Perler Bead Sizes: Choose Beads & Pegboards
Compare bead sizes and pegboard spacing before you start. Learn why mini and standard fuse beads need different boards and how to estimate your finished pattern size.
Do Mini and Midi fuse beads use the same pegboard?
Mini and Midi fuse beads require pegboards designed for their respective sizes. Match the bead packaging to the board specification before starting. The same 29 × 29 grid can produce different physical dimensions on different boards because peg spacing changes. Estimate width by multiplying the number of grid columns by peg spacing, then check the actual board. When printing an overlay, verify the calibration line and alignment with your pegboard.
- H02 × 164
- H06 × 52
- A05 × 37
Match beads and pegs
Midi and Mini beads require different pegboards. Check the diameter on your bead packaging and choose a compatible board. Never assume that the same grid count means the same physical size.
Plan your finished size
Multiply grid width by the spacing between your board’s pegs for an estimate. Leave room for attachment points and follow manufacturer specifications.
Mini beads and standard beads need different layouts
A small pattern is not necessarily a mini-bead pattern: small can describe the number of grid cells, while mini describes the physical bead size. Use the size printed on your packaging. BeadColor offers nominal Midi 29, Mini 50 and Mini 57 board templates, but a template name does not guarantee a fit with every manufacturer’s board.
Check your board before printing an overlay
Choose the matching board template in the editor before exporting. Print at 100% and measure the 50 mm calibration line, then compare grid centers with your pegboard. If they do not line up, use the grid as a separate reading reference rather than placing it under the board.
Make a pattern from your own image
Open Bead MakerExplore the Perler bead pattern maker, choose an editable fuse bead pattern, or try the Daisy coaster pattern shown in this guide.