GSM Calculator

GSM is grams per square metre - the trade's standard measure of how much fabric is packed into a given area. A higher number means a heavier, denser towel that usually absorbs more and dries slower. It's the single spec buyers ask for first, before colour or trim.

Most full-service hotels order 500-600 GSM. Budget properties run leaner at 400-500 GSM to save on laundry weight and drying time. Five-star resorts often push to 600-700 GSM for the plush feel guests expect - but that comes with slower drying and higher shipping weight, so it's a trade-off, not a free upgrade.

Multiply length (cm) by breadth (cm) by GSM, then divide by 10,000. A 70cm × 140cm bath towel at 500 GSM comes out to 490g - use the calculator above if you'd rather not do the arithmetic.

A 400 GSM towel is light and dries fast - it's what you see in gyms, on airlines, and in budget hotels that turn rooms over quickly. A 600 GSM towel is dense and holds a lot more water, which is exactly what a luxury hotel or spa wants, at the cost of a longer dry cycle.

Bed sheets aren't usually quoted in GSM - the trade uses thread count instead. As a rough equivalent, percale sheets (200-400 TC) run 80-120 GSM, and heavier sateen weaves (400-600 TC) land around 120-160 GSM.

For towels our minimum is 500 pcs trial / 2,000 pcs wholesale. "Per SKU" means per size and colour combination. Smaller towel orders can join a run we already have in production, in that run's size, GSM and colour. Tell us your size and GSM and we will list the runs that are close. Bed linen starts at 50 pcs per size at 200, 300 and 400 TC, standard or custom sizes (250 TC subject to availability). Bathrobes start at 50 pcs per size in white, standard or custom sizes (colours on enquiry). A custom towel below 500 pieces costs more per piece, because a loom set-up and a dye lot cost the same for 100 towels or 1,000. We will tell you that plainly before you commit.

Paid, with sample and courier cost quoted upfront. Courier from Kerala to most countries runs $35–$60 via DHL or FedEx and arrives in 7–14 days. We recommend asking for two GSM weights side by side — most buyers change their mind about weight once they hold both. Your sample quote says whether the charge is credited against a bulk order.

50% advance, 50% on production completion (before dispatch). The balance falls due only once the finished goods have passed our AQL 2.5 inspection against your approved sample, and you get photos of the actual production run before you pay it. You can also appoint a third-party inspector (SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek, roughly $300–$500 for a single inspection) to check the goods at the specialist unit before you release the balance; we will schedule it and give them access. If a shipment does not match the approved sample, we remake or credit it. For larger orders, an L/C at sight is accepted instead.

In most countries, no — not for commercial quantities of ordinary cotton textiles. In the US, UK, EU, UAE, Australia and Canada, a business tax or VAT registration number is normally all that is required, and your freight forwarder or customs broker files the entry for you. Some markets do require an importer registration (Saudi Arabia and Egypt among them). Tell us your country and we will tell you plainly what you need before you commit any money.

FOB means the price to get goods loaded onto the ship at Cochin port — freight, duty and local delivery are on top. As a rough guide, sea freight adds $0.15–$0.45 per towel on a shared container and less on a full one; import duty is typically 6–12% depending on your country. We quote CIF (freight included) or DDP (everything included, delivered to your address) on request, so you can compare one final number instead of guessing. Our landed-cost calculator does the arithmetic for you.

Yes, absolutely. Certification is not a hoop we make you jump through — it is simply how we already manufacture. Every piece is made under OEKO-TEX Standard 100 whether you ask for the certificate or not, and it costs you nothing extra. If you do not need the paperwork, do not ask for it and nothing about your order or price changes. Buyers who supply hotel groups or EU retailers usually want the documents; an Airbnb host or a salon owner almost never does.

30–45 days for production, plus shipping. Sea freight is 10–16 days to the Gulf, 22–30 days to Europe and the UK, 28–38 days to the US east coast, and 18–25 days to Australia. Air freight cuts that to 3–5 days but costs roughly 6–8× more per kilo, so it is worth it for samples and rarely worth it for bulk. Plan on about 8–10 weeks door to door for a first sea shipment.

Fair question, and one you should ask everyone. Yes, we are a manufacturer and exporter, not a trader. We run production stage by stage through specialist units: spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, stitching, embroidery and labelling are each done by a unit that specialises in it, and we own the spec, the approved shade, the AQL 2.5 inspection and the shipment as exporter of record. You deal with one accountable party, not a chain of middlemen, and you can video-call the unit running your order. We will give you our IEC (Import Export Code) and GST registration to check.

Yes. Woven labels, printed care labels, embroidered logos, custom packaging and retail barcodes are all standard. Logo embroidery adds about $0.30–$0.60 per piece; a custom woven label adds about $0.06–$0.12. Private-label MOQ is 2,000 pieces per SKU rather than 500, because the label and packaging themselves carry a minimum run.