Tolerance guide by point of measure
4 min read
A tolerance is how far a finished garment may differ from spec and still pass. Too tight and good garments fail; too loose and the fit drifts between lots.
Starting points
These are common defaults for woven and knit tops and bottoms. Buyers often publish their own; theirs always win.
| Point of measure | inch ± | cm ± |
|---|---|---|
| Body length, chest, waist, hip, sweep | 1/2 | 1.0 to 1.3 |
| Sleeve length, inseam, outseam | 3/8 to 1/2 | 1.0 |
| Shoulder, across front/back | 1/4 to 3/8 | 0.6 to 1.0 |
| Armhole, bicep, sleeve opening, leg opening | 1/4 | 0.6 |
| Neck width, neck drop | 1/8 to 1/4 | 0.3 to 0.6 |
| Collar, placket, cuff, waistband height, hems | 1/16 to 1/8 | 0.2 to 0.3 |
Rules of thumb
- Bigger measurements get bigger tolerances; small details get very small ones.
- Stretch fabrics may get slightly larger tolerances on circumferences, not on lengths.
- Every POM needs a tolerance. A blank tolerance is read as zero by some QA teams and "anything goes" by others.
Make this faster in the studio. Tech Pack Studio loads standard POMs, tolerances and grade rules for 42 garments and draws the flats from them. Start free.