Fabric consumption is the amount of fabric required to produce one garment. It is one of the most important inputs in garment costing because fabric often represents the largest share of total production cost.
A correct estimate must consider garment dimensions, number of pieces, marker efficiency, and waste allowance.
Inputs required for fabric consumption
- Garment length
- Pieces per garment
- Marker efficiency (%)
- Waste allowance (%)
- Fabric price
Fabric consumption formula
This formula corresponds exactly to how fabric consumption is calculated in production planning systems and in the Fabric Consumption Calculator. For a deeper explanation of the underlying logic and inputs, see the fabric consumption method.
Example: fabric consumption calculation
In this example, garment length is first converted from inches to yards, and marker efficiency is applied as a decimal (82% = 0.82).
- Garment length: 28 inches
- Pieces per garment: 2
- Marker efficiency: 82%
Adding waste allowance
Real production always includes fabric waste due to cutting loss, defects, and handling. This is added as a percentage.
Fabric cost per garment
Why marker efficiency matters
Marker efficiency has a strong impact on fabric consumption. Small changes in efficiency can significantly change fabric cost per garment, especially in large production orders.
Calculate fabric consumption instantly
Use the Fabric Consumption Calculator to estimate fabric usage, waste, and cost per garment with your own inputs.