42A bra size
42A names band 42 and cup A, with a difference of 1 in between your bust and the band, rounded to whole inches.
US 42A · UK 42A
- Difference1 in2.5 cm
- Underbust, underbust method41 to 43 in104.14 to 109.22 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 42A
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 | 41 to 43 in | 104.14 to 109.22 cm | 42.5 to 43.5 in |
| Add-4 method | 36.5 to 38.5 in | 92.71 to 97.79 cm | 42.5 to 43.5 in |
| EU method, band 95 | 36.42 to 38.39 in | 92.5 to 97.5 cm | Cup read in cm |
Each range includes its first figure and stops just short of its last.
42A in six sizing systems
| System | Band | Cup | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 42 | A | 42A |
| UK | 42 | A | 42A |
| EU | 95 | A | 95A |
| FR/BE | 110 | A | 110A |
| AU/NZ | 20 | A | 20A |
| JP | 95 | Not listed | Not listed |
Bands and letters are label equivalents, not body measurements. JP letters vary by brand.
Sister sizes of 42A
A sister size moves the band one step and the cup one letter the other way.
- 2 bands down38C
- 1 band down40B
- 1 band up44AA
For 42A, the listed bust span is 42.5 to 43.5 in for cup A on band 42 under the underbust method and add-4 method. The label describes the result of comparing your bust with the band.
The sister size 40B has a smaller band and a larger cup letter than 42A, while 44AA pairs a larger band with a smaller cup letter. The listed 38C is two band steps below 42A, and the table gives no sister size two steps above. Published charts disagree on which underbust ranges produce band 42: these two methods have ranges that do not overlap.
The EU label for 42A is 95A. The JP chart has no cup letter listed for this difference and says to check the brand. Measure again and try on, since a calculated size is a starting point.
Questions
What does 42A mean?
42A is a band of 42 with a cup that stands for a difference of 1 in (2.5 cm) between bust and band in US sizing.
What measurements give a 42A?
By the underbust method, an underbust of 41 to 43 in (104.14 to 109.22 cm) gives band 42, and a bust of 42.5 to 43.5 in gives this cup. By the add-4 method, band 42 comes from an underbust of 36.5 to 38.5 in. Each range includes its first figure and stops just short of its last.
What are the sister sizes of 42A?
The sister sizes of 42A are 38C, 40B and 44AA. Each step up in band takes the cup one letter down, and each step down takes it one letter up.