Lingerie Size Chart

Size charts vs. grading

A size chart is the table that tells a customer which size fits their body measurements. Grading is the production process that creates each size: the pattern team takes one approved base sample and scales it up and down by fixed increments at every point — bust, waist, hip, strap, band — so fit stays consistent across the run. The chart is the promise; grading is how you keep it.

The core body measurements

Most lingerie sizing rests on four measurements. Get these right in the tech pack and the rest follows:

Measurement	Where to measure
Bust	Around the fullest part of the chest
Underbust (band)	Directly under the bust, snug
Waist	Narrowest part of the torso
Hip	Around the fullest part of the hips

Alpha size range (apparel-style)

Soft styles — chemises, teddies, bodysuits, costumes — are usually graded on an alpha scale. A representative chart in centimetres:

Size	Bust (cm)	Waist (cm)	Hip (cm)
XS	76–81	58–63	83–88
S	81–86	63–68	88–93
M	86–91	68–73	93–98
L	91–96	73–78	98–103
XL	96–101	78–83	103–108
2XL	101–106	83–88	108–113
3XL	106–111	88–93	113–118

Indicative grading for reference; final charts depend on fabric stretch and style.

Band & cup sizing (bras and bra sets)

Structured bra sets are sized by band (underbust) and cup (bust minus underbust). We grade cup blocks across the common retail range — typically 30A to 40DD. Because cup volume changes with band, true bra sizing needs cup-by-band grading rather than a single linear scale; specify your size run and base size in the tech pack.

Plus-size grading: 1X to 6X

Plus-size is one of the fastest-growing wholesale segments, and it is where sloppy grading shows most. A true curve range is built on its own block — not an XL sample stretched bigger — with proportional adjustments through bust, waist, hip and rise:

Plus size	Bust (cm)	Waist (cm)	Hip (cm)
1X	106–111	88–93	113–118
2X	111–117	93–99	118–124
3X	117–124	99–106	124–131
4X	124–131	106–113	131–138
5X	131–138	113–120	138–145
6X	138–145	120–127	145–152

Get your grading right before bulk

Always grade a fit sample at the smallest, a middle, and the largest size and try them on real bodies — fabric stretch rarely behaves linearly across a wide range. Lock your chart before bulk to avoid costly re-grades. We grade every block in-house, including a dedicated curve range, and can extend any style into the full size run.

Explore our plus-size lingerie block, or work with us as a custom lingerie manufacturer to grade your own size chart. Have a chart ready? Send it over for a sampling quote.