Fabric & consumption calculator
Calculate knit fabric consumption panel by panel: enter each pattern panel's length, width and quantity with the fabric GSM and wastage to get kg per dozen and grams per garment.
Method note: Factories use different allowance and wastage conventions. Align the inputs with your own costing method.
Consumption per dozen
2.472kg/dz
Use this figure for early costing. Replace it with marker-based consumption once the marker is made.
Grams per piece = Σ(L × W × qty) / 10,000 × GSM × (1 + wastage / 100)
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| L, B | Panel length and width including allowances | cm |
| q | Number of that panel per garment | pcs |
| w | Cutting wastage | % |
Each panel's area is length × width × quantity. The calculator adds all panel areas, converts to square meters, multiplies by GSM to get net grams per garment, adds the wastage percentage, and converts to kilograms per dozen. The working shows each panel's area so you can check it.
See knit fabric consumption for a full hoodie example.
The default panels are a T-shirt in 180 GSM jersey with 10% wastage:
In practice, the neck rib would usually be calculated separately with the rib's own GSM.
Bounding rectangles overestimate shaped panels, so the result already includes some shape waste. Compare with actual cutting records after the first cut and adjust the wastage percentage you use for similar styles.
Yes. Enter panels as cut, including seam and hem allowances, using the bounding rectangle of each panel.
Run the calculator once for each fabric, because each has its own GSM and price. List only the panels cut from that fabric.
Use your own cutting records for similar styles and fabrics. Wastage covers marker waste, end loss and cutting loss, and it differs by tube width and style.
The panel method for knit fabric consumption: list every panel, calculate area and weight by fabric, add allowances, and total by kg per dozen. Worked example for a hoodie with body fabric and rib.
How to calculate fabric consumption for knit garments (by weight, from panel areas and GSM) and woven garments (by length, from the marker), with worked examples, wastage allowances and the mistakes that cause fabric shortages.
The body block method for calculating fabric consumption of a basic T-shirt in kg per dozen, with a worked example, how to handle neck rib, size ratios and wastage, and how to check the estimate against a marker.
Fleece is a knitted fabric with a brushed, raised back. How cotton-rich sweatshirt fleece and polyester polar fleece are made, typical weights, the problems fleece brings (pilling, shedding, shrinkage) and how to specify it.