38D bra size
38D means band 38 with cup D, a 4 in difference between your bust and band, rounded to whole inches.
US 38D · UK 38D
- Difference4 in10.2 cm
- Underbust, underbust method37 to 39 in93.98 to 99.06 cm
- Bust for this cup41.5 to 42.5 in105.41 to 107.95 cm
Each range includes its first figure and stops just short of its last.
Which measurements give a 38D
The label is a band and a cup, not a body measurement. Each of the three published rules turns the same label into different measurements.
| Method | Underbust (in) | Underbust (cm) | Bust (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underbust method | 37 to 39 in | 93.98 to 99.06 cm | 41.5 to 42.5 in |
| Add-4 method | 32.5 to 34.5 in | 82.55 to 87.63 cm | 41.5 to 42.5 in |
| EU method, band 85 | 32.48 to 34.45 in | 82.5 to 87.5 cm | Cup read in cm |
Each range includes its first figure and stops just short of its last.
38D in six sizing systems
| System | Band | Cup | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 38 | D | 38D |
| UK | 38 | D | 38D |
| EU | 85 | D | 85D |
| FR/BE | 100 | D | 100D |
| AU/NZ | 16 | D | 16D |
| JP | 85 | E | 85E |
Bands and letters are label equivalents, not body measurements. JP letters vary by brand.
Sister sizes of 38D
A sister size moves the band one step and the cup one letter the other way.
- 2 bands down34DDD
- 1 band down36DD
- 1 band up40C
- 2 bands up42B
For 38D, a bust from 41.5 to 42.5 in gives cup D under both the underbust method and the add-4 method; 42.5 is excluded. The range belongs to band 38, and the cup letter expresses the difference.
The cup letter for 38D is D on US, UK, EU, FR/BE and AU/NZ tags, while the JP label is 85E. Published charts assign different bands to the same underbust: the underbust method uses that measurement, the add-4 method rounds it before its adjustment, and the EU method sets bands in 5 cm steps.
The US sister size 36DD/E has a double-letter cup and a smaller band than 38D. The US sister size 40C has a larger band and a smaller cup letter than 38D.
Questions
What does 38D mean?
38D is a band of 38 with a cup that stands for a difference of 4 in (10.2 cm) between bust and band in US sizing.
What measurements give a 38D?
By the underbust method, an underbust of 37 to 39 in (93.98 to 99.06 cm) gives band 38, and a bust of 41.5 to 42.5 in gives this cup. By the add-4 method, band 38 comes from an underbust of 32.5 to 34.5 in. Each range includes its first figure and stops just short of its last.
What are the sister sizes of 38D?
The sister sizes of 38D are 34DDD, 36DD, 40C and 42B. Each step up in band takes the cup one letter down, and each step down takes it one letter up.