Beadwork Bead Count Calculator
Calculate how many beads you need for a beading project based on length, width, bead size, and stitch type.
Calculating bead counts for any project
The number of beads needed depends on the bead size, the stitch technique, and the area you want to cover. Different stitches use beads at different densities because of how they interlock.
Basic bead count formula:
Beads across = Width (mm) ÷ Bead width (mm)
Beads down = Length (mm) ÷ Bead height (mm)
Total beads = Beads across × Beads down × Stitch density factor
Seed bead sizes and dimensions:
| Bead Size | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Beads per inch | Beads per gram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 20 | 290 |
| 11/0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 14 | 110 |
| 8/0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 10 | 38 |
| 6/0 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 8 | 15 |
Note: These are approximate — actual dimensions vary slightly between manufacturers (Miyuki, Toho, Czech).
Stitch density factors:
| Stitch Type | Density Factor | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Loom weaving | 1.00 | Beads in a perfect grid, no offset |
| Square stitch | 1.00 | Same as loom but hand-stitched |
| Peyote (flat even) | 1.00 | Offset rows, but same total count as grid |
| Brick stitch | 1.00 | Similar density to peyote |
| Right angle weave | 0.75 | More open; ~25% fewer beads for same area |
| Herringbone/Ndebele | 0.85 | Paired columns with slight gaps |
| Netting (3-bead) | 0.50 | Very open stitch, half the bead density |
Worked example — peyote stitch bracelet:
Bracelet dimensions: 170 mm long × 25 mm wide, using 11/0 seed beads.
Beads across: 25 ÷ 1.8 = 13.9 → 14 columns Beads down: 170 ÷ 1.4 = 121.4 → 122 rows Total: 14 × 122 × 1.0 = 1,708 beads
Weight: 1,708 ÷ 110 = 15.5 grams
Always buy 15–20% extra to account for defective beads (misshapen, wrong color in the batch) and mistakes during stitching.
Grams vs. count: Seed beads are sold by weight (grams or tubes). A standard 8g tube of 11/0 beads contains about 880 beads. A 30g bag contains about 3,300 beads.