How Much Fabric Do You Need? Shirt, Trouser, Kurta, Blazer and Suit Lengths

The most common question we get on WhatsApp is simple: how much fabric should I buy? Buy too little and your tailor can't finish the garment; buy too much and you've paid for cloth you won't use. This guide gives you the lengths we recommend for shirts, trousers, kurtas, blazers and suits, plus the adjustments that catch people out.

Quick answer: standard fabric lengths

These figures are for fabric of the usual widths sold for suiting and shirting, and they include a normal wastage allowance for cutting.

That is why most of our shirt fabrics are sold as 1.60 m, 1.80 m and 2.00 m pieces, and our trouser fabrics as 1.30 m, 1.50 m and 1.80 m.

Shirts

For most men, 1.60 m makes a full-sleeve shirt with room to spare. Move up to 1.80 m for a 44" chest or above, or if you are tall and like a longer shirt you can wear untucked. 2.00 m covers the largest sizes.

A half-sleeve shirt uses less cloth, so a 1.50–1.55 m piece can work for a slim build. Always confirm with your tailor before buying a short piece.

Kurtas

A kurta is longer than a shirt, so it needs more fabric: about 2.25 m for a regular knee-length kurta and 2.80 m for larger sizes or a longer cut. Many of our shirt fabrics are also offered in these kurta lengths, which is useful for festive dressing in cotton or linen.

Trousers

1.30 m is enough for a trouser up to a 34" waist. Go to 1.50 m for a 36" waist and 1.80 m for 38" and above. Height matters too: if you are over about 6 ft, add 10–15 cm so your tailor has enough for the length and hem.

Our sale pieces are sometimes cut to odd lengths such as 1.20 m or 1.45 m. A 1.20 m piece usually suits a slim build or an ankle-length, cropped trouser.

Blazers, waistcoats and Nehru jackets

• Blazer: 2.00 m up to a 40" chest, 2.50 m for 42", 2.85 m for 44".
• Waistcoat: 1.00–1.50 m depending on your build and how long you want it.
• Nehru or Modi jacket / bandhgala: about 2.00–2.50 m.

Suits

A two-piece suit (jacket and trouser) needs about 3.00 m for S–L sizes, 3.30 m for XL and 3.50 m for XXL. Add a waistcoat and it becomes a three-piece, needing roughly 3.30–3.80 m. Buying the full suit length in one piece is better than buying a jacket length and a trouser length separately, because the shade will match exactly.

When to buy extra

• Checks, plaids and stripes: add 10–15%. Your tailor needs extra cloth to match the pattern at the front, pockets and seams.
• Directional prints: add 10–15% for the same reason.
• 100% cotton, linen and denim: add 3–5% unless the fabric is pre-shrunk, because natural fibres can shrink a little on the first wash.
• Special details: double cuffs, pleats, turn-ups or a longer jacket all use more cloth.

A simple checklist before you order

1. Know your chest and waist size, or take an existing garment that fits you well to your tailor.
2. Pick the length from the table above.
3. Add extra for checks, stripes, prints or natural fibres.
4. If in doubt, message us on WhatsApp with your size and the fabric you like, and we will tell you which length to choose.

Start shopping

Browse shirt fabrics, trouser fabrics, suit fabrics and blazer fabrics. Every product page also has the size chart above under the Size Chart tab, and shipping is free on all orders.