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Fabric Weight (GSM) Converter

Everyday

Convert fabric weight between GSM (grams per square metre), ounces per square yard, pounds per square yard, and kg/m² — for sewing, textiles, and apparel.

Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated July 22, 2026

From
To
All conversionsfor 1 GSM (g/m²)
GSM (g/m²)1
Ounces per Square Yard (oz/yd²)0.029493522
Pounds per Square Yard (lb/yd²)0.0018433452
Kilograms per Square Metre (kg/m²)0.001

What is a Fabric GSM?

A Fabric Weight Converter translates fabric density between GSM (grams per square metre), the international standard used across most of the world's textile industry, including India, and the ounces-per-square-yard (oz/yd²) unit commonly used by US fabric and denim suppliers. Fabric weight is one of the most important specifications when sourcing or selecting material, since it directly affects a garment's warmth, drape, durability, and appropriate use.

This is distinct from the general Area Converter and Weight Converter, since fabric weight is a combined density measurement (mass per unit area) rather than a simple weight or area value on its own.

Why Use a Fabric Weight Converter?

Fabric suppliers, sewing patterns, and garment specifications from different countries often use different weight units, an Indian textile mill's specification sheet in GSM won't directly match a US denim brand's oz/yd² rating without conversion. Comparing fabric options across international suppliers, or verifying that a sourced fabric matches a design specification, requires converting between the two systems accurately.

Two concrete situations this solves: converting a US fabric supplier's "12 oz denim" listing into GSM to compare against Indian mill specifications, and converting a sewing pattern's recommended GSM range into oz/yd² when shopping from a US-based fabric retailer.

Who Should Use This Converter?

  • Fashion designers and pattern makers comparing fabric weight specifications across international suppliers using different unit conventions.
  • Home sewists and hobbyists matching a sewing pattern's recommended fabric weight to what's available from local or online fabric retailers.
  • Textile procurement teams cross-referencing GSM specifications from Indian or Asian mills against oz/yd² ratings from US suppliers.
  • Denim and workwear brands comparing fabric weight across mills that quote in different unit systems.
  • Students studying textile science or fashion design, learning to interpret fabric weight specifications across regions.

What Insights Does the Fabric GSM Converter Give You?

Converting to GSM (g/m²) gives you the internationally standard fabric density figure used by most global mills and suppliers, useful for quick comparison across products regardless of origin. Converting to Ounces per Square Yard (oz/yd²) or Pounds per Square Yard (lb/yd²) gives you the imperial figures commonly seen on US denim, canvas, and upholstery fabric listings.

Because fabric weight directly correlates with drape, warmth, and durability, converting between these units lets you make an apples-to-apples comparison when choosing between fabric options specified in different systems, without converting, a "10 oz" and a "300 GSM" fabric look unrelated, but they're actually very close in weight.

How to use this Fabric GSM calculator

  1. Select your starting unit from the From dropdown, GSM, oz/yd², lb/yd², or kg/m².
  2. Enter your value, such as 250 for a 250 GSM fabric.
  3. Select your target unit from the To dropdown, such as Ounces per Square Yard (oz/yd²).
  4. Read the converted result, which updates instantly.
  5. Use the swap (⇅) button to reverse the conversion direction, for example, converting a US supplier's oz/yd² rating back to GSM.
  6. Compare the converted value against your sewing pattern or design specification to confirm the fabric weight is appropriate for your project.

Formula & Methodology

All units convert through GSM (g/m²) as the base unit, using exact metric-imperial area and mass conversion factors:

Ounces per Square Yard = GSM ÷ 33.90575  |  GSM = Ounces per Square Yard × 33.90575

This factor comes from combining the exact conversions 1 ounce = 28.3495 grams and 1 square yard = 0.836127 square metres (28.3495 ÷ 0.836127 ≈ 33.90575).

Worked example: Converting a 300 GSM fabric to oz/yd², 300 ÷ 33.90575 ≈ 8.85 oz/yd², which falls in the mid-to-heavyweight denim range, confirming the fabric would suit structured outerwear or heavier trousers.

Frequently Asked Questions

GSM stands for Grams per Square Metre, the international standard unit for measuring fabric weight and density, a higher GSM means a heavier, thicker fabric, while a lower GSM means a lighter, thinner one. It's the most commonly used fabric weight unit worldwide, including in India's textile industry.
Ounces per square yard = GSM ÷ 33.90575, since 1 oz/yd² equals exactly 33.90575 grams per square metre. This converter applies that precise factor, so a 200 GSM fabric converts to approximately 5.9 oz/yd².
Fabrics under 100 GSM are generally considered lightweight (like chiffon or voile), 100-200 GSM is medium weight (typical t-shirt cotton), 200-350 GSM is heavyweight (like denim or hoodie fleece), and anything above 350 GSM is considered very heavy (like canvas or upholstery fabric). This converter helps translate these GSM ranges into the oz/yd² figures commonly used on US-sourced fabric.
Select Ounces per Square Yard (oz/yd²) as your From unit, enter the value, and select GSM (g/m²) as your To unit. The tool multiplies by 33.90575 automatically, for example, a 6 oz/yd² denim converts to approximately 203 GSM.
Standard cotton t-shirts typically range from 150-180 GSM for lightweight/fashion fits, and 180-220 GSM for standard or premium quality t-shirts, with heavyweight t-shirts reaching 220-280 GSM. This converter is useful for comparing GSM specifications across different fabric suppliers or garment listings.
GSM is the metric-based standard used across most of the world, including India, Europe, and Asia, while oz/yd² is more common in the US textile and denim industry, which traditionally uses imperial units. This converter bridges the two systems for anyone sourcing fabric internationally or comparing specifications across regions.
Standard denim ranges from about 200-350 GSM (roughly 6-10 oz/yd²), with lightweight denim around 200 GSM (6 oz), mid-weight around 280 GSM (8 oz), and heavyweight raw denim reaching 340+ GSM (10+ oz). Selvedge and heritage denim can go even heavier, sometimes exceeding 400 GSM (12+ oz).
Lower GSM fabrics (under 150) are typically chosen for summer wear, linings, or draping garments due to their lightness and breathability, while higher GSM fabrics (250+) are chosen for outerwear, upholstery, and structured garments that need durability and warmth. Checking GSM before purchasing helps ensure the fabric matches the intended use.
No, GSM measures weight per area, not physical thickness, so two fabrics with the same GSM can feel different in thickness depending on the fibre type and weave density. A tightly woven lightweight-feeling fabric can have a similar GSM to a loosely woven, bulkier one.
Select your starting unit from the From dropdown (GSM, oz/yd², lb/yd², or kg/m²), enter the fabric weight value, then select your target unit from the To dropdown. The converted value updates instantly, and the swap button lets you reverse the conversion direction.
Also known as
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