How Big Is A Seed Bead? – KnightsTreasure

Introduction

A seed bead is a very small bead. Here is more information.

Seed beads are super small, but how big exactly are they?

If you’ve ever tried to make a beaded necklace or bracelet and have gotten frustrated by the tiny size of your seed beads, you’re not alone. Seed beads come in all different sizes and shapes, from huge rectangles to teeny round dots. The three most common shapes are tube-shaped (like a pill), round (like an M&M) and machine cut (like a crystal). The size of a seed bead is measured in millimeters; one millimeter equals 0.039 inches, so the smaller the number on your bead’s packaging, the smaller it will be when strung together with other seed beads.

When it comes to size comparison—or just visualizing how tiny these little objects really are—a good rule of thumb is to think about how big they would look if they were sitting on top of your finger tip or at least close enough that you could physically see them without having to squint or hold them up with tweezers.

Let’s go through some of the standard sizes.

Beads come in standard sizes, but the measurements on any commercial bead will be approximate. The chart below lists some of the most common bead sizes and their dimensions.

1/4″ (6.35mm)
3/8″ (9.53mm)
5/16″ (7.94mm)
11/32″ (8.83mm)

8/0 (eight zero)

8/0 (eight zero) is the largest size of seed bead. The hole in 8/0 beads measures about 1mm and has a diameter of around 0.8mm. There are 400 beads per gram and 25 beads per inch.

They measure about 3mm in diameter and have a hole that’s about 1.3mm in diameter.

Seed beads are typically made of glass, and they’re used for jewelry making. They measure about 3mm in diameter and have a hole that’s about 1.3mm in diameter. The smaller the number, the bigger the bead; 8/0 seed beads are about 3mm in diameter and have a hole that’s about 1.3mm in diameter.

11/0 (eleven zero)

11/0 seed beads are the most popular size.
They’re commonly used in beaded jewelry and they come in a wide range of colors.
You can use them to make macramé, stringing and weaving projects, or even brick stitch or peyote stitch designs.

If you want to learn more about seed beads and how they’re used, check out this video by [Beadaholique](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ4k4p0qLzA).

They measure about 2mm in diameter and have a hole that’s about .8mm in diameter.

11/0 seed beads are slightly larger than 10/0 seed beads, and 11/0 seed beads are slightly smaller than 8/0 seed beads. This means that 11/0 seeds tend to be used for very small projects due to their size and delicate nature, while 10s and 8s can be used on larger projects.

If you want to get a sense of how big various seed bead sizes are relative to each other, check out this chart!

15/0 (fifteen zero)

The smallest seed bead is 15/0, which is the same as fifteen zero. It’s often used to add detail to jewelry and can be strung on a wire or thread for creating beadwork. This size of bead can also be used as spacers between larger beads, or even on its own for decorative purposes.

A wide variety of colors and finishes are available, so use this tiny little guy to make everything from simple flowers to elaborate necklaces!

They measure about 1.5mm in diameter and have a hole that’s about .6mm in diameter

With a diameter of about 1.5mm, 15/0 seed beads are among the largest of their kind. Their holes are also fairly large in comparison to other bead types: they measure about .6mm in diameter. When working with these beads, you should have no problem stringing them on your thread or using them as spacers in between larger beads—as long as you’re using an appropriate needle size for your thread type and desired weight of the finished piece.

As mentioned above, 15/0s aren’t typically used alone but rather as part of a larger design or pattern that makes use of multiple colors and sizes of beads. They can be strung along with smaller seed beads to create a more textural effect (like when making peyote stitch) or interspersed with other types like Miyuki Delica Beads®, which are also manufactured by Toho® Company Ltd., among many others. The best way to get started is by going through our free online tutorials for making friendship bracelets and ropes!

The smaller the number, the bigger the bead!

1mm beads are the smallest and are the most common, so they’re the easiest to find. They work well for beading by hand or with a loom.

2mm beads are about twice as big as 1mm beads, but can still fit through an 11/o needle. 2mm beads require a 12/o needle or larger, which makes them ideal for bead weaving.

3mm and 4mm seed beads are generally used for bead weaving because they require very small needles that are hard to thread manually.

Conclusion

We hope we’ve broken it down for you, and made it easier to understand how seed beads are measured and sorted so that you can have an easier time shopping for them in the future. Beads are a great way to express your creativity, so don’t get discouraged if it seems like there are too many options—because there will always be a size that suits your needs.