The short answer: the three brands worth knowing are Perler, Hama, and Artkal. Perler wins on availability in North America, Hama in Europe, and Artkal on color range, especially mini. All three fuse identically and mix freely.
There is no single best brand, because the right one depends on where you live and what you build. The good news: you can mix them all in one stash, so the choice is low-risk either way.
The big three, explained
- Perler: the default in North America. Every craft store stocks it, kits are everywhere, and colors cover most needs.
- Hama: the default in Europe. Strong board range, similar color count, and easy to find across the continent.
- Artkal: the specialist. The widest color range, especially pastels, gradients, and mini colors. Mostly online.
- Off-brands: fine for mixed buckets and common colors, but color consistency varies between batches.
How to choose
- Start with whichever brand is cheapest and easiest to buy where you live.
- Add Artkal only when you need a shade the local brand does not have.
- Match shades across brands with our color guide.
- Read the details in our brand comparison before committing to one brand.
- All three brands are stocked in our shop.
The best brand is the one you can actually buy, at a price you like, in the colors you need. For most people that is Perler or Hama, with Artkal filling the gaps.