Fabric Width Utilisation Calculator

Work out fabric width utilisation instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Fabric Width Utilisation Calculator

Width utilisation is marker width as a percentage of purchased fabric width. Selvedge and edge damage are unavoidable losses, but any width left unused between the marker edge and the usable edge is pure waste paid for on every metre — often a larger loss than the marker inefficiency itself.

Formulas

Width utilisation

Utilisation % = marker width x 100 / fabric width

Cost of unused width

Cost lost per metre = unused width x cost per metre / fabric width

Worked example

With the default values below, Fabric Width Utilisation Calculator returns Width Utilisation of 95.333%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Fabric Widthminimum 0.01 cm: 150 cm
Selvedge And Edge Lossminimum 0 cm: 3 cm
Marker Width Usedminimum 0.01 cm: 143 cm
Fabric Costminimum 0 per linear metre: 190 per linear metre

Results

Width Utilisation: 95.333%
Usable Width: 147.00
Unused Width: 4.00
Cost Lost Per Linear Metre: $5.067

Step by step

1Values used
2Width utilisation
3Cost of unused width
4Width Utilisation= 95.333
5Usable Width= 147.00
6Unused Width= 4.00
7Cost Lost Per Linear Metre= 5.067

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 3 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

Should fabric be ordered in a specific width?

Yes wherever the mill allows. Specifying a width that matches the marker within a centimetre or two eliminates the residual strip and typically saves 1-3% of fabric cost.

Can the unused strip be used at all?

Sometimes for small components, pocketing or trims, but handling and cutting a narrow strip separately often costs more than the fabric saved. Prevention beats recovery.