Mini, midi or maxi fuse beads?

Fuse beads are sold in three sizes. A bead sits on one peg, so the bead size is also the peg spacing, and it decides how big a design comes out and how fiddly it is to make.

Board widths are pegs × bead size; real boards add a small border.

Which to choose

• Midi (5 mm) is the usual size. Most boards, colours and tutorials assume it.
• Mini (2.6 mm) gives fine detail in a small piece, but the beads are fiddly to place. Best for small, intricate designs.
• Maxi (10 mm) is chunky and easy to handle, good for young children.

The same design at three sizes

A design 50 beads wide is 13 cm across in mini beads, 25 cm in midi and 50 cm in maxi. Pick the size before you pick the width: MeltZoid works out the finished size and the boards needed for whichever you choose.

Sources

• The sizes are the nominal ones the craft is sold by, and the ones MeltZoid calculates with. Real beads differ by a fraction of a millimetre, and by maker.
• Perler’s own measurements: standard beads “5.07mm high x 4.77mm wide” (1,000 Perler Beads), mini beads “2.8mm high x 2.61mm wide” (2,000 Mini Beads).

Perler, Hama and Artkal are trademarks of their owners. MeltZoid is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to them.