Grams per Square Meter

Grams per Square Meter

The standard measurement for weight and quality of fabrics is grams per square meter,

in foreign countries. Corduroy Fabric typically vary from 270 to 400 GSM; other fabrics may have values as low as 70 GSM. The same units are used by paper industry. Some of the range of the fabric category are:

Cotton trousers : 260 to 320 GSM
Worsted Suiting : 180 to 240 GSM

Shirting : 100 to 140 GSM

Voils : 60 to 80 GSM


Most of the time merchandisers find it difficult to convert linear weight to GSM The weight of the fabric alone is not sufficient to calculate the GSM but we need to know the dimensions as well.

Finished fabric in India is either in 58” (148 cms) or 44” (112 cms) is offered by the processors. Let us take two examples of fabric weighing 10 Oz or 283.5 gms.
but with different dimensions, as follows:

Ex 1

Fabric A weighs 10 oz (283.5 grams) and measures 1.65 Mts in 58 inch width (1.65 by 1.48 meters).

Calculate the surface area by multiplying the length and width in meters: .

1.65 X 1.48 = 2.442 square meter.

Divide the weight in grams (283.5) by 2.442 and find that you have a

283.5 / 2.442 = 116 GSM Fabric — Suitable for shirting .


Ex 2

Fabric B also weighs 10 oz (283.5 grams) and measures 2.50 Mts in 44 inch width (2.50 by 1.12 meters).

Calculate the surface area by multiplying the length and width in meters: .

2.50 X 1.12 = 2.80 square meter.

Divide the weight in grams (283.5) by 2.80 and find that you have a

283.5 / 2.80 = 101 GSM Fabric — Suitable for Ladies Blouses, but light for the shirts.


As you can see from these examples, there is no direct conversion between GSM and Weight; the total weight of the fabric is actually the ratio of the GSM and the fabric’s dimensions.

NOTE: The surface area of a stitched garment would be harder to figure because of the various pieces and angles, so the GSM would be equally difficult to figure this way.

However if we know the consumption in making the garment and weight of the garment approximate weight can be guessed.

Ex 3 :

A trouser weighs 500 gms.

Weight of Accessories : Zippers, Stickers, Interlining Say, 35 Gms.

Approximate Weight of fabric = 500 -35 = 465 gms.
(for practical purposes this can be ignored as there will be some wastage of the fabric while cutting which compensates for this extra weight)

Consumption in making Trouser = 1.32 Mts.

Dimension of Fabric = 1.48 (Width of fabric) x 1.32 = 1.9536 Square Mt

GSM = 465 / 1.9536 = 238

So while planning you can target to get a fabric of 240 to 245 GSM.