Bedsheets should be made to the exact dimensions of the market they will sell in, because US, UK and EU bed sizes do not line up. The US uses twin, full, queen, king and California king, the UK uses single, double, king and super king, and the EU works in centimetres with duvet covers that are usually sold without a flat sheet.
A sheet that is right for one market is usually wrong for the others by several centimetres in one direction, and a fitted sheet that is slightly small simply will not stay on. The buyer, not the factory, has to supply the cut dimensions, the finished dimensions and the shrinkage allowance for every size in the range.
How the three markets differ
- United States: sizes are named rather than measured, and mattresses tend to be deeper, so fitted sheet pocket depths are larger. Sheet sets typically include a flat sheet, a fitted sheet and pillow cases.
- United Kingdom: single, double, king and super king, with a UK king being narrower than a US king. Flat sheets are still common, and duvet covers follow a separate set of sizes with housewife or Oxford pillow cases.
- European Union: sizes are given in centimetres and vary between countries, with Germany, France, Italy and Scandinavia each using different common widths. Duvet covers are usually sold alone or with pillow cases, and a flat sheet is often not part of the set.
What to give the factory
Send a size chart that states the finished dimensions after washing, the cut dimensions before washing, and the tolerance you will accept on each. Indian cotton typically shrinks a few percent in both directions depending on the finish, and the factory will add a shrinkage allowance to the cut size. Do not leave it to the factory to decide that allowance, because it varies by fabric and by the processing route.
Also state the hem widths, the pillow case flap length, the fitted sheet pocket depth and the elastic type. Every one of these changes the fabric consumption and therefore the cost, so a complete chart gives you a quotation you can rely on.
Shrinkage and checking
Ask for the shrinkage to be tested on the bulk fabric before cutting, using an AATCC or ISO method, rather than taken from the counter sample. Then measure finished pieces from the first production run against your chart and keep a record of them. A sheet that is cut long and shrinks to size is fine; one that is cut to the finished size and then shrinks is a return. Keep the measurement records with the shipment file, because they are the evidence you need if a retailer queries the sizing later.
How we help
We visit the stitching units, confirm the size chart has been understood and send sealed fabric samples to an NABL-accredited lab for shrinkage. Before loading we measure finished pieces against your chart and check the packing, then supervise the loading and send weekly updates. You get one approved supplier plus one backup, and a free 20-minute sourcing review is where it starts.