How to Measure Bra Size at Home: Your Holiday Fit & Gift Guide

’Tis the season for twinkle lights, cosy nights and the eternal question: what size am I, really? Whether you’re treating yourself to something gorgeous or shopping for someone special, the right fit is what turns pretty lingerie into lingerie you actually live in. Good news, darling: you can figure it out at home in about five minutes.

Below: how to measure bra size with a simple tape, how sister sizes work, how sets, teddies, robes and hosiery are sized, and how to buy lingerie as a gift when you don’t know their size. Plus nine in-stock favourites that make sizing easy, every price in CAD.

How to measure bra size at home (no bra size calculator needed)

Every online bra size calculator runs on this same simple maths. Measure in inches, stand tall and breathe normally.

Step 1: Find your band size

Wrap the tape snugly around your ribcage, right under your bust where a band sits, keeping it level across your back. Round to the nearest whole number, and if you land on an odd number, round up to the next even one. That’s your band: 32, 34, 36 and so on.

Step 2: Measure your bust

Now measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust, with the tape level across your back and just skimming you in front. Round to the nearest whole inch.

Step 3: Do the cup maths

Subtract your band size from your bust measurement. Each inch of difference is one cup size:

• 1 inch = A
• 2 inches = B
• 3 inches = C
• 4 inches = D
• 5 inches = DD, and onwards from there

So a 37-inch bust with a 34 band is a 34C. Cup lettering beyond D varies by country and brand (UK, US and European systems differ, as Wikipedia explains in its bra size overview), so treat your result as a benchmark. Then check the fit: band level, centre flat, no gaping or spilling. Good Housekeeping has a handy fit checklist if you’d like a second opinion.

Sister sizes: your secret fitting superpower

Here’s the trick fitters love: cup volume is tied to band size, so go down a band and up a cup (or the reverse) to keep the same fit. If 34C is your size, your sister sizes are 32D (snugger band) and 36B (looser band). Band too tight but cups perfect? Try the sister size up.

Roza Mehendi Push Up Bra Black

The perfect place to put your new measurements to work. Mehendi is a black push up bra with lace inspired by the flowing floral art of henna, and it comes in proper band and cup sizes from 32A all the way to 38D. That range makes sister sizing easy: if 34C is your usual, 32D and 36B are right there too. Prefer something matching? Browse our bra sets.

C$74.08 CAD. Shop Roza Mehendi Push Up Bra Black →

Your lingerie size guide, piece by piece

Bras are the most precise piece you’ll buy; most other lingerie is far more relaxed. If you’re ever between sizes or unsure about a particular brand, send us a message; we’re always happy to help with fit.

Lingerie sets sized S, M and L

Many sets skip bra sizes altogether and use dress-style sizing. Go by your usual clothing size, and let your bra measurement break the tie: a fuller bust usually means taking the larger size, while adjustable straps and hook backs handle the fine-tuning.

YesX YX746 White Lace Lingerie Set

Romantic, fresh and very new to the store. This set pairs a floral lace underwire bra with cut-out details and a matching brief, sized XS to L, so you shop by your usual dress size and let the adjustable straps fine-tune the rest. Curvier? Its twin, the YX746Q plus size set, comes in XL and XXL.

C$47.48 CAD. Shop YesX YX746 White Lace Lingerie Set →

Teddies and bodysuits

A one-piece has to fit your bust, waist and torso length all at once, so length matters most. If you’re tall or long-waisted, or you’re between sizes, size up for comfort. Stretch lace is your best friend here, because it moves with you.

Shirley of Hollywood 31384 Purple Teddy

Stretch lace is the most forgiving fabric in the lingerie drawer, and this jewel-toned teddy shows why. Soft lace hugs your curves, a cross-over back adds drama, and a touch of diamante catches the light. If you’re long in the torso, take the larger of your two sizes. See more styles in teddies.

C$80.73 CAD. Shop Shirley of Hollywood 31384 Purple Teddy →

Shirley of Hollywood X31280 Teddy Rose

Vintage-inspired stretch lace and mesh with long sleeves, cut-out shoulders and a low open back, made for curves in sizes 1X to 3X. The soft rose shade is pure holiday sweetness, and the stretch makes it a lovely choice when you’re between sizes. Discover more in our plus sizes collection.

Was C$81.68 — now C$56.98 CAD. Shop Shirley of Hollywood X31280 Teddy Rose →

Plus sizes: 1X, 2X, XL/2XL and friends

Plus size labels vary from brand to brand: some use 1X to 3X, others pair sizes like XL/2XL or 3XL/4XL. Start from your usual clothing size and check whether the style is stretchy or structured. Our plus size lingerie sets and plus size robes are a gorgeous place to start.

Robes and nightwear

Robes and nightdresses drape, so they’re the easiest fit of all. Choose a nightdress by bust and hip; for a robe, pick your usual size and let the tie belt do the rest.

Irall Elodie Dressing Gown Plum

Satin in a rich plum with delicately embroidered lace and a matching tie belt, so it adjusts to the body wearing it. Elodie comes in Small to XXL and arrives in her own Irall box with tissue paper, which makes her our favourite no-stress gift. More cosy luxury lives in robes.

C$109.23 CAD. Shop Irall Elodie Dressing Gown Plum →

Hosiery and hold ups

Hosiery is usually sized by height and build rather than dress size. Hold ups rely on a silicone band to stay put, so if you have fuller thighs, sizing up gives a more comfortable grip that won’t roll. Curvy legs, we see you: our earlier guide to plus size thigh high stockings has even more tips.

Ballerina 102 Hold Ups Nero (Black)

Classic, silky 20 denier black hold ups in sizes S to XL, presented in Ballerina’s embossed packaging with a sleeve. They’re the little black dress of hosiery: elegant, useful and always welcome under the tree. Sizing depends on height and build, so if you’re tall or curvy, size up.

C$34.18 CAD. Shop Ballerina 102 Hold Ups Nero (Black) →

How to buy lingerie as a gift (when you don’t know their size)

Gifting lingerie is romantic and just a little bit daring. The secret? A dash of detective work and a smart choice of style.

Do a little discreet detective work

• Check the drawer. A favourite bra tag tells you band and cup; a dress or top tag tells you S, M, L or plus.
• Look at what they love. Lace or satin? Black, jewel tones or blush? Gift in their colours, not yours.
• Ask an ally. A best friend or sister often knows sizes (and can keep a secret).
• Never size down. If you’re torn between two sizes, choose the larger. A too-small gift feels like a hint; a little roomy just feels comfortable.

Choose forgiving, fabulous styles

When in doubt, skip the structured bra and go for pieces with built-in flexibility: robes with tie belts, hold ups in S-M-L sizing, stretch lace teddies, and floaty babydolls that flow from the bust. Our most-loved best sellers are full of easy-fit ideas, too.

Irall Erotic Sadia Babydoll Black

A floaty black babydoll with a delicate hoop pattern along the bust, straps and hem, plus a matching thong. Because it flows from the bust rather than clinging everywhere, it’s one of the easiest pieces to gift. It comes in Small to XXL and arrives in an Irall box. Browse more babydolls.

C$75.98 CAD. Shop Irall Erotic Sadia Babydoll Black →

Make it gift-ready

Presentation is half the magic. Several of our brands arrive in their own boxes, from Irall’s tissue-wrapped boxes to Beauty Night’s picture-front gift boxes, so your present looks polished before you’ve found the ribbon.

Beauty Night BN6602 Sarina Teddy

Black lace cups, satin ribbon bows and a criss-cross ribbon lace-up at the back. Sarina arrives in an elegant Beauty Night box with a photo of the piece and a hologram logo, so it’s ready to wrap the moment it arrives. Two-size sizing (S/M and L/XL) also takes some of the guesswork out of gifting.

C$119.68 CAD. Shop Beauty Night BN6602 Sarina Teddy →

Roza Gift Box

The finishing flourish. This embellished box holds two Roza bra boxes, or one bra box and two smaller boxes, so a bra-and-brief pairing becomes a proper present. Find it in gift boxes.

C$9.48 CAD. Shop Roza Gift Box →

One last tip: tuck in a sweet note, and keep the packaging tidy. If the size isn’t quite right, our FAQ explains how exchanges work for items received as gifts.

Ready to find your fit?

Measure once, shop with confidence, and gift without guessing. Shopping now? The Wickedly Yours Halloween Sale runs until October 31, and our lingerie sale is always worth a browse. For something fresh, see new arrivals. Missed our recent posts? Revisit Halloween lingerie outfits you’ll wear again and our last-minute Halloween lingerie picks.

For more measuring wisdom, Vogue’s bra measuring guide is a lovely read. Every body deserves lingerie that fits like it was made for them. 💕

Shop bra sets →

Prices are in CAD and stock was checked on October 22, 2026. Stock and prices can change.

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