38DD bra size
38DD means band 38 with cup DD, marking a 5 in difference between your bust and the band; on band 38, the bust range 42.5 to 43.5 in corresponds to cup DD.
US 38DD, also written 38E · UK 38DD
- Difference5 in12.7 cm
- Underbust, underbust method37 to 39 in93.98 to 99.06 cm
- Bust for this cup42.5 to 43.5 in107.95 to 110.49 cm
Each range includes its first figure and stops just short of its last.
Which measurements give a 38DD
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 | 42.5 to 43.5 in |
| Add-4 method | 32.5 to 34.5 in | 82.55 to 87.63 cm | 42.5 to 43.5 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.
38DD in six sizing systems
| System | Band | Cup | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 38 | DD/E | 38DD/E |
| UK | 38 | DD | 38DD |
| EU | 85 | E | 85E |
| FR/BE | 100 | E | 100E |
| AU/NZ | 16 | DD | 16DD |
| JP | 85 | F | 85F |
Bands and letters are label equivalents, not body measurements. JP letters vary by brand.
Sister sizes of 38DD
A sister size moves the band one step and the cup one letter the other way.
- 2 bands down34DDDD
- 1 band down36DDD
- 1 band up40D
- 2 bands up42C
For 38DD, the underbust method and add-4 method assign band 38 from different underbust intervals. The add-4 method first rounds your underbust to a whole inch, then applies its rule. The underbust method uses the underbust itself. The two methods give the same bust range for this label, 42.5 to 43.5 in.
The 38DD label is 85E under the EU method, while US and UK tags show band 38. Published methods disagree: no underbust gives band 38 under both the underbust method and the add-4 method. The EU method uses centimetres and sets a band every 5 cm.
The 38DD cup appears as DD in the UK and as DD/E in the US. In the US label, DD and E name the same difference.
Questions
What does 38DD mean?
38DD is a band of 38 with a cup that stands for a difference of 5 in (12.7 cm) between bust and band in US sizing.
What measurements give a 38DD?
By the underbust method, an underbust of 37 to 39 in (93.98 to 99.06 cm) gives band 38, and a bust of 42.5 to 43.5 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 38DD?
The sister sizes of 38DD are 34DDDD, 36DDD, 40D and 42C. Each step up in band takes the cup one letter down, and each step down takes it one letter up.