What is fabric weight

The weight of the fabric is a combination of the weave, finish, and fiber type. The weight of the fabric is very important when choosing the right fabric. A proper look at the weight can significantly help you decide if it will be the most suitable material for its end use.

GSM and OZ differentials

GSM is a metric unit meaning grams per square meter – in other words, it is a unit that tells you how much 1 square meter of fabric weighs and the higher the GSM value, the denser the fabric will be. Ounces per square yard (oz/m2) is an imperial unit that is also commonly used. Lightweight fabrics are usually 30-150 GSM, medium weight fabrics will be 150-350 GSM and heavy weight fabrics 350 GSM and more. In terms of weight, fabrics can be divided into the following categories: Lightweight fabrics: chiffon, organza, linen, lace, gauze, mesh. Medium weight fabrics: satin, velvet, oxford, charmeuse, taffeta. Heavy weight fabrics: upholstery fabric, canvas, brocade, poplin, denim.

How fabric weight affects application

The higher the weight of the fabric, the thicker the final material will be, although it is important to remember that weight does not indicate the thickness of the material. Fabrics with different fibers or weaves, but the same weight, may not have exactly the same thickness. This is very important information when we need to obtain a final product with a specific - very precise weight.

The influence of fabric weight on its quality

The weight of a material doesn’t always determine its quality. Different weaves and yarns will have different weights, which is crucial to their end use. For example, denim is heavy because of its twill weave and cotton fiber, which is useful for durable denim pants or jackets, while chiffon is very lightweight because it is loosely woven in a plain weave, making it ideal for flowing summer dresses.

Choosing the right fabric

Fabric weight is especially important when choosing between two similar materials. If the fabric of one cotton T-shirt is heavier than the fabric of another cotton T-shirt, it will probably be more durable – so in this case, the choice will be fairly obvious.

The weight of a given material will also depend on how often it will be worn or used and what its purpose will be, for example, a light denim is suitable for a shirt, while a heavier one is only suitable for jeans.