, but they do go up to a 32H in a few bras.
If she’s in Europe, ordering from the UK is a good option with brands like Panache, Freya & Curvy Kate, or you could try some Polish brands like Ewa Michalak and Comexim. These are the ones I know most about, but Hunkemoller is apparently also good if there’s one nearby!
If in the US, I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of experience but have heard that Nordstrom can be good, or checking out online stores that sell British brands.
Hope that helps!
Great article!
I think so much of this comes from the antiquated “+4″ style of measure bra sizes. In fact, many bra stores and online sites STILL tell you that to measure your bra size, you measure around your rib cage below the breasts and add 4 inches to the number. This is the dumbest thing ever. I know it comes from bra designs of 50 years ago when the materials were all stiff and had no flexibility, so they HAD to allow some inches of slop in the band or the woman would suffocate. I mean figure it out, a true ribcage measure of 36, and true overbust measure of 41 = a 5″ difference so it should be a DD cup. But the old style of measurement would put that woman in a 40B, which is absurd. And by that old system, you’d have to have an 8” difference to be a DD, which is why people think DD is “enormous”. Believe me, on an average 160 lb woman with a 5″ difference (a true DD), that’s a nice size that looks good and in proportion with her body, but no way is that “porn star” size.
It would be so much easier if everything went by the true measurements below and on the bust.
And by the way… I’m a guy, … who brings all this to you from the education I’ve had buying clothes for my wife!
Hi, thanks for stopping by! Definitely agree that it would be so much easier if we just went by the nearest numbers – like 36-41 instead of 36DD – then the letters wouldn’t have so much stigma round them! Great to hear a man’s perspective on this too, so thanks 🙂
Hello!
Interesting article.
Im not a girl, so Im trying to get an understanding.
First, I assume cup sizes do have a well defined volume or dimensions.
And I assume such well defined volume is a standard across all of the bra industry (regardless of quality or style).
So 34D bra and a 28D bra means exactly the same boob volume.
Am I right?
If this is true, I believe that the cup size does tell you something, contrary to what the article states.
For instance, if for whatever reason, a magazine is looking for a model that looks small breasted, such magazine would need to hire a model that is A cup (or B cup at most)
And the opposite is also true. If a magazine is looking for a model that looks big breasted they will need to look for a C cup at least. However, if the model in question is C cup but she is also 40 overbust then she will not look big breasted. This because of the proportion. If the model is C cup and 28 overbust she will look very big breasted.
For a model trying to look big breasted, it is good for her to have the biggest cup and at the same time, the shortest band size.
I disagree with the following statement:
“See what I mean? A ‘D cup’ doesn’t look like anything unless you know what the band size is. A D cup might be ‘big’ or ‘small’ or just ‘average’.”
I do think cup makes a difference. I do think A, B, D, GG mean a lot.
But if the ratio of cup versus band size is a high number (it is the bigger the cup and at the same time the shortest the band size) that woman would look big breasted.
In my opinion, bra makers should come with a bra ratio that should come as a result of cup size versus band size. Dividing cup size by band size.
In this case, band size can be underbust or overbust. The bra industry must decide which one is better. But the bigger the underbust, the bigger the overbust for the same woman.
I would say, in my opinion, that overbust would be a better choice.
Think about it.
A cup might be some amount of cubic inches.
We can model a boob as a cone.
This is a rough, coarse, approach, I know. Only female robots have conic boobs, I know, stop yelling at me!
A cone volume is calculated as (1/3)(pi)(r^2)(h)
The smallest boob is an A boob.
Its safe to assume an A boob to be 1.5 inch tall (do not include the niple) and 3.5 inches diameter (at the base, it is, where it meets the body)
A quick easy calculation renders a volume of 4.8 cubic inches (ci).
A woman who is A cup has boobs with about 5 ci.
Woman X is A cup but is 28in overbust. So she is 28A
Her bra ratio is (5 ci)/(28in) = 0.178 square inches.
But if she is 40 band size overbust, her bra ratio is (5 ci)/(40in) = 0.125 square inches.
Now, assume a D cup to be 5 inches tall (do not include the nipple) and about 6 inches diameter at the base.
A quick easy calculation renders 47 cubic inches
For a 28D bra, her bra ratio is (47 ci)/(28in) = 1.678 square inches
For a 40D bra, her bra ratio is (47 ci)/(40in) = 1.175 square inches
So, in conclusion, the higher the bra ratio, the more “big breasted” look.
For the bigger the cup and the smaller the band size, the more busty she will look.
Notice I mention the “look”. A D cup is a D cup regardless of band size.
But a D cup woman with a higher ratio will look more busty than a D cup woman with a lower ratio in spite they both have the exactly same boob size.
Using ratios is how we measure a lot of things.
For instance, the tire profile, when you look for a sporty tire for your car you don’t just pay attention to how wide the tire is. You look for a low profile. A 205/ with a 50% profile looks more sporty than a 205/ with a 60% profile.
Or when you buy optical instruments, like professional camera lenses or even telescopes. An f/3.5 lens does not allow a lot of light coming in. But an f/ 1.2 lens will allow a lot more of light and it will be very, very costly.
So I suggest start using ratios. Of course, I discourage the use of ridiculous numbers like 0.178 or 0.125 or 1.678 or 1.175. These numbers are very stupid and some equivalence must be found for marketing purpose and everyday life use.
But using ratios, it would suffice to say that a woman with a high ratio will look more busty than other woman. Just one number may tell you a lot more, specially about looks.
Hi Joe! Wow, thanks for the super in depth comment! Unfortunately this bit at the start upon which the rest of your comment relies isn’t quite right:
“First, I assume cup sizes do have a well defined volume or dimensions.
And I assume such well defined volume is a standard across all of the bra industry (regardless of quality or style).
So 34D bra and a 28D bra means exactly the same boob volume.
Am I right?”
A 34D and a 28D are completely different breast volumes – a 34D would have the same (or at least fairly similar) volume to a 28F, its “sister size”. Using the example you mentioned, if a magazine wanted a small breasted model, yes they might look for an A or a B cup because that means that the ratio from underbust to overbust is small (1″-2″), but a 28A would be a very different size from a 38A. You can say that an A or a B is categorically small-busted, but you also need to take into account breast shape. You may find someone who is a 28D who calls themselves small-busted because they have a shallow shape (meaning their breast tissue sits closer to their body) or a 28D who says she is medium busted because she has a projected shape. People tend to compare it to bowls – imagine a rounded bowl against the chest vs. a shallow bowl or saucer. Both might hold the same volume, but are very different shapes entirely – one “sticks out” and looks larger, whereas the other is more spread out across the chest and looks smaller.
Bra sizing is a weird thing and it would be awesome if we could come up with a method that was a lot easier for people to understand, but unfortunately with the vast amount of different shapes, I don’t think it would be easy! The ratio idea would be awesome, but I think it would take a lot of technology to create something like that, and even then, that ratio probably wouldn’t work correctly for everyone since even a D cup would not necessarily be 5″ tall for everyone (using the example you mentioned) – for some a D cup would be 4″ tall and 3″ wide, for example; for others, it might be 6″ tall and 2.5″ wide.
Then there’s the question of breast density – some people have soft tissue, others have firm. Two people might look exactly the same size braless, but one has very soft and fluid tissue which compresses into a much smaller size and would find themselves swimming in a D cup (for example), the other might have very firm, immovable tissue and find that the D cup is too small for them and they spill out.
It seems simple to start with using ratios, but unfortunately bodies are not an easy thing to fit, and the range in shapes just gets more varied as breasts get bigger, meaning that larger sizes would be even more difficult to fit.
Thanks so much for the time taken to comment though and the thought that’s gone into it – it’s really interesting to consider and presents quite a challenge! I’d love to know other people’s thoughts on this topic too!
Wow! I just measured my bra size. According to the chart I am a 29 I (29-38)! No wonder I am hangout of the largest bras I can get my hands on any why my neck is always so stiff. I’m a small person like 5ft 2in and I currently weight 137lbs. I am seriously thinking about getting a reduction to a B or C cup.
This is a brilliant post! I work in a bra shop and the amount of women who come in and don’t understand this concept is amazing!
Hi,
I am currently confused about my bra size. I was measured 2 years ago and have been wearing a 38C. Now, I know about sister sizes and tried on a 36D. I haven’t been fitted recently, but my 36D bra appears to fit right. It is a nice and snug fit, but the only problem is the bra band size seems too tight. I brought this bra from H&M and I am not sure if my bra size is right? I took the fit quiz at Victoria’s Secret, and I got a recommended size of 38D. Then I retook the quiz with 38C and it told me my recommended size is a 38B? I know my 38C bras are older and stretched out while my 36D bra is too tight around the band? I am so confused!! Someone please help me? I know I’m not a 38B because the C and D cups fit fine. My C cup bras are just too loose with the bra straps no matter how I tighten them. My D cup bra is a good fit except for the band size which feels like it is digging into my back!!
Hi there! Oh no, sorry to hear you’re having trouble finding the right size! I know this sounds silly, but it could possibly be that the cup size is too small which is making the band feel tighter. I’d definitely recommend trying this calculator which tends to give a much more accurate result than the Victoria’s Secret one (that one once told me I should be a 36A when I wear a 28GG!). The results might surprise you with a smaller band size but a larger cup size, so be prepared for that 🙂
With terrible fit advice from the big mall stores, no wonder most women have breast tissue falling out of the side of their bras. Very sad. Thanks for sharing this synposis.
Worded so well and this is extremely true. I found out about this whole bra generalization issue at a young age, by myself, no internet. This is because I had been given the wrong size and it was extremely uncomfortable, I could not believe I was “supposed to get used to it”. No way, as it had ruined my chest and left deep dents in them. I massaged most back, now, of course, as I am 21 years old (first bra a decade ago). I had experimented so much and researched heaps over the years, and even at the young age of 15, I knew more about breasts and bras than most women! Noonr would believe my “theory”, and assumed I just got a fact off the internet and blew it out of proportion. The internet was only a guide and proof to my own self-discovery… I know I want to change this about the world, and save all women from the great hassle and torture that comes with wearing the wrong sized bra. I even want to re-invent a new design/chest carrier which ensures it naturally moulds into any shape and does not risk breast damage, such as migration. :0 been through it all.
Hi Ashleigh, I think what you’re doing and what you hope to achieve is extremely commendable. I’ve posted here before and am still not wearing a proper fitting bra. I’m wearing a 32hh which just doesn’t fit right and I think I need a J or above I’m not sure, but the larger you are the less options there are. I was told in Marks and Spencers that I would have to order online as they don’t stock my size in store but I don’t want to order online if I don’t know what size I am. I think most women aren’t wearing the right size bra. I have lasting damage too, migration and marks on my shoulders from bra straps. I really hope you spread this message as far as you can. If you can try and get on a morning show or something I think you’d help a whole lot of women. Maybe write to some morning shows and try to get the backing of a company like bravissimo? All the best and thank you!
I came for the boobs, but stayed for the KNOWLEDGE.
By the way, I just wanted to say that I really appreciated this post. I’ve been sticking with training bras since puberty hit me, and every-single-time that I try to look for a nice, well, grown-up bra, it just never seems to fit me right. So THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS, really, you’re an honest to gosh bra-saver!
i Love the Video, in which the size is been shown 🙂
How do bra sizes scale up? So if a short person with 28B has “small” breasts, what size will average-height and tall people with small breasts wear?
Um I’m a 13 year old and a 32d it’s really not that huge lmao
I was excited to discover this website. I wanted to thank
you for your time for this particularly wonderful
read!! I definitely loved every bit of it and i also have you saved
as a favorite to look at new things on your site.
The link to the calculator takes me to a porn site. Could you post a new link. Thanks
How strange!! I’ve just checked and updated the link so it should be okay now – sorry about that, no idea what happened!
I know there aren’t many recent comments, but I love this article! I’m almost 48-after years of struggling to figure out what size I was 38B? 36D? I have just realized this week that I’m a 34F. I have a wide ribcage and what I consider to be small to medium breasts. I was floored to find a narrow band fit so well and held everything in place without being tight.