Ne (English count)

The English cotton count Ne (precisely NeB) is an indirect length-based numbering system standard for cotton yarns in the UK, US and international cotton trade. NeB states how many hanks (1 hank = 840 yards = 768.10 m) fit into 1 English pound (453.59 g) of yarn. Cotton yarn Ne 20 has 20 hanks per pound; Ne 40 has twice as many and is finer. Ne 20 is typical for heavy denim and terry, Ne 30 for classic t-shirt quality, Ne 40 for fine ringspun tees (e.g. fashion tee 145 g), Ne 60 for premium polos, Ne 80 and finer for business shirts. Conversion to tex: tex = 590/Ne (Ne 30 = tex 20). Besides NeB there is NeL for linen (300 yards per hank) and NeW for wool - in practice Ne almost always means the cotton variant.