A Deltapine-90 cotton grown in New Mexico under irrigated conditions was used to compare the effects of single and tandem carding on product quality. Part of the seed cotton had no lint cleaning at the gin, and the remainder was processed through a standard commercial system with two lint cleaners. Mill cleaning included processing through a step cleaner and through Buckley and Kirschner beaters, followed by either single or tandem carding. Yarns for evaluation were produced on a ring spinning system. The effects of processing conditions on waste removal, fiber damage, spinning performance, and yarn quality were determined. Generally, cotton processed through the tandem card was cleaner, contained fewer short fibers, spun more efficiently, and produced stronger, more uniform yarns.