Sports Bra Size Chart - How to Measure Sports Bra Size | Zivame Blog (2024)

Exercise and sports activities require proper sports gear, which begins with appropriate innerwear. A sports bra is a must for any woman engaging in workouts and sports. A properly fit bra not only ensures comfort but also solid support and impact. There are various types of sports bras and below is a sneak peek into the types of supports and how to find your best fit.

Any sports activity for women should be done wearing a sports bra for optimal support. But, different activities require different levels of support. There are three basic types of support bras as listed below.

Activity-wise Levels of Bra Support

Low-Support: Low-impact activities like yoga, strength training or walking require low-support sports bras. These are usually better for A/B cup sizes. These bras are lightweight and have narrow straps or bands. They mostly come in a pullover style and are sold in sizes S (small) to L (large) without adjustable bands. These often come in the style of compression bras which hold the breasts tightly against the chest and allow minimum movement and bounce.

Medium-Support: Medium-support bras suffice for medium-impact activities like cycling, skiing and moderate hiking. These restrict breast movement a little more than low-support bras. They have wider straps and bands and come in pullover S–L sizes and styles or with hook closures with band and cup sizing.

High-support: High-impact activities like, jumping, running or mountain biking, require high-support sports bras. It is also ideal for larger cup sizes like D and above. These bras have wide bands and straps that are adjustable to get a comfy, snug fit. They come in both compression and encapsulation styles with separated cups and hook closures for maximum support.

Change your sports bras according to your activities. This will optimize the support required and also extend the life of your bras.

Measurement for Sports Bra Size

A bra size is likely to change often due to weight gain or loss, hormonal changes, pregnancy and aging. So, every time you purchase a sports bra, measure your size for the perfect fit. Here are some guidelines that will teach you how to measure your sports bra size.

Requirements:

• A soft tape
• A non-padded bra or no bra, preferably

1. Measure the rib cage

Hold the tape around the rib cage below the bust. Round up the measurement to the closest inch. This measurement of the rib cage will help you find out the cup and band size too.

2. Determine the band size

The band usually falls from above the bust to the back strap of the bra. But it is difficult to get an accurate measure of this with tape. Therefore, you can measure your rib cage and follow the chart given below.

3. Measure your cup size

There are two steps to this process:

1. Measure through the middle or fullest part of your bust, around the back. Make sure the tape is straight on the back. Round off the measurement to the nearest inch. This is the measurement of your bust.
2. You have the measurement of your rib cage from earlier. Subtract the measurement of your rib cage (1) from the measurement of your bust (a). The difference in inches is the probable size of your cup. Round up the number to the nearest inch.

A bra cup size in a chart shows AA, A, B, C, D, E and F.

Below is a chart showing the corresponding measurement for cup size in the chart.

For example:

If your bust measures 38 inches and your rib cage measures 33 inches, the difference is 5 inches. Your cup size is B.

The easiest and simplest way to find your size is to take Zivame’s Fitcode. It’s an easy quiz that helps you find your right size in under 60 seconds.

Given below is a detailed size chart for sports bras. It refers to sizes small (S) to triple extra large (3XL) with corresponding cup sizes and under-bust and overbust measurements.

Conclusion

Sports bras are an essential part of sports gear and wearing the right size and fit is very important. Comfort and utility along with a style statement make exercising something to look forward to. Zivame understands this and that’s why we bring you a whole range of activewear which suits every workout or sports activity. Give your body the maximum support because this also helps in strengthening your muscles at the right places.