How many meters is one than of fabric?

Usually 30 to 50 m for uniform suiting, but a than is a packing unit rather than a fixed measure. Ask the supplier for the meters per roll in writing and check it against the marking on the roll at delivery.

Is a gaj the same as a yard?

Yes. Gaj is the Hindi word for a yard, which is 0.91 m. One meter is 1.09 gaj.

What does 58 panna mean?

Panna is the width of the cloth in inches, so 58 panna is fabric about 58 inch wide, close to 150 cm. It says nothing about the length or the quality of the fabric.

How do I compare a 44 inch quote with a 58 inch quote?

Convert both to price per square meter by dividing the rate per meter by the width in meters, then compare. As a shortcut, you need about 1.3 times as many meters of 44 inch cloth to make the same garments.

How many yards in a meter of fabric?

1.09 yards. Going the other way, one yard is 0.91 meters, so 100 yards is about 91 meters.

Do you sell by the than?

We sell in running meters and mark the meterage on every roll. If your requirement is written in thans or yards we will convert it and confirm the meters with you before production.

Fabric basics

Meters, Yards and Than: Fabric Units Explained

What a than, a gaj, a panna and a running meter actually mean when buying uniform fabric in India, and how to convert between them without losing money.

Rolls of suiting fabric stacked in a mill warehouse

Jump to section

The units you will hear
Why a than is not a fixed quantity
Panna is width, and it changes what a meter is worth
Converting a quote cleanly
What we quote in

Quick answer

One meter is 1.09 yards and one yard is 0.91 meters. A gaj is the Hindi word for a yard. A than is a roll, usually 30 to 50 m, but it is a packing unit and not a fixed length, so always confirm the meters on the roll. Panna means width, not length: 58 inch panna is 150 cm wide cloth. Quotes are only comparable once both sides are in running meters at the same width.

The units you will hear

Fabric buying in India runs on a mix of metric, imperial and trade units, often in the same conversation. Knowing which is which stops the most common quoting mistakes.

Unit	What it measures	Value
Running meter	Length along the roll	1 m
Yard	Length along the roll	0.91 m
Gaj	Length, the Hindi word for a yard	0.91 m
Than or thaan	A full roll as packed	Usually 30-50 m
Panna	Width across the roll	Quoted in inches, 58 inch is 150 cm
Inch	Width, in trade usage	2.54 cm

Why a than is not a fixed quantity

A than is how cloth is packed, not how it is measured. Most uniform suiting rolls run 30 to 50 m, but the exact length depends on the fabric weight, the roll diameter and the mill. Two thans of the same shade can differ by several meters.

This matters when a quantity is agreed in thans rather than meters. Always ask for the meters per roll in writing, and check the meterage marked on each roll against the delivery challan when the goods land.

Panna is width, and it changes what a meter is worth

Panna is the width of the cloth, quoted in inches. Our fabric is 150 cm, which is about 59 inch and sits in the 58 to 60 inch panna bracket. Narrow cloth is commonly 44 inch, about 110 cm.

A meter of 58 inch cloth carries about a third more fabric than a meter of 44 inch cloth. That is why a lower rate per meter on narrow cloth often works out dearer per uniform. Normalise both quotes to the same width before you compare anything.

A rough normaliser: meters at 44 inch is about meters at 58 inch multiplied by 1.3.

Converting a quote cleanly

Yards to meters: multiply by 0.91. Meters to yards: multiply by 1.09.
Inches to cm: multiply by 2.54. 44 inch is 110 cm, 58 inch is 147 cm, 60 inch is 152 cm.
Thans to meters: ask for the actual meters per roll, never assume a standard.
Different widths: convert both quotes to price per square meter, then compare.
Always confirm whether a rate is per running meter or per yard before you compare two numbers.

What we quote in

We quote and supply in running meters at 150 cm width, with the meterage marked on every roll and stated on the invoice. Export orders are quoted the same way, with the width converted to inches if a buyer works in imperial.

If you have a requirement in yards or in thans, send it as it stands and we will convert it and confirm the meters back to you before anything is woven.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How many meters is one than of fabric?: Usually 30 to 50 m for uniform suiting, but a than is a packing unit rather than a fixed measure. Ask the supplier for the meters per roll in writing and check it against the marking on the roll at delivery.
Is a gaj the same as a yard?: Yes. Gaj is the Hindi word for a yard, which is 0.91 m. One meter is 1.09 gaj.
What does 58 panna mean?: Panna is the width of the cloth in inches, so 58 panna is fabric about 58 inch wide, close to 150 cm. It says nothing about the length or the quality of the fabric.
How do I compare a 44 inch quote with a 58 inch quote?: Convert both to price per square meter by dividing the rate per meter by the width in meters, then compare. As a shortcut, you need about 1.3 times as many meters of 44 inch cloth to make the same garments.
How many yards in a meter of fabric?: 1.09 yards. Going the other way, one yard is 0.91 meters, so 100 yards is about 91 meters.
Do you sell by the than?: We sell in running meters and mark the meterage on every roll. If your requirement is written in thans or yards we will convert it and confirm the meters with you before production.

Updated 1 August 2026 · Benny Cotts, Bhilwara

Fabrics