Fabric Guide
How much cloth for a shalwar kameez?
Metres for men, ladies and children, and the things that change the length, from the counter where we cut it every day.
By Shahzad Cloth House, Sialkot ·
The quick answer
These are the lengths most tailors ask for, for an adult of average height in fabric of normal width. Use them to plan, then check with your tailor, because the cut matters as much as the size.
| Outfit | Usual length |
|---|---|
| Gents shalwar kameez (both pieces) | 4 to 4.5 metres |
| Gents kameez or kurta only | About 2.25 to 2.5 metres |
| Gents shalwar only | About 2 metres |
| Waistcoat | About 1 to 1.25 metres |
| Ladies shirt | 2.5 to 3 metres |
| Ladies shalwar or trouser | 2 to 2.5 metres |
| Dupatta | About 2.5 metres |
| Children's suit | Ask with the child's age and height |
Metres or gaz?
Many tailors in Pakistan still measure in gaz (yards). One gaz is about 0.91 metres, so 4.5 gaz is just over 4 metres. If your tailor gives you a length in gaz, send it to us as it is and we will cut to that.
What changes the length
- Height and build. Taller or broader customers usually need an extra half metre for a gents suit.
- The cut. A wide, traditional shalwar takes more cloth than a straight trouser. A long kameez with a wide hem takes more than a short kurta.
- Fabric width. Narrower cloth needs more length for the same garment. Wash & wear and suiting are usually wider than lawn, so the same suit can need less.
- Prints and borders. Matching a print across the seams, or placing a border on the hem, uses extra cloth.
- Shrinkage. Cotton and lawn can shrink a little in the first wash. Many tailors wash cotton before cutting, so a little extra length is worth it.
Ladies unstitched suits
Most ready-packed ladies suits already come as a shirt, a dupatta and a trouser piece. When you buy from the ladies fabric shelves by the metre, plan the three pieces separately using the table above. Kameez lengths and sleeve styles change with fashion, so ask your tailor for the shirt length first.
Buying for the whole family
For weddings and Eid, families often buy matching suits for everyone. Add up each person's length and buy it from the same thaan, so the colour matches exactly. Two bolts of the same shade can differ slightly from one dye batch to the next. See our wedding fabric checklist if you are planning for a wedding.
How we cut it
There is no minimum. We cut exactly the length you ask for, whether that is one shirt piece or fabric for a whole family. If you are not sure, send us your tailor's measurement, or a photo of a suit that fits you well, on WhatsApp.
Outside Sialkot? Order fabric online: tell us the fabric and length on WhatsApp, we confirm the price and delivery, and we send it anywhere in Pakistan.
