TL;DR: A full 29×29 board uses exactly 841 beads, a 52×52 uses 2,704, and a 58×58 uses 3,364 — but real patterns only fill 60–80% of the grid. Quick rule: beads needed ≈ width × height × 0.7. The charts below give exact numbers for every standard size, and the editor prints the exact per-color count for your specific pattern before you buy anything.
Nothing stalls a project faster than running out of one color with twenty beads to go. The fix is knowing the numbers before you start — and they’re simpler than most people expect. Here’s the complete reference: exact bead counts for every standard grid, the fill-rate math for real patterns, and how to never run out mid-project again.
Exact bead counts by board size
These are the maximums — what you’d use if every single peg held a bead:
| Grid | Max beads (100% fill) | Typical pattern (60–80% fill) | Standard bags to buy* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 × 15 | 225 | 135–180 | 1 mixed bag |
| 20 × 20 | 400 | 240–320 | 1 mixed bag |
| 29 × 29 (1 standard board) | 841 | 500–670 | 1 mixed bag |
| 40 × 40 | 1,600 | 960–1,280 | 1–2 bags |
| 52 × 52 | 2,704 | 1,620–2,160 | 2–3 bags |
| 58 × 58 (2×2 boards) | 3,364 | 2,020–2,690 | 3 bags |
| 78 × 78 (3×3 boards) | 6,084 | 3,650–4,870 | 5+ bags |
| 104 × 104 (4×4 boards) | 10,816 | 6,490–8,650 | 7+ bags |
*A standard mixed bag holds 1,000 beads across many colors. “Bags to buy” assumes a typical multi-color pattern; single-color math is below.
Why real patterns use fewer beads than the maximum
Almost no pattern fills its whole grid. A character on a 29×29 board might occupy 500–600 pegs; the rest is empty background. Across every pattern we’ve published, the fill rate lands between 60% and 80% of the grid — dense silhouettes at the top of that range, line-art and small-centered subjects at the bottom. That’s where the 0.7 multiplier comes from: it’s the number that gets your shopping right 90% of the time.
Single colors: the 80/20 problem
The tricky part isn’t total beads — it’s that one or two colors always dominate. In our pumpkin pattern (54×54, 2,704 beads), the orange alone took 977 beads and the outline black 1,367; the other four colors shared 360. That’s typical: the main color of a bold pattern is usually 30–50% of the total, and the outline color can take even more. Mixed bags rarely contain more than 100–150 beads of any one color, which is why experienced beaders buy black, white, and their project’s main color as separate single-color bags.
How to get the exact count for your pattern
Charts get you close; exact counts need your actual pattern. The free editor computes them automatically: convert or draw your design, and the bead list shows the precise count for every color — print it and take it shopping. It also re-matches the whole pattern to Perler, Hama, or Artkal palettes, so the counts come out in codes you can actually buy. If you’re converting a photo, our photo-to-pattern guide covers the grid-size choice that determines the count.
Buying rules that prevent mid-project disasters
- Always buy 20% more of the dominant color than the pattern says. Dropped, lost, and malformed beads are a fact of life.
- Black and white first. Outlines and highlights appear in nearly every pattern; keep a dedicated bag of each.
- One mixed bag covers any single-board project. 29×29 patterns rarely need more than ~170 beads of any color.
- Big pieces: count before you start. For 58×58 and up, print the bead list and physically set aside each color first — finding out you’re 200 short at bead 3,000 is misery.
Bead count FAQ
How many beads are on one pegboard?
A standard square 29×29 pegboard holds exactly 841 beads when completely full. Typical patterns fill 500–670 of those pegs.
How many beads come in a standard bag?
Mixed bags are usually 1,000 beads across 10–20 colors (50–150 per color). Single-color bags run 1,000–6,000 depending on the brand. Perler and Hama also sell large tubs of 6,000–22,000 mixed beads for heavy users.
How do I estimate beads for a custom pattern?
Width × height × 0.7 for the total, then assume the top color is a third of that. For anything you’ll spend more than an evening on, use the editor — it prints exact per-color counts free.
Do mini beads need the same math?
The same formula applies, but mini (2.5–2.6 mm) beads come on different standard boards — a 29×29 mini piece is physically much smaller, so the same grid holds far fewer square centimeters. Check the bead list the editor prints; it works for any grid size.
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