The best fabric for aprons depends entirely on the job, because a barbecue apron and a child's painting apron are asking for very different things. If you are wondering what fabric to make aprons from, this guide matches each option to the task, from light and easy-care to heavy-duty and wipe-clean, and shows you where to buy apron fabric by the metre. And if you would rather feel the weight before you commit, you can order a sample from just 99p.

What This Guide Covers

1. What Is the Best Fabric for Aprons?
2. Is Polycotton Good for Aprons?
3. The Best Apron Fabrics, by Type
4. Cheap Apron Fabric to Buy by the Metre
5. How Much Fabric Do You Need for an Apron?
6. Child and Craft Aprons: What Fabric to Use
7. Making Your Apron: Styles, Pockets and Care

What Is the Best Fabric for Aprons?

There is no single answer, because the right choice depends on what the apron has to survive. As a quick steer: polycotton for everyday, craft and kids' makes; cotton drill or canvas for heavy-duty and kitchen work; denim for a rugged look; linen for a rustic, breathable feel; and a waterproof or coated fabric when you need to wipe it clean. Here is how they compare.

In short, pick a light, easy-care fabric for everyday and craft use, and a heavier, sturdier one for the kitchen, workshop or trade. If mess is the main enemy, a wipe-clean coated fabric wins whatever the setting.

Our apron fabric picks

• Plain and Printed Polycotton: the easy-care all-rounder for everyday, craft and kids' makes. Sold by the metre.

• Gingham Polycotton: a classic check for a country-kitchen look, in 14 colours and two sizes, just £2.99 per metre.

• Cotton Drill: a sturdy 255 GSM twill for hard-wearing kitchen and workshop makes.

• Canvas and Denim: heavyweight, rugged options for trade and statement pieces.

• Waterproof Fabric: a wipe-clean choice for painting, cleaning and wet work.

Shop apron fabric by the metre, or order a 99p sample to feel the weight before you buy.

Is Polycotton Good for Aprons?

For most home, craft and everyday aprons, yes. Polycotton for aprons has plenty going for it, and it is one of the best choices you can make. Because it is a polyester and cotton blend, it is easy-care and wash-and-go: machine washable, colourfast, wrinkle-resistant and quick to dry, so it still looks smart after countless washes. It is also lightweight, shrink-resistant and cheap, and it comes in a huge range of prints, which is exactly why the 65/35 poly-cotton blend is the workhorse of busy commercial kitchens.

Polycotton fabric for aprons is not the answer to everything, though. For heavy-duty kitchen, workshop or trade wear that takes real punishment, a heavier cotton drill, canvas or a waterproof coated fabric will last longer and protect better. For everyday and craft use, though, it is hard to beat on price and convenience.

The Best Apron Fabrics, by Type

Once you know the job, deciding what fabric to make aprons from gets much easier, and weight is the quickest signal: a light to medium fabric suits everyday aprons, while heavy-duty and kitchen wear calls for something around 255 GSM or more. Here is how the main options stack up.

• Cotton drill and twill: a sturdy diagonal weave that hides stains and drapes well. Ours is around 255 GSM, a brilliant all-round choice for kitchen and workshop wear.

• Cotton canvas and duck: heavyweight and structured, the toughest everyday option for trade, garden and workshop use.

• Denim: rugged, comfortable and full of character, ideal for a stylish barista or maker's look, though the colour softens and fades over time.

• Linen: lightweight, breathable and hard-wearing, with a lovely rustic feel for baking and florist work. It does crease, which is part of its charm.

• Medium-weight cotton: breathable, gentle on the skin and easy to sew, comfortable for home and light kitchen use.

• Waterproof, coated and PVC: wipe-clean fabrics such as oilcloth and laminated cotton, ideal for painting, cleaning and wet work where washable simply is not enough.

If you cook over an open flame, look specifically for a flame-resistant fabric rather than relying on a standard cotton or blend.

Cheap Apron Fabric to Buy by the Metre

An apron is a small, satisfying make, so it is a great way to use affordable fabric well. For cheap apron fabric in the UK, start with our plain polycotton, a cheerful gingham or a spot or stripe print, all easy to sew and easy to wash. Making a set for a craft group, school, market stall or as gifts? Our remnants, pound a metre lines and bulk buys bring the cost right down when you need several.

As a family-run UK fabric shop, we sell every fabric by the metre, offer 99p samples so you can check the weight and colour first, and run next day delivery on orders placed before 1.30pm, with loyalty points on everything.

How Much Fabric Do You Need for an Apron?

Not much, which is part of the appeal. As a rough guide, an adult bib apron takes about 1 metre of 112cm-wide fabric, and a child's about half a metre. Add a little extra for pockets, a waistband and ties, and round up so you have some spare.

Wider fabric or a specific pattern will change those figures, so check your pattern first. For the ties and straps, a length of bias binding or cotton tape is quick and strong, and a scrap of interfacing gives a neckband or waistband extra body.

Child and Craft Aprons: What Fabric to Use

For children's and craft makes, the priorities are different: you want cheerful, washable and, ideally, wipe-clean. For everyday and school use, a fun kids' print polycotton or gingham is washable, affordable and hard-wearing. For painting and messy play, a laminated cotton or PVC and coated fabric wipes clean in seconds. Long ties that wrap and fasten at the front let one grow with a child.

Making Your Apron: Styles, Pockets and Care

A quick word on putting it together. The main styles are the bib, the waist, the cross-back and the pinafore, and your fabric should suit the shape: lighter polycotton and cotton for a pretty half-apron or pinafore, heavier drill, canvas or denim for a structured bib or cross-back. Add a roomy pocket, and use sturdy ties or straps that take the strain.

Finish by hemming or binding the raw edges so they do not fray. For care, machine wash polycotton and cotton, wipe coated fabrics down, and expect denim to fade and linen to crease gently with age, which is all part of their character.

Ready to Make Your Apron?

Whatever you are making, the best fabric for aprons is the one that suits the job, and for most everyday and craft makes that is easy-care polycotton for aprons, with drill, canvas, denim, linen or a coated fabric for tougher work. Shop apron fabric by the metre, order a 99p sample to check the weight, and enjoy next day delivery on orders placed before 1.30pm.