Quality · How to
Hoodie GSM guide: fleece weights from 250 to 450+, from the factory floor
What hoodie GSM actually means, the weight bands (250–300 everyday, 300–350 standard, 350–450 heavyweight, 450+ ultra), how much hoodies weigh in grams, brushed vs loopback at each weight, and which GSM to order for your market.
Ask five suppliers for “a hoodie quote” and you get five numbers that mean nothing until one spec is fixed: GSM, the grams per square metre of the fleece. That single figure sets most of the cost (a hoodie carries 0.6–0.8 kg of fabric), the warmth, and whether the finished garment feels budget or premium in the hand. We cut and sew fleece every day, so this is the map we use ourselves. (Tees have their own guide: GSM explained for t-shirts and polos.)
What GSM should a hoodie be?
Hoodie fleece comes in four broad weight bands: 250–300 gsm for light or budget programmes, 300–350 gsm for standard retail, 350–450 gsm for heavyweight premium basics and streetwear, and 450+ gsm for ultra-heavy statement fleece. For everyday retail hoodies with real substance, 320 gsm is a safe default.
| GSM | Trade label | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| 250–300 | Light / budget | Promo hoodies, warm-climate markets, price-point programmes, the mass-catalogue zone |
| 300–350 | Standard | The retail workhorse: everyday hoodies with real substance; 320 gsm is a safe default |
| 350–450 | Heavyweight | Premium basics and streetwear, structure, drape, and the “this is quality” first touch |
| 450+ | Ultra-heavy | Statement fleece for cold climates and limited drops |
Two cautions from the factory side. First, “heavyweight” has no fixed threshold — one brand’s heavyweight is 350, another’s is 400+ — so compare quotes at the same number, never the same adjective. Second, GSM is measured on the fabric, and brushing slightly lofts it: a 320 gsm brushed fleece and a 320 gsm loopback terry weigh the same but feel completely different.
Should a hoodie be brushed fleece or loopback?
It depends on your market. At every GSM you choose a back: brushed fleece (loops napped into soft pile, warmer, cosier, the classic hoodie) or loopback French terry (loops intact, more breathable, more structured, holds shape at the elbows). Cold-market winter programmes want brushed; three-season premium ranges increasingly spec loopback. The full terry-vs-fleece guide.
How does GSM affect the cost of a hoodie?
Fabric is the dominant cost line in fleece, so weight moves price almost linearly: going from 320 to 400 gsm is roughly 25% more fibre in the garment. That’s why the same silhouette quotes at $6.50 or $9.00 ex-factory, the difference is mostly grams. The full hoodie cost breakdown shows the maths line by line.
Which hoodie GSM should I order for my market?
It depends on who you sell to. Promo, uniform and kidswear programmes suit 280–320 gsm, retail brands 320–350 gsm, and streetwear and premium merch 400–450 gsm. Each band pairs the weight with a fabric and construction, as the list below shows.
- Promo and uniform programmes: 280–320 gsm poly-cotton, durable, budget-fit, embroidery-stable.
- Retail brands: 320–350 gsm, 80/20 or 100% cotton face, compacted for shrink control.
- Streetwear and premium merch: 400–450 gsm, 3-thread construction for a clean print face, boxy blocks.
- Kidswear: 280–320 gsm with softness prioritised, and all cord rules designed in.
We cut and sew hoodies and sweatshirts in fleece from 250 to 450+ gsm, with fleece knitted to your spec by established mills — see the range or send your target weight and quantity for a landed quote. Importing into Korea? Nepal-made fleece can enter at 0% duty instead of 13%.
Frequently asked
Is a 350 gsm hoodie good?
How much does a hoodie weigh?
What GSM are Gildan-style budget hoodies?
What is the difference between GSM and oz for fleece?
About the author
Santosh Rijal runs Trishakti Apparel, the export knitwear factory his family built on three decades in Nepal’s fashion trade. He writes about sourcing, duty and production from the factory floor in Gaindakot.
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