Blouse measurement chart, diagram and fabric calculator
This blouse measurement guide shows the nine measurements a tailor asks for — bust, under-bust, shoulder, armhole, sleeve length, sleeve round, blouse length and the front and back neck depths — on a numbered blouse measurement diagram, next to a typical size chart for sizes 32 to 44. Type your own numbers (or start from a size) and the page works out how much blouse fabric and lining to buy for 36, 44 or 58-inch cloth.
The fabric figure comes from a cutting layout drawn on the page, so you can see why 36-inch cotton needs more than 44-inch silk. Then copy a measurement card for your tailor — a digital blouse measurement book. Everything runs in your browser.
How to use the Blouse Measurement Chart & Fabric Calculator
- Choose Inches (what most Indian tailors use) or Centimetres, and pick the typical size closest to you to fill in starting values.
- Measure yourself following the diagram and replace the numbers in Your measurements. Clicking a field highlights its line in the drawing.
- Under Design and fabric, pick the fabric width printed on the bolt or bill, the sleeve style, the front style, seam allowance and lining.
- Read how much fabric and lining to buy, and look at the cutting layout to see how the pieces fit.
- Press Copy for my tailor or download the measurement card to keep it.
Blouse Measurement Chart & Fabric Calculator features
Numbered measurement image
One drawing of the front and back shows where each of the nine measurements is taken; the matching field is numbered the same.
Typical size chart
Sizes 32–44 with bust, under-bust, shoulder, armhole, sleeve round and blouse length, in inches or centimetres, with your size highlighted.
Real cutting layout
Front and back are cut on the fold, sleeves on a fold or as a mirrored pair; the shortest layout on your fabric width is drawn and measured.
Sleeve, style and lining options
Sleeveless to full sleeves, darted, princess or katori fronts, standard or alteration seams, and lining for the body or the body and sleeves.
Card for your tailor
Every measurement and the fabric estimate as plain text, ready to paste.
How to take blouse measurements
Tip: tailors also accept a well-fitting blouse as a sample to copy.
- Bust round — around the fullest part of the bust, tape level across the back, over the bra you will wear.
- Under-bust / waist round — just under the bust, where a saree blouse ends.
- Shoulder — across the back from one shoulder tip to the other.
- Armhole round — around the arm where it joins the body, through the armpit, not tight.
- Sleeve length — from the shoulder tip down to where the sleeve should end.
- Sleeve round — around the arm at the sleeve hem; add a finger’s room.
- Blouse length — from the shoulder seam beside the neck, down over the bust to the under-bust line.
- Front neck depth and back neck depth — from the same shoulder point down to where the neckline should sit. These are design choices: a deeper back is common for festive blouses.
How the blouse fabric calculator works
The cloth is folded lengthwise, selvedges together. The back and front are cut on the fold, so each needs a quarter of the bust plus ¼ in of ease and the side seam allowance across the folded width; the front gets a little more width and 2–3 in more length for darts, princess seams or katori cups. Sleeves are the sleeve round plus 3 in wide and the sleeve length plus 2 in long, following SewGuide’s sari-blouse method. If both bodices fit across the cloth, the selvedges are folded to the middle so each piece has its own fold.
Worked example: size 36 on 44-inch fabric. The back (10½ in) and front (11 in) sit side by side on the 21½ in of doubled cloth, 17¾ in long; the short sleeves need another 9 in. That is 26¾ in, or 68 cm, plus 5% for shrinkage gives 71 cm — buy 0.75 m. On 36-inch cloth the bodices must be stacked and the sleeves get a row of their own, so the same blouse needs 1.25 m. Shops usually cut by the quarter metre, so results are rounded up.
How much fabric for a blouse? Typical amounts
These match the usual advice: SewGuide puts the minimum at about 0.75 m for a 32-inch bust and 1 m for most sizes with short sleeves; blouse-fabric sellers such as iTokri say 1 m suits most designs and 1.25 m is safe for elbow sleeves or extra margin (both read 19 October 2026). Larger sizes, a border to match or a patterned yoke need more. For a matching kurti, use the kurti measurement chart; to convert a ready-made size, try the clothing size converter.
| Design (size 36) | 36-in fabric | 44-in fabric | 58-in fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeveless | 1 m | 0.5 m | 0.5 m |
| Short sleeves | 1.25 m | 0.75 m | 0.75 m |
| Elbow sleeves | 1.25 m | 1 m | 1 m |
| Full sleeves | 1.75 m | 1.25 m | 1.25 m |
| Lining, body only | 1 m | 0.5 m | 0.5 m |
Blouse Measurement Chart & Fabric Calculator FAQ
What measurements are needed for a blouse?
Bust, under-bust (blouse waist), shoulder, armhole, sleeve length, sleeve round, blouse length, front neck depth and back neck depth. The numbered blouse measurement chart above shows each one.
How much fabric do I need for a blouse?
For a size 36 blouse with short sleeves, about 0.75 m of 44-inch fabric, or 1.25 m of 36-inch fabric. Full sleeves take about 1.25 m of 44-inch fabric. Enter your measurements for an estimate from an actual layout.
What are the measurements for a size 36 blouse?
Typically bust 36 in, under-bust about 32 in, shoulder 14 in, armhole about 16 in, sleeve round about 12½ in and blouse length about 14½ in. Brands differ by an inch or two, so compare with your own measurements.
How much lining is needed for a blouse?
For the body only, about 0.5 m of 44-inch lining for sizes up to 36, and about 1 m for larger sizes or 36-inch lining. Lining the sleeves adds the sleeve length again.
Should I measure in inches or centimetres?
Most tailors in India work in inches, so the chart starts in inches; switch to centimetres at any time and every value converts.
Is the fabric estimate exact?
No — it is an estimate from a simple layout with standard allowances. Puff sleeves, frills, yokes, borders and directional prints need extra, so confirm with your tailor before buying.