Yarn Count Measurement System

There are mainly two systems or ways of yarn count measurement, these are :

(a)  Indirect System / Fixed weight system          

( length per unit mass )

(b)  Direct system / Fixed length system

( mass per unit length )

Indirect system of yarn count measurement

The indirect system or fixed weight system is the yarn count system where the count of a yarn is
calculated by measuring the length of a fixed / definite mass.

In this system, the count of yarn is the number of length units in one weight unit. So, the count
number indicates the length per unit mass of the yarn. That is why, higher the count, finer the
yarn. In indirect count system, the mass of yarn is fixed and the length of yarn varies according
to its fineness. 

This system is widely used for measuring count of cotton yarns.

The following formula is used to calculate yarn count in indirect system :

  N   =   (L × w) / ( l × W)
Where,  N  =  yarn count

               L  =  the length of the sample

               w  =  ” unit of weight ” of the system

               W  =  the weight of the sample

                l   =   ” unit of length ” of the system

Some of the most commonly used indirect systems include :

1. English cotton count (Ne) system
2. Metric count (Nm) system
3. Worsted count (NeK) system
4. Woollen count system.
English cotton count (Ne) :
In this system, yarn count is defined as the number of hanks of 840 yards per pound.

For example, yarn count 30 Ne means that there are 30 hanks (each hank consisting of 840 yards
of yarn) per 1 lb or 1 pound of that yarn (length per mass) . In other words, if a yarn has a count
of 30 Ne , it means that 30 hanks (of 840 yards) of that yarn will weigh 1 pound.

Note :  

1. If (30×840) or, 25200 yards of a yarn weigh 1 pound then the yarn count will be 30 Ne
2. Ne count is also expressed with ’s . (e.g. 50’s cotton yarn)

Metric Cotton Count (Nm) :

In Metric cotton count system, yarn count is defined as the number of hanks of 1000 m per 1
kilogram of that yarn.

For example, yarn count 30 Nm means that there are 30 hanks of 1000 m per 1 kilogram (kg) of
that yarn. In other words, yarn count 30 Nm means 30 hanks (each hank consisting of 1000m) of
that yarn will weigh 1 kg.

Worsted Count (NeK) :

It is defined as the number of hanks of 560 yards per 1 pound of that yarn.

For example, yarn count 30 NeK means that there are 30 hanks of 560 yards per one pound (1 lb)
of that yarn. In other words, yarn count 30 NeK means 30 hanks (each hank consisting of 560
yards) of that yarn will weigh 1lb.

Woollen Count :
In this system, yarn count is defined as the number of hanks of 256 yards per pound.

For example, woollen yarn count 30 means that there are 30 hanks (of 256 yards)  per 1 lb or 1
pound of that yarn. In other words, yarn count 30 Ne means 30 hanks (each hank consisting of
256 yards) of that yarn will weigh 1 pound.
Indirect yarn count system  

Count System Name Unit of length Unit of mass

English Cotton Count (Ne) 840 yards 1 pound / 1 lb

Metric Count (Nm) 1000 m / 1 km 1 kg

Worsted Count (NeK) 560 yards 1 lb
Woollen Count 256 yards 1 lb

Direct system of yarn count measurement 

The direct system or fixed length system is the yarn count system where the count of a yarn is
calculated by measuring the mass of a fixed / definite length. 

In this system, the count of yarn is the number of weight units per length unit. Here, the count
number indicates the mass per unit length. So, higher the count, coarser the yarn. In direct count
system, the length of yarn is fixed and the mass of yarn varies according to its fineness. 

This system is commonly used for polyester, nylon, silk, acrylic & jute yarn.

The following formula is used to calculate yarn count in direct system :

  N   =  ( l × W)  /  L
Where,  N  =  yarn count

              L  =  the length of the sample

              W  =  the weight of the sample

               l   =   ” unit of length ” of the system

Some of the most commonly used direct systems include :

Tex, Denier, Pounds per Spyndle, DeciTex  (dtex) MilliTex  (mtex) KilloTex  (ktex)

Tex :
The yarn number or count in Tex system is the weight in grams of 1000 m of yarn.

For example, yarn count 30 Tex means that there are 30 grams of yarn per 1000 m or 1 km of
that yarn (mass per length) . In other words, yarn count 30 Tex means 1000 m of that yarn will
weigh 30 gm.

Denier :
The yarn number or count in Denier system is the weight in grams of 9000 m of yarn.

For example, yarn count 30 Denier means that there are 30 grams of yarn per 9000 m or 9 km of
that yarn. In other words, yarn count 30 Denier means that 9000 m of that yarn will weigh 30
gm.

Pound per Spyndle / Jute count :

The yarn number or count in Pound per Spyndle system is the weight in pounds of 14,400 yards
of yarn.

For example, yarn count 20 Pound per Spyndle means that there are 20 lbs of yarn per 14400 m
yards of that yarn. In other words, yarn count 20 Pounds per Spyndle means that 14400 m of that
yarn will weigh 20 lbs.

deciTex (dTex) :
The yarn number or count in deciTex system is the weight in grams of 10,000 m of yarn.

For example, yarn count 30 deciTex means that there are 30 grams of yarn per 10,000 m or 10
km of that yarn (mass per length). In other words, yarn count 30 dTex means 10,000 m of that
yarn will weigh 30 gm.

miliTex (mTex) :
The yarn number or count in miliTex system is the weight in milligrams of 1000 m of yarn.

For example, yarn count 30 miliTex means that there are 30 milligrams of yarn per 1000 m or 1
km of that yarn. In other words, yarn count 30 mTex means that 1000 m of that yarn will weigh
30 milligrams.

kiloTex (kTex) :
The yarn number or count in kiloTex system is the weight in kilograms of 1000 m of yarn.

For example, yarn count 30 kiloTex means that there are 30 kilograms of yarn per 1000 m or 1
km of that yarn. In other words, yarn count 30 kTex means 1000 m of that yarn will weigh 30
kilograms.

 Direct yarn count system

Count System Name Unit of length Unit of mass

Tex 1000 m No. of grams

Denier 9000 m No. of grams
Pounds per Spyndle 
14,400 yards No. of lbs
( Jute, Hemp)
DeciTex (dTex) 10,000 m / 10 km No. of grams
miliTex (mTex) 1000 m No. of miligrams

KiloTex (kTex) 1000 m No. of kilograms

Direct yarn count system

Count System Name Unit of length Unit of mass

Tex 1000 m No. of grams

Denier 9000 m No. of grams
Pounds per Spyndle 
14,400 yards No. of lbs
( Jute, Hemp)
DeciTex (dTex) 10,000 m / 10 km No. of grams
miliTex (mTex) 1000 m No. of miligrams

KiloTex (kTex) 1000 m No. of kilograms

Indirect yarn count system  

 Count System Name Unit of length Unit of mass

English Cotton Count (Ne) 840 yards 1 pound / 1 lb

Metric Count (Nm) 1000 m / 1 km 1 kg

Worsted Count (NeK) 560 yards 1 lb
Woollen Count 256 yards 1 lb

Table: Count Conversion Table for Textile Yarns

From – To Formula
 1 Cotton to Denier 5315 / Cotton Count

 2 Denier to Cotton 5315 / Denier

 3 Cotton to Metric Cotton Count  X 1.69

 4 Metric to Cotton Metric Count  / 1.69

 5 Denier to Metric 9000 / Denier

 6 Metric to Denier 9000 / Metric Count

 7 Cotton to Tex 590.5 / Cotton Count

 8 Tex to Cotton 590.5 / Tex Count

 9 Tex to Metric 1000 / Tex Count

 10 Metric to Tex 1000 / Metric Count

 11 Tex to Denier Tex Count x 9

 12 Denier to Tex Denier / 9

 13 Denier to Decitex Denier / 0.9

 14 Metric to Decitex 10,000 / Metric Count