Sewing Thread Count Converter
Convert between Ne, Tex, dtex, denier, metres per kilogram and yards per pound. Ply-aware, and pre-loaded with all 71 tickets across our seven thread ranges.
| Denier | — |
|---|---|
| dtex | — |
| Singles Ne | — |
| Construction | — |
| Metres per kg theoretical | — |
| Yards per lb theoretical | — |
Length per weight is derived from the count. Real yield shifts with lubrication and finish, so use it for planning — and the metres marked on the cone for ordering.
- Mahalaxmi ticket
- —
- Published Tex
- —
- Breaking strength
- —
- Recommended needle
- —
What this converter does
Sewing thread is quoted in whichever count system its trade grew up with. Spun threads are sold in Ne, filament and bonded threads in denier or dtex, technical specifications and ISO documents in Tex, and cone yields in metres per kilogram or yards per pound. Every one of those is describing the same physical thing — how much length you get for a given weight — so any of them can be turned into any other. This tool does all six directions: denier to Tex converter, Ne to Tex converter, Tex to denier converter, Tex to Ne converter, dtex to Tex converter, and any of them into metres per kilogram or yards per pound.
How to use it
There are two ways in. If you already run one of our threads, pick it from the dropdown and everything fills itself in — the count, the ply, the Mahalaxmi thread ticket, the breaking strength and the recommended needle range. Otherwise leave the dropdown on Enter my own count, pick the system your number is in, type it and set the ply.
Formulas
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resultant Tex = (590.5 ÷ Ne) × ply590.5 is Ne 1 expressed in Tex — Ne 1 is 840 yards per pound, which is 590.5 grams per 1,000 metres — so dividing it by your Ne gives one single, and multiplying by the plies gives the finished thread. -
singles Ne = (590.5 × ply) ÷ resultant TexThe same relationship rearranged, for when you know the thread's Tex and want the count of the yarn inside it. -
denier = Tex × 9Denier is grams per 9,000 metres and Tex is grams per 1,000 — nine times the length. -
dtex = Tex × 10dtex is grams per 10,000 metres, ten times the length Tex is measured over. -
metres per kg = 1,000,000 ÷ resultant TexA kilogram is 1,000 grams and Tex counts grams per 1,000 metres, so the two thousands multiply out to a million. -
yards per lb = metres per kg × 0.4960546A unit change only: 1.0936 yards to the metre × 0.45359237 kilograms to the pound = 0.4960546.
Examples
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4/20 → (590.5 ÷ 20) × 4 = 118.1 TexFour plies of Ne 20 — the ticket is listed at a nominal Tex 120. -
Tex 147.6 at 3 ply → (590.5 × 3) ÷ 147.6 = Ne 12Working back from the thread to the yarn inside it gives the 3/12 construction. -
Tex 46.7 → 46.7 × 9 = 420 denierOur polypropylene range is specified in denier, so this is the direction you need there. -
Tex 46.7 → 46.7 × 10 = 467 dtexThe same thread in dtex, which is how filament yarn is usually quoted. -
Tex 118.1 → 1,000,000 ÷ 118.1 = 8,467 m/kgA theoretical yield: what a kilogram of that count works out to in metres. -
8,467 m/kg → 8,467 × 0.4960546 = 4,200 yd/lbThe same yield in imperial units, for machines and specs quoted that way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ne and Tex?
They run in opposite directions. Ne is an indirect count — the higher the number, the finer the yarn — and it describes a single end before plying. Tex is a direct count, grams per 1,000 metres, and the higher the number the thicker the thread. For a plied thread the useful figure is resultant Tex, which is the Tex of one single multiplied by the number of plies.
What does 4/20 mean on a bag closing thread?
Four plies of Ne 20 singles twisted together. Its resultant Tex is 590.5 divided by 20, multiplied by 4 — about 118, which is why the ticket is listed at a nominal Tex 120.
Why does a published Tex sometimes say “check”?
Selecting one of our tickets gives you two Tex figures: the resultant Tex worked out from the construction, and the nominal Tex printed on the spec table. On almost every ticket they agree to within a few per cent, which is the ordinary rounding between an exact count and a commercial figure. On a small number of rows they do not, and there the published Tex is marked check. It means the construction and the Tex on that row cannot both be right, and we would rather show you that than quietly pick one. If you are ordering against one of those tickets, confirm it with us first.
Why does the converter not give me a ticket number?
Because ticket numbering is a commercial convention, not a calculation, and it differs between manufacturers and fibre systems. Our own tickets do not follow the generic formula, so computing one would give you a number that does not match anything on our label. Select one of our threads from the dropdown and the real ticket is shown instead.
Is metres per kilogram exact?
It is exact as a count-derived figure, but real yield differs. Lubrication and finish change how much thread actually ends up on a cone, and published figures for nominally identical specs vary between suppliers for exactly that reason. Treat it as a planning figure. For ordering, use the metres marked on the cone.
How do I convert denier to Tex?
Divide by nine. Denier is grams per 9,000 metres and Tex is grams per 1,000 metres, so a 420 denier thread is Tex 46.7. Our polypropylene bag closing range is specified in denier, so the converter handles it directly.
Related calculators
- Bags Per Cone Calculator for Bag Closing Thread How many bags one cone will close, and the cones a run of 10,000, 1 lakh or 5 lakh bags needs.
- Monthly Bag Closing Thread Requirement Calculator Bags per day into cones per month, with how long a single cone lasts on your line.
- Spun Polyester to Polypropylene Thread Converter The equivalent bag closing thread in the other range, either direction, matched on strength or thickness.
- Bag Closing Needle Size Calculator The needle range published for a given bag closing thread, or every bag closing thread that runs on the needle already in your machine.
Not sure which count you need?
Tell us the fabric, the machine and the bag, and we will recommend the ticket rather than leave you to work back from a number. Talk to our technical team.