👗 Ease Allowance Calculator

Enter your body measurement and desired fit (fitted, semi-fitted, or loose) to see the finished garment measurement, including standard ease allowance.

Body measurement (in)

Fit type

Finished measurement = body + ease

fitted      finished = body + 2 in
semi-fitted finished = body + 4 in
loose       finished = body + 6 in

A 36 in bust comes back as 38.00 in fitted, 40.00 in semi-fitted and 42.00 in loose. Ease is separate from the body measurement and splits in two: wearing ease, the room to breathe and lift an arm, and design ease, the extra an oversized coat needs on top.

Using the number you get

Compare it with the finished measurement on the tissue. That printed figure is also seam-allowance free. Pieces still need allowance added - 5/8 in is the commercial default - and this output never includes it.
Ease is not the same all the way down. A fitted woven dress wants about 2 in at the waist and 2 to 3 in at the hip while the bust takes more. Published envelope bands are finer than three presets: a dress marked fitted runs nearer 3 to 4 in at the bust, so 2 in here is close-fitting.
Knits often want less than nothing. A ribbed top or swimsuit is cut with negative ease, several inches under the body measurement, and stretches to fit. This tool only adds.

Ease stays constant across a graded size range. Grading adds the body difference between sizes - roughly 1 to 2 in of bust - and leaves the ease alone, which is why a size 20 is not a scaled-up size 12.

Frequently asked questions

How much ease should a woven top have?

About 2 to 3 in at the bust for a close fit, 4 to 5 in for a relaxed shirt, and 6 in or more for anything meant to skim. Below about 2 in a woven bodice binds when you reach forward.

Is ease already included in the pattern size chart?

No. The size chart lists body measurements, and the drafter has added ease inside the pieces. Look up your size from the body chart, then check the finished measurements to see how much ease the design carries.

Do I add ease before choosing a pattern size?

Never for the size chart - that comparison is body to body. Add ease when you are checking a finished measurement, altering a piece or drafting from scratch.