Jersey GSM Explained: 140 vs 160 vs 180 GSM for Every Sport

By Nishanth, founder of Jaypee Sportswear. Making custom team jerseys since 2012 at our own sublimation unit in Thanjavur. Updated 31 October 2026.

Key takeaways

• Jersey GSM is the fabric weight in grams per square metre; sublimated team jerseys usually sit between 120 and 190 GSM.
• Choose 140 GSM for summer training and kabaddi, 160 GSM for football and running, 170 to 180 GSM for cricket, badminton and finals kits.
• Same GSM does not mean same quality: QUARTZ-A and LINEA-S are both 180 GSM, but only QUARTZ-A carries UV, wicking and anti-microbial finishes.
• You can check GSM at home: weigh a 10 cm by 10 cm square in grams and multiply by 100.

Jersey GSM is the weight of one square metre of fabric, in grams. A 160 GSM jersey fabric weighs 160 g per square metre. Most sublimated team jerseys sit between 120 and 190 GSM, and that number tells you more about how a jersey will feel and last than the fabric name does.

This is the sport-by-sport version. I have printed for hundreds of teams from our factory in Thanjavur, and the same questions come up again and again. Is 140 too thin for a match? Is 180 too hot for May? Which weight for kabaddi? The answers are below, with the Jaypee fabric for each sport.

What is a good jersey GSM for a sports team?

For most sports a good jersey GSM is 160 to 180. Go down to 140 for summer training tops and kabaddi, and stay at 160 or below when the match is played in full sun for hours.

Reference sources put knitted jersey fabric anywhere from about 120 to 220 GSM, as the Wikipedia entry on jersey fabric shows. For sublimated team wear the useful band is narrower. Lighter fabric (120 to 150 GSM) is cooler and dries faster. Heavier fabric (160 to 190 GSM) feels more structured and lasts longer.

At 220 GSM you are in T-shirt and hoodie territory. That is too warm and too slow to dry for a match.

140 vs 160 vs 180 GSM: what changes on the field?

140 GSM is the coolest and lightest, 160 GSM is the all-round match weight, and 180 GSM is the most durable and holds a crisp print best. A 20 GSM step is easy to feel in your hand and even easier to feel after 40 overs in the sun.

140 GSM: the summer weight

At 140 GSM you get the lightest premium fabric we make. RIBRA-G is a rib ladder knit with vertical channels that stretch, so it moves with a raider or a runner and barely registers on the skin. It costs ₹599 and carries UV protection, moisture-wicking and anti-microbial finishes.

The trade-off is body. A 140 GSM top feels softer and less structured, and it shows wear sooner on rough turf or mat. For training and warm-up that is fine. For a tournament final, most teams prefer a bit more weight.

160 GSM: the match weight

This is where most football, futsal and volleyball kits live. HEXA-B (₹699) is a honeycomb mesh with open hexagon cells, and DOTTA-F (₹599) is a pinhole dot mesh with a smooth face. Both are 160 GSM, and both carry the same three finishes.

The holes do a lot of the cooling work here. A 160 GSM mesh breathes better than a 140 GSM closed knit, so weight alone does not predict how hot a jersey feels.

170 to 180 GSM: the structured weights

GRID-E is 170 GSM, RHOMB-H is 175 GSM, and QUARTZ-A, LINEA-S and PINDOT-N are 180 GSM. These keep their shape through hundreds of washes, hold collars flat and give the sharpest print edges. They also run warmer, so they suit indoor courts, cooler months and sports with less continuous running.

Which GSM should I choose for each sport?

Pick the lightest GSM that still gives your sport the durability it needs. Running and kabaddi sit at the light end, while rugby, esports and finals cricket sit at the heavy end. This table covers 16 sports with the Jaypee fabric I would put on the team.

For the full best, value and budget picks per sport, see the jersey fabric matching chart.

Does a higher GSM mean a better jersey?

No. A higher GSM only means a heavier fabric. Knit structure, holes, finishes and yarn quality decide how a jersey performs, and two fabrics at the same GSM can behave very differently.

Take the 180 GSM group. QUARTZ-A (₹699) is a diamond knit with UV protection, moisture-wicking and anti-microbial finishes. LINEA-S (₹399) is a micro grid knit with no holes and a solid feel, and PINDOT-N (₹399) is a pinhole micro dot knit. LINEA-S and PINDOT-N do not carry the three finishes. The weight is identical, the price difference is ₹300, and the finishes explain most of it.

Heavier is also not always cooler or tougher. A 160 GSM mesh can last well because the yarn is good, and a 200 GSM closed knit can feel like a blanket in Thanjavur in April. Match the weight to the sport first, then the budget.

How do I check the GSM of a jersey myself?

Cut a 10 cm by 10 cm square, weigh it in grams on a jewellery scale and multiply by 100. That gives you the GSM. A 1.7 g square is a 170 GSM fabric.

1. Ask the supplier for the stated GSM in writing before you order. A real maker gives you a number per fabric.
2. Take an unprinted offcut or a swatch. Avoid seams, hems and the edge of the roll, where knitting can run tighter.
3. Mark a 10 cm by 10 cm square with a ruler and cut it cleanly with sharp scissors or a blade.
4. Weigh it on a scale that reads to 0.01 g. A kitchen scale is too coarse for one small square.
5. Multiply by 100. If you only have a 1 g scale, cut a 20 cm by 20 cm square and multiply by 25.

A reading within about 5 percent of the stated GSM is normal for knitted fabric, because tension and moisture shift the weight slightly. If a fabric sold as 180 GSM reads 150, you have been given a lighter fabric than you paid for.

For a quick check without a scale, hold the fabric to a window. A 140 GSM sheet lets plenty of light through a closed knit, while 180 GSM looks dense. Stretch it sideways and let go. Good fabric springs back flat. You can ask for swatches of any Jaypee fabric on WhatsApp and run this test at home.

Does GSM affect sublimation print quality?

Yes, a little. Sublimation ink turns to gas and settles into polyester fibre, so the print is only as even as the surface it lands on. Heavier closed knits give the flattest surface, which is why 180 GSM fabrics show fine lines and small sponsor text so cleanly.

Lighter and meshed fabrics print fine but have gaps. On a mesh, the ink colours the yarn and the holes stay open, so very small text can look slightly softer. For large names, numbers and bold patterns the difference is hard to see. For fine detail on a mesh, ask for a free mockup, which we send in 24 hours.

Is 180 GSM or 220 GSM better for a jersey?

For a playing jersey, 180 GSM is the better choice. 220 GSM is T-shirt weight, warm and slow to dry. I wrote a full comparison in an older post, jersey GSM 180 vs 220, which goes into the detail if you are comparing those two.

What GSM mistakes do teams make when ordering?

The most common mistake is buying on weight alone. A team hears that 200 GSM is premium, orders it, and then finds the jersey hot and slow to dry on match day. Past about 190 GSM you are paying for cloth you will not enjoy wearing in Indian weather.

The second mistake is going too light for a sport with contact. A 140 GSM top is lovely for training but wears faster in rugby tackles or slides on a gravel ground. The third is ignoring the knit. Ask about the knit as well as the weight.

How do I pick a GSM for my own team?

Start with the sport and the heat. If your team plays outdoors in Tamil Nadu summer, stay at 140 to 160 GSM and choose a mesh or rib knit. If the team plays indoors or wants one kit for the whole year, 170 to 180 GSM gives more durability and a cleaner print.

Then check the budget. Elite fabrics (QUARTZ-A and HEXA-B) are ₹699, Pro fabrics (DOTTA-F, RHOMB-H and RIBRA-G) are ₹599, GRID-E is ₹499, and LINEA-S and PINDOT-N are ₹399. Prices include names, numbers and logo, the minimum order is 5 pieces, and every size from XS to 4XL costs the same.

If you are still unsure, the fabric comparison chart puts all eight side by side, and the jersey fabrics hub has a page for each one. Teams in Chennai can also look at our custom jerseys in Chennai page for the K.K. Nagar point.