In order to determine if your cup size is too big or small, look to see if you have an extra bump of breast tissue at the top or at the sides of the cups or if you have a wrinkle in the cups or extra space in the cup.
An obvious sign that the cups are too small is if the underwire presses in at the sides of the breasts or if you have red marks on your breasts when you take your bra off in the evening. The underwire should enclose and cradle the breasts; it shouldn't pinch anywhere. If it does, you need to go up a cup size.
As a guideline, you should be able to comfortably run two fingers under both sides of the bra at the same time. If the bra pulls away from your body easily, it is too loose. If you have trouble getting your fingers under the band and it feels uncomfortable, it is too tight. The band should be level front and back.
If your bra is too small, it can dig into your breasts — if it is too big, your breasts may have too much room and can become prone to bouncing around, contributing to tenderness. Lastly, if you suffer from breast asymmetry or other abnormalities, it may feel like every bra is the wrong size.
When our participants were asked what their ideal breast size would be, the C cup was considered the most popular, with 39% choosing it above other sizes. In second place, was the D cup, which was the first choice of 29% of people who completed our survey.
Understanding “Ideal” Breast Size
Likewise, 49% of men and 52% of women concurred that a C cup is the ideal breast size, which is close to the average breast size of women in both the United States and Europe.
“The band should be level all the way around, firm and secure but not too tight or too loose. The gore (the part in the middle between the cups), in a wired bra, should sit flat against your sternum. It should not bow out or press in.”
No matter the type of bra, the band should fit comfortably around your body, snug but not tight. Remember to always start a new bra on the loosest hook and hook tighter as the band stretches over time.
Your bra fits perfectly when...
The band lies straight, around the front and back of the body. The center of the bra lies flat against the breastbone, separating the breasts. The underwires do not cut or poke into the breast tissue. The sides lie smoothly without binding or cutting.
There's an important rule that every woman needs to know when it comes to going down band sizes from your original size. For every band size you go down, you have to go up a cup size to compensate the difference. Let's say you wear a 34B, the cup fits but the band is too big.
The back should sit at the same level as your cups at the front and not ride up at the back. Check how firm the bra is against your body by running your fingers underneath the band right through to the underarm. You should be able to comfortably fit 2 fingers under the band.
The majority of breast support from a well-fitting bra should come from the band itself, not the straps. If your cups are too big, the band isn't properly fitted either and can't give you the support you need.
Typically, if you have gaping bra cups, your breasts are resting at the bottom of the cups. To fix this, start by tightening the bra straps, ensuring your band stays straight across your back. If your cups fit well but there is still a gap at the top, consider going down a cup size or choosing a different style of bra.
The most obvious signs to look for is any kind of bulging, whether at the front or sides, which is a sure-fire sign the fit is not right. The bra should always sit smoothly on the body. And when you take your bra off, check for any marks on the skin, most typically on the shoulders.
How often you need to wash your bras isn't an exact science. But dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says that as a general rule, you should wash them after every two to three wears.
If your bra stands away from you, or your breasts slip out the bottom of the cups when you lift your arms above your head, this is another clear sign that you are not wearing the correct size bra. If this happens, it means that the underband is too loose against your ribcage.
You should always fasten your new bra on the loosest hook.
In fact, it should be on the loosest when it's brand new. This is because it will stretch as you wash and wear it, so you'll need to fasten tighter when this happens.
Asian and African nations have the smallest, with predominantly B and A cup sizes being most common. Australia is way down the list: in 2020, the most common Australian bra sizes are reported to be 14C and 12D, and while this is the average across all ages, there really is no such thing as the “average” woman.
Back bulge is another sign that your bra is too small. Of course, bras with very thin bands may squeeze more since the band has less skin to hold on to. However, the average bra shouldn't make you feel like you have excess back fat. If your bra is giving you a back bulge, it's likely because the band is too small.
Gaps in your bra cups can be caused by one or more of the following reasons: You've recently lost weight and you've lost volume in your breasts. Your bra's cup size is too big. You're wearing the wrong style cup for your breast type.
The shortest answer to “how many (well fitting) bras should I own” You need AT LEAST two day-to-day bras. Plus (IF you workout regularly) AT LEAST two workout bras. Plus (IF you fancy-pants dress up regularly) AT LEAST two fancy-pants bras.
Like most of us, bras need their space. The best way to store your bras to keep their shape is by standing them up in your top drawer with the cups inside each other — never folded or crumpled. You can also use drawer organizers to separate your bras and help them stand straight on their own.
Your bra band should be snug, but not painful. And if you feel like your bra band is already as tight as you'd want it, remember that you can also increase support from the band by choosing a wider, longline style. A very narrow band can simply cut in, without providing much support at all!