Bead size chart
A 6 mm bead fits about 4.2 to the inch and 67 to a 16 inch strand on Fire Mountain Gems' chart. Calibrate your screen to see each bead size at real size.
Bead size chart: the tool
Beads at actual size
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Round bead size chart (mm)
| Bead size | Beads per inch | Beads per 16 in strand |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | 12.7 | 203 |
| 3 mm | 8.47 | 136 |
| 4 mm | 6.35 | 100 |
| 5 mm | 5.08 | n/a |
| 6 mm | 4.23 | 67 |
| 8 mm | 3.18 | 50 |
| 10 mm | 2.54 | 41 |
| 12 mm | 2.12 | 34 |
Seed bead sizes (15/0 to 5/0)
| Type | Size | Outer diameter | Hole | Beads per 10 cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Rocaille | 15/0 | 1.5 mm | 0.7 mm | 100 |
| Round Rocaille | 11/0 | 2 mm | 0.8 mm | 69 |
| Round Rocaille | 8/0 | 3 mm | 1.1 mm | 47 |
| Round Rocaille | 6/0 | 4.5 mm | 1.5 mm | 34 |
| Round Rocaille | 5/0 | 5 mm | 2 mm | 30 |
| Delica (DBS) | 15/0 | 1.3 mm | 0.65 mm | 88 |
| Delica (DB) | 11/0 | 1.6 mm | 0.8 mm | 77 |
| Delica (DBM) | 10/0 | 2.2 mm | 1 mm | 59 |
| Delica (DBL) | 8/0 | 3 mm | 1.5 mm | 37 |
Hoop earring sizes in mm
| Hoop | Diameter | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Huggie | 6 to 9 mm (0.24 to 0.35 in) | hugs the ear |
| Small | 10 to 14 mm (0.39 to 0.55 in) | sits just under the lobe |
| Medium | 15 to 25 mm (0.59 to 0.98 in) | noticeable gap |
| Statement | 30 to 50 plus mm (1.18 to 1.97 plus in) | jawline length |
Good to know
- Fire Mountain Gems calls both charts estimates: 'Number of beads may vary'; strand length excludes the clasp.
- Fire Mountain's beads-per-inch figures equal 25.4 / bead size in mm. Its 16 in strand counts are slightly lower than 16 x beads per inch (4 mm: 100 vs 101.6), so the two charts round differently.
- Seed bead sizes use the aught system (11/0 etc.): smaller number = bigger bead. Fire Mountain notes the number roughly matches beads per inch (8/0 is about 8 per inch).
- Seed bead diameters vary by maker. Miyuki's own table is used; Miyuki says the values are for reference and vary by lot. Search snippets gave Miyuki 6/0 as 3.6 or 4.0 mm on retailer pages; Miyuki's own page says 4.5 mm (outer diameter). Toho data was not read.
Related tools
Looking for a bead project idea? Morse code bracelet pattern.
Questions
How many 8 mm beads are in a 16 inch strand?
About 50, on Fire Mountain Gems' chart (3.18 per inch).
What size is an 11/0 seed bead?
About 2.0 mm for a Miyuki round rocaille, with a 0.8 mm hole.
Does a smaller seed bead number mean a smaller bead?
No, the opposite: 15/0 is smaller than 11/0, which is smaller than 6/0.
Sources
- Fire Mountain Gems and Beads: Number of Beads Per 16-Inch Strand (checked 2026-10-05)
- Fire Mountain Gems and Beads: Beads Per Inch Chart (checked 2026-10-05)
- Fire Mountain Gems and Beads: Seed Beads 101 (checked 2026-10-05)
- MIYUKI Co., Ltd.: Size and Bead Count Data (checked 2026-10-05)
- Griffin & Co Fine Jewellery: Earring Size Guide (checked 2026-10-05)
Last checked: 5 October 2026