Bead Calculator
Work out how many beads fill a strand length, how many beads fit in an inch, and how many strands a pack of beads will make.
At a glance
- What you enter
- Strand length, Bead size, Custom bead diameter, Beads in a pack or tube, Waste allowance
- What you get
- Beads needed, Beads per inch, Whole strands from one pack, Packs for one strand, Strand length in centimetres
- Formula shown
- Yes, every step, right below your results.
- Cost and privacy
- Free, no account needed, and nothing you type is stored.
See worked examples ↓ Read the FAQ ↓ Share this calculator ↓
Results are estimates for general information only, always verify with a professional or official source before acting on them.
How to use the Bead Calculator
- 1 Enter Strand length (in), A bracelet is usually about 7 to 8 inches, a necklace 16 to 36.
- 2 Enter Bead size, Sizes are the working diameter in millimetres. Choose custom to enter your own.
- 3 Enter Custom bead diameter (mm), Only used when the bead size above is set to custom.
- 4 Enter Beads in a pack or tube (beads), From the packet or the product listing.
- 5 Enter Waste allowance (%), Covers chipped beads, blocked holes and the last bead that does not quite fit.
- 6 Press Calculate. You get Beads needed, Beads per inch, Whole strands from one pack, Packs for one strand, Strand length in centimetres, and every intermediate step stays visible under "How is this calculated?"
- 7 Change one number at a time to see what moves the result, that is usually the most useful thing a calculator can tell you.
Worked examples
Real numbers run through this calculator. Open any example to load it into the form above and change it.
8 mm beaded bracelet
A 7 inch strand of 8 millimetre round beads from a pack of 50.
You enter
- Strand length
- 7 in
- Bead size
- 8
- Custom bead diameter
- 0 mm
- Beads in a pack or tube
- 50
- Waste allowance
- 5%
You get
- Beads needed
- 24
- Beads per inch
- 3.18 beads/in
- Whole strands from one pack
- 2
- Packs for one strand
- 3
- Strand length in centimetres
- 17.78 cm
One 50 bead pack makes two bracelets with a few beads to spare.
Seed bead bracelet
A 7 inch strand of size 11/0 seed beads from a tube of 1,000.
You enter
- Strand length
- 7 in
- Bead size
- 2.1
- Custom bead diameter
- 0 mm
- Beads in a pack or tube
- 1,000
- Waste allowance
- 5%
You get
- Beads needed
- 89
- Beads per inch
- 12.10 beads/in
- Whole strands from one pack
- 11
- Packs for one strand
- 12
- Strand length in centimetres
- 17.78 cm
A tube of a thousand 11/0 beads makes about eleven bracelets.
Long seed bead necklace
A 30 inch strand of size 6/0 seed beads from a pack of 500.
You enter
- Strand length
- 30 in
- Bead size
- 4
- Custom bead diameter
- 0 mm
- Beads in a pack or tube
- 500
- Waste allowance
- 5%
You get
- Beads needed
- 201
- Beads per inch
- 6.35 beads/in
- Whole strands from one pack
- 2
- Packs for one strand
- 3
- Strand length in centimetres
- 76.20 cm
Size 6/0 beads are quick to string, which is why they suit a long necklace.
Guides that go with it
How to Measure Beads and Jewelry Materials Correctly
You bought a strand of beads online, they arrived, and they are nothing like the photo. Too small, too big, or worse, the holes are so tight your wire will not pass through. The listing said "6mm" and...
How Much Yarn Do You Need for a Blanket?
Yarn math is the part of blanket making nobody warns you about. Run out at row 180 of 200 and you have a problem: dye lots rarely match perfectly, and a substitute yarn can change how the whole thing...
How to Avoid Wasting Materials When Making Crafts
Most craft waste is not caused by clumsy hands. It is caused by decisions made before you pick up a tool: buying too much, cutting before measuring, or starting a project with no plan for the offcuts....
Frequently asked questions
How many beads do I need for a 7 inch bracelet?
What size is an 11/0 seed bead in millimetres?
How many beads are in a strand?
Does the thread or cord change the bead count?
Terms used here
Short, plain-language definitions of the words this calculator uses.