Ne  ( English Cotton Count System ) ( Spun yarn ) ( Indirect System )

Number of 840 yards per pound (English)

Example:  1 pound of 20 s yarn will have 20 x 840 yards of yarn  (or)  1 pound of 40 s yarn will have 40 x 840 yards of yarn

Higher the Count (Ne),  finer will be the yarn

Nm  ( Metric Count System ) ( Spun yarn) ( Indirect System )

No. of 1000 metres of yarn per Kg (or) No. of Metres of yarn per gram

Example: 1 Kg of 20 Nm will have 20 x 1000 metres of yarn (or) 1 Kg of 40 Nm will have 40 x 1000 metres of yarn

Higher the Nm, finer will be the yarn

Nf   (French Count ) ( Spun yarn) ( Indirect System )

Number of 1000 metres per 0.5 Kilogram

Example : 0.5 Kg of 20 Nf  yarn will have 20 x 1000 metres of yarn (or) 0.5 Kg of 40 Nf yarn will have 40 x 1000 metres of yarn

Higher the Nf, finer will be the yarn.

Tex  ( Universal system )( Spun yarn and Filament yarn)( Direct System )

Grams per 1000 metres

Example : 20 Tex means, 1000 metres of yarn will weigh 20 gms (or)  40 Tex means, 1000 metres will weigh 40 gms

Higher the Tex, coarser  will be the yarn

Denier  ( Synthetic Filament yarn and Filament Silk) (Direct System )

Grams per 9000 metres

Example :  80 D means, 9000 metres of yarn will weigh 80 gms (or)  120 D means, 9000 metres will weigh 120 gms

Higher the D, coarser will be the yarn.

Note : There are some more Yarn Numbering systems namely,  for Wool -  runs, worsted NeK,  measures NeS,  for Linen Count -  NeL, for  Spun  Silk, - Spun Silk