Yarn Count (Ne, Tex, Denier)

Yarn count expresses the fineness of a yarn as a relationship between length and mass. Indirect systems such as cotton count (Ne) rise as yarn gets finer; direct systems such as tex and denier rise as it gets coarser.

Indirect systems measure length per unit mass. English cotton count Ne is the number of 840-yard hanks in one pound, so a 40s yarn is finer than a 20s yarn, and metric count Nm is the number of kilometres per kilogram. Direct systems measure mass per unit length: tex is grams per 1000 metres, decitex grams per 10,000 metres, and denier grams per 9000 metres, used widely for filament yarns. Ne multiplied by tex is approximately 590.5.

Count is the basic specification of every yarn. It determines fabric weight and cover together with thread density, drives machine settings such as drafts in spinning and gauge in knitting, and is the basis of yarn pricing and trading.

Count is determined by measuring a known length of yarn, for example by reeling skeins, and weighing it after conditioning in the standard atmosphere for textile testing defined in ISO 139. Variation in count between and within packages, expressed as a coefficient of variation, affects fabric appearance, so mills monitor it alongside evenness. Different countries and fibre sectors use different systems, so the system must always be stated.

Key points

Ne counts 840-yard hanks per pound; higher Ne means finer yarn
Tex is grams per 1000 m; denier is grams per 9000 m
Ne multiplied by tex is approximately 590.5
Measured on conditioned yarn, as specified in ISO 139

Where AiVibe comes in

AiAmbA use cases include visual inspection on textile and automotive lines, predictive maintenance and digital twins. Existing lines are retrofitted with edge devices, and AI agents only propose changes for a trained operator to confirm.

Explore AiVibe’s work in Textile & Automotive Manufacturing →

Yarn Count (Ne, Tex, Denier)

Key points

Where AiVibe comes in

Related terms

Terms that refer to Yarn Count (Ne, Tex, Denier)