What is Modal?

Modal is a regenerated cellulose fiber made by a modified viscose process, with high breaking force and high wet modulus. In short, it is a type of viscose improved to be more stable when wet. It is a separate fiber name in the EU fiber-name list (Regulation (EU) 1007/2011, Annex I). The fiber Lenzing sells under its TENCEL™ Modal brand belongs to this group (Lenzing, 2025).

How modal is made

Modal is a modified form of the viscose process. In 2015 Lenzing stated that its Lenzing Modal fiber is made from beech wood (Advanced Textiles Association, 2015; the text is based on Lenzing Group). The EU regulation defines modal not by raw material but by production method and mechanical criteria: lower limits, depending on fiber fineness (dtex), for the breaking force in the conditioned state and for the force needed to reach 5% elongation when wet. The steps of the viscose process are described in the viscose entry.

Properties of modal

• Wet strength: High wet modulus is the main feature that separates modal from standard viscose. One review writes that modal has properties very similar to regular rayon, apart from its high wet strength (Zhang et al., 2018).
• Care and use: The same review reports that modal rayons can be machine washed and dried and perform close to cotton in similar uses (Zhang et al., 2018, citing Cook, 1984). The care label is always the reference.
• Moisture: The moisture allowance that the EU regulation accepts when calculating fiber content is 13% for modal and 8.5% for cotton (Annex IX).
• Comfort data: In a study comparing 21 samples made on the same machine, 100% modal single jersey showed higher air permeability than the cotton, bamboo and Tencel samples. However, the modal sample weighed 120 g/m² and the cotton sample 150 g/m², so part of the difference may come from weight (Suganthi et al., 2024). For details, see breathable fabrics for summer.

Where is modal used?

Modal is used in knitted garments such as T-shirts, usually blended with cotton; moisture and dimensional behavior in these blends vary with the ratio, the yarn and the finishing (see T-shirt fabric types). Modal single jersey has also been studied on its own (Suganthi et al., 2024). You can find modal fiber suppliers in the Textile Fibers category and modal yarn suppliers in the Viscose Yarn category.

Modal, viscose, lyocell and Tencel

• Viscose: Standard viscose weakens markedly when wet; modal is produced by a modified process to reduce that weakness.
• Lyocell: Modal is a variant of the viscose process. Lyocell is made by a different process that dissolves cellulose in an organic solvent without forming a derivative. They are two separate fiber names in the EU list.
• Tencel: This is Lenzing’s brand name for textile applications. Under it, Lenzing offers TENCEL™ Lyocell, TENCEL™ Modal and TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament fibers (Lenzing, 2025). “Tencel” on a label does not tell you whether the fiber is lyocell or modal; check the fiber name in the composition line.

Verify the fiber type by label and specification, and by laboratory analysis if needed, not by touch. In quotes and specifications, write the composition with percentages and the fiber name (e.g. “95% modal, 5% elastane”).

Frequently asked questions

Is modal made from cotton?

No. Modal is a regenerated fiber re-formed from cellulose; Lenzing has named beech wood as the raw material of Lenzing Modal (2015). Cotton is a natural fiber obtained from the seed capsule of the cotton plant.

Is modal the same as Tencel?

No. Tencel is Lenzing’s brand name, and both its lyocell and modal fibers are sold under that name.

Is modal better than viscose?

“Better” is not a single criterion. Modal differs from viscose above all in wet strength. Beyond the fiber, the structure, weight and finishing also decide the choice.