Fabric & Textile Hub

GSM (Grams per Square Metre) is the standard measure of fabric weight and density. A lightweight chiffon runs 50–80 GSM; a standard jersey T-shirt fabric is 140–180 GSM; heavy denim is 280–400 GSM. GSM directly affects unit fabric cost, garment weight for shipping calculations, end-use performance, and buyer specification compliance. Buyers specify GSM in their technical packs; fabric QC teams verify it on every delivery using the GSM cutter and precision balance. A deviation of ±5 GSM from specification is a common rejection trigger.

Fabric consumption per garment = (Sum of all pattern piece areas in m² × (1 + wastage%)) ÷ fabric width in metres. For a basic T-shirt you sum the pattern areas of front body, back body, two sleeves, and collar — then apply a cutting wastage allowance of 5–15% depending on lay plan efficiency and fabric width. Shrinkage must be added on top if the fabric is not pre-shrunk: add warp shrinkage to length and weft shrinkage to width before calculating usable yield. Our Fabric Consumption Calculator handles all inputs including multi-size ratio breakdowns.

Yarn count describes the fineness of yarn using different systems. Ne (English/Cotton count) is an indirect system — the number of 840-yard hanks per pound; a higher Ne means a finer yarn. Nm (Metric count) is also indirect. Tex and Denier are direct systems — higher number means coarser yarn. Key conversions: Tex = 590.5 ÷ Ne; Denier = Tex × 9; Nm = 1000 ÷ Tex; Dtex = Tex × 10. Bangladesh spinning mills typically quote Ne; European mills often quote Nm or Tex; synthetic fibre suppliers use Denier or Dtex. Our Yarn Converter handles all six directions automatically.

Fabric shrinkage is the reduction in fabric dimensions after washing or wet processing, expressed as a percentage of the original dimension. Knit fabrics typically shrink 3–8% in length (warp/wale) and 2–5% in width (weft/course) after the first wash. If consumption is calculated without accounting for shrinkage, the cut panel will be shorter and narrower than planned — and the finished garment will fail size measurement. Always test a washed swatch before finalising your consumption calculation. Add shrinkage to your pattern pieces: if warp shrinkage is 5%, cut the pattern 5% longer than the finished measurement.

Total fabric weight (kg) = GSM × fabric width (m) × total roll length (m) ÷ 1000. Example: a fabric that is 160 GSM, 1.6 m wide, with 500 m total roll length weighs 160 × 1.6 × 500 ÷ 1000 = 128 kg. This figure is used in shipping weight calculations, dyeing cost estimation (which is quoted per kg of fabric), and import documentation. Our Fabric Weight Calculator accepts dimensions in cm, inches or metres and outputs results in grams, kg, and tonnes.

Woven fabrics have a fixed width and stable structure — consumption is straightforward once you have accurate pattern piece areas and an efficient marker plan. Knit fabrics are more complex: they relax after cutting, have directional grain requirements in some structures (like single jersey for T-shirts), and shrink more than wovens. Knit consumption is often quoted in kg/dozen or kg/piece rather than metres, because the width can change during processing. Converting from linear metres to kg requires knowing the GSM and fabric width. Our calculators handle both metre-based and weight-based consumption inputs.

For knit fabrics, GSM is directly influenced by the yarn count, stitch density (loops per cm), and machine gauge (needles per inch). A finer yarn count (higher Ne) at the same stitch density produces a lighter, thinner fabric (lower GSM). A coarser yarn at the same gauge produces a heavier fabric. Woven fabric GSM depends on warp/weft count, thread density (ends per inch × picks per inch), and weave structure. Understanding this relationship helps buyers specify realistic GSM targets and helps mills confirm whether a requested GSM is achievable at a specified yarn count.