How Much Fabric Do You Need? A Measuring Guide

The most common mistake in fabric shopping is guessing. A little arithmetic before you buy saves a second trip - or a shortfall at the tailor. Here are the working numbers we give shoppers in store.

Everyday garments (44-inch width)

• Kurta, straight or A-line: 2 to 2.5 m
• Kurta with pants or palazzos: 3 to 3.5 m
• Full suit with dupatta: 3.5 to 4.5 m
• Anarkali or flared set: 4.5 to 6 m
• Blouse: 0.8 to 1 m
• Saree (unstitched): 5.5 to 6 m, including blouse

Wider fabric changes everything

At 58 inches, a kurta can drop to 2 metres and a full suit to around 3 metres, because the extra width covers the flare. Always check the width before applying a metreage table - it is the variable most shoppers miss.

Lehengas and heavy pieces

For a lehenga, metreage depends on flare and layers: a light lehenga takes 4 to 5 metres, a bridal one 6 to 9 with the blouse and dupatta. For heavily embroidered fabrics, add 10 percent so the motifs can be placed symmetrically.

When in doubt

Order half a metre extra. Fabric is sold by the metre and the extra half metre costs far less than a return trip. If you are buying fabric online, order the full estimate in one go so everything is cut from the same batch - and check the listing's minimum order length first.