International Bra size chart and sister sizes chart

September 13, 2020September 4, 2023 by Egle Goleckyte

More than 70% of all women don’t wear the correct bra size. Wearing the wrong bra can cause back pain, breast tissue damage, stretch marks, and many other side effects. In online shopping of this essential part of a lady’s garderobe, we set up a clear and useful International Bra size chart.
Measure your bra size in 2 simple steps, check the values in the below charts, and you’re well informed, finding the right bra.

In case you’re looking for a Sports Bra or Bralette : read our dedicated post here

The Band size chart

The Band Size is determined by measuring the size of your torso directly under your bust. The size you get in inches must be rounded up to the nearest whole number. To get the correct band size, you add 4 inches.
For this exercise, a simple measuring tape will do the job.
When you measure your torso in centimeters, the European band size is the same number—no need to add up anything. However, there are many differences between Bra Size Charts in different countries in Europe. Check them out below

Measured in Inches	USA Mexico	UK	Measured in centimeter Europe	France Belgium Spain	Italy	Australia New Zealand	Measured in centimeter Japan	International Size
23″-24″	28	28	58-62 cm	75	0	6	60	XXS
25″-26″	30	30	63-67 cm	80	0	8	65	XS
27″-28″	32	32	68-72 cm	85	1	10	70	S
29″-30″	34	34	73-77 cm	90	2	12	75	M
31″-32″	36	36	78-82 cm	95	3	14	80	L
33″-34″	38	38	83-87 cm	100	4	16	85	XL
35″-36″	40	40	88-92 cm	105	5	18	90	XXL
37″-38″	42	42	93-97 cm	110	6	20	95	3XL
39″-40″	44	44	98-102 cm	115	7	22	100	4XL
41″-42″	46	46	103-107 cm	120	8	24	105	5XL
43″-44″	48	48	108-112 cm	125	9	26	110	6XL
45″-46″	50	50	113-117 cm	130	10	28	115	7XL
47″-48″	52	52	118-122 cm	135	11	30	120	8XL
49″-50″	54	54	123-127 cm	140	12	32	125	9XL
51″-52″	56	56	128-132 cm	145	13	34	130	10XL

International Bra size chart with torso measurement, conversion to most popular size indications

The Cup size chart

Determining the Cup size is measured by measuring your breasts’ fullest part and holding your arms at your sides. Keep the tape measure level around your body and measure your breasts’ fullest part (over your nipples)—no need to round this number up.
Subtract your band size measurement (above measurement) from your cup size measurement. Generally, for each inch difference, the cup goes up by one size.

Let’s make it simple with an example to find your cup size:

Your bust measurement is 36 inches = 40 Band size
Your underbust is 32 inches
Calculate the difference. 36″ – 32″ is 4″
You’ll find the alphabetical equivalent of this in a generic U.S. cup size chart is D in the below size chart.

Therefore, your recommended bra size is 40D (band size + cup size).

Difference in Inches	Difference in centimeters	USA Mexico	UK	European	France Belgium Spain	Italy	Australia New Zealand	Japan
0″-1/2″	0-1,3 CM	AA	AA	AA	AA	–	–	A
1/2″ – 1″	1,3-2,6 CM	A	A	A	A	A	A	B
2″	5.1 CM	B	B	B	B	B	B	C
3″	7.6 CM	C	C	C	C	C	C	D
4″	10.2 CM	D	D	D	D	D	D	E
5″	12.7 CM	DD or E	DD	E	E	DD	DD	F
6″	15.2 CM	DDD or F	E	F	F	E	E	G
7″	17.8 CM	DDDD or G	F	G	G	F	F	H
8″	20.3 CM	H	FF	H	H	FF	FF	I
9″	22.9 CM	I	G	J	I	G	G	J
10″	25.4 CM	J	GG	K	K	GG	GG	K
11″	27.9 CM	K	H	L	L	H	H	L
12″	30.5 CM	L	HH	M	M	HH	HH	M
13″	33.0 CM	M	J	N	N	J	J	O
14″	35.5 CM	N	JJ	O	O	JJ	JJ	P
15″	38.1 CM	O	K	P	P	K	K	Q

International Bra size chart with difference in inches and centimeters, conversion to most popular size indications

Bra Sister size chart

An addition to our International Bra size chart is the conversion table for Bra Sister Sizes. Sister sizes are the sizes that surround your current bra size. Sister sizing is not as ideal as the perfect fitting bra, but you may try it if you are shopping and can’t find the bra you like in the size you need.
If you feel you need to make a size change due to your breast size to change, you can quickly figure out your new bra size. Below Bra Sister Size chart is based on US Bra sizes, so when you’re from the outside the USA, best to convert your bra size into the US. Equivalent. The above charts will help you out finding the perfect bra.

Let’s make it simple with an example:

SISTER SIZE DOWN When you face the problem, your cup fits perfectly, but the band is loose. One actual size smaller than your current Band size AND one letter name larger than your current Cup. For example, if you wear a 34C, your Sister Size DOWN would be 32D.
SISTER SIZE UP When you face the problem, your cup fits perfectly, but the band is tight. One actual size larger than your current Band size AND one letter name smaller than your current Cup. For example, if you wear a 34C, your Sister Size UP would be 36B.

To make it easy to use the overviews, we split them by actual band size as a starting point and limited the conversion to the most common band sizes. Rest assured, the rule works for all band sizes.

International Bra size chart : Sister sizes

I’M A 28 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 28 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
28AA	–	30AAA
28A	–	30AA
28B	–	30A
28C	–	30B
28D	–	30C
28DD(E)	–	30D
28DDD(F)	–	30DD(E)
28DDDD(G)	–	30DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 28

I’M A 30 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 30 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
30AA	28A	32AAA
30A	28B	32AA
30B	28C	32A
30C	28D	32B
30D	28DD(E)	32C
30DD(E)	28DDD(F)	32D
30DDD(F)	28DDDD(G)	32DD(E)
30DDDD(G)	28DDDDD(H)	32DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 30

I’M A 32 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 32 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
32AA	30A	34AAA
32A	30B	34AA
32B	30C	34A
32C	30D	34B
32D	30DD(E)	34C
32DD(E)	30DDD(F)	34D
32DDD(F)	30DDDD(G)	34DD(E)
32DDDD(G)	30DDDDD(H)	34DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 32

I’M A 34 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 34 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
34AA	32A	36AAA
34A	32B	36AA
34B	32C	36A
34C	32D	36B
34D	32DD(E)	36C
34DD(E)	32DDD(F)	36D
34DDD(F)	32DDDD(G)	36DD(E)
34DDDD(G)	32DDDDD(H)	36DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 34

I’M A 36 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 36 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
36AA	34A	38AAA
36A	34B	38AA
36B	34C	38A
36C	34D	38B
36D	34DD(E)	38C
36DD(E)	34DDD(F)	38D
36DDD(F)	34DDDD(G)	38DD(E)
36DDDD(G)	34DDDDD(H)	38DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 36

I’M A 38 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 38 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
38AA	36A	40AAA
38A	36B	40AA
38B	36C	40A
38C	36D	40B
38D	36DD(E)	40C
38DD(E)	36DDD(F)	40D
38DDD(F)	36DDDD(G)	40DD(E)
38DDDD(G)	36DDDDD(H)	40DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 38

I’M A 40 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 40 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
40AA	38A	42AAA
40A	38B	42AA
40B	38C	42A
40C	38D	42B
40D	38DD(E)	42C
40DD(E)	38DDD(F)	42D
40DDD(F)	38DDDD(G)	42DD(E)
40DDDD(G)	38DDDDD(H)	42DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 40

I’M A 42 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 42 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
42AA	40A	44AAA
42A	40B	44AA
42B	40C	44A
42C	40D	44B
42D	40DD(E)	44C
42DD(E)	40DDD(F)	44D
42DDD(F)	40DDDD(G)	44DD(E)
42DDDD(G)	40DDDDD(H)	44DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 42

I’M A 44 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 44 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
44AA	42A	46AAA
44A	42B	46AA
44B	42C	46A
44C	42D	46B
44D	42DD(E)	46C
44DD(E)	42DDD(F)	46D
44DDD(F)	42DDDD(G)	46DD(E)
44DDDD(G)	42DDDDD(H)	46DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 44

I’M A 46 BAND SIZE I TRIED A 46 BAND SIZE
Current Bra Size	Sister Size DOWN	Sister Size UP
46AA	44A	48AAA
46A	44B	48AA
46B	44C	48A
46C	44D	48B
46D	44DD(E)	48C
46DD(E)	44DDD(F)	48D
46DDD(F)	44DDDD(G)	48DD(E)
46DDDD(G)	44DDDDD(H)	48DDD(F)

Bra Sister Size Chart when your current Band size is 46

NOTE: Not all Sister Sizes shown will be available at your favorite brand.

International Bra size chart and sizing explained (video)

International Bra sizing explained by Nicola Crook Online

Top tips for choosing your bra

Choosing the right bra size is as important as choosing the right shape. Your bra must support your bust properly first and foremost.

How do you fit your bra?

Chose the right bra size and fit it properly to be comfortable. A badly fitted bra is ugly and can also affect your health. A good fitting bra is comfortable and the aim is you don’t feel like you’re wearing one. First focus on the correct size, choose the shape later.

Fitting my bra clasps

The back of your bra (the band of fabric from your cup to your back) should be parallel to the ground. If the back goes up it may be because the clasps are in the wrong place. Usually the middle position is best, ideally you should be able to put two fingers between the bra fabric and your back.

Adjusting straps to suit my shape

We’re not all the same length between our shoulders and our bust. For maximum comfort and balance, adjust the straps to suit your build. An easy thing to do is to check they’re not too tight: if you can put your finger between the shoulder and strap once adjusted, it means it fits properly. Choose a model with wide straps for better support if you have a large bust.

Does my bra suit my bust?

Have you tried to adjust your bra and it still doesn’t feel right? If you feel like you’re wearing a bra, and you’re sure about your size, then it’s the shape that needs to be adjusted.

The bra band goes up at the back

The band is the most important part of your bra. Adjust the length of the straps a bit to stop it going up.
The bra bands still go up? Your bra is too big. Choose a bra with a smaller band size but don’t change the cup size.

The cups on my bra are loose

Your bust isn’t properly supported when you feel they’re not properly supported.
The cups are loose or the top of the cup doesn’t touch your skin. The chosen size is too big. To resolve the situation, choose a model with a smaller band size and cup size.

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