📿 Bead Pattern Calculator

Enter your pattern size in beads (wide × tall) and your bead size to calculate total beads, grams needed, and a recommended buy quantity.

Weight Needed (g)

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Total Beads — Recommended Beads to Buy (+10%) —

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GUIDE

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How Beads-per-Gram Varies by Bead Size

Seed beads get smaller as the size number increases (e.g. 15/0 is smaller than 11/0). Smaller beads pack more pieces into the same weight, so when converting to grams, you need to know the beads-per-gram figure for your specific bead size. The table below shows approximate reference values commonly published by bead/craft suppliers (actual counts vary by brand and finish).

Bead Size	Approx. Beads per Gram
15/0	~250
11/0 (standard)	~100
8/0	~35
6/0	~15
Delica 11/0	~130

Formulas for Total Beads and Weight

Total beads = beads wide × beads tall. For example, a pattern that is 20 beads wide by 30 beads tall needs 600 beads total. Divide this total by the beads-per-gram value for your chosen bead size and round up to get the weight needed in grams (for 11/0: 600 ÷ 100 = 6g). For actual purchasing, it is standard beading-project guidance to buy a 10% buffer above the exact count to cover breakage and miscounts (for a 600-bead pattern, that means buying 660 beads).

Frequently asked questions

Why add a 10% buffer when buying beads?

Beads commonly break, get miscounted, or roll away and get lost during a project. Buying only the exact calculated amount can leave you short mid-project and needing to reorder.

How do I choose a bead size?

11/0 is the most common standard seed bead size, suitable for most bead weaving and embroidery patterns. Use 15/0 for finer detail or 8/0 and larger for bigger, chunkier work.

Are the beads-per-gram figures exact?

The beads-per-gram values used here are averages commonly published by bead/craft suppliers, and can vary somewhat by brand, glass density, and coating finish. If exact purchase quantities matter, check the actual measured figures for the brand you plan to use.