Yarn Count Converter —
Denier, Tex, Dtex, Ne & Nm Calculator
Yarn is measured in a confusing mix of units around the world — denier for filament yarn, Ne (cotton count) for spun yarn, tex and dtex in metric systems, and Nm (metric count) in others. When a buyer asks for "150 denier" and your spec sheet is in tex, you need a fast, reliable conversion. 🧮
Use the free converter below — type a value in any field and all the others update instantly. Below the tool you'll find the formulas, a quick-reference table, and an explanation of how the count systems relate. For the full theory behind these units, see our yarn count systems explainer. ✅
🧮 Yarn Count Converter
Type a value in any box — the others convert automatically
🔄 Two Kinds of Count System — Direct vs Indirect
The reason conversion feels confusing is that the world uses two opposite kinds of count system. Understanding this is the key to never being confused again: 🔍
Weight per fixed length
Measures how much a fixed length of yarn weighs. Higher number = thicker yarn. Used mainly for filament yarn (polyester DTY/FDY, nylon, silk).
Length per fixed weight
Measures how much length you get per fixed weight. Higher number = finer yarn. Used mainly for spun yarn (cotton, polyester spun, blends).
This is why a 300D yarn is thicker than 75D (direct: bigger number = heavier = thicker), but a Ne 40 yarn is finer than Ne 20 (indirect: bigger number = more length per pound = thinner). When you convert between a direct and an indirect unit, the relationship is inverse — which is exactly why a converter is so handy. See how the count number works in practice in our spun yarn count guide.
📐 The Conversion Formulas
If you want to do the maths by hand, here are the standard formulas the converter uses. The easiest approach is to convert everything through tex as a common base: 🧮
Denier ↔ Tex
Denier = Tex × 9
Tex = Denier ÷ 9
Denier is g per 9000m; tex is g per 1000m — so denier is 9× the tex value.
Dtex ↔ Tex
Dtex = Tex × 10
Tex = Dtex ÷ 10
Dtex (decitex) is g per 10000m — simply 10× the tex value. Denier = Dtex × 0.9.
Ne (cotton count) ↔ Tex
Ne = 590.5 ÷ Tex
Tex = 590.5 ÷ Ne
Ne is an indirect (inverse) unit, so it divides. 590.5 is the standard conversion constant.
Nm (metric count) ↔ Tex
Nm = 1000 ÷ Tex
Tex = 1000 ÷ Nm
Nm is metres per gram. Also: Ne ≈ Nm × 0.5905, and Nm ≈ Ne × 1.693.
Converting between filament units (denier/tex) and spun-yarn counts (Ne/Nm) gives a nominal value. Real spun yarn weight varies slightly with moisture regain, twist level and fibre type, so a converted figure is a close guide, not an exact lab measurement. For filament-to-filament conversions (denier ↔ dtex ↔ tex), the maths is exact. Always confirm critical specs with your supplier's actual test data.
📋 Quick Reference — Common Yarn Counts
| Denier | Dtex | Tex | Ne | Nm | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50D | 56 | 5.6 | 106 | 180 | Fine filament, lining |
| 75D | 83 | 8.3 | 71 | 120 | DTY/FDY apparel |
| 100D | 111 | 11.1 | 53 | 90 | Filament apparel |
| 150D | 167 | 16.7 | 35 | 60 | Most common DTY |
| 300D | 333 | 33.3 | 18 | 30 | Heavier filament |
| 177D | 197 | 19.7 | 30 | 51 | ≈ T30S spun equiv. |
| 133D | 148 | 14.8 | 40 | 68 | ≈ T40S spun equiv. |
| 266D | 295 | 29.5 | 20 | 34 | ≈ T21S spun equiv. |
Each row is the same yarn thickness expressed in five different units. Notice how as denier/tex go up (thicker), the Ne/Nm counts go down (because they're indirect). The bottom rows show the approximate filament-denier equivalent of common polyester spun-yarn counts (T21S, T30S, T40S) — useful when comparing a filament and a spun yarn of similar thickness.
🌍 Which Unit Is Used Where?
| Unit | System | Mainly Used For | Common In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denier (D) | Direct | Filament yarn (DTY, FDY, POY), silk, nylon | Asia, USA, global filament trade |
| Dtex | Direct | Filament yarn (metric preference) | Europe |
| Tex | Direct | All yarn types, technical specs | ISO standard, technical textiles |
| Ne | Indirect | Spun yarn — cotton, poly spun, blends | USA, India, Pakistan, global spun trade |
| Nm | Indirect | Spun yarn — wool, worsted, some cotton | Europe, wool industry |
Yaakan supplies filament yarn (specified in denier/dtex) and spun yarn (specified in Ne, e.g. T30S). Tell us the unit you work in — denier, tex, Ne or Nm — and we'll quote and label to match, so there's no conversion confusion on your end. Bookmark this converter for quick reference any time. 🔖
🛠️ How to Use This Converter
- 🔢 Type any value — enter a number in denier, dtex, tex, Ne or Nm and the others fill in instantly
- ⚡ Quick presets — tap 75D, 150D, Ne 30, etc. to load common values instantly
- 🔄 Reset — clear all fields with the Reset button
- 🔖 Bookmark it — save this page for quick conversions while quoting or specifying orders
- 📖 Learn the theory — see our count systems explainer and spun yarn count guide
📝 Summary
- 🧮 The converter above instantly converts denier ↔ dtex ↔ tex ↔ Ne ↔ Nm
- ⬆️ Direct units (denier, dtex, tex): higher number = thicker yarn — used for filament
- ⬇️ Indirect units (Ne, Nm): higher number = finer yarn — used for spun yarn
- 📐 Key formulas: Denier = Tex × 9 · Dtex = Tex × 10 · Ne = 590.5 ÷ Tex · Nm = 1000 ÷ Tex
- ⚠️ Filament conversions are exact; spun-yarn (Ne/Nm) conversions are nominal (vary with moisture/twist)
- 🌍 Denier rules filament trade; Ne rules spun-yarn trade; tex is the ISO common base
Need a quote in your preferred unit? Contact Yaakan — we'll specify, quote and label in denier, tex, Ne or Nm to match how you work. Free samples available. 👇
Get a Quote in Your Unit
Denier, tex, Ne or Nm — we quote and label to match your system. Tell us what you need; we'll send a quote and free samples within 24 hours.