Fabrics in your home are important to both your comfort and budget, so knowing the grams per square meter(GSM) is helpful when choosing textiles for bedding, furniture, and fabric accessories. GSM only measures the weight of any fabric. The higher the GSM, the denser and more durable the fabric.
A fabric’s GSM rating helps you better evaluate the performance you should expect, but it’s also important to consider fiber composition, weave and finishing. You want to choose the right type of fabric that will last, remain attractive, and feels good to the touch, so you won’t have to replace it sooner than you’d like. Towels need to be absorbent, so they range from 300 to 900 GSM, with 600 to 900 GSM in the premium luxury range.
Fabric weight is measured by both the thickness of the threads and the density of the weaving and helps determine its suitability for a given purpose. You’ve heard of thread count for sheets which is the number of threads per one square inch. Fiber composition is more important. For sheets, flax linen at 170 GSM is best for temperature regulation and moisture wicking. Cotton may be less expensive but improves in softness with repeated washings and use. Microfiber is soft and durable, but it’s also less breathable and absorbent than linen or cotton.
Bolt fabrics will state the GSM number, or you can figure it yourself with this free online calculator.