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Cutting Marker Efficiency Calculator

Work out cutting marker efficiency instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Cutting Marker Efficiency Calculator

Marker efficiency is the summed area of all pattern pieces divided by the marker rectangle. Above 90% is excellent, 85-90% good, and below 80% signals a marker worth reworking. Because fabric is the largest cost element in most garments, a single efficiency point is often worth more than any labour saving.

Formula

Marker efficiency

Efficiency % = total pattern area x 100 / (marker length x usable width)

Worked example

With the default values below, Cutting Marker Efficiency Calculator returns Marker Efficiency of 84.201%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Total Pattern Piece Areaminimum 0 m2
4.85 m2
Marker Lengthminimum 0.001 m
6.4 m
Usable Marker Widthminimum 0.001 m
0.9 m
Fabric Costminimum 0 per m2
260 per m2

Results

Marker Efficiency
84.201%
Marker Area
5.7600
Waste Area Per Marker
0.9100
Value Of Waste Per Marker
$236.60

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Marker efficiency
  3. 3Marker Efficiency= 84.201
  4. 4Marker Area= 5.7600
  5. 5Waste Area Per Marker= 0.9100
  6. 6Value Of Waste Per Marker= 236.60

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does fabric width choice affect efficiency?

Strongly. A width that suits the pattern set can add several efficiency points. Ordering fabric in a width matched to the marker is often cheaper than optimising the marker in a fixed width.

Why is usable width less than fabric width?

Selvedge is unusable and needs trimming, and the marker must keep clear of edge defects and listing. Typically 2-4 cm is lost in total.

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