Stoffmassa

Stoffmassa is a term used primarily in the European textile industry to describe the mass per unit area of a fabric, expressed in metric units such as grams per square metre (g / m²). The word derives from the Swedish “stoff” meaning cloth or material and the German and Dutch “massa” meaning mass. In practice, stoffmassa indicates how heavy a piece of fabric will be when spread to a standardized size, providing a quantifiable measure of its density and, by extension, its thickness, durability and drape.

Because the weight of a fabric influences both its cost and its performance in garments and household textiles, stoffmassa is measured as part of quality control before fabric is incorporated into production. Standardized test panels, usually of 2 × 2 m or 4 × 4 m, are weighed with a calibrated balance after the fabric has been properly cleaned and dried. The recorded value is then used by designers, manufacturers and consumers to compare finishes, assess the suitability for specific garments, and calculate material requirements for production.

In addition to clothing, stoffmassa is relevant to upholstery, curtains and industrial textiles such as geotextiles, where weight per area can affect insulation, water‑permeability and resistance to wear. International textile standards, including ISO 20745 and specific national regulations, prescribe methods for determining stoffmassa to ensure consistency across markets. By providing a simple numerical descriptor, stoffmassa facilitates efficient communication among designers, mills, and retailers, thereby helping to maintain quality and control costs throughout the textile supply chain.