How to Tell If Your Bra Fits: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let's check your fit together.
If you've ever worn a bra and thought, "Is this how it's supposed to feel?" — you're not alone.
Bra sizing can be confusing, but that's where this checklist comes in. Let’s walk through how to evaluate whether your bra fits!
Before You Start
We recommend these small setup steps to make sure you're testing the actual fit of your bra not a distorted version of it.
- Loosen the straps
- Clasp the bra on the loosest hook
- Use the scoop and swoop method to pull all of your breast tissue into the cups — especially from underneath and the sides
Step 1: Check the Band
Contrary to popular belief, your band provides the most support for your bra, not your straps. Relying on the straps can cause shoulder and back pain.
To make sure your band is the correct size to provide ample support for your bra, we’ll walk through a few tests.
Signs your Bra Band Fits:
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Look at your band — it should sit level, straight across your back (not riding up toward your shoulders)
- Slide two fingers under the band at your back. It should feel snug but not too tight. If you can fit your entire fist in there, it’s too loose. If you can’t even put one finger there, it’s too tight.
- Raise your arms overhead. The band should stay in place and you shouldn’t immediately feel like you need to pull your band down.
Not Sure? Here are some additional tests:
- Strapless test: Take your straps off your shoulders. The band alone should still feel secure and not like it’s about to slip down on you.
- Upside-down test: This is a good way to test your bra band without any cup interference. Flip the bra upside down so that the tops of the bra cups are facing the floor. Now, clasp it. If it still feels snug without the cups, the band is doing its job!
Step 2: Check the Cups
The cups are meant to hold (aka… cup) all of your breast tissue comfortably and securely without overflow, gaps, or pressure.
First, Swoop and scoop.
If you haven’t already, swoop and scoop your breast tissue so that all of it is sitting within your cups. Not sure if you did it correctly? Run a finger along the bottom edge of each cup you should feel ribcage, not breast tissue
Signs your cups fit:
If your bra has wires:
- The gore (the center panel between cups) should lie flat against your chest
- The wires should sit directly below your breasts on bone (aka ribcage)
If your bra is wire-free:
- The gore may not tack, but it shouldn't float far from your body
- Each breast should still feel fully enclosed and supported
If you have asymmetrical breasts
This is perfectly normal; in fact, 1 in 5 women have differently-sized breasts. When checking the cup fit, focus on fitting the larger of your two breasts first. You’ll use the straps to adjust the fit of the smaller breast in the next step.
Perfect, but make sure you like how you look
As a final check, we recommend trying your bra with a tight shirt on. Do you like how you look? Aesthetic fit is also part of determining whether your bra fits!
Step 3: Check the Straps
As mentioned in Step 1, straps provide minimal support for your bra. Their main job is to keep the cups and band in place — and to help adjust for asymmetry if needed.
Strap fit is subjective, so feel free to adjust them to what feels most comfortable for you! Keep in mind, just like the rest of your body, your shoulders may be asymmetrical, so adjusting each strap differently is perfectly fine.
Here are a few tests to make sure your straps are just right — tight enough to stay on, but not digging in:
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Slide an index finger under each strap, from the top of the cup to the top of the band. The strap should feel secure, but not tight.
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Gently lift the strap above your shoulder. It should move about one inch before feeling snug.
Adjusting for asymmetry:
If your breasts are asymmetrical, tighten the strap on the side with the smaller breast to bring the cup closer to your body.
Final Fit Check: Test It All Together
Now that everything is adjusted:
✅ Band is snug and level across your back
✅ Cups fully contain your breast tissue
✅ Straps feel secure without digging
✅ Gore lies flat (if wearing a wired bra)
Take a deep breath, exhale, and check how everything feels when your body is relaxed. That's what everyday fit should feel like.
One Last Thought
Realizing your bra doesn’t fit? That’s pretty common - 8 in 10 women don’t have a bra that fits.
Try finding your correct size with Raddi, then seeing if you’re one of the 54% of people who’s bra sizes don’t exist in big box stores