On a buyer's sample table in a knitting mill, acrylic yarn feels dry, soft, and warm to the touch. Nylon filament, pulled from the same bundle, feels smoother and colder, and it snaps back into shape instantly when stretched. The core difference between acrylic and nylon yarn is chemical: acrylic is polyacrylonitrile, nylon is polyamide. That one chemical mismatch changes moisture absorption, tenacity, and finished garment behavior. Suzhou Hanyun New Material Technology Co., Ltd. supplies both fibers, and our technical team uses the same side-by-side comparison when helping customers plan knitwear, hosiery, and industrial yarn programs. If you are deciding between the two, this guide walks through the property data that actually affects your production decision.
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What Is the Difference Between Acrylic and Nylon Yarn?
The difference is that acrylic behaves like a dry, warm, wool-replacement fiber, while nylon behaves like a tough, elastic engineering fiber.
Acrylic yarn is spun from polyacrylonitrile, which contains at least 85% acrylonitrile monomer. It is sold as staple fiber or spun yarn and is known for a soft, bulky hand that resembles wool. Typical acrylic yarn specifications include a moisture regain of 1.0 to 2.0%, a tenacity between 2.5 and 4.0 grams per denier, and a specific gravity of about 1.17.
Nylon yarn is extruded from polyamide 6 or polyamide 66. It is offered as continuous filament in a wide range of deniers, and its defining characteristics are high tenacity, excellent elastic recovery, and superior abrasion resistance. Standard nylon filament tenacity ranges from 4.5 to 7.0 grams per denier, with a moisture regain of 3.5 to 4.5%.
The hand feel difference is a direct result of fiber morphology. Acrylic staple is often cut from a crimped, bulky tow, which gives the yarn a lofty cross-section and a soft, wool-like compression. Nylon filament is extruded as a continuous, smooth strand, so it drapes differently and feels slicker against the skin. Pilling also separates them: nylon outperforms acrylic in pilling resistance because its higher tenacity keeps surface fibers attached longer.
| Property | Acrylic Yarn | Nylon Yarn |
| Moisture Regain | 1.0 to 2.0% | 3.5 to 4.5% |
| Tenacity | 2.5 to 4.0 g/den | 4.5 to 7.0 g/den |
| Abrasion Resistance | Moderate | Excellent |
| Thermal Retention | High | Moderate |
| Elastic Recovery | Moderate | High |
| Typical Count | Ne 16 to 40 | 20D to 840D filament |
| Common End Uses | Sweaters, fleece, socks | Hosiery, swimwear, industrial yarn |
How to Choose Between Acrylic and Nylon Yarn for Your Product
Choose acrylic when warmth and softness matter most; choose nylon when strength and stretch are the acceptance criteria.
Choose acrylic for
- Winter sweaters and thermal knitwear
- Soft hand feel and wool-like bulk
- Fast-drying active layers
- Cost-sensitive programs where yarn savings matter
Choose nylon for
- Sock heels, toes, and reinforcement areas
- Stretch fabrics with spandex covering
- Industrial yarn, webbing, and high-strength cords
- Long wear life under repeated abrasion
For a production line making autumn knits, a 16S/2 acrylic/cotton 50/50 high-bulk yarn gives the warmth of acrylic plus the breathability of cotton. Blended yarn programs like this are common when the factory wants to keep cost down while controlling gauge.
When a factory runs a flat knitting machine, the yarn count must match the machine gauge. Acrylic yarn around Ne 20 to Ne 32 is typical for 12-gauge sweaters. Nylon covered yarn or nylon filament is usually specified in denier terms, so a 70D nylon is common for fine-gauge hosiery. Mixing count systems between the two fibers is a common sourcing error, so confirm whether your machine needs a spun count or a denier specification.
Sourcing Acrylic and Nylon Yarn at Production Scale
At production scale, acrylic yarn is generally cheaper per kilogram, but nylon filament offers a wider grade range and more certification options for industrial buyers.
Price per kilogram: standard spun acrylic is often 10 to 20% lower than comparable nylon filament, but the gap varies by denier, luster, and dyeing route. Nylon FDY and DTY are priced higher because of polymerization complexity and draw-warping line costs.
Supply chain: acrylic yarn is most common between Ne 16 and Ne 40, sold as high-bulk or regular staple-spun yarn. Nylon is a filament story, so buyers choose between FDY, DTY, industrial yarn, monofilament, and covered yarn. For hosiery, a 70D/24F nylon 6 FDY is a standard anti-pilling option.
Certifications: recycled nylon and recycled polyester carry GRS documentation. Acrylic fiber can also be recycled, but it is less standardized. If your customer needs a sustainability story, a recycled nylon or recycled polyester program is easier to substantiate.
- Confirm the denier and filament count that your knitting machine accepts.
- Specify whether you need semi-dull, bright, raw white, or dope-dyed color.
- Ask for a whiteness or UV resistance value for outdoor or workwear applications.
- Request a GRS certificate or audit report before ordering recycled grades.
Delivery also matters. Spun acrylic yarn is usually shipped on paper cones of a fixed weight, and a full container of Ne 20 acrylic can produce roughly the same yardage as a full container of 150D nylon DTY but with different take-up. Before committing, confirm the cone weight, the draft ratio you plan to use, and the twist direction. Most mills ask for a lab sample or a small trial batch before a container order.
For more detail on specification limits, read our reference on acrylic yarn properties and bulk sourcing.
When to Use a Blend of Acrylic and Nylon Yarn
A blend is the fastest way to balance acrylic softness with nylon toughness, and the textile industry uses it most in socks and knitwear.
Blend ratios matter. A 70/30 acrylic/nylon blend is the classic workwear sock standard. An 80/20 ratio adds more softness for casual hosiery. On the sweater side, 70/30 wool/acrylic keeps bulk while controlling cost.
Technical consideration: because acrylic and nylon accept different dye classes, most acrylic/nylon blends are package-dyed or dope-dyed. If you need a single-bath exhaust dyeing route, anticipate separate dye depths and a two-step pH profile.
Blending can happen at two stages. In staple spinning, acrylic and nylon staple fibers are blended before carding, which gives a uniform fiber mix in the yarn. In filament covering, a nylon core is wrapped with acrylic or other spun yarn to create a composite structure. The two routes produce very different stretch and recovery behavior, and the filament route is the one you want when spandex is involved.
To understand whether nylon filament fits your product line, see our guide on nylon fiber filament yarn application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acrylic yarn stronger than nylon yarn?
No. Nylon yarn has a standard tenacity of 4.5 to 7.0 grams per denier, while acrylic yarn typically reaches only 2.5 to 4.0 grams per denier. In abrasion tests, nylon survives roughly twice as many cycles as acrylic at the same weight.
Can acrylic and nylon yarn be blended together?
Yes, and the blend is common. The standard approach is to spin acrylic staple with nylon staple or to filament-cover nylon with acrylic yarn. For knitwear, an 80/20 acrylic/nylon ratio is a safe starting point.
Which yarn is better for winter sweaters?
Acrylic is better for thermal comfort in a sweater. Its 1.0 to 2.0% moisture regain keeps the fiber dry, while the low specific gravity gives a high bulk-to-weight ratio that creates insulating air pockets.
What is the most common acrylic/nylon blend for socks?
A 70/30 acrylic/nylon blend is the most common standard for work and sports socks. The nylon portion protects the heel and toe, while the acrylic portion carries warmth and moisture control.
