Garment measurement tolerances: what's acceptable and how to set them

What a tolerance is in a garment spec, typical plus and minus values for common points of measure, and how to write tolerances so quality disputes are easy to settle.

Updated 1 October 2026 · By Hem Apparel

No factory can sew every piece to the exact millimetre. A tolerance is the amount a finished garment is allowed to differ from your target measurement and still pass. Without one, there is no objective way to decide whether a garment is good or defective.

How tolerances are written

A tolerance is a plus and minus range next to the target. A chest width of 56 cm with a tolerance of ±1 cm means anything from 55 to 57 cm passes. Some measurements use unequal ranges, such as +1 / −0.5 cm, when oversize is more acceptable than undersize.

Typical tolerances for knit tops

These are common starting points for T-shirts and similar knit garments. Woven garments are often tighter, and stretchy or heavy fabrics may need more. Agree final values with your factory.

Why tolerances matter

• They define pass and fail at inspection, so there is no argument about a 1 cm difference.
• Tight tolerances cost more, because the factory must check and re-work more garments.
• Loose tolerances let sizes drift, and customers notice when two pieces of the same size look different.
• They protect you in a dispute because the agreed number is written down.

How to choose

1. Start with the typical values in the table.
2. Tighten the measurements customers see and feel, such as chest, length and neck.
3. Allow more on hidden or stretchy areas.
4. Ask your factory what they can hold consistently.
5. Test with a sample and adjust before bulk production.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the tolerance column blank.
• Using the same tolerance for every size and point, whatever the fabric.
• Applying tolerances to relaxed rib and stretched rib without saying which.
• Setting very tight tolerances on a cheap, unstable fabric.