Bead and Necklace Size Charts

Whether you're a novice bead jewelry maker or just shopping for necklaces, these bead and necklace size charts and links to related articles can help you.

Beads per Inch

Bead SizeBeads per InchBeads per 16"Beads per 24"2 mm12.52003003 mm8.31332004 mm6.251001505 mm5801206 mm4.266997 mm3.657868 mm3.13507510 mm2.5406012 mm2.13350

Cord Conversion Chart

Silk is the traditional beading cord. Its strength and flexibility are unmatched for any other material its size. Nylon and polyester cords are replacing silk. They have nearly the same strength and a longer life.

A number or a letter defines cord size. The size used depends on the size of your beads. Larger, heavier beads require a stronger cord.

The codes represent smaller, lighter capacity cords (A, 1) to larger, heavier capacity cords (FF, 8).

SilkABCDEFFFNylon11.523458

Necklace Lengths

Choker14 to 16 inches, falls to hollow of neckPrincess18 inchesMatinee20 to 24 inches, falls to the crown of the bustOpera28 to 32 inchesRopeAnything more than 32 inches

Additional Information

For more information on beads and necklace size, nomenclature, and instructions for making them, consult these articles:

If you're looking for bead jewelry ideas, browse through our Gem Listings and discover many different gemstones that can be used as very attractive beads, whether faceted, carved, or natural.

Necklace with blue turquoise focal piece, green turquoise cylinder beads, and white wood beads. Photo by Natalia. Licensed under CC By 2.0.