Clothing Shrinkage Calculator
Calculate how much your clothing will shrink after washing based on fabric type.
Get the expected after-wash dimensions for any garment.
Expected After-Wash Size
Why clothes shrink
Most natural fibres — cotton, wool, linen, silk — shrink when washed because the fibres absorb water and swell, then contract as they dry. The weaving or knitting process also applies tension that relaxes under heat and moisture, causing additional dimensional change. Synthetic fibres (polyester, nylon, acrylic) are far more resistant to shrinkage but can still be affected by high heat in a dryer.
Shrinkage by fabric type
- Cotton: 3–5% shrinkage is normal for untreated cotton. Pre-shrunk or “Sanforized” cotton may shrink only 1–2%. High heat drying increases shrinkage significantly.
- Wool: 5–20% shrinkage or more if agitated in hot water. The fibres have microscopic scales that interlock when wet and agitated — a process called felting. Wool should be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle, or dry cleaned.
- Linen: 3–7% initially, but linen stabilises after the first few washes. Most pre-washed linen garments shrink very little after initial purchase.
- Denim: 3–10% after the first wash. Raw (unwashed) denim can shrink significantly. Many brands pre-shrink denim before sale.
- Silk: 4–8% when not dry-cleaned. Silk should be hand-washed in cold water only.
- Polyester: 0–1% — highly resistant to shrinkage. The main risk is heat distortion rather than dimensional shrinkage.
- Acrylic/synthetic blends: 1–3% on average, depending on blend ratio.
Buying tip: When buying untreated natural fibre garments, purchase one size up if you plan to wash in warm or hot water, as shrinkage is most significant in the first wash.