Binder Sizer
Find Your Chest Binder Size
Five questions to find your chest binder size and the right binder for you.
Question 1 of 5
What's your chest measurement?
Measure around the fullest part of your chest, arms relaxed at your sides. Don't pull the tape tight. Let it sit naturally.
Question 2 of 5
What's your bicep measurement?
Measure around the widest part of your upper arm, arm relaxed. This helps make sure the binder fits comfortably through the arms, not just the chest.
Question 3 of 5
How tall are you?
This helps us choose between the longer and shorter binder cuts. If you're taller, you'll usually want more torso coverage.
Question 4 of 5
What will you mostly use it for?
There's no wrong answer. We use this to match you with the right level of compression.
Question 5 of 5
How much torso coverage do you want?
Longer binders sit further down the torso for more coverage. Shorter binders stop higher up. Better for layering under crop tops or shorter shirts.
Your recommendation
Before you bind
- Never size down. If our recommendation feels too loose, that's the right fit. It shouldn't feel like it's squeezing.
- Don't sleep in your binder. Take it off at night.
- Take breaks during the day where you can. Even short ones help.
- Binding too tightly can cause injury. Comfort isn't optional.
How to measure your chest for a binder
The Binder Sizer asks you for three measurements: chest, bicep, and height. Here's exactly how to take each one. Use a soft fabric measuring tape if you have one. If you don't, a piece of string and a ruler will do the job.
- Chest: Stand naturally with your arms relaxed at your sides. Wrap the tape horizontally around the fullest part of your chest, level all the way around. Don't pull tight. The tape should sit flat against you, not dig in. Breathe normally and read the measurement.
- Bicep: Let your arm hang relaxed at your side (don't flex). Wrap the tape around the widest part of your upper arm, usually halfway between your shoulder and elbow.
- Height: Stand against a wall in flat feet. Mark the top of your head and measure from the floor to the mark.
Why we ask for these three things
Chest is the primary measurement and decides your size in most cases. Bicep helps us refine the fit on our Magic Max binders, because chest size and arm size don't always change together. Broader arms need a bigger binder even if your chest is average. Height helps us decide between the longer and shorter cuts of our Magic Max range.
If you're between two sizes
Always choose the larger size. This is the most important rule in binder sizing and it applies to every product in our range. A binder that's slightly looser than perfect is safe. A binder that's tight enough to dig in is not. It can restrict your breathing, bruise your ribs, and over time damage soft tissue. Our tool builds this rule in automatically, so if you're on a boundary between two sizes, it'll round you up.
Chest binder size chart
If you'd rather read the chart directly, here are the size ranges for every binder we sell. All measurements are in inches. Convert to centimeters by multiplying by 2.54.
| Size | Chest (in) | Bicep (in) |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 30-32 | 12-13 |
| S | 32-34 | 14-15 |
| M | 34-36 | 14-17 |
| L | 36-38 | 16-20 |
| XL | 38-40 | 20-23 |
| XXL | 38-40 | 23-26 |
| Size | Chest (in) | Bicep (in) |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 30-32 | 12-13 |
| S | 32-34 | 14-15 |
| M | 34-36 | 14-17 |
| L | 36-38 | 16-20 |
| XL | 38-40 | 20-23 |
| XXL | 40-42 | 23-26 |
| Size | Chest (in) |
|---|---|
| XS | 30-32 |
| S | 32-34 |
| M | 34-36 |
| L | 36-38 |
| XL | 38-40 |
| 2XL | 40-42 |
| 3XL | 42-44 |
| Size | Chest (in) |
|---|---|
| XS | 30-32 |
| S | 32-34 |
| M | 34-36 |
| L | 36-38 |
| XL | 38-40 |
| XL2 | 40-42 |
Choosing the right binder for a larger chest
If you've got a larger chest, you've probably found that not every binder out there is built for you. A lot of the cheaper binders top out around a 39 inch chest, which leaves a lot of people without good options. We hear from a lot of customers who've worn ill-fitting binders for years before finding something that works.
Here's what we'd recommend if you're sizing up:
For chests 40 to 44 inches: Our Corset Binder goes up to 3XL and gives you the strongest compression in our range with a discreet silhouette. Available in black or white. Hand wash only.
For chests 38 to 42 inches needing more flexibility: The Long Magic Max in XL or XXL gives you full torso coverage with three layers of front compression. Machine washable, pull-on style, no hooks.
For active wear: The Active Compression Top goes to XL2 with lighter compression that's safe for swimming and sport. This matters if you bind during exercise.
A few things to know if you're at the upper end of sizing
Bigger doesn't mean you have to compromise. The Corset Binder and the Long Magic Max both give you the same maximum compression at 2XL or XXL as they do at S or M. You're not getting a "lesser" binder by sizing up. The only thing that changes is the available colorways: some sizes are stock-dependent, so check the product page before you order.
If your chest is over 44 inches, our standard sizes won't fit. Email admin@bondandbinder.com and we'll talk you through what's possible, including occasional custom orders.
Common sizing questions
Measure around the fullest part of your chest with a soft tape, arms relaxed. That chest measurement is the main thing that decides your binder size. For our binders, a 34 inch chest is medium, 36 inches is large, 38 inches is extra large, and so on. If you're between two sizes, always choose the larger one. Use the Binder Sizer above for a personal recommendation that also factors in your bicep, height, and how you plan to wear it.
Two ways. The quickest is to use the Binder Sizer at the top of this page. Five questions and you'll have a recommendation. The other way is to measure your chest (and your bicep, for our Magic Max binders) and check the size chart in the section above. Whichever way you do it, the golden rule is the same: never size down, even if it looks like you fit on a boundary. Round up.
Not directly. Bra sizes and binder sizes aren't built on the same measurements. A bra size has both a band and a cup measurement, but a binder is sized by chest circumference only. Measure around the fullest part of your chest with a tape measure and use that number against the size chart. Don't try to translate from your bra band size or cup size. It doesn't work cleanly and you'll often end up too small.
Always go up, never down. If you measure 34 inches and that's the boundary between S and M, choose M. If you have broader shoulders or arms, also go up. A binder that's slightly looser than ideal is comfortable and safe. A binder that's too tight can bruise your ribs, restrict your breathing, and over time cause real injury. The compression is in the fabric. You don't need to size down to get a flat result.
A binder should feel like a firm, snug second skin. You should be able to breathe deeply, raise your arms above your head, and move comfortably. If it's making you short of breath, if your ribs hurt when you take it off, or if your skin is going numb or tingling, it's too tight. Take it off and consider sizing up.
Our Corset Binder goes up to 3XL (44 inch chest) and gives the strongest compression in our range. The Long Magic Max goes up to XXL (42 inch chest) with three layers of front compression. Both work well for larger chests. For day-to-day wear, the Corset Binder gives the most discreet silhouette under fitted clothing. For active or all-day comfort, the Long Magic Max is easier to get on and off (it's pull-on, no hooks). The Binder Sizer above will recommend the right one based on your measurements and what you'll mostly use it for.
For chests in the XS to S range (30 to 34 inches), most of our binders will work, so the question becomes what you want from it. The Short Magic Max gives full compression in a shorter cut, ideal under crop tops or for shorter frames. The Active Compression Top is lighter and great if you're new to binding or want to move easily. Use the Binder Sizer above to narrow it down based on your specific use case.
Our binders are sized true to the chart, but they're meant to be snug. That's how the compression works. If you've worn binders from other brands and found them too tight, you may have been wearing the wrong size rather than the wrong brand. Use our size chart and follow the round-up rule. If you're not sure, email us before you order and we'll help.