Tool
Bra-fit troubleshooting checklist
Wear the bra, move around and sit down, then tick everything you notice.
What to check first
Tick one or more boxes to see the fit points most worth checking.
What it's for
When a bra feels wrong, it's often hard to tell which part is causing it. This checklist links what you notice to the fit points most worth checking first, based on the band, cup, centre, wire and strap checks in Breast Cancer Now's and the University of Portsmouth's fit guides.
How to use it
- Put the bra on the loosest hooks and lean forward so your breasts settle into the cups.
- Stand, lift your arms, then sit down for a minute or two.
- Tick everything you notice. Untick anything you're unsure about.
- Read the suggestions from the top, change one thing, and check again.
Worked example
You tick "Deep red marks under the band that linger" and "Straps dig into my shoulders". The list puts "Band may be too tight" first, then "Band may be too loose" and strap adjustment. That tells you to check the band before shortening or loosening the straps; it doesn't decide which way the band is wrong.
What the result means
Suggestions are ordered by how many of your ticks point to each fit point. Treat them as places to look, in order. "If" statements in the advice are conditional: they apply only if the check confirms the problem.
Limits
- It can't see your bra or body, so it can't tell you your size.
- It isn't a medical tool. Pain that continues without a bra, numbness, lumps or skin changes need a doctor.
- Sister-size suggestions assume one sizing system; cup letters after D differ between countries.
Privacy
This tool runs in your browser. What you type or tick is kept only in the open page: it isn't sent to us, saved in cookies or browser storage, and it's cleared when you leave or reload. Our host records standard visit data such as the page address, as described in our privacy policy.