Fabric Meter Calculator: How Much Fabric for a Suit, Kurti, Lehenga or Blouse
Works out how many metres of fabric a kurti, suit set, anarkali, lehenga, sharara or blouse needs, by size and fabric width.
- In 44 inch fabric, a knee-length kurti in size M usually takes about 2.5 metres, a full suit set (top, bottom, dupatta) about 7.25 metres, a lehenga skirt about 4 metres and a saree blouse about 0.8 metres.
- Wider fabric needs fewer metres: in 58 inch fabric the same kurti takes about 2 metres.
- Add 5–10% for cutting waste, shrinkage and pattern matching when you buy for a batch.
- Per piece
- 2.5 m
- Pieces
- 1
- Without extra
- 2.5 m
Typical figure for a standard pattern; flare, print matching or your tailor's pattern can change it by 10–15%.
How the fabric meter calculator works
We start from the usual cutting figures our tailors and buyers work with for a standard size M pattern in each fabric width (36, 44 and 58 inches).
For other sizes we scale the figure: S ×0.9, L ×1.1, XL ×1.2, XXL ×1.3. A dupatta keeps its length whatever the size.
Fabric needed = metres per piece × number of pieces, plus your allowance for waste (5% by default). One metre is 1.0936 yards.
These are planning figures. Heavy flare, a large print that must be matched, a long trail or a tailor's own pattern can change them by 10–15%, so check one piece before you cut a whole batch.
Worked example
| Garment | Suit set (top + bottom + dupatta) |
|---|---|
| Size | L |
| Fabric width | 44 inches |
| Pieces | 25 |
| Extra for waste | 5% |
| Fabric per piece | 8 m |
|---|---|
| Fabric to buy | 210 m (229.65 yards) |
Frequently asked questions
How many metres of fabric do I need for a salwar suit?
In 44 inch fabric, a size M salwar kameez (top and salwar) usually needs about 5 metres, and about 7.25 metres with a dupatta. In 58 inch fabric it is about 4 metres without the dupatta.
How much fabric is needed for a kurti?
A knee-length kurti in size M usually needs about 2.5 metres of 44 inch fabric, 2 metres of 58 inch fabric, or 3 metres of 36 inch fabric. Long or flared kurtis need more.
How many metres of fabric for a lehenga?
A lehenga skirt usually needs about 4 metres of 44 inch fabric or 3 metres of 58 inch fabric for size M. A heavy-flare or many-kali lehenga can need 6 metres or more.
How much fabric is needed for a saree blouse?
A saree blouse usually needs about 0.8 metres of 44 inch fabric. Sarees often include a blouse piece of about 0.8 to 1 metre.
Why does wider fabric need fewer metres?
More of the pattern fits across the width, so the pieces sit side by side instead of one after another along the length. That is why 58 inch velvet needs fewer metres than 44 inch for the same garment.
How much extra fabric should I buy?
For a batch, add 5 to 10 percent for cutting waste, shrinkage and matching prints or pile direction. For velvet, cut every piece with the pile running the same way, which can need a little more.
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