Garment Ease Calculator
Calculate how much ease to add to your body measurement for any garment fit level.
Understanding Ease in Sewing
Ease is the difference between your body measurement and the finished garment measurement. Without ease, a garment would be skintight and impossible to move in. There are two types: wearing ease (the minimum needed for comfort and movement) and design ease (extra fullness added for style).
A close-fitting garment (like a bodycon dress or swimwear using stretch fabric) may have 0–2" of ease or even negative ease in knit fabrics. A fitted blazer typically has 3–4" of ease at the bust. A relaxed linen shirt might have 7–10" of ease, and a boxy oversized coat could have 15" or more.
The ease amounts in this calculator are general guidelines for woven fabrics. Knit fabrics (jersey, spandex blends) use negative ease because they stretch to fit the body, so the pattern pieces are actually smaller than your measurements.
When choosing a pattern size, always start with the ease recommendation on the pattern envelope — it tells you the intended finished measurements and helps you understand what fit to expect before you cut a single piece of fabric.