Your bra band size is not your real underbust size

Why your band size and underbust don't match

If you've ever measured under your bust and thought,
"Why doesn't this number match my bra size?" — you're not alone.

The number on the measuring tape is your body.
The number on the label is a system.

And the two aren't meant to be identical.

Where the confusion began

Bras didn't always stretch.

Early bras were made from rigid fabrics, long before elastane existed. To make them wearable, brands added breathing room directly into the size. Over time, this allowance became part of the number itself.

When stretch fabrics arrived, the numbers stayed — even though the body didn't change.

What started as a functional decision became a permanent sizing language.

Why EU and US sizes look different

Both systems measure the same place:
around the rib cage, just below the bust.

The difference is how they label it.

EU sizing stays close to the body
Your underbust is converted to centimetres and rounded
Example: ~70 cm → EU 70

US sizing uses a traditional size code
Comfort allowance is already built in
That same body → US 32

Different numbers. Same fit.

Underbust (cm)	UK / IN	US	EU
63–67	30	30	65
68–72	32	32	70
73–77	34	34	75
78–82	36	36	80
83–87	38	38	85
88–92	40	40	90

 

How to measure yourself (and understand what the numbers mean)

Bra sizing uses two measurements taken at the same place, but they are interpreted differently. Here's how to do it correctly — and why it works.

Step 1: Measure your underbust

Measure snugly around your rib cage, directly under the bust.
Keep the tape level and close to the body.

This is your actual underbust measurement.

Example:
If the tape reads 28 inches (≈ 70 cm)

Step 2: Add 4 inches to find your band size

In US (and UK) sizing, the band number is not the raw underbust measurement.
It is a size label that includes built-in ease.

So:

28″ underbust
+
4″ allowance
=
32 band size

This is why:

EU 70 (which uses the real cm measurement)
↔
corresponds to US 32

The +4″ logic still exists — not as a measuring step in EU sizing, but inside the US band number itself.

How this translates to Elope sports bras

If you already know your bra size, you’re already halfway there.

Use the size you’ve learned to trust.
Find your US / UK / IN or EU band in the guide, move across to your cup range, and let the table lead you to your Elope size.

		elope size guide
US/UK/IN	EU	A	B	C	D	E	F
32	70	XS	XS	XS	S	S	S
34	75	S	S	S	M	M	M
36	80	M	M	M	L	L	L
38	85	L	L	L	XL	XL	XL
40	90	XL	XL	XL	2XL	2XL	2XL
42	95	2XL	2XL	2XL	3XL	3XL	3XL
44	100	3XL	3XL	3XL	4XL	4XL	4XL

 

Our bras are designed to meet the body where it is.

If you find yourself between two sizes:

Choose the smaller for a closer, more held embrace

Choose the larger for ease, breath, and freedom of movement

With soft stretch and thoughtful recovery built into the fabric, Elope bras adapt to natural shifts in the body — through movement, breath, and everyday wear.

Trust the size you already know.
We’ve done the rest of the work for you.