Victoria's Secret Bra Sizes: US to European, UK & German Conversion Guide
If you are shopping at Victoria's Secret from Europe, the UK, or Germany, you have probably stared at a 32C or 36DD on the tag and wondered: "What does this mean in my size?" You are not alone. Victoria's Secret uses the American (US) bra sizing system, which is fundamentally different from European, German, UK, French, and Japanese systems. This guide breaks down exactly how to convert VS sizes so you never order the wrong bra again.
Why Victoria's Secret Sizing Confuses European Shoppers
The confusion starts with the band number. In Germany, France, Spain, and most of Europe, bra bands are measured in centimeters — so a band labeled "75" is common. But Victoria's Secret (being an American brand) labels bands in inches: 32, 34, 36, etc. A German shopper who normally wears a 75B might see "34B" at VS and think that's the same band size. It is not — 75cm is approximately 30 inches, meaning EU 75B converts to roughly US 34B only after adding the built-in +4 inches that VS's sizing assumes. This mismatch creates confusion at every step.
Additionally, Victoria's Secret cup progression differs from European brands. VS uses a standard US cup sequence: A, B, C, D, DD, DDD. European brands typically use A, B, C, D, E, F. So a "VS 34DD" is approximately a "European 75E" — the letters don't line up one-to-one.
Victoria's Secret to European / German Bra Size Conversion
Use this table to convert your VS US size to European (EU), German (DE), French (FR), and UK sizes. Find your usual VS size in the first column and read across.
| VS US Size | UK Size | EU / German (DE) | French (FR) | Band (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32A | 32A | 70A | 85A | 32" |
| 32B | 32B | 70B | 85B | 32" |
| 32C | 32C | 70C | 85C | 32" |
| 32D | 32D | 70D | 85D | 32" |
| 32DD | 32DD | 70E | 85E | 32" |
| 34B | 34B | 75B | 90B | 34" |
| 34C | 34C | 75C | 90C | 34" |
| 34D | 34D | 75D | 90D | 34" |
| 34DD | 34DD | 75E | 90E | 34" |
| 36C | 36C | 80C | 95C | 36" |
| 36D | 36D | 80D | 95D | 36" |
| 36DD | 36DD | 80E | 95E | 36" |
| 38C | 38C | 85C | 100C | 38" |
| 38D | 38D | 85D | 100D | 38" |
| 38DD | 38DD | 85E | 100E | 38" |
| 40C | 40C | 90C | 105C | 40" |
| 40D | 40D | 90D | 105D | 40" |
Victoria's Secret Fit: What European Shoppers Need to Know
Band Fit: Runs Stretchy
Victoria's Secret bands typically run on the stretchy side compared to European brands like Triumph, Hunkemoller, or Change Lingerie. If you normally wear a 75 band from a German brand, you may find the 34 band at VS feels looser. Consider sizing down in the band — from 34 to 32 — especially in styles with lace or mesh backs.
Cup Depth: Runs Shallow
VS cups are generally shallower and wider than European full-bust brands. If you have a projected breast shape (common with European body types), you may find VS cups create gaps at the top or press in at the center. For projected shapes, VS Body by Victoria and Dream Angels lines tend to have slightly deeper cups than the Very Sexy or T-Shirt lines.
How to Find Your Victoria's Secret Size from European Measurements
- Measure your underbust in centimeters. Wrap a soft measuring tape around your ribcage directly under your bust. Pull it snug but not tight. This is your EU band measurement (e.g., 75 cm).
- Convert to inches. Divide your cm measurement by 2.54. A 75 cm underbust equals approximately 29.5 inches.
- Find your VS band size. Round to the nearest even number: 29.5 rounds to 30. But note: VS bands run stretchy, so a 32 band at VS may feel like a 75 band from a German brand.
- Measure your bust in centimeters. Measure around the fullest part of your bust. Subtract your underbust from this number. Each 2.5 cm (1 inch) of difference equals one cup letter. For example, 90 cm bust minus 75 cm underbust equals 15 cm difference, or approximately 6 inches — that would be around a DDD/E cup in US sizing.
- Cross-check with our tool. Use our free bra size calculator for the most accurate conversion. It supports inches, centimeters, US, UK, EU, FR, DE, JP, and AU sizing systems simultaneously.
Common Mistakes European Shoppers Make at Victoria's Secret
- ✗Assuming 34B = 75B. The numbers represent different units. US 34 is a 34-inch band, which is about 86 cm, not 75 cm. European 75B roughly corresponds to US 34B only after accounting for sizing differences — the actual measurement behind a 34 band is closer to an EU 75 band.
- ✗Forgetting cup letters change across systems. A "DD" in the US is an "E" in EU sizing. A "DDD" in the US is an "F" in EU sizing. The letters don't match one-to-one.
- ✗Buying without trying because VS doesn't exist in their country. VS has limited European store presence. If ordering online, use the conversion table above and always check the return policy. VS sizing runs different from European brands — a conversion is a starting point, not a guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Victoria's Secret 34C in European sizing?
A Victoria's Secret 34C is approximately a European 75C. However, because VS bands tend to run stretchy and cups run shallow, some 34C wearers find a closer fit in EU 75D or even 70D depending on their shape.
Are Victoria's Secret and UK bra sizes the same?
No — Victoria's Secret uses US sizing, which is different from UK sizing. While the band numbers are the same (both use inches), the cup progression differs. A VS DDD is equivalent to a UK E cup. For sizes above DDD, VS stops (they max at DDD in most styles) while UK brands continue to G, H, and beyond with a different letter sequence.
What does "36DD" mean in German bra sizing?
In German (DE) sizing, a US 36DD is approximately an 80E. The 36-inch band converts to about 80 cm (rounded to the nearest 5 cm step), and the DD cup in US sizing corresponds to an E cup in the German system.
Why does Victoria's Secret measure differently than European stores?
Victoria's Secret uses the traditional American fitting method which often adds 4-5 inches to the underbust measurement to determine band size. European brands are more likely to use the direct underbust method (your measurement in cm becomes your band size). This is why you may be measured as 34B at VS but 75C at a German store like Hunkemoller or Change — they are measuring with different philosophies, not different tape measures.
Ready to convert your size?
Use our free bra size calculator to get your size in all major international systems — US, UK, EU, French, German, Japanese, and Australian — all at once. No guesswork.