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12/18/2015
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Bead Knowledge Center - Sizing Charts

The charts below are only approximate as all beads of the same size, especially from different manufacturers, are not necessarily the same size.

Need a mm to inch conversion? Check out this conversion site.

This page lists the following charts:

Seed Beads

Bead Size Approx Length of 15 beads laid in a row Approx Length of 1 bead Suggested Needle Size * Suggested Thread Size*
15/0 14mm 1.5 mm 12 - 15 B or D
14/0 15mm 1.6 mm 12 B or D
13/0 16mm 1.7 mm 12 B or D
12/0 17mm 1.9 mm 12 D
11/0 19mm 2.2 mm 10 D
10/0 25mm 2.3 mm 10 D
9/0 27mm 2.6 mm 10 D
8/0 33mm 3.0 mm 10 D
6/0 43mm 3.7 mm 10 D

* Suggested needle and thread sizes are based on going through the beads mutlple times. If only going through once, a size 12 needle and size D thread is usually sufficient. For Bead Embroidery, a usual needle size is 10 and thread size is D, but the embroiderer should also carry size 12 and 15 for those cases where the hole is smaller than normal.

Bugle Beads

Diameter of bugles are about 2mm.

Size of Bugle Length of Bead
#1 2.5mm
#2 5mm
#3 7mm
#4 9mm
#5 11mm
Larger sizes are sized by the mm, not a number.

Beads per Inch

This chart is a starting point. All counts are rounded to the nearest 1/4". When figuring out a length, don't forget to count the clasp. This chart can also help you determine how many beads you are getting on an unstrung chord of beads. A more complete list can be found on Fire Mountain Beads.

Bead Size
1"
7"
16"
24"
3mm 8.25 beads 59.25 beads 135.5 beads 203.25 beads
4mm 6.25 beads 44.5 beads 101.5 beads 152.5 beads
5mm 5 beads 35.5 beads 81.25 beads 122 beads
6mm 4.25 beads 29.5 beads 67.75 beads 100.5 beads
8mm 3.25 beads 22.25 beads 50 beads 76.25 beads
10mm 2.5 beads 17.75 beads 40.5 beads 61 beads
12mm 2 beads 14.75 beads 33.75 beads 50.75 beads
14mm 1.75 beads 12.75 beads 29 beads 43.5 beads
16mm 1.5 beads 11 beads 25.5 beads 38 beads

Wire Gauge to Bead Size Guide

Bead Type Bead Size Wire Gauge
Seed beads 15° 28 ga
11° 22 ga
8° and 6° 20-ga
Pearls Any size 28 to 24 ga
Gemstones 4 mm 24-26 ga
6 mm to 8 mm 24 - 22 ga
Large nuggets 22 - 20 ga
Crystals 3 mm 24 ga
4 mm and larger 22 ga
Lampwork Any size 20 - 18 ga
Metal 2 mm - 3 mm 22 ga
4 mm and larger 22 - 18 ga
Czech pressed glass Any size 22 0 20 ga
Czech Fire-Polished Any size 22 ga
Polymer Clay Any size 20 ga

Drill Bit to Wire Gauge Conversion Chart

B&S MM Inches Drill Size
0 8.26 0.325 21/64  
1 7.34 0.289 9/32  
2 6.52 0.257 1/4  
3 5.81 0.229 7/32 1
4 5.18 0.204 13/64 6
5 4.62 0.182 3/16 15
6 4.11 0.162 5/32 20
7 3.66 0.144 9/64 27
8 3.25 0.128 1/8 30
9 2.9 0.114    
10 2.59 0.102   38
11 2.31 0.091 5/32 43
12 2.06 0.081 5/64 46
13 1.83 0.072   50
14 1.63 0.064 1/16 51
15 1.45 0.057   52
16 1.3 0.051   54
17 1.14 0.045 3/64 55
18 1.02 0.04   56
19 0.914 0.036   60
20 0.812 0.032 1/32 65
21 0.711 0.028   67
22 0.635 0.025   70
23 0.558 0.022   71
24 0.508 0.02   74
25 0.457 0.018   75
26 0.406 0.016 1/64 77
27 0.355 0.014   78
28 0.304 0.012   79
29 0.279 0.011   80
30 0.254 0.01    

Weight of Beads from the bead store

Beads usually come in 3" or 6" round tubes from a bead store or a hank of beads that are 12 stand looped cluster of Czech beads.

  • A 3" tube hold about 15 grams of beads
  • A 6" tube hold about 30 grams of beads
  • A hank is about 36 grams of beads

 

 

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