Consumption formula
The share of the marker area covered by pattern pieces. The rest becomes cutting waste.
Marker efficiency % = total pattern area / (marker length × marker width) × 100
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| A_p | Total area of all pattern pieces in the marker | cm² |
| L_m | Marker length | cm |
| W_m | Marker width | cm |
Use it to compare marker options for the same style and size ratio, and to estimate fabric waste.
A marker is 500 cm long and 150 cm wide. The pattern pieces total 62,000 cm².
The marker decides how much fabric an order uses. How markers are planned, what limits efficiency (grain, direction, matching, width), how to calculate marker efficiency, and how to improve it without hurting quality.
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.