How Much Fabric Do I Need for a Dress?

The Short Answer

For a simple adult dress you'll usually need somewhere between 1.5 and 3.5 metres of fabric. That's a wide range, because the right amount depends on three things: the style of the dress, your size, and the width of the fabric you buy. This guide shows you how to narrow it down so you buy enough without wasting money.

If your pattern has a fabric requirements chart, always use that first. The figures below are rough starting points for planning and budgeting.

Why Fabric Width Changes Everything

Fabric is sold by length, but it comes in different widths. The wider the fabric, the more pattern pieces fit side by side, so you need fewer metres.

• Around 112cm (44"): common for printed cottons and polycottons.
• Around 145–150cm (57–60"): common for dressmaking fabrics such as viscose, crepe and jersey.

As a rule of thumb, a dress that needs about 2 metres of 150cm-wide fabric may need 3 metres or more of 112cm-wide fabric. Check the width in the product description before you order.

Rough Fabric Guide by Dress Style

Dress style150cm-wide fabric112cm-wide fabric Sleeveless shift or slip dress (knee length)1.5–2m2–2.5m Shift or T-shirt dress with sleeves2–2.5m2.5–3m Wrap dress2.5–3m3–3.5m Fit-and-flare or gathered skirt dress2.5–3m3–4m Maxi dress3–3.5m4m+ These are approximate guides for average adult sizes. Add more for larger sizes, long sleeves, full circle skirts or extra length.

When to Buy Extra

• Large prints or checks: add about 0.5m so you can match the pattern across seams and centre motifs.
• One-way designs: if the print only runs in one direction, every piece must be cut the same way up, which uses more fabric.
• Napped fabrics: velvet and corduroy look different depending on the direction of the pile, so treat them like one-way prints.
• Pre-washing: natural fibres such as cotton and viscose can shrink, so allow a little extra if you plan to wash first.
• Your first project: a little spare gives you room to recut a piece if something goes wrong.

Our fabrics are sold in half-metre steps, so rounding up to the next 0.5m is an easy way to add a safety margin.

Best Fabrics for Dresses

Viscose

Viscose has a soft, fluid drape similar to silk, making it perfect for floaty summer dresses, wrap dresses and blouses. Many of ours are around 145–147cm wide and lightweight at around 90gsm. Browse our viscose fabrics.

Crepe

Crepe has a subtle textured surface and a lovely drape that suits smart dresses and workwear. Our printed crepes are 150cm wide. See our crepe fabrics.

Jersey

Stretchy and comfortable, jersey is ideal for T-shirt dresses, skater dresses and anything without a zip. Our printed jerseys are around 150cm wide. Use a stretch or ballpoint needle for best results. Explore our jersey fabric.

Cotton Poplin

Crisp, breathable and easy to sew, cotton poplin is a great choice for shirt dresses, children's dresses and beginners. Our plain cotton poplin is 148cm wide. See our cotton poplin fabric.

A Quick Way to Check Before You Buy

1. Find your size on the pattern envelope or instructions.
2. Look up the amount listed for your chosen fabric width.
3. Add extra for prints, one-way designs or shrinkage.
4. Round up to the nearest half metre.

If you're new to dressmaking, read our guide on how to choose fabric for your first dressmaking project. When you're ready, browse our full apparel and dressmaking fabrics.