A staggering 80% of UK women are still wearing the wrong bra size. As a recent convert to properly fitting bras I am amazed I wore the wrong size for so long! My usual 36B M&S bra fitting was miles out compared to a trial fitting by Andrea, our Buying Director and all round lingerie guru, which placed me at a 32E! I’m an average dress size 12-14. I didn’t believe her until the 5 different brands of 32E bras I tried on fitted perfectly. Unlike my 36B standard which rose up my back and dug into my shoulders – I thought that was normal!

Follow these simple tips to join the Perfectly Fitting Bra Revolution – your bust needs you!

Go on, grab yourself a tape measure...! ...a nice soft one, not a metal Black and Decker, and measure in inches!

Bra Measurement 1:

Your bra band (or back) size:

Take the measurement (in inches) from just under your bust, right around your ribcage. Ensure the tape measure is not loose, but not so tight that you can’t breathe! It should be resting smooth and straight across your back and where the crease of your bust meets your ribcage. You might need someone to help.

Add 5 to this measurement and voila! There’s your band or back size! E.g. Your measurement: 27” + 5 = 32” band size.

If your band size turns out to be an odd number (i.e. 33”), you will normally find the nearest band size up will fit best (i.e. 34”) but you may also want to try the lower band size (32”), especially if your tape measure was quite loose for the measurement.

Bra Measurement 2:

Your bra cup size:

Measure around your bust at the fullest part (normally over your nipples). Again, ensure the tape measure is not too tight or too loose and nice and straight across your back.

The difference between this measurement and your calculated band size is used to determine your bra cup size as follows:

Less than 1 inch – AA Cup
1 inch – A Cup
2 inches – B Cup
3 inches – C Cup
4 inches – D Cup
5 inches – DD Cup
6 inches – E Cup
7 inches – F Cup
8 inches – G Cup

E.g. – your bra band size was calculated as 34” and your bust measurement came out at 38”, so the difference between these measurements is 4” – this makes your bra cup size a D…easy!

If this measurement surprises you it might help you to know that over 40% of UK females are now wearing a D Cup or above. Research shows the average size worn is a 36C, yet over 60% of C cup wearers should be wearing at least a D cup and over half of us wear a band that is too big. Experts believe the true average bra size should be 34DD.

Click here to see how a perfectly fitting bra should look and the problems with wearing the wrong size.

This bra size guide should help you to generally determine the right bra size and is pretty accurate, but BeCheeky.com recommends that you try a variety of brands and styles to determine the best bra size and style for you.

Remember, BeCheeky.com offers a free no quibble returns and exchange policy so you can shop with us with confidence safe in the knowledge that if you buy a bra in the size you think is correct for you, but it doesn’t fit, you can return it to us free of charge for an exchange or refund.