Reference
Yarn count conversion chart
Four numbering systems are in daily use in the yarn trade, and they do not agree with each other. This page gives the conversion formulas, a full equivalence table from 4s to 120s, and a guide to what each count range is actually used for.
If you would rather convert a single figure, use our yarn count converter. This page is the reference table.
The two families of count system
Every count system is either direct or indirect, and confusing the two is the most expensive mistake in yarn sourcing.
In indirect systems — Ne (English cotton), Nm (metric), worsted and linen — the number is a length per unit weight. A higher number means a finer yarn.
In direct systems — tex, dtex and denier — the number is a weight per unit length. A higher number means a coarser yarn.
So 30s Ne is finer than 20s Ne, but 300 denier is coarser than 200 denier. If a quote says only “150” with no system named, it could be a fine cotton or a heavy filament. Always ask.
Conversion formulas
| From | To | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Ne | Tex | Tex = 590.5 ÷ Ne |
| Tex | Ne | Ne = 590.5 ÷ Tex |
| Nm | Tex | Tex = 1000 ÷ Nm |
| Tex | Nm | Nm = 1000 ÷ Tex |
| Ne | Nm | Nm = Ne × 1.693 |
| Nm | Ne | Ne = Nm ÷ 1.693 |
| Denier | Tex | Tex = Denier ÷ 9 |
| Tex | Denier | Denier = Tex × 9 |
| Dtex | Tex | Tex = Dtex ÷ 10 |
| Denier | Dtex | Dtex = Denier × 1.111 |
Full conversion chart
Values rounded for practical use. Ne is the reference column because it is the standard for cotton and cotton-blend yarn in India.
| Ne | Nm | Tex | Dtex | Denier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6.8 | 148 | 1476 | 1329 |
| 6 | 10.2 | 98 | 984 | 886 |
| 8 | 13.5 | 74 | 738 | 664 |
| 10 | 16.9 | 59 | 591 | 532 |
| 12 | 20.3 | 49 | 492 | 443 |
| 14 | 23.7 | 42 | 422 | 380 |
| 16 | 27.1 | 37 | 369 | 332 |
| 18 | 30.5 | 33 | 328 | 295 |
| 20 | 33.9 | 30 | 295 | 266 |
| 24 | 40.6 | 25 | 246 | 222 |
| 26 | 44.0 | 23 | 227 | 204 |
| 28 | 47.4 | 21 | 211 | 190 |
| 30 | 50.8 | 20 | 197 | 177 |
| 32 | 54.2 | 18 | 185 | 166 |
| 34 | 57.6 | 17 | 174 | 156 |
| 36 | 60.9 | 16 | 164 | 148 |
| 40 | 67.7 | 15 | 148 | 133 |
| 45 | 76.2 | 13 | 131 | 118 |
| 50 | 84.7 | 12 | 118 | 106 |
| 60 | 101.6 | 9.8 | 98 | 89 |
| 70 | 118.5 | 8.4 | 84 | 76 |
| 80 | 135.4 | 7.4 | 74 | 66 |
| 100 | 169.3 | 5.9 | 59 | 53 |
| 120 | 203.2 | 4.9 | 49 | 44 |
What each count range is used for
| Count (Ne) | Tex | Typical end use |
|---|---|---|
| 4s – 10s | 148 – 59 | Canvas, rugs, durries, industrial and packaging fabric |
| 12s – 20s | 49 – 30 | Denim warp, towels, heavy jersey, workwear |
| 24s – 30s | 25 – 20 | T-shirt jersey, standard shirting, bed linen |
| 32s – 40s | 18 – 15 | Fine shirting, premium tees, poplin |
| 50s – 80s | 12 – 7.4 | Voile, lawn, fine poplin, mulmul |
| 100s and above | under 5.9 | Superfine shirting, specialty and heritage fabric |
Folded and multi-ply counts
A folded count is written as singles/plies. 60s/2 means two 60s singles twisted together, giving a resultant count of 30s. Because Ne is indirect, folding lowers the number.
This catches buyers out constantly. 60s/2 is not a fine yarn — it is a 30s-thickness yarn built from finer, cleaner components, which is why it costs more and looks better. Use the ply count calculator to work out resultant counts, including unequal folds.
A caution on nominal versus actual count
Quoted count is nominal. Actual count varies lot to lot, and the tolerance is worth agreeing in writing — count variation shows up as shade banding after dyeing, long before anyone measures it.
If count consistency matters to your fabric, ask for count CV% on the test report rather than accepting the nominal figure alone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert Ne to tex?
Divide 590.5 by the Ne count. A 30s Ne yarn is 590.5 divided by 30, which is 19.7 tex.
Is a higher yarn count finer or coarser?
It depends on the system. In Ne, Nm, worsted and linen, higher means finer. In tex, dtex and denier, higher means coarser.
Which count system is used for cotton in India?
Ne, the English cotton count, is standard for cotton and cotton-blend spun yarn. Polyester filament is quoted in denier or dtex, and woollen or worsted yarn in Nm.
What is the difference between denier and dtex?
Both are direct systems. Denier is grams per 9,000 metres; dtex is grams per 10,000 metres. Dtex equals denier multiplied by 1.111.
What does 60s/2 mean?
Two 60s singles folded together, giving a resultant count equivalent to 30s. Folding makes yarn thicker, so the Ne number goes down.
Can you quote yarn in any count system?
Yes. Send your specification in whichever system you work in and we will convert it and quote the nearest standard count we can supply.
Need this quoted?
Send your count, blend and quantity and we will come back with firm pricing ex-Delhi and a lead time, within one working day.
Get a quote