Garment Costing Calculator
Enter fabric consumption (meters), fabric rate (₹/meter), trim costs, labor cost, and overhead. Calculator sums: Total Cost = Fabric + Trims + Labor + Overhead + Profit. Example saree: 5 meters x ₹800/meter = ₹4,000 fabric, ₹150 trims (border, blouse), ₹250 labor (if outsourced), ₹300 overhead (10% allocation), target margin 40% = (4,000 + 150 + 250 + 300) / 0.6 = ₹7,667 final price. Download cost sheet (PDF) showing each component. Cost sheets required by buyers (Meesho, Flipkart demand transparency). Accurate costing prevents unprofitable orders.
Fabric Cost (Consumption x Rate)
Fabric Cost = Consumption (meters) x Rate (₹/meter). Saree: 5.5 meters x ₹900/meter = ₹4,950. Anarkali: 3 meters x ₹750/meter = ₹2,250. Kurti: 1.5 meters x ₹600/meter = ₹900. Consumption varies: fitted garments use less, loose designs use more. Factor in 5-8% fabric waste (cutting loss, shrinkage). Adjusted consumption: 5 meters + 5% waste = 5.25 meters. Different fabrics: cotton ₹200-400, silk ₹600-1,500, synthetic ₹300-600, blend ₹400-800. Buy fabric at wholesale rates (20-30% cheaper than retail). Suppliers often give volume discounts: ₹800/meter for 100 meters, ₹700/meter for 500 meters.
Trims & Accessories Cost
Trims = buttons, zippers, thread, ribbons, labels, tags, packaging. Per garment: ₹50-300 depending on type. Saree: ₹100-150 (border, blouse material, tag, packaging). Kurti: ₹30-80 (buttons, thread, label). Anarkali: ₹150-250 (zippers, sequins, thread, packaging). Cost breakdown: button ₹2-5 each (2-4 buttons = ₹8-20), zipper ₹20-40, thread ₹10-15, label ₹5, packaging (polypack + tissue) ₹15-25. Buy trims in bulk from wholesale suppliers (Threads bazaar, chandni chowk equivalent in your city). Price negotiation: 1,000 buttons = ₹2 each, 10,000 = ₹0.80 each (60% savings). Track trim costs carefully - often underestimated.
Labor / CMT Calculation
CMT = Cutting, Making, Trimming (labor cost). SMV method: SMV (Standard Minute Value) x hourly rate / 60. Saree SMV 45 minutes, at ₹100/hour = ₹75 labor. Kurti SMV 20 minutes, at ₹100/hour = ₹33 labor. Simplified: pay tailor ₹50-300 per piece depending on complexity. Saree tailor ₹100-150 (cutting, hemming, blouse stitching), shirt tailor ₹50-80 (simpler), lehenga ₹200+ (complex embroidery setup). Bangladesh/Vietnam labor: ₹20-40/piece (why they are cheaper). Indian small-scale tailors: ₹80-150. High-end brands: ₹300-500 for intricate work. Negotiate: higher volume = lower CMT. 100 pieces/month = ₹150, 1000 pieces = ₹80.
Overhead Allocation
Overhead = rent, utilities, quality control, admin, packaging, shipping. Allocate 10-20% of direct costs (fabric + trims + labor). Formula: Overhead = (Fabric + Trims + Labor) x 15%. For ₹4,000 fabric + ₹150 trims + ₹100 labor = ₹4,250, Overhead = ₹637.50 (15%). Some businesses allocate per piece: rent ₹1,000/month, make 100 pieces = ₹10 overhead per piece. Fixed vs variable: rent is fixed (allocate monthly), electricity per piece (measure usage). High-volume production spreads overhead lower per piece. Small batches (10 pieces) have high overhead per piece. Plan production batch size accordingly.
Cost Sheet Download (PDF)
Download cost sheet showing: Fabric (₹4,000), Trims (₹150), Labor (₹100), Overhead (₹630), Raw Cost (₹4,880), Target Margin % (40%), Final Price (₹8,133). Professional cost sheets help in: buyer negotiations, price justification, production planning, profit tracking. Share with wholesale buyers: "Here's why this saree costs ₹700 wholesale" (transparency builds trust). Required by larger marketplaces (Flipkart asks for cost details). Use for internal auditing: "Why did this month's cost increase?" Track over time to identify waste. Standard format: cost component x quantity = total, grand total = per-piece cost.
FAQ
What if margin is too low? Reduce costs: cheaper fabric/trims, better labor negotiation, production efficiency. Or raise price (if market allows). Does labor cost vary? Yes, by complexity: simple kurti ₹30-50, saree ₹100-150, heavily embroidered ₹300+. What is a healthy margin? Fashion typically 40-60% after all costs. If cost ₹500, sell at ₹800-1,000. Should I include shipping? No, cost sheet is production only. Shipping is separate (deducted from selling price later). How often to revise costs? Monthly, as material prices fluctuate seasonally. What if fabric supplier gives volume discount? Recalculate cost sheet monthly to reflect current rates. Should I add buffer? Add 5-10% contingency for waste, shrinkage, quality issues - prevents losses.