<p>While a caliper would be a great tool for calculating something like this most people do not have access to one. Coupled with the fact that the level of precision it provides is lost in most crafting endevours. There are some simpler techniques that you can use to get <em>similar</em> results.</p>
<h2>For Fabric</h2>
<p>Ever tried to measure the thickness of paper? Perhaps in school. Its near impossible as most rulers don't match that level of precision. What if you stacked multiple pages together? Putting 10 (or 20 or whatever) sheets together and you can easily measure the total and divide by quantity used.</p>
<p>For fabric reems this can get harder but you should still be able to fold it over itself several times without cutting it or anything. You could even roll it up and measure the outer layers. Either technique you use get you a decent figure to work with.</p>
<h2>For Thread</h2>
<p>When it comes to thread thickness I would like to borrow from <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/279/how-can-i-determine-a-yarns-weight">another answer in this stack</a>. Wrapping the thread around a ruler enough times to get a nice round number like a mm,cm or inch makes the math easier. Can you fit 10 rounds of thread in a mm? Then your thread is 1/10<sup>th</sup>s of a mm. Keep wrapping until the math is simpler.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MqbZB.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MqbZB.jpg" alt="wrapping" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-07T01:50:17.410Z
2017-11-07T01:50:17.410Z
2020-06-18T08:35:49.040Z
Matt
<p>To get the precise thickness of any object, you need a tool called a caliper.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7AxEu.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7AxEu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I'm not sure if that will help with the thread since that stuff is usually tightly bound and even plastic wrapped.  But for fabric, it should work fine.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T06:08:50.363Z
you are correct that calipers should measure thickness, but fabric/thread thickness is often specified in units (like deniers) that are all basically just measuring weight for a given length of thread, in which id need a tape measure and accurate scale. anyway, i would expect it is listed on the packaging, but i feel like i must be missing something...
tau
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T12:24:56.983Z
Thank you!  I didn't know that.  ...and a quick search around the internet confirmed your statement that weight information about specific threads is not easy to find.  I hope one of the other members can provide more help for your question.
Henry Taylor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T04:49:43.637Z
2017-11-06T04:49:43.637Z
Henry Taylor
<p>I was at Joann fabric store recently and couldn't figure out the thickness of the fabric or thread I was looking at. The fabric was just wrapped around some cardboard that just had a name and material. None of them had a denier (or anything else that I could identify as a thickness). The spools of thread were the same way.</p>

<p>I've attached a photo of what the spools generally looked like.</p>

<p>How am I supposed to find the thickness of the products I'm looking at? It seems like there should be a precise way of doing so, but I don't know what it is.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Zhi.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Zhi.jpg" alt="spool of thread without denier"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T14:59:35.677Z
Perhaps it would help if you explained why you want that information?
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T18:13:27.010Z
because i like to be precise when building things and know exactly what i used so i can replicate it over time and across brands, colors, etc.
tau
<sewing><fabric>
Finding fabric and thread thickness
tau
# Finding fabric and thread thickness

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-06)

I was at Joann fabric store recently and couldn't figure out the thickness of the fabric or thread I was looking at. The fabric was just wrapped around some cardboard that just had a name and material. None of them had a denier (or anything else that I could identify as a thickness). The spools of thread were the same way.

I've attached a photo of what the spools generally looked like.

How am I supposed to find the thickness of the products I'm looking at? It seems like there should be a precise way of doing so, but I don't know what it is.

[![spool of thread without denier](https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Zhi.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Y1Zhi.jpg)

**Tags:** sewing, fabric

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Perhaps it would help if you explained why you want that information?  
> **username_0**: because i like to be precise when building things and know exactly what i used so i can replicate it over time and across brands, colors, etc.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-11-07. Score: 5

While a caliper would be a great tool for calculating something like this most people do not have access to one. Coupled with the fact that the level of precision it provides is lost in most crafting endevours. There are some simpler techniques that you can use to get *similar* results.

## For Fabric

Ever tried to measure the thickness of paper? Perhaps in school. Its near impossible as most rulers don't match that level of precision. What if you stacked multiple pages together? Putting 10 (or 20 or whatever) sheets together and you can easily measure the total and divide by quantity used.

For fabric reems this can get harder but you should still be able to fold it over itself several times without cutting it or anything. You could even roll it up and measure the outer layers. Either technique you use get you a decent figure to work with.

## For Thread

When it comes to thread thickness I would like to borrow from [another answer in this stack](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/279/how-can-i-determine-a-yarns-weight). Wrapping the thread around a ruler enough times to get a nice round number like a mm,cm or inch makes the math easier. Can you fit 10 rounds of thread in a mm? Then your thread is 1/10ths of a mm. Keep wrapping until the math is simpler.

[![wrapping](https://i.sstatic.net/MqbZB.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/MqbZB.jpg)


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-11-06. Score: 2

To get the precise thickness of any object, you need a tool called a caliper.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7AxEu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/7AxEu.jpg)

I'm not sure if that will help with the thread since that stuff is usually tightly bound and even plastic wrapped. But for fabric, it should work fine.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: you are correct that calipers should measure thickness, but fabric/thread thickness is often specified in units (like deniers) that are all basically just measuring weight for a given length of thread, in which id need a tape measure and accurate scale. anyway, i would expect it is listed on the packaging, but i feel like i must be missing something...  
> **username_3**: Thank you!  I didn't know that.  ...and a quick search around the internet confirmed your statement that weight information about specific threads is not easy to find.  I hope one of the other members can provide more help for your question.  

---

