Choosing a bead size
Bead sizes are given as the diameter in millimetres, measured straight across the widest part. Once you know that number, everything else — how many you need, how they'll sit, what cord to thread them on — follows neatly.
- 4 mm — delicate and dainty. Lovely for layering several thin bracelets together, or as spacers between larger beads.
- 6 mm — a gentle everyday size that suits smaller wrists and children's jewellery.
- 8 mm — the most popular size of all, and the one most stretch-bracelet kits use. Substantial without being heavy.
- 10 mm — bold and noticeable, often chosen for men's bracelets and statement pieces.
- 12 mm and up — real statement beads. Beautiful, but do check the weight before making a long necklace.
A note on stretch bracelets: elastic cord needs a little slack to knot and hide, so cut about three extra inches beyond your finished length. And do use two knots — everyone who has ever chased beads across a kitchen floor will tell you the same.
What about seed beads?
Seed beads use their own numbering, and it runs backwards: the larger the number, the smaller the bead. A size 6/0 seed bead is about 4 mm across, an 8/0 about 3 mm, and a tiny 11/0 around 2 mm. If you're measuring seed beads on the tool above, read the millimetres and match them to those figures.
Buying by the strand
Gemstone and glass beads are usually sold on 15 to 16 inch strands rather than by the bead, which is why the planner above tells you how many strands to buy. A 16 inch strand holds roughly 50 beads at 8 mm, 40 at 10 mm, and 33 at 12 mm — so a single strand comfortably makes two bracelets in most sizes.
Questions we're often asked
How many 8 mm beads make a 7 inch bracelet?
About 22 to 23 beads, threaded snugly with no spacers. If you're adding 2 mm spacers between each one, you'll need around 17 main beads and 17 spacers instead.
How do I measure a bead without callipers?
Lay the bead on a calibrated screen like the one above and match it to the circles, or line several beads along a ruler and divide the total length by the number of beads — that second method is surprisingly accurate and is how many crafters check a new batch.
What size beads are best for a bracelet?
8 mm is the most widely used and suits most adult wrists. Choose 6 mm for a more delicate look or a smaller wrist, and 10 mm for something bolder. Mixing sizes within one bracelet works beautifully too, as long as the largest beads sit at the centre.
How long should I cut the elastic cord?
Cut your finished length plus about three inches. That gives you enough to hold while threading, to pull the knot tight, and to tuck the ends back inside a bead where they won't show.
Are seed bead sizes the same as millimetres?
No. Seed beads are sized by an older system written as 6/0, 8/0, 11/0 and so on, where a bigger number means a smaller bead. Roughly: 6/0 is 4 mm, 8/0 is 3 mm, 11/0 is 2 mm and 15/0 is about 1.5 mm.