What Are Points of Measure in Garment Manufacturing?
Points of Measure (POM) define the physical anchor locations where garments are measured flat. They align designers, pattern makers, and QC inspectors around unified sizing standards.
General industry knowledge • Reviewed by Fenalt editorial team
A Point of Measure (POM) specifies the exact seam junction, edge anchor, and directional vector used to measure a garment.
Without explicit POM callouts, pattern makers and factory inspectors measure from different anchor points - leading to false quality rejections or inconsistent bulk fitting. Defining standardized POM codes (e.g. POM-01 for Chest Width) establishes a shared technical language across global apparel supply chains.
Master Reference
8 Standard Points of Measure in Apparel
Chest Width (1" below armhole)
Measured flat straight across the front chest, 2.5 cm (1 inch) directly below the armhole seam join.
Body Length (HPS)
High Point Shoulder (HPS) straight down to the bottom sweep edge. The foundational vertical length benchmark for tops.
Shoulder Width (Across Shoulder)
Measured from left shoulder seam join straight across the back to the opposite right shoulder seam join.
Sleeve Length (From CB or Shoulder)
Measured from center back (CB) neck seam or shoulder point seam down along the sleeve to the edge of the cuff.
Armhole Depth & Pitch
Measured straight or along the curve from the high shoulder point to the lowest point of the armhole seam.
Sweep / Bottom Opening
Measured flat across the bottom hem opening edge - specified as relaxed and fully stretched for ribbed hems.
Neck Opening & Drop
Seam-to-seam collar width and vertical drop distance measured from High Point Shoulder to front neck seam line.
Waist & Hip Width (Bottoms)
Measured flat across the top edge of the waistband (relaxed/stretched) and flat across the widest point of hips.
Category Spec Breakdown
Key POMs by Product Category
Tops, Hoodies & Jackets
- Body Length (HPS)
- Chest Width (1" below armhole)
- Across Shoulder
- Sleeve Length
- Armhole Straight/Curved
- Neck Opening Width
- Bottom Ribbing Sweep
Pants, Sweatpants & Shorts
- Waist Width (Relaxed & Stretched)
- Hip Width (at widest point)
- Front Rise & Back Rise
- Inseam Length
- Outseam Length
- Thigh & Knee Width
- Leg Opening Hem
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does POM stand for in clothing manufacturing?
POM stands for Point of Measure (or Points of Measurement). It refers to the standardized specific locations on a garment where measurements are taken flat to guide CAD pattern drafting and quality control inspection.
What is a measurement tolerance in a POM table?
Tolerance is the permissible numerical deviation (+/- cm or inches) allowed during bulk manufacturing. For knits and casual tops, standard commercial tolerance is typically ±1.0 cm to ±1.5 cm across major points of measure.
Why are standardized POM codes important?
Standardized codes (e.g. POM-01 for Chest Width, POM-02 for Body Length) ensure that designers, technical pattern makers, sample machinists, and QC auditors all measure garments from the exact same physical anchors.
How many Points of Measure should be in a tech pack?
A typical t-shirt tech pack requires 10 to 15 POM line items, while a complex jacket or technical pant tech pack may require 20 to 30 detailed POM callouts to ensure fit accuracy across all panel joins.
What is the difference between measuring on a curve vs straight?
Measuring straight takes the shortest linear distance between two points (e.g. straight across armhole). Measuring along the curve follows the contoured seamline (e.g. curved armhole seam). Tech pack POM descriptions must clarify straight vs curved.
How does Fenalt use POM tables during quality inspection?
Fenalt's Dhaka quality inspectors use your tech pack's POM table to conduct 100% flat measurement audits during pre-production sample evaluation and pre-shipment AQL 2.5 carton inspections.
Standardize your garment measurements
Fenalt drafts comprehensive POM spec tables and conducts 100% flat measurement audits for your apparel orders in Dhaka.
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