Buying American Bras in the UK

Step 1: check whether you can buy it in the UK

Before ordering from overseas, look for the brand on a UK site. Several American lingerie brands have UK websites or are stocked by British department stores and online retailers. Buying within the UK means prices in pounds with VAT included, UK consumer rights, and domestic returns. Sizes on a UK site may already be shown in UK lettering, so check which system the size list uses.

Step 2: convert your size

Start from a UK size you know fits you in a current bra.

• Band: no change. A UK 34 is a US 34.
• Cup, AA to DD: no change.
• Cup, E and above: different label. Use the table or the converter.

Step 3: read the brand's own size chart

American brands do not all letter their cups the same way above DD, so a general conversion is only a first guess. On the brand's chart, look for:

• The cup sequence. Does it go DD, DDD, G? Or DD, DDD, DDDD? Or DD, F, G? Count how many steps above D your size is and find the same step on their list. A UK F is three steps above D.
• How they tell you to measure. If the chart says to add four or five inches to your underbust, do not follow it. Choose the band that matches your real underbust and work out the cup from there. The reason is in why the +4 method is wrong.
• The size range. Many mainstream US brands offer a narrower range than British full-bust brands, particularly in bands below 32 and cups above DDD.

Step 4: check the real cost

• VAT and duty. For orders of £135 or less, UK VAT should be charged by the seller at checkout. Above that, expect import VAT and possibly duty on delivery, plus a courier handling fee. Check GOV.UK for the current rules.
• Shipping. International delivery can add a significant amount to a single bra.
• Currency. Your card provider may add a foreign transaction fee.
• Returns. Find out who pays for return postage and whether charges are refunded. With a new brand, there is a fair chance you will want the neighbouring cup size.

Step 5: when it arrives

Try it on before removing any tags. Fasten on the loosest hook, scoop and swoop, and go through the fit check. American brands often cut cups to a different shape from British ones, so a correct conversion can still gape or cut in. If it is close but not right, exchange for one cup up or down before changing the band.

British brands on American sites

You may also come across UK brands such as Panache, Freya or Curvy Kate on US retailers' sites, sometimes at lower prices. These are sold in UK sizes, so order your normal UK size and do not convert it. The background to all of this is in UK vs US bra sizes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay import charges on bras ordered from the US?

Goods sent to the UK from abroad are subject to UK VAT. For orders worth £135 or less, the seller normally collects it at checkout. Above £135, import VAT and possibly customs duty are charged on arrival, and the courier usually adds a handling fee. Rules change, so check GOV.UK and the retailer's shipping page before ordering.

Is my UK size the same in American brands?

The band is. The cup is the same up to DD. From a UK E upward the American label is different: UK E is US DDD or F, UK F is US G, UK FF is US H.

Can I return a bra to a US retailer from the UK?

It depends on the retailer. Some offer international returns, many charge for them, and some do not accept them at all. Find the returns policy before you buy, because exchanging for the next cup size is common with any new brand.