We took a survey to find out.
We know that no two boobs are the same - even on the same chest. There are big boobs, small boobs, and boobs that are somewhere in between. And that’s before we even get onto the different shapes that boobs can be.
While it should be common knowledge that there is no ‘normal’ breast size, boobs can become a slightly controversial topic of conversation that everyone seems to have an opinion on - whether they have breasts or not.
The argument surrounding the ‘ideal breast size’ has been unfortunately debated for decades, so to try and gain a better understanding of what people think the ideal breast size is, we’ll be taking a look at our 2017 survey, which asked 1100 men and women what they believe the best breasts are, and the results might just surprise you.
Q1: What is the best boob size?
When our participants were asked what their ideal breast size would be, the C cup was considered the most popular, with 39% choosing it above other sizes. In second place, was the D cup, which was the first choice of 29% of people who completed our survey.
When we broke down our data by gender, we could see that men and women voted slightly differently. 41% of women said that a C cup would be their ideal size, followed by 25% who said that they would prefer to have a D cup, and 22% who favoured a B cup.
For men, however, it was found that they tended to choose slightly bigger cup sizes, with 41% saying that a D cup is their ideal, 31% choosing a C cup and 12% opting for a B cup.
A selection of smaller sizes was chosen by our female respondents, although it’s also interesting to note that more women voted for the larger E cup than men. We believe that these results reflect that everyone has a different idea of what the ideal would look like, regardless of their gender.
Q2: What is the best breast shape?
Next, we moved onto the shape. While breasts come in many different shapes, we wanted to know if there was a specific one which our participants classed as ‘ideal’. For this reason, we asked them to choose between six common breast shapes: asymmetric, athletic, bell, east-west, relaxed and round.
41% of all participants said that round was their ideal shape, followed by bell which was voted for by 16% of participants, and athletic which was voted for by 15%. When we split the data by gender, we found that men and women voted similarly for this question, with the round shape being the most popular for both genders.
Historically, a round breast shape has often been considered more conventionally acceptable in society and mainstream media, which could be one of the main reasons our participants chose this option. However, throughout the last few years, these types of restricted beauty standards have been improved to be more inclusive, recognising all shapes and sizes as beautiful, which is something that we will always support here at Camille.
Q3: Does age affect people’s preferences?
We know that people’s views and preferences are likely to change throughout the years, so we were interested in whether there were any trends in our participants' ages and the types of breast shape they said they preferred.
Our survey suggested that at the time, it is likely that the age of our respondents played a role in their answers. The majority of 16-24 years olds chose a C cup and an athletic shape, which could potentially tie in with the fact that many people in this age group tend to be interested in health and fitness, and that 16-20 years olds are more likely to follow fitness bloggers and influencers on social media.
Most respondents aged between 21 and 60 said that they preferred the round breast shape, and those who were aged 60+ were more likely to choose the relaxed breast shape. It is possible that participants were more likely to make their choice based on their own age group, rather than a specific type of aesthetic alone.
Q4: Does location affect people’s preferences?
Another element that we looked at was whether our participants' answers varied based on their location, and we found that they did.
In the North of England, a C cup and a round shape were voted for the most by both men and women, whereas people in Scotland were more likely to choose a B cup and a round shape. In the South East of England, 34% of respondents living in the area said that they preferred a D cup. Participants in Northern Ireland voted slightly differently, with equal love shown for the B cup, C cup and D cup.
What should be my ideal breast size?
Family history, genetics, age, weight loss or gain and changes in hormone levels can all play a part in determining your boob size or shape.
No size or type is better than the other, and research shows that people change bra sizes about six times over their lifetime.
Having larger breasts, however, has a higher chance of experiencing back pain, so choosing the right bra can help to support the weight. Follow our guide on bra styles and shapes and our guide on fitting your bra correctly to ensure your boobs are well supported.
What is the best bra for my boob shape?
Selecting the best bra for your breast size and shape can greatly enhance comfort, support, and appearance.
Certain bra recommendations are based on your boob shape and size, but it's important to try different styles to find what feels comfortable and supportive for you.
Asymmetric
Asymmetric breasts are different sizes.
While most of us have boobs that are different sizes, around 40% have one breast that’s one or two cup sizes bigger.
Size your bra based on the larger boob, and consider wearing a bra with removable padding or a bra with stretchy cups that can conform to both breasts.
Athletic
Athletic boobs are more muscular and wider at the base than the top.
Choose bras with padded, push-up bras or balconette styles to add some lift and enhance the shape.
Bell
Bell-shaped breasts are fuller at the bottom and slimmer at the top.
Full-cup bras with underwire offer comfort and support to create a rounded shape, while balconette bras support and lift the breast from the base.
East West
East West breasts point outward, away from the centre of the chest.
A plunge bra can help bring the breasts closer together, or a full-cup option will provide support and stop boobs from pointing to the sides.
Relaxed
Relaxed breasts are more elongated, with the nipple sitting slightly lower.
Full-coverage bras with strong support and wide bands can help lift and shape the breasts.
Round
Round breasts are evenly distributed with a fullness on top.
Many bra styles work well for this shape, including underwire for support, full-cup bras for comfort and plunge to maximise the look.
Side Set
Side-set breasts have a gap in the middle but are rounder than east west boobs and point forward, not sideways.
Find underwired balconette bras with strong side support panels that give you a comfortable and flattering fit or a plunge bra that gently pushes your boobs into a more central position.
Slender
Slender breasts are smaller in size and have more fullness at the top than the bottom.
Bras with padding and lift, such as push-up bras, can add volume. T-shirt bras also work well to provide a smooth silhouette.
There’s no such thing as the perfect breast size
While our survey gave us an interesting insight into the preferences of some of our audience, it is important to remember that our results are not representative of the entire UK population as our sample size was relatively small. Every one of us is unique, and we all have our own likes and dislikes, so it goes without saying that each person’s idea of the perfect breast size is going to be unique too.
Unfortunately, the idea of the ‘perfect pair’ has been brought about through decades of exposure to ‘lads' mags’ and the everyday sexualisation of women in the media, resulting in larger breasts being considered the ultimate goal by many.
However, looking into the data we collected from our survey, it is clear that there was a great deal of variation in the answers to each question, which are likely to have been influenced by a huge range of factors, including age, location and gender.
We would love to hear your thoughts about our study, so why not get in touch with us on our social media pages? Whether you choose to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, we would love to hear from you.
