Capsule wardrobe size.

Worked example

You wash once a week (7 days), wear each top once and each bottom three times, keep 1 spare per category, and have no dress days. Tops: 7 / 1 = 7, plus 1 spare = 8. Bottoms: 7 / 3 = 2.33, rounded up to 3, plus 1 spare = 4. Add 3 outerwear, 4 shoes and 4 accessories: 8 + 4 + 3 + 4 + 4 = 23 pieces, which is 10 fewer than the 33-item Project 333 limit.

How it works

pieces = round up (days between washes / wears before washing) + spares, worked out separately for tops, bottoms and dresses. If you wear a dress on part of your days, those days are taken out of the top and bottom count and given to dresses. Outerwear, shoes and accessories are added as the counts you enter.

The 33 comparison. Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months. Its rules count clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes, and do not count a wedding ring or other sentimental jewelry you never take off, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear and workout clothing. This tool only shows where your total lands against that number. It is not a recommended size, and other capsule wardrobes use different counts.

The calculation assumes you only wear clean items. It does not account for seasons: a capsule for three months of one climate is what the 33 figure refers to.

Sources and basis (all opened 2026-10-08): Project 333 Challenge, Be More with Less (33 items or less for 3 months; what counts and what does not). The rest is arithmetic on your inputs.

FAQ

How many clothes do I need in a capsule wardrobe?

Enough to cover the days between washes. Divide those days by how many times you wear an item before washing it, round up, and add a spare. With a weekly wash and tops worn once, that is 8 tops.

What is the 33 item rule?

Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months. The 33 includes clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes, but not a sentimental ring you never remove, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear or workout clothing.

Does this tool tell me to own 33 items?

No. It shows your own total beside the 33 figure so you can see the difference. Your laundry routine, climate and job decide what you need.

Why do bottoms need fewer pieces than tops?

Most people wear jeans or trousers several times before washing but wear a top once. The calculator lets you set wears per item separately for each category.

Do I need spares?

A spare covers a stain, a missed laundry day or an item at the cleaner. Set spares to 0 if you want the bare minimum.