The SHAPE Size Chart: What 34C Means
The short answer: SHAPE bras run in letters. Sizes run S to 5XL. Band-and-cup styles come in bands 32 to 44, cups A to DDD. Your band and cup translate to a letter, and 34C sits at the top of M and the start of L, so we say L. Between two sizes on a seamless bra, go up one.
"Its 34C, but is that M or L?" is the single most common question we are asked, on Messenger, on WhatsApp and at the counter. Here is the chart we use, and the two rules that make it work.
The chart
Updated 4 November 2026: this chart now shows the current SHAPE letter map. Bands run 32 to 44 and cups A to DDD; letter sizes run S to 5XL.
This is the chart our fit advisors and the Bust Size Calculator both use. It was developed by our founder, Monoshita Ayruani, from thousands of fittings of Bangladeshi women, which is why it does not match an imported brand's chart and is not supposed.
| SHAPE size | Bust (inches, roughly) | Band and cup sizes that map to it |
|---|---|---|
| M | 33 to 35 | 32A, 32B, 32C, 34A |
| L | 36 to 37 | 32D, 32DD, 34B, 34C, 36A |
| XL | 38 to 39 | 32DDD, 34D, 34DD, 36B, 36C, 38A |
| 2XL | 40 to 41 | 34DDD, 36D, 36DD, 38B, 38C, 40A |
| 3XL | 42 to 43 | 36DDD, 38D, 38DD, 40B, 40C, 42A |
| 4XL | 44 to 45 | 38DDD, 40D, 40DD, 42B, 42C, 44A |
| 5XL | 46 to 47 | 40DDD, 42D, 42DD, 44B, 44C |
This is a guide, not a verdict. Two women with the same bust measurement can need different letters because of cup depth, so our advisors always ask for two numbers, bust and underbust, before confirming, and between two letters on a seamless style we go up one. Here is how to measure at home, and what your SHAPE size letter means explains the letters in plain words. Every size answer in one place: sizing help.
How the size is worked out (the SHAPE method)
- Band. Measure your underbust in inches, snug where the band sits. If the number is odd, add 3; if it is even, add 4. That is your band.
- Cup. Measure your bust at the fullest part, level and relaxed. Subtract the band. Each inch of difference is one cup: 1 is A, 2 is B, 3 is C, 4 is D, 5 is DD, 6 is DDD. SHAPE cups run A to DDD and bands 32 to 44. If your numbers land outside that range, send both measurements to the fit team on WhatsApp.
- Letter. Find the band and cup in the chart above. That is your SHAPE size.
Worked example: underbust 30 (even) gives a band of 34; bust 37 gives a difference of 3, so a C cup; 34C sits in the L row. Underbust 31 (odd) gives 34; bust 38 gives a D cup; 34D sits in the XL row.
Find your SHAPE size in 30 seconds.
Two measurements in inches, and the Bust Size Calculator gives you your band, cup and SHAPE letter size. It is a guide, not a verdict: between two sizes on a seamless style, go up one, and our fit team will confirm it on WhatsApp.
Rule 1: a bigger cup pushes you up a letter
A letter has to hold both the band and the cup. That is why 32C is an M but 32D is an L, and why 34C is an L but 34D is an XL. If your cup is D or above, expect to sit one letter higher than the band alone suggests.
Rule 2: between two sizes, go up one
On seamless styles, the stretch does the fitting. The larger size gives the cup room without loosening the band. So between M and L, take L. The one exception is push-up styles: there, use your exact cup, because a push-up only lifts when the cup matches you.
Which bras run to which size
- M to 3XL: Seamless Air Bra, Sure Cover Bra, Seamless Contour Bra.
- M to 2XL: Signature Seamless Bra, Mesh Minimizer Bra.
- XL to 5XL: Plus Size Sculpting Bra. M to 5XL: Longwear Bra.
- S to XL: VLite Seamless Bra, our entry bra.
Not sure? Send two numbers
Measure your underbust (snug, where the band sits) and your bust (fullest part), both in inches, and send them to us on WhatsApp with the bra you are looking at. We reply with your letter, privately. You never have to buy. If you would rather be measured in person, here is what happens in a fitting.
Watch a real size consultation with our founder (Facebook reel).
Questions women ask us
Is 34C an M or an L?
L. 34C sits at the top of M and the start of L, and on seamless styles we always go up.
My old bra says 36B. What is that at SHAPE?
XL on the SHAPE chart. If the 36B was itself the wrong size, which is common, send us both measurements and we will confirm.
Why don't you use band and cup sizes like other brands?
Our seamless bras are cut to stretch across a range, so one letter replaces three or four band-and-cup combinations. Our band-and-cup styles do use bands 32 to 44 and cups A to DDD.
Do you have 4XL and 5XL?
Yes, on Longwear Bra, Plus Size Sculpting Bra, and on GlowCut when it is in stock. Message us with your measurements and we will tell you which one.
What if it still doesn't fit?
Exchange within 7 days of delivery, unworn and unwashed. Here is the exchange policy.
Private fittings. Every SHAPE fitting is private, in our stores or on WhatsApp, and you never have to buy. WhatsApp · Find a store
Questions about sizes, delivery or exchanges? Our FAQ answers them in English and Bangla.
Part of The Fitting Room by SHAPE.
