Fabric Width Meterage on a Product Page: A First-Time Online Buyer's Checkout Cheat Sheet 2026

Fabric Education · Published 26 October 2026 · Updated 26 October 2026 · By the Paras Gallery Fabrics counter team, Lajpat Nagar II, New Delhi

You have a wedding date, a saved product page and a cart that says 2.5 metres. This fabric width meterage cheat sheet is what our team at Paras Gallery Fabrics walks first-time online buyers through on WhatsApp before they pay.

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The short version: Good fabric width meterage starts with the width line. A 44 inch cloth needs roughly a quarter more length than 58 inch for the same kurta. Check the unit, add a little for motifs and shrinkage, then add lining.

Quick answer: Fabric width meterage for a knee-length kurta is about 2.5 metres at 44 inch or 2 metres at 58 inch. A kalidar lehenga skirt takes roughly 5 to 6 metres at 44 inch or 3.5 to 4.5 at 58 inch. Our fabric estimator does the sum for your size. For a check in person, book a counter slot.

How do you read the fabric width meterage line on a product page?

The fabric width meterage line on a product page gives the width from selvedge to selvedge, usually 44, 54 or 58 inch. Cotton and chanderi sit near 44 inch. Georgette, crepe and net often run 54 to 58 inch.

Usable width is smaller than listed width

Take off up to an inch of selvedge on each side. Embroidered cloth often has a plain margin of two or three inches per edge, so a 44 inch embroidered georgette may give 38 to 40 inches of work.

Is the price per metre, per panel or per pre-cut set?

A fabric listing prices one metre, one embroidered panel or one pre-cut set. The quantity box counts that unit. Quantity 3 on a per-metre listing buys three metres. On a per-panel listing it buys three fixed pieces.

For per-metre cloth, confirm it ships as one continuous length, since three one-metre pieces cannot make a lehenga kali. Our cut-piece fabrics are fixed lengths too. A 2 metre cut piece in 44 inch is short for a size 42 kurta with full sleeves.

How much extra fabric do one-way motifs and big repeats need?

One-way motifs need about 0.25 to 0.5 metre extra on a suit. A one-way motif has a top and a bottom, like a standing peacock. Every piece is cut facing one way, so the karigar cannot flip a sleeve to save cloth.

If the booti repeat is 10 to 12 inches and you want one centred at the neck, add a full repeat. Thread work drapes close. Sequins and zari stiffen the fall, so a sequinned net lehenga flares more.

How much shrinkage allowance do cotton and chanderi need?

Pure cotton needs roughly 10 to 15 cm extra on every 2.5 metres, because it can shrink on its first wash. Chanderi, usually a silk-cotton mix, is best dry cleaned, so a light steam is enough. Its crisp fall suits straight kurtas.

How many metres do you need at 44 inch vs 58 inch?

A knee-length kurta needs about 2.5 metres of 44 inch fabric or 2 metres of 58 inch.

To swap widths, multiply metres by 44 and divide by 58. That turns 2.5 m into about 1.9 m. Then add 0.1 to 0.25 m back, because pattern pieces never nest perfectly on wider cloth. Our kurti metre guide has the size-by-size numbers.

When to plan lining

Net, organza and most georgettes are sheer. If a torch behind the cloth shows your fingers, buy the lining in the last column. Cotton or shantoon lining costs roughly Rs 100 to Rs 250 a metre.

Two traps we see on first orders

At our Lajpat Nagar II counter, the most common first-order slip is reading quantity 1 as a full outfit. The second is buying the exact metres with no spare. Boutiques we supply keep about 0.25 m spare on embroidered orders for pattern matching, since a matching lot may sell out.

Fabric width meterage questions to WhatsApp before you order

• What is the usable width after margins?
• Will it ship as one piece from one dye lot?
• How big is the repeat? Is it one-way?
• Can you send a daylight video with a torch behind it?

A dated buying map for the November muhurats

• Tue 27 Oct: Send the WhatsApp questions. Run your fabric width meterage through the estimator.
• Before Diwali, 8 Nov: Hand over to the karigar.
• Mid November: First fitting.
• 21 Nov onward: Vivah muhurats fall on 21, 24, 25 and 26 Nov, per the SmartPuja panchang list. Confirm with your family pandit.

Our fabric width and meterage guide covers general rules. The fabric label reading guide and our tips for buying fabric online cover care lines and colour checks.

The real questions buyers ask

How many metres of 44 inch fabric do I need for a suit?

A suit in 44 inch fabric needs about 2.5 metres for a knee-length kurta and 2.5 to 3 metres for the salwar. Buy the dupatta separately as a 2.25 to 2.5 metre piece. For sizes above 40, add 0.25 to 0.5 metre to the kurta. Add one kurta length of lining if the cloth is sheer.

Is 58 inch fabric better value than 44 inch?

58 inch fabric is often better value than 44 inch once you price the whole outfit. You buy about a fifth less length, so a wider cloth at a higher metre rate can still cost less. Work out the total for the full outfit before you compare listings.

What does per panel mean on a fabric listing?

Per panel on a fabric listing means one fixed embroidered piece, such as a kurta front with a placed neckline. Quantity 2 buys two pieces of roughly 1.1 to 1.3 metres each. A panel cannot be lengthened, so check it against your kurta length first. Sleeves and the back usually need matching plain fabric from a separate listing.

How much fabric width meterage should I add for shrinkage?

For shrinkage, add roughly 10 to 15 cm on every 2.5 metres of pure cotton and its cotton lining. Pre-wash both before stitching. Chanderi is usually dry cleaned, so a light steam is enough. If a listing does not state the fibre, ask us on WhatsApp before you order.

Ready to place your first fabric order?