To measure bra size for a man, take two numbers in inches: the underbust, which sets the band, and the full chest, which sets the cup. Lace for Gentlemen sizes bras for men from US 34A to 42A, and offers custom sizing inside that range and outside it.
Find your size in 4 steps: 1 What you need · 2 Underbust · 3 Full chest · 4 Your size
What you need before you start
You need a soft measuring tape, or a piece of string and a ruler, and nothing else. No fitting appointment and no second person.
Measure over a bare chest, or over a thin, unpadded layer. Keep the tape level, parallel to the floor, and snug but not compressing. Write both numbers down in inches; you will combine them in the next two steps.
Step 1: Measure your underbust for the band
Your underbust is the circumference of your ribcage, measured directly under the chest where a bra band sits. The band size comes straight from this number.
- Wrap the tape around your ribcage, level with the floor.
- Breathe out normally, then read the number where the tape meets.
- If the number is odd, round up to the next even number (33 to 34, 35 to 36). Even numbers are standard band sizes.
This is the key difference from women's sizing: because there is no bust volume to correct for, a men's band is taken directly from the underbust, without the "+4" or "+5" adjustment used on some women's charts.
Step 2: Measure your full chest for the cup
Your full chest is the circumference around the widest part of your chest, across the fullest point. The cup size comes from how this number differs from your underbust.
- Wrap the tape around your full chest, again parallel to the floor.
- Keep it snug and level; do not pull it tight.
- Read the number in inches.
The difference between the two measurements gives your cup:
| Difference (full chest minus underbust) | Cup |
|---|---|
| About 1 to 2 inches | A |
The cup in this range is A, a difference of about 1 to 2 inches between the full chest and the underbust. A larger difference points to a cup outside our range, and a smaller one sits below it: both are handled through custom sizing, where the piece is drafted from your two numbers rather than taken from a listed cup. Message us through the contact page with both measurements and we will tell you honestly whether our make is right for you.
Step 3: Read your US 34A-42A size
Combine the band number and the cup letter. The table below is the full Lace for Gentlemen standard range. It is published as a real table on the page, not an image, so it can be read directly.
Custom sizing is a fixed addition to the price of the style, and the amount is shown on each product page.
Band and cup: US 34A-42A
| Underbust (in) | Band size | A cup: full chest (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 33-34 | 34 | 35-36 |
| 35-36 | 36 | 37-38 |
| 37-38 | 38 | 39-40 |
| 39-40 | 40 | 41-42 |
| 41-42 | 42 | 43-44 |
Catalogue sizes, itemised
| Garment size | Size | Underbust (in) | Full chest (in) | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 34A | 33-34 | 35-36 | A |
| L | 36A | 35-36 | 37-38 | A |
| XL | 38A | 37-38 | 39-40 | A |
| 3L | 40A | 39-40 | 41-42 | A |
| 4L | 42A | 41-42 | 43-44 | A |
The same five sizes in garment sizes: M to 4L
Every size we make is listed two ways. Bras are sold under the bra size, US 34A to 42A. Panties and sets are sold under the garment size, M to 4L, because a waistband is chosen by waist measurement and a bra is chosen by the underbust. The two scales carry the same five sizes, one to one.
Waist stretch range, measured flat to fully extended
| Garment size | Bra size it matches | Waist stretch range |
|---|---|---|
| M | 34A | 71-80 cm (28.0-31.5 in) |
| L | 36A | 81-90 cm (31.9-35.4 in) |
| XL | 38A | 91-100 cm (35.8-39.4 in) |
| 3L | 40A | 101-111 cm (39.8-43.7 in) |
| 4L | 42A | 112-121 cm (44.1-47.6 in) |
The waistband is elastic, so each garment size covers a range of waist measurements rather than one number. If your waist sits at the edge of a range, take the size that matches your underbust in the table above: the band and the waist are cut to the same five-step scale. The two largest sizes are written 3L and 4L.
All five sizes run across lace briefs, bikini briefs and thongs and across sets. The fabric of each piece is listed on its product page.
Why one cup is enough
One cup does the work here: A. On a male chest a cup is usually shallow and wide, so it sits flatter than the same cup on a bust.
An A cup carries about 1 to 2 inches of difference between the underbust and the full chest, so it adds room across the front rather than depth at the centre. That mismatch is why an off-the-shelf 34A seldom fits, and why we draft our own pattern instead of grading one down. See the full range in bras sized 34A-42A.
Worked example: a 40 inch chest
A 40 inch chest usually fits 40A. The band comes from the underbust, and the cup comes from the difference.
Take a man who measures 40 inches at the underbust and 41 inches at the full chest. The underbust gives a band of 40. The difference is 1 inch, which sits inside the A range of about 1 to 2 inches. His size is 40A.
Note which number set the band: the underbust (40), not the full chest. The commonest sizing error is to use the full-chest number as the band.
If your size doesn't fit
If your numbers point to a different size than you picked, or fall outside US 34A to 42A, we will tell you before anything is cut. See custom sizing.
We do not accept returns or refunds for change of mind, because every piece is worn against the skin and cannot be resold once it has shipped. A size exchange inside 14 days of delivery is the one exception. If a piece arrives faulty, or does not match the specification you confirmed, message us through the contact page within 30 days of delivery with photos and your order number, and we will remake it. The full terms are on the shipping and returns page.
Privacy at checkout
- Every order leaves in plain, unbranded packaging. See discreet shipping.
- Your card statement shows YOMI ART, never a product word.
- Your email is used for your order and nothing else.
Common sizing questions
What size bra fits a 40 inch chest man? A 40 inch full chest usually maps to 40A. Confirm with the underbust first. That sets the band.
My measurements fall between two sizes. Choose the size nearest your underbust for the band, then use custom sizing to adjust the cup or band; it also covers measurements outside US 34A to 42A.
The band is tight but the cup fits. A tight band is usually an underbust that rounds up. If a 36A band runs snug, custom sizing can ease the band while keeping the A cup.
How do I check the fit once it arrives? Check three things. The band sits level all the way round. The cups lie flat, with no gap at the top. The straps hold without digging in.
What are the sister sizes? Sister sizes keep the same cup volume on a different band. Going up one band (34 to 36) means going down one cup letter; going down one band means going up one cup. Use them only as a starting point, then confirm with your underbust. More answers are in the mens bra FAQ.
How often should I re-measure? Re-measure if your weight changes noticeably, and otherwise refresh your numbers once a year.
Not sure which size to pick?
Send your two measurements through the contact page and we will reply with a recommended size. No account, no list. We use your email to answer this message only.
Then start a custom made bra for men, or see which fabric we use.