BOM template
Bill of materials template for clothing
This is the bill of materials format sampling rooms actually want to read: one row per component, with placement, composition, colour, supplier, and consumption stated on every line. Copy the columns below into a spreadsheet, or auto-fill them from a garment photo with SpecForm OS.
The template, column by column
A garment BOM is a table with one row per material or component. Whatever tool you build it in, use these columns, in this order, so a factory can read it without a follow-up email:
- Item no. - a running number so rows can be referenced in emails and fit comments.
- Component - what the line is: shell fabric, rib trim, zip, main label, sewing thread.
- Placement - where it sits on the garment: body and sleeves, centre-front, inner neck.
- Material / composition - fiber content plus weight or gauge, e.g. 100% cotton jersey, 180gsm.
- Colour / colourway - the colour reference per colorway, ideally a Pantone code.
- Size / spec - trim dimensions and types: #5 zip, 15mm button, 8mm drawcord.
- Supplier and article no. - where it is sourced, or 'to source' while quoting.
- Consumption - how much one garment uses: metres of fabric, units of trim.
- Notes - anything a sourcing team must not guess: finish, wash, matching instructions.
Filled example: a basic crew-neck tee
Even a simple style needs more rows than people expect. A quotable tee BOM looks like this:
- 1 · Shell fabric · body and sleeves · 100% combed cotton single jersey, 180gsm · White (PANTONE 11-0601 TCX) · consumption ~0.9m at base size.
- 2 · Neck rib · neckline · 1x1 rib, 95/5 cotton/elastane · matched to shell · 2cm finished width.
- 3 · Sewing thread · all seams · 100% spun polyester, Tex 30 · dyed to match · listed so it is never assumed.
- 4 · Main label · inner back neck · woven damask, 60x30mm · brand artwork ref · 1 unit.
- 5 · Care label · inner left side seam · printed satin · composition, wash care, and country of origin · 1 unit.
- 6 · Size label · under main label · woven · 1 unit.
- 7 · Hang tag and packaging · per garment · tag stock, string, polybag with warning print · 1 set.
What changes for heavier styles
The template does not change for a hoodie, a jacket, or trousers, only the row count does. Heavier styles add lines for lining, interlining or fusing, closures, cords and stoppers, eyelets, and hardware finish. The two rows people forget most are interlining and thread, and each one can stall a sample while the factory emails you about it.
For a fully worked hoodie example, line by line, see our guide on how to write a BOM for clothing.
Template rules that keep quotes accurate
A BOM template is only as good as the discipline behind it. Three rules keep it quotable:
- One component per row, one placement per row. A fabric used in two places gets two rows if the consumption differs.
- Never leave consumption blank. A factory either pads the quote to protect margin or stops to ask.
- Mark unknowns explicitly, 'to source' or 'TBC', so a blank cell never reads as 'factory's choice'.
Skip the blank template: auto-fill a BOM from a photo
A template is still an empty grid you fill in by hand for every style. SpecForm OS drafts the whole table from a garment photo or sketch: it proposes each component with placement, composition, and trim specs, labels what it observed versus what it inferred, and keeps every row editable. You confirm rows instead of typing them, then export the BOM inside a factory-ready tech pack.
FAQ
Common questions
Is there a free bill of materials template for clothing?
Yes. Copy the columns above into any spreadsheet: item no., component, placement, material/composition, colour, size/spec, supplier, consumption, and notes. Or skip the blank grid entirely, SpecForm OS auto-fills a BOM from a garment photo free to start, with no credit card.
What columns should a garment BOM template have?
Nine columns cover almost every style: item number, component, placement, material or composition, colour or colourway reference, size or trim spec, supplier and article number, consumption per garment, and notes. Factories can quote from any format that states these clearly per row.
How is a BOM template different from a costing sheet?
The BOM lists what goes into the garment; the costing sheet adds what each line costs. Factories build the costing from your BOM by multiplying consumption by unit price and adding labour, so an accurate BOM is the input a costing sheet depends on.
Can I build a clothing BOM in Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes, and many brands do. The trade-off is that a spreadsheet knows nothing about garments: it will not flag a missing interlining row, suggest trim specs, or keep the BOM in sync with your flats and measurements. Dedicated tools like SpecForm OS draft and validate the table for you.
How many rows should a garment BOM have?
A basic tee is around 7 rows once thread, labels, and packaging are included. A hoodie runs 10 to 14, and outerwear can pass 20. If your BOM has 3 rows, it is almost certainly missing components the factory will have to guess.
Keep reading
Turn your next garment into a tech pack.
Generation, review, and a factory-ready preview - in one connected flow.