Fabric cost per kg, per metre and per yard

In a real company

Fabric sourcing, costing merchandiser

Yarn is priced per kg, but your cost sheet needs fabric cost per metre. You must add processing, dyeing, finishing and margin, then convert kg to metres using GLM.

Key ideas

• Cost per kg = (base price + processing + dyeing + finishing + other) × (1 + supplier margin%).
• Add wastage on top.
• Cost per metre = cost per kg × GLM ÷ 1000.

Formula

Cost / kg

= (Price + Processing + Dyeing + Finishing + Other) × (1 + Margin%)

With wastage

= Cost / kg × (1 + Wastage%)

Cost / metre

= Cost / kg × GLM ÷ 1000

Worked example

Cotton jersey at ₹220/kg, 180 GSM, 72" wide. Processing ₹15, dyeing ₹45, finishing ₹12, other ₹5 per kg. Supplier margin 8%, wastage 3%.

1. 1GLM = 180 × 1.829 = 329.2 g/m
2. 2Cost / kg = (220 + 15 + 45 + 12 + 5) × 1.08 = ₹320.76
3. 3With 3% wastage = ₹330.38 / kg
4. 4Cost / metre = 330.38 × 329.2 ÷ 1000 = ₹108.76

✅ ₹108.76 per metre — this goes into the cost sheet.

Common mistakes

• Adding margin before processing costs.
• Using greige GSM for a finished-fabric cost.
• Forgetting wastage.

Quick quiz

Answer 2 of 3 correctly to complete the lesson.

1. 1. Cost ₹300/kg, GLM 250 g/m. Cost per metre?

   ₹75₹1,200₹30₹750

2. 2. Which number converts kg price to metre price?

   SMVGLMCBMNe

3. 3. ₹250/kg plus 10% margin = ?

   ₹260₹275₹225₹250