DD Cup vs E Cup

The difference in numbers

That one inch is spread around the whole bust, so the two cups look similar laid side by side. The E is a little deeper and its wire a little longer.

Signs you need the E

Put the DD on, fasten it, and scoop and swoop. Then look for these:

• A soft ridge where the top edge of the cup presses into the breast, visible under a T-shirt.
• The centre panel sits a few millimetres off your breastbone.
• The wire rests on breast tissue at the side.
• The band feels tighter than the same band does in other bras.
• You are contained standing still but edge out of the cups when you lean forward.

Any one of these suggests the E. They are easy to miss at this stage because a DD on an E-cup bust is only slightly too small, and the bra seems to almost fit.

Signs the DD is right

• The cup edge lies flat with no ridge and no gap.
• The centre panel touches your breastbone.
• The wires sit on your ribs all the way round.
• In the E, the fabric at the top or front of the cup is loose or wrinkles.

When you are in between

Being between two cups is common, and several things can tip it either way.

The bra's construction

Moulded and padded cups hold a fixed shape and cannot stretch, so take the E. Unlined cups with stretch lace across the top adapt to you, and the DD will often do.

Your shape

If you are fuller in the upper half of the breast you are more likely to need the E, because the cup edge will otherwise cut in. If you are fuller below, the DD may fit while the E gapes at the top.

Uneven sides

Fit the larger breast. If one side is a DD and the other an E, buy the E and shorten the strap or add a small insert on the other side.

Time of the month

If your breasts swell before your period, the E with a stretch upper section covers both states.

The brand

Cup depth varies between brands. Being a DD in one and an E in another is normal, and does not mean either is mislabelled.

Check the label before you compare

A bra marked E is not always a UK E. European brands use E for the cup the UK calls DD. If you pick up a continental brand's "75E", you are holding a UK 34DD. And an American "DD/E" is a UK DD. Find the UK size on the label, or check the brand's size guide. The background is in is DD bigger than E?

Do not change the band to split the difference

If a 34DD is a little small in the cup, the answer is 34E. A 36DD also has a bigger cup, but it comes with a looser band, which costs you support. Go up a band only when the band itself is too tight. The sister size chart shows how band and cup move together.

Frequently asked questions

How much bigger is an E cup than a DD?

One inch in bust circumference on the same band. In the cup itself that means slightly more depth and a slightly longer, wider wire. It is a modest difference to look at and a clear one to wear.

I am between a DD and an E. Which should I choose?

Choose the E in firm, moulded or padded cups, which have no give. In soft or stretch-lace cups the DD may be enough. If one breast is larger, fit that side.

Does every shop sell both DD and E?

Most larger retailers do, but some ranges go from DD straight to F or stop at DD, and labels from European brands show a UK DD as an E. Check the size guide for the specific bra.