How to measure yourself at home: bra, waist and hips
How to measure yourself at home for bra, waist and hips: where to put the tape, how snug to pull it, how to work out cup size and how to use a brand size chart.
Buying shapewear and bras online is so much easier with three numbers: bust, waist and hips. You do not need a fitter. You need a soft tape measure, a mirror and five minutes. Here is how to get measurements you can trust, and how to use them.
What do I need to measure myself?
- A soft, flexible tape measure. Triumph suggests a soft tape, a mirror and a pen and paper.
- Bare skin, or a thin non-padded bra for the bust. Triumph says thick clothing and padded or push-up bras distort the result.
- Good posture. Stand tall with arms relaxed and breathe normally.
How do I measure my waist?
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) gives clear steps:
- Find the spot halfway between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone. If you cannot find it, lean to one side and see where your skin folds. Measure there.
- Wrap the tape around and keep it level all the way around. It should fit snugly without digging into your skin.
- Breathe normally and take the reading after you breathe out.
Do not suck in. You want the number your clothes will actually meet. A university textbook on body measurements adds a useful tip: take the measurement twice to make sure it matches.
How do I measure my hips?
- Stand straight with your arms hanging relaxed at your sides.
- Wrap the tape around the widest part of your hips and buttocks. Use the mirror to find it.
- Keep the tape flat and level, snug but not squeezing.
How do I measure my bra size at home?
Triumph's guide uses two measurements in inches:
- Band. Wrap the tape snugly around your ribcage directly under your breasts. Keep it level, and check in the mirror that it does not ride up at the back. If the number is even, that is your band. If it is odd, round up to the next even number.
- Bust. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, level and parallel to the floor, resting gently without squashing.
- Cup. Subtract your band size from your bust measurement. Each inch is roughly one cup step: 1 inch is A, 2 is B, 3 is C, 4 is D, 5 is DD, and so on.
Example from Triumph: a 38 inch bust with a 34 band is a 4 inch difference, so 34D. Their guide also explains sister sizes: if a band fits but the cup does not, change the band and cup in opposite directions, such as 34C to 32D or 36B.
How do I check that a bra fits?
Numbers are a starting point. Triumph suggests trying a non-padded bra in your calculated size, leaning forward to settle each breast into its cup, then standing up straight. The band should sit level, the cups should hold everything without gaping, and the center piece between the cups should lie flat. If it does not, try a sister size before you give up on the style.
Why does my size change from brand to brand?
Because every brand cuts differently. Triumph says to compare your result with the brand's own chart, since sizing varies between manufacturers. Your tape numbers stay the same. The letter on the tag can change. Always match your measurements to the chart for the exact item you are buying.
Which measurement do I use for shapewear?
It depends on the piece, and each brand says which one it uses. Our High Waist Shaping Short is chosen by waist, from XS/S to 5XL for waists of 21.5 to 43.5 in, so your waist number is all you need. For a bodysuit-style piece such as our Smoothing Faja Bodysuit, check the size chart on the product page with your measurements in hand before you order.
Tips for accurate numbers
- Measure at the same time of day each time.
- Have someone help with the back if you can, or check the mirror.
- Write the numbers down in inches and centimeters so you can use any chart.
- Re-measure at least once a year, and after a weight change, pregnancy or hormonal changes, as Triumph suggests.
- If you are between sizes for shapewear, comfort matters. Cleveland Clinic's doctor notes that if shapewear makes a mark, it is too tight.
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Questions
Where do I measure my waist?
Halfway between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, says the World Cancer Research Fund. If you cannot find it, lean to one side and measure at the crease.
Where do I measure my hips?
Around the widest part of your hips and buttocks, with the tape flat and level.
How do I work out my bra cup size?
Measure snugly under your bust for the band and loosely around the fullest part for the bust. Subtract band from bust: each inch is about one cup step, per Triumph's guide. Always check the brand's own chart.
Should I measure over clothes?
No. Measure on bare skin or over a thin, non-padded bra. Thick clothing and padding throw off the numbers.
How often should I re-measure?
Triumph suggests at least once a year, and again after a weight change, pregnancy or hormonal changes.
Keep reading
Sources: World Cancer Research Fund: how to measure your waist · Triumph: how to measure your bra size · Toronto Metropolitan University: body measurement assessments · Cleveland Clinic: a doctor's advice on wearing shapewear