How Much Fabric for a T-Shirt? Yardage by Size and Fabric Width

For a short sleeve, knit t-shirt in size M, plan about 2 yd of 45 inch fabric or 1 1/2 yd of 60 inch fabric. The tables on this page cover every size and variant in our chart. Pattern envelopes list exact yardage for each view and size, so use those figures when you have the pattern.

Wider 60 inch fabric saves about 25 percent of the yardage for this t-shirt, because pattern pieces can sit side by side instead of one after another. Compare the price per yard: wide fabric often costs more per yard, so a small yardage saving can still cost more overall. Knits are usually 58 to 60 inches wide already.

Yes, a little. Add about 10 percent, or at least 1/4 yard, for shrinkage when prewashing, straightening the grain and small cutting mistakes. Add more for plaids, stripes and large prints that need matching, and for napped fabrics like velvet and corduroy, where every piece must face the same direction.

Multiply yards by 0.9144. For example, 2 yd is about 1.8 m, and 2 1/2 yd is about 2.3 m. Many fabric shops outside the US sell by the meter, so round up to the next 10 centimeters when ordering.

Length, fullness and size matter most. Knits are usually 58 to 60 in wide. SewGuide: 1.25 m of 60 in knit for a 24 in long tee. Sleeves, collars, facings, pockets and linings also add up quickly, and one-way prints can add a quarter yard or more.