We recommend finding an expert to measure you instead of measuring yourself, but this is a great place to start if you don’t have the time or proximity to the lingerie section of a department store or if you’re wondering how to measure bra size at home. Shopping for bras online can be really tricky, so make sure you understand the return policy before you purchase! To figure out how to measure bra size for plus size women, you’ll need:
- Soft measuring tape (if you’re wondering how to measure bra size without a measuring tape, you can use string)
- Mirror or friend
- Your best-fitting non-padded bra with underwire
- Basic arithmetic (or a calculator)
Wearing a non-padded bra like the Elomi Matilda Plunge Bra, measure the circumference of your body around the fullest part of your bust. Using a mirror or a friend, make sure that the tape is level while you are measuring. Your arms should not be included in this measurement. Round to the nearest whole number. Remember your bust measurement, because here is where things can get tricky!
Using both your band and bust measurements, you can decipher your cup size. Take your bust measurement and subtract your band measurement to find the difference between the two. Once you determine the difference between bust and band, use the chart below to determine your cup size. For each inch, the cup size goes up by a letter.
Ex: If your band measurement is a 42 and your bust measurement is 45 inches, there’s a difference of 3 inches. That 3-inch difference determines your cup size is a C.
Check out this bra size chart to determine your cup size. Keep in mind, every bra manufacturer has its own unique size charts and not every brand uses this method to size their bras, but, this is generally accepted as the industry