Bra sizing by country, or international systems for labeling bra size, vary widely, which can lead to confusion when purchasing bras elsewhere. Currently, there are six systems still in use.

Although measurements between systems may not exactly correspond to one another, approximations can be drawn.

Contents 1 International bra size conversion 1.1 Band size conversion 1.2 Cup size conversion 2 International systems 2.1 UK 2.2 US 2.3 EU 2.4 AUS 2.5 BEF 2.6 I 3 Cup labeling 4 See also 5 References 6 Comments

International bra size conversionEdit

Band size conversionEdit

Band sizes vary greatly among sizing systems, but intrasystem conversion can present reasonable starting point for estimating size.

Sizing conventions by band size^[2]

Under bust (cm)	63-67	68-72	73–77	78–82	83–87	88–92	93–97	98–102	103–107	108–112	113–117	118–122	123–127	128–132	133–137	138–142	143–147	148+
EU	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140
B/E/F	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155
I	-	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
US/UK (in)	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54	56	58	60
AUS	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38

Cup size conversionEdit

Cup sizes also vary greatly among different systems. However, they do not equate to one another, as cup size labeling for each system falls into one of two different methods: increasing cup size every inch method (US and UK), and increasing cup size for every two centimeters (all other systems). Since one inch does not equal two centimeters, but, rather, 2.54 centimeters, there is great discrepancy between the systems, which becomes more exaggerated as cup sizes increase.^[3]

International systemsEdit

UKEdit

The United Kingdom (UK) system has band sizes that directly correspond to chest circumference, using inches. For example, a chest circumference of 34 inches means a band size of 34. UK cup sizes use the one inch method for cups, meaning that for every one inch of difference between chest circumference and bust circumference, the cup size increases letter increase one size.

Band sizes typically begin at 28 and increase in increments of two, yielding the bra sizes of 26, 28, 30, 32, etc. Cup sizes generally start at AA, indicating 0 inches of difference between bust and band measurements. From there, with every one inch increase in the bust-to-band difference increasing the cup one size.

USEdit

The US also uses the band sizes that directly correspond to chest circumference, using inches, as well as the one inch method for cup sizes. However, US cup sizes are labelled using different letters.

Comparison of cup sizes^[4]

	0"	<1"	2"	3"	4"	5"	6"	7"	8"	9"	10"	11"	12"	13"	14"	15"	16"	17"	18"	19"	20"	21"	22"	23"	24"	25"	26"
UK	AA	A	B	C	D	DD	E	F	FF	G	GG	H	HH	J	JJ	K	KK	L	LL	M	MM	N	NN	O	OO	P	PP
US	AA	A	B	C	D	DD/E	DDD/F	DDDD/G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

As this chart continues, up to a 16 inch difference can be found.^[4] Thus, take care when purchasing from US manufacturers. Plus Size Bra appears to have a cup-size comparison chart by company, which may be useful to this end, but it's out of date and the validity is unknown.^[5]

EUEdit

Band sizing in Europe and Japan (EU) does not corresponds to underbust circumference, but one add 4 or 5 inches to her measurement, instead of taking the raw number. Thus, to find one's correct EU band size, a rough rule to follow is to round the underbust measurement to the nearest 5 (as band sizes increase in multiples of 5 centimeters, such as 55, 60, 65, 70, etc.), then subtract 10.

Cups increase by 2 centimeters for every band size, instead of the one inch (2.54 centimeters) in the UK and US systems. The Japanese labeling system differs only from Europe's in that cup size is listed before band size, such as "B70" instead of "70B".

AUSEdit

The bra sizing method of Australia and New Zealand (AUS) is based on the UK method, differing in that band size is measured by dress size instead. However, these dress sizes are only based on women with B and C cups, leading to inaccuracy if one chooses a bra based solely on dress size. Circumference of chest, as used in dress size, does not relay information regarding band size or cup size.

BEFEdit

The system used in Belgium, Spain, and France (BEF) is similar to the one of Europe and Japan, except that the band size's numbered label is exactly 15 greater than EU's. For example, an EU band of 65 would equate to a BEF 80 band.

IEdit

The bra sizing method of Italy and the Czech Republic (I) is listed for mostly historical reasons, as most manufacturers have switched to the EU system.^[6] Cup size increased via the one inch system, and band sizes began at 0 for the European band size of 60.

Cup labelingEdit

In spite of these intrasystem discrepancies, within a particular system, cup sizes still increase linearly. Do not confuse the following table with a conversation chart, which is above.

Cup labeling conventions^[7]

UK	AA	A	B	C	D	DD	E	F	FF	G	GG	H	HH	J	JJ	K	KK	L	LL	M	MM	N	NN	O	OO	P	PP
US	AA	A	B	C	D	DD/E	DDD/F	DDDD/G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
EU	AA	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
BEF	AA	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
I	-	A	B	C	D	DD	E	F	FF	G	GG	H	HH	J	JJ	K	KK	L	LL	M	MM	N	NN	O	OO	P	PP
AUS	-	A	B	C	D	DD	E	F	FF	G	GG	H	HH	J	JJ	K	KK	L	LL	M	MM	N	NN	O	OO	P	PP

See alsoEdit

• Company size comparison
• How-to bra shop
• How-to determine bra size
• How-to tell if a bra fits
• Online retailer

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ Make Up to Make Out: "Panache Superbra D+ for the Ladies"
2. ↑ "Wikipedia: "Brassiere Measurement"
3. ↑ Wikipedia: "Cup Conversion"
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} reddit: "MyWifesBusty's Bra Size Measurement Guide"
5. ↑ Plus Size Bra: "Sizes"
6. ↑ 85B: "International Bra Size Converter"
7. ↑ Breast Talk: "Size Charts"