Engineering• 2025-01-01

How to Calculate Fabric Consumption for Garment Manufacturing

A complete guide to estimating fabric usage for t-shirts, shirts, and trousers using GSM and dimensions.

Why accurate fabric consumption matters

In the textile industry, fabric accounts for 60-70% of the total garment cost. Accurately calculating consumption is vital for profitability and reducing waste. Over-ordering leads to deadstock, while under-ordering causes production delays.

The Basic Formula

The general formula for fabric consumption (in kg) is:

Consumption (kg) = (Length x Width x GSM x Qty) / 10,000,000

Where Length and Width are in cm, and GSM is grams per square meter. Be sure to include allowance for sewing margins and wastage.

Wastage Factors

Cutting Waste: 3-5%
End of Roll Waste: 1-2%
Defects: 1-3%

Using our Fabric Consumption Calculator, you can easily input these variables to get a precise estimation for your production run.

Try the tool mentioned in this article

Fabric Consumption Calculator

Open Fabric Consumption Calculator

Thanks for reading! Check out our calculators to apply this knowledge.