Textile operations tool

Fabric & Garment Shrinkage Calculator

Calculate dimensional change after washing, dyeing or finishing. Exporters can use length, width and area shrinkage to check buyer tolerances and adjust consumption or patterns.

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Enter your production values to calculate an operational estimate.

Length before and after washing
Width before and after washing

Calculation method

Calculate fabric or garment shrinkage percentage in length, width and total area using measurements before and after washing.

Method: shrinkage % = (measurement before − measurement after) ÷ measurement before × 100

Worked example: wash-test shrinkage

A marked sample changes from 50 cm × 50 cm before washing to 48 cm × 49 cm after washing.

Length shrinkage is (50 − 48) ÷ 50 × 100 = 4%.
Width shrinkage is (50 − 49) ÷ 50 × 100 = 2%.
Area shrinkage is 1 − (48 × 49) ÷ (50 × 50), or about 5.92%.

Frequently asked questions

How is fabric shrinkage measured?

Mark and measure a conditioned specimen, wash or process it using the required test method, condition it again and compare the same marked dimensions.

Can shrinkage be negative?

Yes. A negative result means the sample grew rather than shrank. Record length and width separately because they can behave differently.

Can shrinkage be negative?

Yes. A negative result means the sample grew after treatment. Record it as growth and verify the conditioning and measurement method.

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