T-shirt manufacturing cost in India is the sum of the fabric, the trims, the making charge, any decoration or wash, packing, and the factory's overhead and margin. CMT stands for cut, make and trim. It is the making charge only, and does not include fabric. We do not give figures, because they depend on the garment, the quantity and the month.
A garment CMT cost in India covers cutting, sewing, finishing and basic packing. It is the part the factory controls most, and it is where buyers most often compare quotes that are not like for like.
What goes into a T-shirt cost sheet?
A full cost sheet is explained in garment costing: CMT and FOB breakdown. In outline, it has these lines:
- Fabric: the consumption in metres or kilograms per piece, including wastage, multiplied by the fabric cost.
- Trims: labels, thread, sewing and care labels, hang tags, polybag and carton.
- CMT: the cost of cutting, sewing and finishing, which depends on the number of operations in the style.
- Decoration: printing, embroidery or special washes, priced per piece or per position.
- Testing and inspection, if required.
- Overhead, profit and the cost of export documents and delivery to port.
Why fabric is the largest line
For a basic T-shirt, fabric is usually the biggest single cost. Fabric weight in grams per square metre, the yarn and whether the fabric is combed or carded, all change it. The T-shirt GSM and fabric weight guide explains what each choice means for feel and cost.
Consumption matters as much as the fabric price. A larger size, a longer sleeve or a loose fit uses more cloth. A good pattern maker reduces wastage, and a poor one wastes fabric that you pay for.
What changes the making charge?
CMT is set by the sewing time. Each operation adds minutes, such as a pocket, a tape, a double-needle hem or a special seam. The factory's cost per minute depends on wages, efficiency and overhead. A basic crew-neck tee is quick to make. A style with many details takes longer and costs more.
Order size matters. A large run lets the factory keep the line on a single style and run efficiently. A small order has more change-over time, and a factory may charge more per piece or set a minimum quantity per style and colour.
Comparing CMT quotes
Ask each factory to quote against the same tech pack, with the same fabric supplied or the same fabric specified. If one factory is quoting CMT only and another is quoting FOB with fabric, you are looking at two different numbers. When to choose each route is covered in when to use CMT garment manufacturing.
Also ask what is included. Typical items to confirm are the thread, the standard labels, the polybag, the carton, the inspection and the cost of any rework.
A low CMT quote with a high rejection allowance is not a saving. Ask the factory for its standard defect rate and for its quality plan.
Next step
We can turn your tech pack into comparable quotes from audited factories, check the samples and supervise production and loading. Book a free sourcing review with your style and quantity.