Fabric weight converter
GSM to oz/yd² converter
Type a weight in either box. Mills and tech packs quote grams per square metre; US buyers and denim mills quote ounces per square yard.
180 g/m² = 5.31 oz/yd²
Common weights
How the conversion works
1 oz/yd² = 33.906 g/m². Divide GSM by 33.906 to get oz/yd²; multiply oz/yd² by 33.906 to get GSM.
Conversion chart
GSM to oz/yd² conversion chart
Common fabric weights converted to ounces per square yard, with the garments we usually make at each weight.
| GSM | oz/yd² | Typical garments |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | 3.54 | Below the ranges we list |
| 140 | 4.13 | Tank top, T-shirt, lightweight |
| 150 | 4.42 | Tank top, T-shirt, lightweight |
| 160 | 4.72 | Tank top, T-shirt, lightweight, T-shirt, standard |
| 180 | 5.31 | Tank top, T-shirt, standard, Polo shirt (piqué), Swimwear |
| 200 | 5.90 | T-shirt, standard, Polo shirt (piqué), Leggings and sports tops (poly-spandex), Swimwear |
| 220 | 6.49 | T-shirt, heavyweight, Polo shirt (piqué), Leggings and sports tops (poly-spandex), Swimwear |
| 240 | 7.08 | T-shirt, heavyweight, Polo shirt (piqué), Leggings and sports tops (poly-spandex) |
| 250 | 7.37 | T-shirt, heavyweight, Leggings and sports tops (poly-spandex) |
| 260 | 7.67 | T-shirt, heavyweight, Leggings and sports tops (poly-spandex), Joggers and sweatpants (French terry) |
| 280 | 8.26 | T-shirt, heavyweight, Leggings and sports tops (poly-spandex), Joggers and sweatpants (French terry), Hoodie, mid-weight fleece |
| 300 | 8.85 | Joggers and sweatpants (French terry), Hoodie, mid-weight fleece |
| 320 | 9.44 | Joggers and sweatpants (French terry), Hoodie, mid-weight fleece |
| 340 | 10.03 | Hoodie, mid-weight fleece, Denim |
| 350 | 10.32 | Hoodie, mid-weight fleece, Denim |
| 380 | 11.21 | Denim |
| 400 | 11.80 | Hoodie, heavyweight fleece, Denim |
| 450 | 13.27 | Hoodie, heavyweight fleece, Denim |
| 500 | 14.75 | Hoodie, heavyweight fleece |
Reference
Typical fabric weights by garment
Ranges we see across our own production. Fabric construction changes the hand feel as much as the weight, so treat these as a starting point for your tech pack.
| Garment | GSM | oz/yd² |
|---|---|---|
| Tank top | 140–180 | 4.1–5.3 |
| T-shirt, lightweight | 140–160 | 4.1–4.7 |
| T-shirt, standard | 160–200 | 4.7–5.9 |
| T-shirt, heavyweight | 220–280 | 6.5–8.3 |
| Polo shirt (piqué) | 180–240 | 5.3–7.1 |
| Leggings and sports tops (poly-spandex) | 200–280 | 5.9–8.3 |
| Swimwear | 180–230 | 5.3–6.8 |
| Joggers and sweatpants (French terry) | 260–320 | 7.7–9.4 |
| Hoodie, mid-weight fleece | 280–350 | 8.3–10.3 |
| Hoodie, heavyweight fleece | 400–500 | 11.8–14.8 |
| Denim | 340–475 | 10.0–14.0 |
Units
What GSM and oz/yd² actually measure
oz/yd² is not the weight of the garment
GSM and oz/yd² both measure fabric weight per area: grams in one square metre, ounces in one square yard. A “6 oz T-shirt” is cut from 6 oz/yd² fabric; the finished shirt weighs whatever its size and pattern pieces add up to.
oz/yd² is not ounces per linear yard
Some mills quote weight per linear yard: one yard off the roll at its full width, so the number grows with the width. Ounces per linear yard = oz/yd² × width in inches ÷ 36. A 180 GSM fabric (5.31 oz/yd²) on a 60-inch roll is 8.85 oz per linear yard. Check which unit a quote uses before you compare weights or prices.
Higher GSM is not better fabric
Weight tells you how much fabric sits in each square metre. Fibre, yarn count, knit or weave and finishing decide the hand feel, drape and durability, so a 240 GSM single jersey and a 240 GSM French terry wear very differently. Put the construction next to the weight in your tech pack.
FAQ
Fabric weight questions buyers ask
What does 180 GSM mean for a T-shirt?
180 GSM is 5.31 oz/yd², in the middle of the 160–200 GSM range we use for standard T-shirts: heavier than a 140–160 GSM lightweight tee, lighter than a 220 GSM heavyweight.
Is 220 GSM heavy for a T-shirt?
Yes. 220 GSM (6.49 oz/yd²) is where heavyweight T-shirts start. Our heavyweight tees run 220–280 GSM, against 160–200 GSM for a standard tee.
What GSM is good for a hoodie?
Mid-weight fleece hoodies are usually 280–350 GSM (8.26–10.32 oz/yd²); heavyweight hoodies run 400–500 GSM (11.80–14.75 oz/yd²). French terry joggers and sweatpants sit at 260–320 GSM.
What GSM counts as heavyweight?
It depends on the garment: 220 GSM and up for T-shirts, 400 GSM and up for fleece hoodies. Denim is usually quoted in ounces; 340–475 GSM is about 10–14 oz/yd².
How many GSM is 12 oz denim?
12 oz/yd² denim is about 407 GSM. Multiply ounces per square yard by 33.906 to get GSM.
Want to know how weight changes thickness, drape and fabric choice? Read our fabric GSM guide
Start your production run
Know the weight you want? Send it with your tech pack
Tell us the GSM, fibre and finish and we reply with matching fabric options, a sample plan and a bulk price.