How is the number of beads calculated?

The finished length is divided by the per-bead pitch, which is the bead diameter plus any spacing gap you add. A 20 cm bracelet with 6 mm beads and no gap fits about 33 beads (200 mm divided by 6 mm).

Why does the thread length add extra?

You always need slack beyond the beaded section for tying knots, attaching a clasp, and finishing. The tool adds a waste allowance (default 15 cm) on top of the beaded length so you cut enough cord or wire the first time.

What is beads per inch used for?

Beads per inch is a quick density figure for comparing bead sizes and estimating how many beads a pattern row needs. It equals 25.4 mm divided by your bead pitch in millimetres.

How do pattern repeats work?

If your design uses a repeating motif of N beads, the tool divides the total bead count by N to show how many full repeats fit and how many leftover beads remain, so you can centre or adjust the pattern.

Should I measure the bead hole-to-hole or outer diameter?

Use the outer diameter (the nominal bead size, like 4 mm or 8 mm). On a tight strand beads sit edge to edge, so the outer diameter is the effective pitch. Add a spacing gap only if beads are deliberately separated.

Bead Count & Spacing Calculator

Planning a beaded bracelet or necklace means turning a finished length into a bead count and a length of cord to cut. This calculator does both: it converts your target length and bead size into how many beads you need, how much stringing material to cut, and how a repeating pattern divides across the strand.

How it works

Every bead occupies a fixed pitch along the strand — its diameter plus any deliberate spacing gap:

pitch        = bead diameter + spacing gap   (mm)
bead count   = floor(finished length mm / pitch)
beads/inch   = 25.4 / pitch
thread length = finished length + waste allowance

The waste allowance covers the cord you need beyond the last bead for knots, crimps, and the clasp. For a repeating motif of N beads, full repeats are floor(count / N) and the leftover is count mod N.

Example and tips

A 18 cm (180 mm) bracelet strung with 8 mm rounds and no spacer gives 180 / 8 = 22 beads, about 3.2 beads per inch. Add a 4 mm seed spacer between each round and the pitch becomes 12 mm, dropping the count to 15 beads. Always cut a little long: it is far easier to trim excess cord than to restring a strand that came up short at the clasp. For symmetric patterns, aim for an odd leftover so you can place a single centre bead.