You can estimate the weight of a fabric cut or roll from three values: mass per unit area in g/m², width and length. Enter width and length in metres, then divide the result in grams by 1,000. This calculation helps plan material and check an order’s inputs; confirm the actual shipment weight separately.
How much does one linear metre of fabric weigh?
One linear metre is a length of 1 m across a stated fabric width. At 150 cm wide, its area is 1.5 m². Multiply the g/m² value by the width in metres to obtain grams per linear metre.
Grams per linear metre = mass per unit area in g/m² × width in metres.
For a hypothetical 250 g/m² fabric at 1.5 m wide, this is 250 × 1.5 = 375 g, or 0.375 kg per linear metre. This is a worked example using assumed inputs, rather than a specification for a particular DELIM product.
The formula for a cut or roll
Fabric weight in kg = g/m² × width in metres × length in metres ÷ 1,000.
Using the same hypothetical 250 g/m² fabric, 1.5 m width and 10 m length gives 250 × 1.5 × 10 ÷ 1,000 = 3.75 kg of material. The roll core and packaging are excluded from that result.
Convert centimetres into metres first: 140 cm = 1.4 m and 150 cm = 1.5 m. Use the mass per unit area of the finished material in the required version. A figure for the textile backing alone does not describe the weight of the complete coated material. D and dtex describe the yarn; see the existing guide to polyamide fabrics for that distinction.
A Sanwil example: handling a minimum value
The Sanwil B-575 listing at DELIM links to the manufacturer’s SKATEN B-575 material. The official Sanwil catalogue states a mass per unit area of ≥ 1,200 g/m², a standard width of 140 cm and a standard roll length of 20 m.
If a specific roll is 1.4 m wide and 20 m long, with a mass per unit area of at least 1,200 g/m², the calculated lower estimate for the material is 1,200 × 1.4 × 20 ÷ 1,000 = 33.6 kg. Confirm the standard catalogue dimensions for the actual supply. The ≥ sign gives a minimum; it does not provide an exact roll weight or an upper limit.
Full width, cuttable width and gross weight
To estimate all the material on a roll, use the full physical width and a corresponding mass per unit area. The cuttable width for a cutting layout may be smaller because of selvages or other restrictions. A calculation using cuttable width describes the area you have counted, rather than the whole purchased roll.
The formula provides a planning estimate for open-width material with a constant width and a representative mass per unit area. Uneven edges, construction and variation in actual inputs require comparison with a measured weight. For woven fabrics, the ISO 3801 abstract also notes that structure can affect the relationship between mass per unit length and mass per unit area.
Gross weight includes packaging and the core. For shipping, request actual net and gross weights and the packing details. Calculating material weight does not establish package dimensions or transport charges.
What to confirm in your enquiry
- The item code, colour and finished material version.
- Mass per unit area, its unit, and whether the figure is nominal, a minimum or a range with a tolerance.
- Full and cuttable widths, each clearly labelled.
- Cut or roll length and permitted variation.
- Actual net and gross weights and the agreed verification method.
Send these details, the technical sheet and required quantity to a DELIM manager. Use the material’s documentation and a sample when selecting the material itself; availability and supply terms are confirmed for the specific enquiry.
Can you calculate length from weight?
Estimated length in metres equals net weight in kg × 1,000 ÷ (g/m² × width in metres). Use consistent actual or representative inputs. Substituting a minimum GSM and a gross roll weight will not give a reliable exact length.