Thread Size Numbering Systems

24 October 2023

What is yarn count?

"Yarn count" is a unit used to measure the thickness of yarn. Because the cross-sectional shape of most yarns is not circular, calculating yarn thickness using "diameter" is evidently imprecise. Therefore, in practice, yarn fineness is expressed in relation to the length and weight of the yarn. Just as different countries have different names and values for their currencies, various countries have had different traditions for defining and measuring yarn fineness (yarn count) over the years. However, generally speaking, the methods of representing yarn count can be categorized into two main types: "fixed weight system" (also known as an indirect system) and "fixed length system" (also known as a direct system).

	Measurement system	Units	Definition
Fixed Weight System (indirect system)	English cotton count	Ne	Number of hanks of 840 yards/lb
	Metric	Nm	Number of hanks of 1000 metres/kg
Fixed Length System (direct system)	Denier	D	Weight in grams of 9,000 metres
	Tex	tex	Weight in grams of 1,000 metres