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If you’ve ever gone shopping for a bra, you know how frustrating it can be. Between bra sizes being a myth and hormone levels changing the size of breasts throughout the month, it’s an uphill battle. Fortunately, this graphic offers a few pointers that may help.


Lingerie company HerRoom’s infographic points out some of the basics of bra sizing, such as measuring for cup and band size. What you might not have known about bras is that the “sister bra sizes”—the sizes surrounding your current bra size—can help you quickly find a bra that fits better when the one you’re trying on doesn’t run true to size.

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If the band fits, for example, but the cup doesn’t, change the letter but not the number (e.g., from 36C to 36B or 36D). To change the band size, change both the letter and the number, diagonally (see the graphic below for a clear example, going from 36C to 38B or 34D). And to change both the cup and the band size, adjust the number but not the letter (e.g., 36C to 34C or 38C).

It sounds confusing (as bra shopping can sometimes be), but this could help you save some time selecting a bra that will actually fit.

Here’s the full graphic (note that there is an error in the top chart, where cup size C is repeated twice; the first one should be B):


Of course, the best way to find a bra that truly fits properly is to get fitted by a professional. But if that’s not an option, this chart can help in a pinch.

This story was originally published on 9/26/13 and was updated on 9/20/19 to provide more thorough and current information.