Yarn Count Conversion Calculator

Convert between 27 textile yarn-count units — tex, denier, dtex, Nm, Ne, worsted, spyndle, lea, hank, Yorkshire, Galashiels, Hawick, asbestos, glass and more.

Talk to a Meera textile expert ↗

★★★★☆ Trusted by textile professionals

Try it

Need help sourcing yarn or sizing a TFO?

Talk to a Meera textile expert ↗

TLDR

What this page covers, at a glance

Convert any yarn count to any other in one click — no lookup tables, no slide rules, no spreadsheets
27 industry-standard units in one place: tex, denier, dtex, Nm, Ne, worsted, Yorkshire, Galashiels, Hawick, asbestos, glass and more
Download a branded PDF of all 27 conversions for your input value — share with mills, buyers, QC teams
Built for production planners, mill engineers, textile buyers and procurement teams

Key conversion facts

1 Tex = 1 gram per kilometre of yarn (the SI-aligned canonical unit).
1 Denier = grams per 9,000 metres. Conversion: 1 denier = 0.1111 tex (1/9).
1 Decitex (dtex) = grams per 10,000 metres. Conversion: 1 dtex = 0.1 tex.
1 Metric Number (Nm) yarn at value N means N kilometres per kilogram. Conversion: tex = 1000 / Nm.
1 English Cotton Count (Ne) at value N means N 840-yard hanks per pound. Conversion: tex = 590.5 / Ne.
1 Worsted Count at value N means N 560-yard hanks per pound. Conversion: tex = 885.8 / Worsted.
Direct system units (Tex, Decitex, Denier, spyndle, US grain) measure MASS per length — higher count = heavier yarn.
Indirect system units (Nm, Ne, worsted, Yorkshire, Galashiels, Hawick, etc.) measure LENGTH per mass — higher count = finer yarn.
All conversions route through Tex as the canonical unit. Calibration is exact to 4 decimal places per IUPAC textile convention.

Reference: all supported units

Metric / SI standard

3 units

Unit name	Unit basis	Definition
Metric Number	`km/kg`	kilometres per kilogram (metric)
Tex	`g/km`	grams per 1,000 metres (SI canonical)
Decitex	`g/10,000 m`	grams per 10,000 metres

Cotton

2 units

Unit name	Unit basis	Definition
Cotton (English)	`840 yd hank/lb`	840-yard hanks per pound — standard cotton count
Cotton bump yarn	`yd/oz`	yards per ounce — coarse cotton bump

Wool & Worsted

15 units

Unit name	Unit basis	Definition
Typp	`1000 yd/lb`	Thousand Yards Per Pound — a generic count system, historically used in woollen mills
Worsted	`560 yd hank/lb`	560-yard hanks per pound — worsted yarn count
Wool Run	`1600 yd/lb`	1600 yards per pound — wool run count
Woollen (Alloa)	`11,520 yd spyndle/24 lb`	11,520-yard spyndles per 24 pounds — Alloa system
Woollen (Irish)	`yd/0.25 oz`	yards per quarter-ounce — Irish system
Woollen (Hawick)	`300 yd cut/26 oz`	300-yard cuts per 26 ounces — Hawick
Woollen (Aberdeen)	`lb/14,400 yd`	pounds per spyndle (14,400 yards), Aberdeen system
Woollen (Dewsbury)	`yd/oz`	yards per ounce — Dewsbury system
Woollen (US grain)	`grains/20 yd`	grains per 20 yards, United States grain system
Woollen (Galashiels)	`300 yd cut/24 oz`	300-yard cuts per 24 ounces — Galashiels
Woollen (American cut)	`300 yd/lb`	300 yards per pound — American cut
Woollen (American run)	`100 yd/oz`	100 yards per ounce — American run
Woollen (West of England)	`320 yd snap/lb`	320-yard snaps per pound — West of England
Woollen (Yorkshire — dram)	`yd/dram`	yards per dram (1/256 lb) — Yorkshire (mathematically identical to skein)
Woollen (Yorkshire — skein)	`256 yd skein/lb`	256-yard skeins per pound — Yorkshire skein

Natural fibres (linen, silk, jute)

3 units

Unit name	Unit basis	Definition
Linen (set or dry spun)	`300 yd lea/lb`	300-yard leas per pound — linen (set or dry spun)
Spun silk	`840 yd/lb`	840 yards per pound — spun silk
Linen, Hemp, Jute	`lb/14,400 yd`	pounds per spyndle (14,400 yards) — bast fibres

Synthetic filament

1 unit

Unit name	Unit basis	Definition
Denier	`g/9000 m`	grams per 9,000 metres (synthetic filament)

Specialty (asbestos, glass)

3 units

Unit name	Unit basis	Definition
Glass (UK & USA)	`100 yd/lb`	100 yards per pound — glass fibre (UK & USA)
Asbestos (English)	`50 yd/lb`	50 yards per pound — English asbestos
Asbestos (American)	`100 yd cut/lb`	100-yard cuts per pound — American asbestos

About this calculator

Yarn count conversion is the foundation of textile manufacturing — from yarn purchasing to fabric design, costing, and machine setup. This calculator supports all 27 industry-standard units across the direct system (mass per length: tex, denier, decitex, spyndle, US grain) and the indirect system (length per mass: metric Nm, cotton Ne, worsted, linen lea, Yorkshire skein, asbestos, glass and more).

Whether you're sourcing cotton from English mills, polyester filament from Asia, jute from the Indian subcontinent, or specialty wools from Scotland (Aberdeen, Galashiels, Hawick, Yorkshire), this calculator gives you instant conversions in a single click — no lookup tables, no slide rules, no spreadsheets.

Useful for: production planning · costing & quoting · machine setup · quality control · cross-mill specifications · international yarn procurement.

Sectors we serve

Industries Meera supports

A snapshot of the sectors where Meera ships product today. Hover any card to pause.

Automotive, Aerospace & Transport Reinforcement

Advanced yarn twisting technology engineered for demanding automotive carpet applications and aerospace reinforcement materials.

Carpets, Rugs & Flooring

Advanced carpet yarn twisting technology delivering precision and efficiency for BCF, high-bulk, and staple yarn production across residential and commercial flooring applications.

Home Furnishings & Upholstery

Precision yarn twisting technology for upholstery fabrics, home textiles, and decorative applications using wool, alpaca, and synthetic fibers.

Yarn Processing & Mill Operations

Advanced Direct Cabler and Two-for-One Twister technology optimizing yarn mill efficiency and quality control across diverse fiber processing operations.

Ring Twister solutions for apparel and fashion textiles. Process multifilament polyester, nylon, cotton, viscose, and specialty fibers.

Apparel & Fashion Textiles

Advanced twisting technology optimized for fashion and apparel textile manufacturing applications.

Artificial Turf & Outdoor Landscaping

MEERA's Ring Twisters deliver the precision and durability needed for artificial grass, sports turf, and outdoor carpeting applications.

Automotive, Aerospace & Transport Reinforcement

Advanced twisting technology for high-strength yarns in tire reinforcement, aerospace composites, and automotive textile applications.

Carpets, Rugs & Flooring

Advanced ring doubling and twisting technology engineered for BCF carpet yarns, luxury residential rugs, and high-traffic commercial flooring applications.

Fishing, Marine & Aquaculture

Engineered precision twisting technology for commercial fishing operations, marine rope manufacturing, and aquaculture yarn production.

Geotextiles & Infrastructure

Advanced twisting technology for high-performance geotextile yarns and infrastructure reinforcement applications.

Home Furnishings & Upholstery

Advanced ring doubling and twisting technology optimized for home textiles, upholstery yarns, and decorative textile applications.

Hosiery, Activewear & Stretch Garments

Advanced ring doubling and twisting technology engineered for stretch fabrics, compression wear, and performance textiles.

Industrial & Technical Textiles

Precision twisting machinery engineered specifically for high-performance technical textile applications requiring superior yarn strength and durability.

Medical & Healthcare Textiles

MEERA's Ring Twisters deliver the precise yarn properties essential for medical thread applications, surgical sutures, and biocompatible textile production.

Ropes, Twines & Packaging

Advanced twisting technology for packaging yarns, weather-resistant twines, and rope manufacturing applications.

Rubber, Hose & Belt Reinforcement

Engineered for high-performance yarn processing in conveyor belt fabrics, hose reinforcement, and pressure vessel applications.

Safety, Protection & Defence

Engineered to process high-performance technical yarns including aramids, UHMWPE, and basalt fibre for critical safety and defence applications.

Sewing, Stitching & Embroidery Threads

Advanced ring doubling and twisting technology engineered specifically for premium sewing threads, industrial stitching applications, and embroidery thread production.

Yarn Processing & Mill Operations

Advanced ring doubling and twisting technology engineered specifically for technical textile twisting operations across diverse yarn processing facilities.

Yarn Processing & Mill Operations

Advanced servo-driven winding technology for precise filament yarn processing and mill preparation operations.

Apparel & Fashion Textiles

Advanced Two-For-One twisting technology engineered for premium apparel fabrics and fashion textile applications.

Carpets, Rugs & Flooring

Advanced Two-For-One twisting technology engineered specifically for carpet yarn production, from residential carpets to commercial flooring applications.

Home Furnishings & Upholstery

Two-For-One twisting technology delivering stronger, more even yarns for premium home textile applications.

Hosiery, Activewear & Stretch Garments

High-speed TFO twisting technology engineered for the precise yarn requirements of stretch fabrics and performance garments.

Ropes, Twines & Packaging

Advanced two-for-one twisting technology engineered specifically for cotton twines, packaging yarns, and rope manufacturing applications requiring superior strength and consistency.

Sewing, Stitching & Embroidery Threads

Advanced Two-For-One twisting technology optimized for premium thread manufacturing in the sewing, stitching, and embroidery industry.

Yarn Processing & Mill Operations

Advanced Two-For-One twisting technology optimized for high-volume mill environments and diverse staple yarn applications.

Fishing, Marine & Aquaculture

Revolutionary one-step twisting technology designed specifically for producing high-strength fishing twines, commercial fishing yarns, and marine textile applications.

Industrial & Technical Textiles

Patented one-step twisting technology revolutionizing industrial thread production for demanding technical textile applications.

Ropes, Twines & Packaging

Revolutionary one-step S/Z twisting technology that transforms packaging yarn production, rope manufacturing, and twine processing with 40% savings in energy and manpower.

Rubber, Hose & Belt Reinforcement

One-step S/Z twisting technology engineered for high-tenacity reinforcement yarns in demanding rubber and belt applications.

Safety, Protection & Defence

Meera's patented TPRS technology delivers defence-grade threads and protective textile solutions in a single operation, reducing energy consumption by 40% while ensuring consistent quality for critical safety applications.

Sewing, Stitching & Embroidery Threads

Revolutionary one-step twisting technology delivering premium thread quality for embroidery, industrial stitching, and specialty thread manufacturing.

Yarn Processing & Mill Operations

Patented one-step S/Z twisting technology that transforms multifilament, staple, and tape yarn processing with 40% savings in energy, manpower, and wastage.

Apparel & Fashion Textiles

Advanced yarn processing technology enabling superior soft-feel garment fabrics, women's wear, and premium clothing textiles production.

Automotive, Aerospace & Transport Reinforcement

Advanced twisting technology delivering precision-engineered yarns for tire cords, aerospace threads, and high-strength automotive applications.

Carpets, Rugs & Flooring

Advanced twisting technology for premium carpet backing threads, luxurious shaggy yarns, and high-bulk carpet manufacturing across residential and commercial applications.

Fishing, Marine & Aquaculture

Advanced twisting technology engineered for the demanding requirements of marine textile production.

Geotextiles & Infrastructure

Engineered precision twisting for construction threads and infrastructure reinforcement materials that meet demanding geotextile specifications.

Home Furnishings & Upholstery

Specialized twisting technology optimized for home textile yarn processing, quilting yarns, and upholstery applications.

Industrial & Technical Textiles

Precision twisting machinery engineered for demanding technical textile applications across automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors.

Ropes, Twines & Packaging

Advanced twisting technology engineered specifically for packaging twines, binding threads, and weather-resistant agricultural twines production.

Rubber, Hose & Belt Reinforcement

Precision twisting technology engineered for composite cord applications, hydraulic hoses, and high-strength reinforcement yarns in rubber products.

Sewing, Stitching & Embroidery Threads

Advanced twisting technology engineered specifically for premium sewing threads, embroidery threads, and industrial stitching applications across polyester, nylon, and specialty fiber materials.

Yarn Processing & Mill Operations

Purpose-built twisting technology engineered for mill-scale filament yarn processing, weaving preparation, and high-volume textile production environments.

How it works

The calculator uses Tex as the canonical (SI-aligned) unit. Every conversion routes through Tex via one unified formula, so any unit can convert to any other unit without lookup tables.

Unified formula: for direct-system units, tex = count × (1000 / V); for indirect-system units, tex = (V × 1000) / count. The Direct vs Indirect distinction is summarised in the Key Conversion Facts above.

V — each unit's calibration constant — is the count value at which the yarn equals 1000 tex (1 gram per metre). Reference values: V_denier=9000, V_Nm=1.0, V_Ne=0.5905, V_worsted=0.8858.

Sample conversions: 150 denier ≈ 16.67 tex · 50 Nm = 20 tex = 16.93 Ne ≈ 11.79 worsted · 30 Ne ≈ 19.69 tex.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Tex and Denier?

Tex is grams per 1000 metres of yarn. Denier is grams per 9000 metres. So 1 denier = 1/9 tex ≈ 0.1111 tex. Tex is the SI-aligned international standard; denier remains common in synthetic filament yarns (polyester, nylon, viscose).

Which unit is most common in which industry?

Tex and decitex (dtex) are the international SI standards used by most modern mills. Denier dominates synthetic filament yarn (polyester, nylon). Ne (English cotton count) is standard for cotton in many mills worldwide. Nm (metric) is common in European wool and worsted. Spyndle is used for linen, hemp, and jute. Yorkshire/Galashiels/Hawick are traditional UK wool systems still encountered in specialty trade.

How do I convert between the two systems (direct ↔ indirect)?

Direct units measure mass per length (more count = heavier yarn). Indirect units measure length per mass (more count = finer yarn). Going between them requires Tex as a bridge. Example: 150 denier → 16.67 tex → 60.00 Nm (because Nm = 1000 / tex for the indirect side).

Why are there so many wool systems (Yorkshire, Galashiels, Aberdeen, Alloa, Hawick, Dewsbury, West of England, Irish)?

These trace back to traditional UK and Irish wool centres, each with its own historical hank/skein/cut length and weight basis. They survived into the modern era because mills calibrated their machinery in the local unit. International trade today uses Tex or Nm, but legacy contracts and specialty wool sometimes still reference them.

What is a spyndle?

A spyndle is the traditional unit for linen, hemp, jute and Aberdeen-system wool. One spyndle = 14,400 yards (13,167 metres). The yarn count value tells you how many pounds that spyndle weighs. Spyndle 29.0276 (≈1000 tex) is a typical reference value.

How accurate is this calculator?

Conversions use industry-standard calibration constants accurate to 4 decimal places. The same dataset that powers ServiceThread, IUPAC textile references, and most yarn-trade software. For mill-floor production planning and procurement, this is more than sufficient. For ISO-certified metrology, refer to the underlying ASTM/IUPAC standards.

Can I use this for filament yarn vs. spun yarn?

Yes. The calculator works for both filament (continuous, e.g. polyester DTY) and spun (staple, e.g. cotton or wool yarn). The unit you choose determines the system — filament is typically described in denier or dtex; spun yarn in Ne, Nm, or worsted. The conversion math is the same regardless of construction.

What about asbestos and glass fibre — are they really still measured?

Yes — asbestos (American and English) remains used in residual industrial applications outside consumer textiles, and glass fibre is widely used in composites, technical textiles and insulation. Both follow length-per-mass measurement (100 yd cut / lb basis), included here for completeness.

Yarn Count Conversion Calculator

Try it

Need help sourcing yarn or sizing a TFO?

What this page covers, at a glance

Key conversion facts

Reference: all supported units

Metric / SI standard

Cotton

Wool & Worsted

Natural fibres (linen, silk, jute)

Synthetic filament

Specialty (asbestos, glass)

About this calculator

Industries Meera supports

How it works

Frequently asked questions

Related reading