What Is GSM in Fabric? A Buyer’s Guide to Tee and Hoodie Weights
GSM means grams per square metre: how much one square metre of the fabric weighs. It tells you how thick and dense a fabric is, not how good it is. Rough guide: under 150…
GSM means grams per square metre: how much one square metre of the fabric weighs. It tells you how thick and dense a fabric is, not how good it is. Rough guide: under 150 GSM is lightweight (summer tees), 150–250 is midweight (most everyday tees), and 250 and up is heavyweight. A hoodie described as “heavyweight” is usually 350–450 GSM; super-heavyweight goes to 450–550 GSM and beyond.
Key facts
- GSM stands for grams per square metre, the weight of one square metre of fabric.
- Lightweight fabric is under 150 GSM, midweight is 150–250 GSM, heavyweight is 250 GSM and above.
- Most everyday t-shirts are 160–220 GSM; heavyweight streetwear tees are 220–300 GSM.
- Heavyweight hoodies are typically 350–450 GSM; super-heavyweight hoodies reach 450–550 GSM or more.
- 1 oz/yd² equals 33.906 GSM, so a 10 oz fabric is about 339 GSM.
- GSM measures weight, not quality: fibre, knit and yarn count decide how a fabric feels and lasts.
- On Chinese listings, the GSM figure appears as 克重 (kè zhòng); 重磅 means “heavyweight” and is not a number.
What GSM actually measures
Cut a one-metre square out of a fabric and put it on a scale. That number, in grams, is its GSM. A 180 GSM tee fabric weighs 180 g per square metre; a 400 GSM hoodie fabric weighs 400 g.
Higher GSM usually means a thicker, more opaque, warmer fabric that holds its shape and drapes heavier. Lower GSM is lighter, more breathable and more see-through. That is all GSM tells you. It does not tell you whether the cotton is good, whether the knit is tight, or whether the garment will survive twenty washes.
You will sometimes see fabric weight in ounces per square yard instead, mostly on US listings. 1 oz/yd² = 33.906 GSM. Multiply ounces by 34 for a quick estimate.
| oz/yd² | GSM | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 5 oz | 170 | Standard tee |
| 6.5 oz | 220 | Heavier tee |
| 8 oz | 271 | Heavyweight tee / light sweatshirt |
| 10 oz | 339 | Sweatshirt / everyday hoodie |
| 12 oz | 407 | Heavyweight hoodie |
| 14 oz | 475 | Super-heavyweight hoodie |
GSM ranges by garment
| Garment | Typical GSM | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight tee | 120–160 | Thin, breathable, slightly see-through in light colours |
| Standard tee | 160–220 | The everyday tee most brands sell |
| Heavyweight tee | 220–300 | Thick, boxy, holds its shape; the streetwear “blank” feel |
| Sweatshirt / light hoodie | 260–350 | Comfortable layering weight |
| Heavyweight hoodie | 350–450 | Structured, warm, stands away from the body |
| Super-heavyweight hoodie | 450–550+ | Very stiff at first, heavy to wear, heavy to ship |
These are ranges, not rules. Two 400 GSM hoodies can feel completely different depending on the knit and the fibre.
Why GSM alone can mislead you
The knit matters as much as the weight
Most hoodies and sweatshirts use one of two knits. French terry (loopback) has small loops on the inside: smoother, a bit cooler, keeps its shape. Brushed fleece has those loops brushed into fluff: softer and warmer, but it pills sooner. At the same GSM, fleece feels warmer and terry feels more structured.
The fibre matters too
A 400 GSM polyester blend and a 400 GSM combed cotton hoodie weigh the same per square metre, and wear nothing alike. Polyester adds weight cheaply, resists shrinking and dries fast, but breathes less and can feel plasticky. If a very cheap listing claims a very high GSM, check the composition before you get excited.
Yarn count changes the hand-feel
Yarn count describes how fine the thread is. Higher counts mean finer yarn and a smoother surface. A fabric made from finer two-ply yarn at the same GSM usually feels smoother and more premium than one made from a single coarse yarn.
Reading GSM on Taobao, Weidian and 1688 listings
Chinese listings rarely say “GSM”. Look for these words in the product parameters (商品参数) or the size chart images:
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 克重 | kè zhòng | Fabric weight — this is the GSM figure |
| 重磅 | zhòng bàng | “Heavyweight” — a marketing word, not a number |
| 面料成分 | miàn liào chéng fèn | Fabric composition |
| 纯棉 / 棉100% | chún mián | 100% cotton |
| 精梳棉 | jīng shū mián | Combed cotton (smoother, fewer short fibres) |
| 毛圈 | máo quān | Terry / loopback knit |
| 加绒 / 抓绒 | jiā róng / zhuā róng | Brushed fleece |
| 支 / 双纱 | zhī / shuāng shā | Yarn count / two-ply yarn |
A listing that says 重磅 but gives no 克重 figure is telling you the fabric feels heavy, not how heavy it is. If the number matters to you, ask the seller before ordering — or ask your agent to ask.
How to check the weight before your parcel ships
You can’t measure GSM from a finished garment without cutting it, but you can catch the obvious mismatches:
- Compare against the listing, not against your hopes. Check the composition and the 克重 in the parameters, and screenshot them before you pay.
- Look closely at your QC photos. Every item gets free inspection photos once it reaches our warehouse. Check the inside of the hem and cuffs: loops mean terry, fluff means fleece. See how to read QC photos.
- Ask for close-ups and a weight. A detailed photo add-on can include close-ups of the fabric and the item’s weight on a scale. Total garment weight is not GSM, but comparing it with another hoodie of the same size and style is a useful sanity check.
- Check the care label photo. The composition on the wash label should match the listing. If it doesn’t, you can still request a return while the item is at the warehouse.
Heavy fabric is heavy to ship
A 500 GSM hoodie can weigh twice as much as a 280 GSM one, and international shipping is priced on weight. If you are building a winter haul, that difference adds up fast. Packing choices help: removing retail boxes and vacuum-packing bulky knitwear can shrink the size of the parcel. See ways to cut your shipping bill.
Which GSM should you buy?
- Tee to wear on its own in summer: 160–200.
- Boxy streetwear tee that holds its shape: 240–300.
- Everyday hoodie you’ll layer: 300–380.
- Statement heavyweight hoodie: 400–480, in cotton or a cotton-rich blend, and size up if the listing shows an Asian fit — see the Chinese sizing guide.
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