How to measure for lingerie at home

Lingerie fits closer than anything else you own, so a size that is slightly off shows immediately, especially on camera. A strap that digs in, a band that rides up or a bodysuit that pulls at the gusset can ruin a look that would otherwise be perfect. Measuring takes five minutes and you only need to repeat it every few months or after a noticeable change.

What you need

• A soft tailor tape measure in inches. A metal tape will not follow the body.
• A mirror, so you can check the tape is level at the back.
• Bare skin, or a thin unpadded bra for the bust measurement.
• Something to write the three numbers on.

No tape at home? Wrap a piece of string or a phone charger cable around the body, pinch where it meets and lay it along a ruler.

How to take each measurement

Bust

Stand straight with your arms relaxed at your sides. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the bust, usually across the nipples, and keep it level all the way around the back. The tape should touch without pressing. Breathe out normally before you read the number.

Waist

Find your natural waist, the narrowest part of the torso, usually an inch or two above the belly button. Bending to one side shows where it creases. Measure there without pulling in your stomach. This number matters most for corsets, garter belts and high waist pieces.

Hips

Stand with your feet together and wrap the tape around the widest part of the hips and seat, usually seven to nine inches below the waist. Check in the mirror that the tape has not slipped down at the back. This number decides briefs, thongs and the lower half of bodysuits and teddies.

Tips for accurate numbers

1. Measure twice and use the average if the readings differ.
2. Round to the nearest half inch, not down.
3. Measure in the evening if your body changes across the day, which gives the most comfortable result.
4. Do not measure over jeans or a padded bra; each adds an inch or more.
5. Keep one finger flat under the tape at the waist and hips. Lingerie should feel close, not tight.

Lingerie size chart in inches

Our sizes run from XS to 3X across sets, bodysuits, teddies, babydolls, corsets and costumes. Body measurements are in inches.

Size	Bust	Waist	Hips	US dress size
XS	31 to 32	24 to 25	33 to 34	0 to 2
S	33 to 34	26 to 27	35 to 36	4 to 6
M	35 to 36	28 to 29	37 to 38	8 to 10
L	37 to 39	30 to 32	39 to 41	12 to 14
XL	40 to 42	33 to 35	42 to 44	16
1X	43 to 45	36 to 38	45 to 47	18 to 20
2X	46 to 48	39 to 41	48 to 50	22 to 24
3X	49 to 51	42 to 44	51 to 53	26 to 28

Thigh highs are sized separately, in One Size (about 4 feet 11 to 5 feet 9, up to 160 lb) and Queen (about 5 feet 5 to 6 feet, 160 to 240 lb). The full chart, with a Fit Finder, lives on our size guide page.

When you are between sizes

Very few bodies match one row exactly. Decide by the measurement that matters most for the piece you are buying.

• Bras and bra sets. Go by bust. Wired cups that are too small leave a ridge, so size up if in doubt.
• Briefs and thongs. Go by hips. Stretch lace forgives half an inch either way.
• Bodysuits and teddies. Use the largest of your three numbers, and size up if you have a long torso, since one piece styles pull at the gusset when the body is too short. The Lace Plunge Bodysuit is stretch lace without wires, so it is more forgiving than a structured style.
• Corsets. Go by waist. A lace up back lets you adjust a couple of inches, so choose the size whose waist range includes yours. The Underbust Lace Corset has twelve steel bones and a front busk.
• Babydolls and chemises. Go by bust, since the skirt floats freely. The Satin Slip Chemise is bias cut and skims rather than grips.
• Kits. Our Creator Ready kits use one size for all three looks, so choose by the largest of your measurements.

Common measuring mistakes

• Tape tilted at the back. It almost always rises behind you, which adds an inch to the bust and takes one off the hips. Check it in the mirror every time.
• Measuring over a padded or push up bra. The padding adds to the bust reading and you end up with cups that gape.
• Holding your breath. A pulled in waist gives a number your body will not match an hour later.
• Using an old number. Bodies change. If your last measurement is more than a few months old, take it again.
• Guessing from your dress size. The US dress size column is a rough reference. Your three measurements are the real answer.

Write the numbers in your phone notes. You will want them again, and saving your size in your account means the shop can show what is in stock for you.

Sizes 1X to 3X

Extended sizes are cut on their own patterns, with wider straps and deeper cups, not simply scaled up. Measure the same way and use the same chart. Our plus size lingerie page collects the styles available up to 3X, from sheer sets to corsets.

Why measuring first matters

Lingerie is final sale for hygiene reasons. If a piece arrives in the wrong size and is still unopened in its original packaging, you can exchange it once for another size within 30 days, and we replace anything that arrives faulty or is not what you ordered. Measuring before you order is simply the quickest way to get it right the first time. Orders ship in a plain box anywhere in the US in 3 to 6 business days, free over $95.

Questions

How do I measure my bust for lingerie?

Wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of the bust, level at the back, over bare skin or a thin unpadded bra, and read it after a normal breath out.

Where is my natural waist?

The narrowest part of your torso, usually an inch or two above the belly button. Bend to one side and it is where the body creases.

What size should I get if I am between sizes?

Choose by the measurement that matters for the piece: bust for bras, hips for briefs, waist for corsets and the largest number for bodysuits.

Can I exchange lingerie if the size is wrong?

Lingerie is final sale for hygiene, but unopened pieces can be exchanged once for another size within 30 days, and faulty or wrong items are replaced.

What sizes do you carry?

XS to 3X in letter sizes. Thigh highs come in two widths, One Size and Queen, which together cover the same range.