GG Cup and Above: GG, H, HH, J, JJ and K

The upper ladder

American and European lettering is inconsistent at these sizes. Treat the US column as the most common pattern and check each brand's chart.

How to read the letters

From G onward the rule is simple: each letter appears once single and once doubled, and I is skipped.

G, GG, H, HH, J, JJ, K, KK

• The doubled letter is always the next size up from the single one.
• After a doubled letter comes the next letter of the alphabet, except that HH is followed by J.
• Every step is the same size: one inch.

These letters depend on the band as much as any other

An H cup is an eleven-inch difference. How much volume that is depends on the band.

Slim people with a full bust reach the upper letters quickly. A 28H is not the same thing as a 38H. More in sister sizes for a larger bust.

Fit at GG and above

The principles are the same as at any size, and the margins are smaller.

• The band must be right. One band too big is enough to put the weight on your shoulders.
• Cups should be seamed. Nearly every bra made in these sizes uses three or four-part cups, often with a side support panel and a power-mesh lining.
• Wires should be firm and sit on rib all the way round. If they rest on tissue at the side, go up a cup.
• Half sizes matter. Because each letter is a full inch, try the size either side of yours whenever you change brand.
• Shape matters more. Width, projection and where your fullness sits decide which of the available styles work. See the breast shapes guide.

Where to find them

Most high-street ranges stop at G or H. From there up, look to the UK's full-bust brands, which between them cover every size in the table, and to the specialist retailers that stock them. The brand-by-brand picture is in UK brands that make J cups and above.

A fitting with a specialist is the fastest way to find your size and shape at this end of the range. See bra fitting for large busts.

Frequently asked questions

What comes after GG?

H, then HH, J, JJ, K and KK. Each is one full cup size, an extra inch of bust measurement on the same band.

Why is there no I cup in UK sizing?

UK sizing moves from HH straight to J. The letter I is generally left out, most likely because it is easily read as the number 1 on a label.

Is an H cup the same as an HH?

No. HH is one cup bigger than H. The doubled letters are full sizes.

What is the largest cup size made in the UK?

Several full-bust brands run to K, some to KK, and Bravissimo lists sizes up to an L cup. Beyond that, made-to-measure is the usual route.