Sizing Round Beads, Seed Beads and Wire
Sizing and Bead Quantity for Round Bead Strands
| Bead Size (millimeters) |
Approximate Bead Size (inches) |
Approximate number on a 16" Strand |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm | 3/16" | 94 | Note that sizes given are nominal. Actual size of a bead will be less than +/- .5mm from the given size in millimeters. This is common practice in the bead industry. Most beads will actually be very close to the given size, but be aware that this size variance is possible. For reference, a dime coin is about 18mm in diameter. |
| 6mm | 1/4" | 66 | |
| 8mm | 5/16" | 50 | |
| 10mm | 3/8" + | 40 | |
| 12mm | 1/2" | 32 |
Seed Beads
| Bead Size | Approximate Diameter |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1/0 | 6.5mm |
The Czech seed beads we offer at this time are in sizes 11/0, 6/0 and 1/0. 11/0 seed beads are quite small. The beads are about 2.3mm in diameter and there are about 16-17 beads per inch (7 beads per cm). 11/0 beads are sold by the "hank". A hank is a small bundle of 11 to 12 strands of seed beads; each strand is about 19 inches long, for a total of about 19 feet (228 inches) of stringing distance. One hank is the equivalent of about 37 grams, for comparison to seed beads sold loose in vials or tubes. 6/0 beads are larger - 4.0-4.2mm diameter. They come about 9 beads to the inch (4 beads per cm). They have holes that are large enough to fit easily on Memory Wire or 1mm cord. 1/0 are the largest seed beads made - they are about 6.5mm diameter; they come about 5 beads per inch (2 per cm). |
| 4/0 | 5mm | |
| 6/0 | 4mm | |
| 8/0 | 3.1mm | |
| 10/0 | 2.3mm | |
| 11/0 | 2.1mm | |
| 12/0 | 1.9mm | |
| 13/0 | 1.7mm | |
| 14/0 | 1.6mm | |
| 15/0 | 1.5mm |
Wire Gauge Sizing Information
| Gauge (AWG) |
Diameter (Millimeters) |
Diameter (Inches) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 ga | .406 mm | .016 in | Our thinnest wire |
| 24 ga | .508 mm | .020 in | Works with most pearls |
| 22 ga | .635 mm | .025 in | Popular for wire wrapping |
| 20 ga | .813 mm | .032 in | Also a good weight for Wire wrapping, a bit stronger than 22ga |
| 18 ga | 1.016 mm | .040 in | Our thickest wire |
