Condoms for Beginners

How to Measure Bra Size

Sexy lingerie can make you look and feel amazing. But wearing an ill-fitting bra can be uncomfortable at best, and damaging to your body at worst. Even bras that seem to fit just fine can be way off the mark when it comes to providing the right support and doing your body justice.

Knowledge is power, so it’s time measure up, honey. Don’t know where to start? When it comes to bra fitting at home, we have everything you need to know.

How to Measure for a Bra

Knowledge is power, so it’s time to measure up. Don’t know where to start? When it comes to bra fitting at home, we have everything you need to know.One of the main questions we get asked is how do you measure for a bra, and here we have everything you need to help you get the perfect fit – with both the old fashioned bra measuring hacks and our fantastic True Fit tool.

What about a Bra Size Calculator?

Some people look for a bra size calculator when bra shopping online, but you don’t need one of those, a simple subtraction is all it takes to measure bra size. Of course, using the calculation method below doesn’t account for breast shape, and this is often half the issue when finding the perfect fitting bra. If you want to account for shape and size, use our True Fit tool that can be found on all bra products.

Why the Right Bra Measurement Matters

Size Guide Find Your Perfect Fit

What’s your bra size? 32A, 34C, 38DD? And what’s with the letters and numbers?!

Whatever you think it is, there’s a good chance you’re wrong. According to research, up to 80% of us buy bras in the wrong size. Ask any bra fitter and they’re sure to tell you the majority of women leave with a different sized bra to the one they walked in with.

We know that every woman’s shape and size is unique. And as you can probably tell, when it comes to Ann Summers bras, we are perfectionists, so we’re on a mission to ensure that we provide the best fitting bras for you.This is why we have updated our bra cup size chart which now includes our vast range of bra sizes for our fuller-breasted femmes.

We also know how important it is to have the best fitting bra, no matter your bust size, and that’s why our range of DD+ bras now goes up to a 44H. But we haven’t stopped there, in our strive for perfection we have also improved the comfort and shape of our bras with softer foam cups, better underwires and shoulder straps.

So, prepare to get all the support your boobs need and look like the goddess you are, inside and out using True Fit – our online solution when bra shopping with Ann Summers.

Truefit: the solution to your bra size dilemmas on the go or in the comfort of your home. Simply click the ‘What’s My Size?’ button on the product page and answer our quick and simple questions to find a bra that fits – it really is that easy.

Discover your true fit.

How to spot a bad fit

Wearing the right bra size can seriously boost your body confidence and make sure your
clothes look seemless. So what are we looking out for? ​

Aside from physical issues, wearing the wrong bra size or a badly fitting bra can also be a big knock to your body confidence. Whether you’re squeezing them in, or leaving too much room, neither will make your body look its best. So what are we looking out for?

Breasts of model buldging out of bra

There should be no
bulges or spillages…

If your boobs look like they’re trying to escape under your arm or over the top of the cups, you’re underestimating your cup size and need to increase your cup size. Ain’t nobody got time for tucking things back in.

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Bra baggy and gapping on model

Fabric is wrinkled,
baggy or gapping

If your bra’s looking baggy, gappy or just plain saggy — that’s your sign. Wrinkled fabric across the cup means you’ve gone too big. Size down for a fit that hugs, not sags

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Bra band rising on the back of model

Band Rises at The back

If your bra band’s hiking up your back , your back size is too big. A good bra band should sit straight and snug — no slopes, no rides. Try dropping down a band size and bumping up your cup to keep the balance right.

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Bra straps sliding down model

Sliding Straps…

Constantly yanking up those sliding straps? They might just need a quick tighten — or your band and cup size could be playing hard to get. A proper fit means everything stays exactly where it’s meant to.

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Straps of bra digging into model

Straps digging in

If your straps feel like they’re staging a full-blown shoulder protest, it’s probably because your band isn’t pulling its weight. The back band should be doing the heavy lifting — not your poor shoulders. Time to try a smaller band size, so your straps can chill and stop cutting into you. Comfort and support? You deserve both.

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Center of bra not sitting flat on model

Centre not sitting flat

If the centre of your bra’s hovering like it’s afraid of commitment, something’s up with the fit. A loose band or undersized cups might be the culprit — either your boobs are pushing the centre out, or falling out from the cup. The fix? Try sizing up in the cups and reducing down the back band. That centre front should sit flush, not float — because your bra’s job is to hug, not hover.

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Bra wires digging into model

Wires digging in
at the underarm

If your underwire’s feeling more like a torture device than a support system, chances are it’s not where it’s meant to be. When the wire digs into breast tissue or pokes into your armpit, it’s time to tweak that fit. Try a bigger cup size to tuck in all your breast tissue, and if it’s jabbing your sides, a smaller back size (with a cup bump-up to balance) could do the trick. A well-fitted wire should sit snugly on your ribcage and line up to your armpits.

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How Do You Know If a Bra Fits Right?

There are various ways you can tell whether your bra is the perfect fit when trying on at home or in-store.

The Band

First up, the band itself. This should sit firm and straight. You should also be able to get two fingers under it but feel a little resistance. If it’s too loose, you need a smaller size. If you’re struggling to get your fingers in (ooh!) then you should try the next size up.

The Straps

The straps are a key part of your bra. You’ll be forgiven for thinking that the tighter the straps the more support they provide, but they should actually sit comfortably on the shoulder without any pinching or sliding. Be sure to check they are equal on both sides.

The centre

Also known as the ‘bra bridge’, this is the little bit of fabric nestled snuggly between your boobs. It should sit flat to your body without any room underneath but also not digging into your skin. If you can see a gap, you need to go up in size. If you have this problem a balcony cup bra could be a great option, offering ¾ coverage with all the support of a full cup bra.

The wires

If you’re testing out a bra with wiring, such as underwired bras, be sure to check it fits properly. These should follow the natural curve at the base of your breast. If they’re sitting on it or too far below, they won’t do their job and this is where a large amount of support comes from.

The cups

If all the other elements are adjusted correctly, your cups should be smooth and perfectly moulded to the line curve of your breast. Remember the warning signs we mentioned above; any wrinkles or sagging, move on, girl.

6 Point Bra Fit

So, there you have it, your complete bra-fitting guide. With the right size sitting snug on your breasts, not only do you get better support but you’ll also feel even sexier. Now you’re feeling confident, comfortable and supported in your bras why not take a look at our stunning collection of lingerie? Whether you need plus-size lingerie for those perfect curves, or you’re after the perfect basque for hot nights at home, you can find your perfect fit with Ann Summers.

Now you know your size, why not treat yourself?

Your boobs and lingerie drawer deserve the best – treat yourself today.

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