Small beads.Endless possibilities.
Find the right shape, understand the sizes, and choose a finish that suits your project. Your seed bead starting point, all in one place.
Start with shape. Then think about size.
Seed beads are small beads used for weaving, embroidery, fringe, stringing and decorative details. Most are glass. The shape you choose changes how your finished work looks and feels.
Round seed beads / rocailles
Rounded sides create a softly textured surface. A useful starting point for embroidery, fringe and many weaving techniques.
Look for: the brand, size and hole measurement called for in your pattern.
Cylinder beads
Straighter sides help beads sit closely together in patterned beadwork. Examples include Miyuki Delica and TOHO Aiko and Treasure.
Look for: the exact cylinder range specified for your loom, peyote or brick-stitch project.
Illustrations are stylized and are not to scale.
Following a pattern?
Match the brand, shape and size first. Substituting another bead can change the dimensions, spacing and thread path.
Learning a new stitch?
Try a larger bead for your practice sample so the holes and thread path are easier to see.
Working with several passes?
Test your needle and thread together. A hole that accepts one pass may become crowded as the stitching builds.
Make sense of seed bead sizes.
Sizes such as 8/0, 11/0 and 15/0 are traditional size designations. They are not a universal conversion to millimetres or a count of beads per inch.
A general guide within the same brand and bead range.
| Size | Diameter | Hole | Beads/g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/0 | 4.5 mm | 1.5 mm | ≈ 12 |
| 8/0 | 3.0 mm | 1.1 mm | ≈ 39 |
| 11/0 | 2.0 mm | 0.8 mm | ≈ 110 |
| 15/0 | 1.5 mm | 0.7 mm | ≈ 250 |
| Size | Diameter | Hole | Beads/g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/0 | 3.0 mm | 1.5 mm | ≈ 30 |
| 10/0 | 2.2 mm | 1.0 mm | ≈ 108 |
| 11/0 | 1.6 mm | 0.8 mm | ≈ 200 |
| 15/0 | 1.3 mm | 0.65 mm | ≈ 350 |
Selected sizes from Miyuki’s size and bead-count reference. All figures are approximate; beads per gram are calculated from the manufacturer’s counts per kilogram. Diameter means outer width, not length along the hole. These figures do not apply to every brand, finish or cut version.
| Size | Diameter range (mm) | Min. hole (mm)Transparent glass | Min. hole (mm)Opaque glass | Beads/g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/0 | 3.7–4.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | ≈ 13 |
| 8/0 | 2.8–3.2 | 0.9 | 0.8 | ≈ 42 |
| 10/0 | 2.2–2.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | ≈ 91 |
| 11/0 | 2.0–2.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | ≈ 130 |
| 15/0 | 1.4–1.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ≈ 625 |
Standard round rocailles. Size ranges and quantities: Preciosa’s seed bead reference (PDF). Minimum hole diameters: Preciosa’s June 2013 reference (PDF). Hole values are published minimums, not typical measurements. Test your needle and thread with the actual beads. Cut versions and other shapes have separate specifications.
| Size | Diameter | Hole (approx.) | Beads/g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/0 | 4.0 mm | ≈ 1.2 mm | ≈ 17 |
| 8/0 | 3.0 mm | ≈ 1.0 mm | ≈ 42 |
| 11/0 | 2.2 mm | ≈ 0.7 mm | ≈ 105 |
| 15/0 | 1.5 mm | ≈ 0.4 mm | ≈ 269 |
Round-bead diameters from TOHO’s shape chart (PDF); quantities from its bead-count chart.
About the hole sizes: these are approximate caliper measurements taken by i-Bead Inc., as listed on our 6/0, 8/0, 11/0 and 15/0 product pages. Actual openings can vary between individual beads, finishes and batches. Test your needle and thread with the actual beads before starting a project.
TOHO and Preciosa counts above are approximate: the manufacturers’ beads-per-kilogram figures divided by 1,000, then rounded to the nearest whole bead. Colour, finish and production lot can affect the actual count. Use the chart for the exact brand and shape you are buying.
Get to know the shapes.
Beyond rounds and cylinders, shape adds texture, direction and sparkle. Check the product dimensions and hole layout before making a substitution.
Bugle
An elongated tube. Check both length and width; a “6 mm bugle” describes a different measurement from a round bead’s diameter.
Charlotte / cut rocaille
A rounded bead with a small facet for sparkle. TOHO describes its Charlotte as single-cut; Preciosa’s cut rocailles can have one or two facets.
Two-cut & three-cut
Preciosa two-cuts have a short, hexagonal outer profile. Three-cuts receive additional faceting. The names do not mean exactly two or three facets.
Cube, triangle & hexagon
Geometric outer shapes create more defined edges. The hole shape and opening depend on the particular product.
Drop & magatama
Drop forms add dimension to a design. Magatama beads have an offset hole that affects how they sit.
Tila, Half Tila & Quarter Tila
Miyuki’s flat tile family has two parallel holes. Use the size and thread path required by your pattern.
Choose the look. Know the finish.
A bead’s appearance comes from its glass, any lining inside the hole, and any treatment on the outside. Several effects can appear on the same bead.
Transparent
See-through glass; your thread colour can affect the finished look.
Opaque
Glass that blocks the view through the bead.
Alabaster
A softly milky, semi-transparent glass appearance.
Matte / frosted
A subdued surface with less gloss.
Lustre / luster
A surface treatment that adds sheen.
Rainbow / AB
An iridescent effect that shifts with the light.
Silver-lined / colour-lined
A reflective silver or coloured layer inside the hole.
Outside-dyed
Colour applied to the surface; check the specific colour’s care information.
Metallic / galvanized
Metallic describes an appearance; galvanized identifies a particular surface finish. Do not assume every metallic bead is metal-plated.
Durability depends on the colour and finish.
Check the manufacturer’s guidance for the exact colour number, especially for jewellery exposed to friction, perspiration or cosmetics.
Miyuki Duracoat and TOHO PermaFinish are designed to improve durability. They still require care.
- Keep perfume, hand cream and cleaning chemicals away from delicate finishes.
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight when storing colours that are sensitive to fading.
- For everyday jewellery, check abrasion and perspiration resistance before choosing a finish.
- Test a small sample before committing to a large project or a cleaning method.
Manufacturer rating systems differ. Compare the named test and the exact colour, rather than treating the same number across brands as equivalent.
Buy the amount your project needs.
Use the product listing’s selling unit and your pattern’s requirements. Weight, strand length and bead count describe different things.
Grams, tubes & bags
Check the net bead weight on the listing. A tube or bag is a package, not a standard quantity. The number of beads in a gram changes with the bead’s dimensions, glass and finish.
Hanks
A hank is a bundle of strung beads. Strand count, length and total weight can vary. Use the details for the particular hank instead of assuming that every hank contains the same amount.
For example, 1,000 standard 11/0 Delica beads ÷ approximately 200 beads per gram = about 5 grams. Allow extra for sorting, dropped beads and adjustments, then round up to the package size available.
For a large project, plan the full quantity and keep the colour number and packaging. Shade can vary between production lots.
Choose by the project, not a blanket ranking.
Miyuki, TOHO and Preciosa offer distinct bead ranges. Compare the actual shape, dimensions, finish and pattern requirements to find your match.
Miyuki
Known ranges include round seed beads, Delica cylinders and the Tila family. Use Miyuki’s measurements and colour references for the range you are buying.
TOHO
Its range includes rounds, Aiko and Treasure cylinders, and Demi Round beads. TOHO emphasizes generous holes in its bead designs to accommodate thread passes.
Preciosa
Its seed bead ranges include rocailles, Charlottes, two-cuts, three-cuts and bugles. Check the specific range for dimensions and colour-resistance information.
A few more useful answers.
Keep these in mind as you plan, stitch and experiment.
Can I mix brands in the same project?
Yes, when the design allows it. Make a small sample first: beads with the same size label can differ in width, length and hole size. In a pattern that relies on precise spacing, follow the specified bead range.
Why do my beads look different on the thread?
Transparent beads can show the thread beneath them, while iridescent finishes change with the viewing angle. Check a few stitched rows under the lighting where the finished piece will be worn or displayed.
How are glass seed beads made?
Preciosa describes its rocailles as sections cut from hollow glass tubes, then rounded and polished while hot and sorted by size and shape. Further cutting, lining or surface treatments produce different effects. The process varies by bead range.
Where does the tradition come from?
Preciosa traces rocailles to 15th-century Venice and industrial production in Bohemia to the 18th century. Today, long-established glassmaking traditions sit alongside modern manufacturing and a continually changing choice of shapes and finishes.