Design3 min read
Clothify tools
Clothing Shrinkage and Wash Test Calculator
Compare garment measurements before and after washing, check your own tolerance and export a sample record.
- Free, no account
- Inches or centimeters
- Printable test record
See what the wash changed
Enter length and chest width before and after washing, or try the example.
- Shrinkage for length and chest width
- Before and after outlines to scale
- A test record to print or download
How to use it
Measure before washing
Lay the sample flat and record body length and chest width at points you can find again.
Wash as the label says
Follow the care instructions for the product, then let it dry fully before you measure.
Set your limit
Choose the most change your size chart can absorb. The tool starts at 3% and you can change it.
Keep the record
Tick your other checks, then print the record or download the CSV for your sample notes.
Worked example: a T-shirt after one wash
This is the sample the Try an example button loads. The measurements and the 3% limit are illustrative, not supplier test results or an industry standard.
A sample shirt measures 28 inches long and 22 inches across the chest before washing. After one wash and a full dry it measures 27.5 by 21.5 inches. Both dimensions lost half an inch, but they did not shrink by the same percentage.
Half an inch of 28 is 1.79%, while half an inch of 22 is 2.27%, because the chest started smaller. The check uses the larger of the two, 2.27%, so a big change in one direction can never be averaged away. Against the chosen 3% limit, the sample passes.
- Body length
- 1.79% shorter
- Chest width
- 2.27% narrower
- Largest change
- 2.27%
- Against a 3% limit
- Within
Chest width, step by step
- Before minus after0.5 in
- divided byBefore measurement22 in
- timesTo a percentage100
- equalsChest width shrinkage2.27%
The formula
Shrinkage is the change in a measurement as a share of where it started. The same formula works in inches or centimeters.
Shrinkage for one measurement
BeforeminusAfterdivided byBeforetimes100equalsShrinkage %
- Shrinkage %
- A negative result means the garment grew in that direction.
What it leaves out
- One wash is a first check. It does not show how a garment behaves after many washes.
- Only body length and chest width are compared. Sleeves, twisting and fit need your own review.
- Print cracking, fading and color change are not measured. Record them in the checks.
- The 3% starting limit is yours to change. It is not a supplier or industry standard.
- The outlines are schematic shapes, not a size chart, pattern or fit simulation.
- Passing your limit does not certify the product or approve a production order.
Method and sources
The method follows Clothify’s clothing sample checklist: measure the finished piece before washing, follow the product’s care instructions, then measure the same points again once it is fully dry.
The ticked checks are your own observations and are only saved in the CSV or printout you take with you. The print size checker covers artwork resolution separately.
How to measure, and what each percentage means
Where to put the tape, and the measurement you would see after common amounts of shrinkage. Plain arithmetic you can check against your own sample.
- Lay the garment flat on a hard surface and smooth it without stretching.
- Chest width: measure straight across the chest, using the method in the supplier’s size chart so your numbers compare with theirs.
- Body length: measure straight down to the hem from a point you can find again, such as where the shoulder seam meets the collar.
- Write down the unit, then repeat at exactly the same points after the garment is fully dry.
| Before | After 1% | After 2% | After 3% | After 5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 19.8 | 19.6 | 19.4 | 19 |
| 22 | 21.78 | 21.56 | 21.34 | 20.9 |
| 26 | 25.74 | 25.48 | 25.22 | 24.7 |
| 28 | 27.72 | 27.44 | 27.16 | 26.6 |
| 30 | 29.7 | 29.4 | 29.1 | 28.5 |
Wash test log template. A blank CSV with every field to record for one sample: product, size, care method, both measurements, the change and your checks.
Questions
How do I calculate the shrinkage percentage of clothing?
Subtract the measurement after washing from the measurement before, divide by the before measurement and multiply by 100. A body length that goes from 28 to 27.5 inches shrank 1.79%. Do it separately for length and width, because they rarely change by the same amount.
How much shrinkage is acceptable for a T-shirt?
There is no single number that fits every product. Decide how much change your size chart can absorb before a customer would end up in a different size, and use that as your limit. The 3% this tool starts with is a starting point, not a supplier or industry standard.
How do I measure a shirt for a wash test?
Lay it flat without stretching it. Measure chest width straight across using the method in the supplier’s size chart, and body length straight down from a point you can find again to the hem. After washing, wait until it is fully dry and measure the same points.
What does negative shrinkage mean?
A negative result means the measurement got bigger after washing, so the garment stretched or relaxed in that direction. The calculator treats growth and shrinkage the same way when it compares the largest change with your limit.
Should I wash a sample before I sell a product?
Yes. Clothify’s sample checklist suggests measuring the finished piece before washing, washing it as your customer will, and measuring again once it is dry. Compare photos too, because print cracking or color loss does not show in the numbers.
Does one wash show how much a garment will shrink over time?
No. A first wash can catch an obvious problem, but it does not establish long-term behavior. Repeat the test after more washes if fit is critical, and keep each record so you can compare them.
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