Bra Size Charts and Conversions

International Bra Size Conventions

Several bra sizing conventions are used across the world, also referred to as "size charts" or "size tables". The conventions are named after their area of origin and almost always as an abbreviation (shown in parenthesis): American (US), British (UK), European (EU), International (Int), French (FR), Spanish (ES), Belgian (BE), Italian (IT), Australian (AU), New Zealander (NZ), Japanese (JP) and South Korean (KO).

For specific details and differences, click a convention name above.

EU and Int are identical but with alternative names. US, UK and EU/Int are the most common. Product tags usually show sizes in several conventions.

Sizes consist of three parts: the convention abbreviation; a number, representing the band size; and a letter, representing the cup size. The order of these three parts can vary, for example: "US 32D", "D75 EU" and "AU 10C".

Sizes are just labels. The numbers and letters often mean different things depending on the convention, even if the measurements are identical. This mean, for example, that an EU A-cup and an US A-cup are not the same.

US and UK sizes are based on inches, the rest on centimeters. 1 inch equals 2.54 cm, and as a result, the size conversions do not fit together well. Approximations are necessary, especially for bra cups. Most bra conversion tables ignore or assume that the conventions fit perfectly together making them highly inaccurate.

See additional notes for more similarities and differences between the sizing conventions.

Sizes Are Labels - Not Measurements

Don't mistake the sizes for measurements. Sizes are just "labels". For example, "10" in "AU 10C" refers to 70-75 cm under bust, it does not refer to a measurement of 10 cm or 10 inches. Bra cups are even more misunderstood. They refer to differences between under bust and over bust measurements but also depend on the band size and mean different things depending on which band size they are based on.

Bra Band Size Conversions

Band sizes are based on under bust measurements measured snugly and firmly. US and UK band sizes are divided in steps of 2 inches, while the rest in steps of 5 cm. The steps are not identical as 2 inches equals 5.08 cm.

Precise Conversion

Since the size steps (2 inches and 5 cm respectively) are not identical, there are offsets and overlaps. These differences are more noticeable in larger sizes. The following is a precise and accurate conversion chart.

Traditional Conversion (Recommended)

Even though band sizes based on metric (cm) and imperial units (inches) are not identical, the relatively small differences are almost always ignored leading to the usage of a standard but approximate conversion table. Due to the small differences, the traditional/standard conversion is recommended as it's also most widely used.

Bra Cup Size Conversions

Cup sizes are determined by calculating the difference between over bust (where the bust is the fullest) and under bust measurements. For example: Over bust 85 cm and under bust 70 cm gives the difference of 15 cm, which gives an European B-cup. If the under bust measurement it rounded down, then always base the difference calculation on this rounded number. For example: For measurements over bust 85 cm and under bust 74 cm the difference would seem to be 11 cm. However, we must round down 74 to 70, so the difference is calculated as 85-70=15 cm.

US and UK cup sizes are divided in steps of 1 inch, JP and KO in steps of 2.5 cm (almost but not exactly 1 inch), while the rest in steps of 2 cm. (1 inch = 2.54 cm.)

Be careful of alternative sizing. AU, NZ and IT cup sizes were originally divided in steps of 2.5 cm (almost but not exactly 1 inch). Nowadays, most producers from these countries have adopted the EU / International bra cup sizing convention which is de facto becoming the new standard. However, there are still producers using the 2.5 cm cup size steps.

Precise Conversion (Recommended)

The cup size steps (1 inch and 2 cm respectively) are significantly different and so are the offsets and overlaps, much more so than in band sizes. The Internet is filled with conversion tables that ignores this and are therefore completely wrong, especially in sizes above D-cup. The following is a precise and accurate conversion table for bra cups. It's highly recommended to use this table over approximative tables.

Traditional Conversion

Cup sizes do not convert cleanly and precisely. For every four cup sizes based on inches there are five sizes based on centimeters. This means that some sizes convert into a several. The tables below convert sizes with the starting point of the cup steps being 2 cm (EU/Int/AU/NZ/FR/ES/BE/IT), 2.5 cm (JP/KO) and 1 inch (US/UK) respectively. Using three tables makes the conversion process easier. Please note that the precise method above is recommended.

Convert bra cups from EU/Int/AU/NZ/FR/ES/BE/IT to US/UK and JP/KO:

Convert bra cups from US/UK to EU/Int/AU/NZ/FR/ES/BE/IT and JP/KO:

Bra Size Conversions: All sizes and conventions

Each row shows sizes that are equivalent and therefore interchangable with eachother. Each row shows the same actual sizes (in terms of what size of torse and bust they fit) and how those sizes are called in each bra sizing convention.

The US convention have some sizes that have two denotations but are otherwise identical. In those cases both sizes denotations are shown with "a.k.a" ("also known as") between them.