Indian textile markets use at least three measurement systems simultaneously. Domestic fabric retail prices by the meter or gaz (36 inches = 1 yard). Export documentation uses meters for EU buyers and yards for US buyers. Sewing patterns from different countries use centimeters or inches. A tailor working across all these contexts needs precise conversions to avoid costly errors.
The gaz equals exactly one British yard — 36 inches or 0.9144 meters. This relationship is fixed and universally agreed upon in India's textile trade. The common confusion comes from older references where gaz was occasionally used for a slightly different length — that variation is historical and not in use today.
Fabric Units in Indian Trade
At Indian fabric markets (Surat, Kolkata's Burra Bazaar, Delhi's Chandni Chowk), fabric is quoted per meter or per gaz depending on the region and the type of fabric. Imported fabrics often come with yard specifications on the original bolt label.
Garment manufacturing uses Consumption Per Unit (CPU) calculations to determine how much fabric is needed per piece. CPU is expressed in meters or yards depending on the factory's export market. A CPU error of even 0.1 meter per piece across a 10,000-piece order means buying 1,000 excess meters — a significant cost at ₹150–500 per meter for quality fabric.
Standard Conversions for Tailors
The most used fabric conversions in Indian tailoring: 1 meter = 1.0936 gaz. 1 gaz = 0.9144 meters. 1 yard = 36 inches = 91.44 cm. 1 meter = 100 cm = 39.37 inches.
For a six-yard saree, that is 6 × 0.9144 = 5.486 meters. For a salwar kameez, the typical requirement is 2.5–3 meters depending on size. For a kurta with lining, add 15–20% to the unlined fabric requirement.
Export and Regulatory Standards
Textile exports to the European Union follow metric standards — all fabric specifications in centimeters and meters. Export to the US and Canada typically uses inches and yards. The Textiles Committee under India's Ministry of Textiles oversees quality and measurement standards for exported goods.
DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) export documentation requires fabric quantities in meters or kilograms. Understanding the conversion between length and weight requires knowing the fabric's GSM (grams per square meter) — our fabric calculators cover length conversions; GSM-to-weight requires the fabric width as an additional input.