English Cotton Count (Ne)
The English cotton count (Ne) is the number of 840-yard hanks in one pound of yarn. It is an indirect count: a finer yarn has a higher count, so 40s cotton is finer than 20s.
Symbol: Ne
Quantity: yarn count (linear density of yarns and fibres)
SI relation: Ne = number of 840-yard hanks per pound, so tex = 0.45359237 kg ÷ (840 × 0.9144 m) × 10⁶ ÷ Ne = 590.5412 ÷ Ne
Derivation: Ne = number of 840-yard hanks per pound, so tex = 0.45359237 kg ÷ (840 × 0.9144 m) × 10⁶ ÷ Ne = 590.5412 ÷ Ne
Exact: yes, by definition
History
The cotton count dates from the Lancashire cotton industry, where yarn was sold in 840-yard hanks. It remains the standard count for cotton spinning in India, Pakistan and much of Asia.
Typical uses
- Cotton and blended spun yarns (20s, 30s, 40s)
- Spinning mill production planning
- Fabric specifications such as 40s × 40s
Convert English cotton count to other units
| Conversion | 1 Ne equals | Reverse |
|---|---|---|
| Ne to tex | 590.5412474 tex | tex to Ne |
| Ne to denier | 5314.871227 den | denier to Ne |
| Ne to decitex | 5905.412474 dtex | decitex to Ne |
| Ne to Nm | 1.693361817 Nm | Nm to Ne |
| Ne to Nw | 1.5 Nw | Nw to Ne |
| Ne to kilotex | 0.5905412474 ktex | kilotex to Ne |
| Ne to woollen count | 3.28125 NY | woollen count to Ne |
| Ne to linen lea | 2.8 NeL | linen lea to Ne |
| Ne to kilogram per metre | 0.0005905412474 kg/m | kilogram per metre to Ne |
Open the Yarn Count Converter to convert any value between all units.
Sources
- ASTM D2260, Standard Tables of Conversion Factors and Equivalent Yarn Numbers Measured in Various Numbering Systems, ASTM International , Cotton count (Ne).
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "yard" and "pound".
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). English Cotton Count (Ne). Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/units/english-cotton-count/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "English Cotton Count (Ne)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/units/english-cotton-count/