Yarn count tells you how fine or coarse a yarn is, but different systems are used around the world. Knowing them avoids costly miscommunication when sourcing.
Indirect systems (count rises as yarn gets finer)
- Ne (English cotton count) — the most common for cotton; higher Ne = finer yarn (40s is finer than 20s).
- Nm (metric count) — length per unit weight; higher = finer.
Direct systems (count rises as yarn gets coarser)
- Tex — grams per 1,000 metres; higher Tex = heavier yarn.
- Denier — grams per 9,000 metres; common for filament yarns.
Handy conversions
- Ne to Tex: Tex ≈ 590.5 ÷ Ne
- Nm to Tex: Tex ≈ 1000 ÷ Nm
- Denier to Tex: Tex = Denier ÷ 9
Why it matters
If your spec is in Ne but your supplier quotes in Tex or Denier, a quick conversion keeps everyone aligned on the same yarn. Always confirm the system alongside the number.
Need help matching a count?
Share your count in any system and we will match it across our cotton and blended ranges. Request a quote.
Try our free tool: use the Yarn Count Converter to convert instantly between Ne, Nm, Tex and Denier.