Midi (5mm) is the default and what almost every tutorial means by perler bead. Mini (2.6mm) is for jewelry and high-detail pieces at roughly half the physical size. Maxi (10mm) is a preschool-friendly size with a tiny color range. Sizes never mix on one board — the peg spacing is physically different.
The Three Sizes, Measured
| Size | Diameter | Typical boards | Beads per large board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 2.6mm | 29×29 mini, 58×58 mini | 841 / 3,364 |
| Midi | 5mm | 29×29, 58×58 | 841 / 3,364 |
| Maxi | 10mm | 15×15 maxi only | 225 |
Bead diameter and peg spacing are not the same number. A 5mm bead sits on a peg with a fraction of a millimeter of clearance so it still slides off, and that clearance is why 29 midi beads across measures about 15cm rather than the 14.5cm you get by multiplying.
Finished Size, Calculated
This is the table people actually need before starting: how big does it end up?
| Design | Size | Square midi | Square mini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small sprite | 16×16 | 8.3 × 8.3 cm | 4.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Single large board | 29×29 | 15.1 × 15.1 cm | 8.1 × 8.1 cm |
| Four boards (2×2) | 58×58 | 30.2 × 30.2 cm | 16.2 × 16.2 cm |
| Six boards (3×2) | 87×58 | 45.2 × 30.2 cm | 24.3 × 16.2 cm |
| Nine boards (3×3) | 87×87 | 45.2 × 45.2 cm | 24.3 × 24.3 cm |
A single midi board is coaster-to-trivet scale. Four boards is poster scale and about the largest piece most people iron in one pass without warping. Beyond that you iron in sections and connect them, which the 3D and multi-board guide covers.
Which Size for Which Project
- Mini 2.6mm — earrings, pendants, keychains, anything worn or highly detailed. A 29×29 mini piece is smaller than a credit card, so portrait conversions only hold up at 58×58.
- Midi 5mm — the workhorse. Wall art, magnets, coasters, gifts, and kid projects from about age six.
- Maxi 10mm — ages three to five, plus giant simple shapes. Fifteen colors exist, no more; if a design needs shading, it is the wrong size.
The Detail Math
Detail capacity scales with the square of the bead count, so doubling physical size does not double detail — it quadruples it. A 29×29 midi board holds 841 beads. The same 15cm square in mini holds 3,364: four times the detail in the same wall footprint. That single fact drives every size decision. If you want detail in a small space, go mini; if you want a big piece fast, go midi.
Mixing Sizes: Don't
These are three separate physical systems. A mini bead will not sit on a midi peg, and forcing maxi onto anything else damages the peg. The one legitimate combination is gluing a small mini accent onto a finished midi project as a raised element — glued, never on the peg grid.
Cost Per Square Centimeter
Beads are sold by count, so cost scales with bead count, not area. Mini beads cost more per bead than midi in most markets, and a 58×58 mini project needs 3,364 beads against 841 for the same wall size in midi. That is roughly four times the bead spend for the same footprint — worth it for portraits and jewelry, wasteful for simple logos and kids' art.
FAQ
Can I use mini beads on a midi pegboard?
No. Even if a mini bead fits loosely, it will not sit at the right height, so the ironed result is uneven and weak.
What size are Hama and Artkal beads?
Hama midi is 5mm like Perler midi. Artkal S is 5mm; Artkal M is 2.6mm. Midi and mini describe the size class, not the brand.
How many beads fit in a 1,000-count bag?
A 29×29 board needs 841 beads, so one 1,000-count bag covers a full board with 159 spare — which is exactly why starter kits pair a large board with 1,000-count bags. For per-color planning, the bead usage guide has the full method.
Is maxi worth buying for a family?
Only with toddlers in the house. It is expensive per bead, has a tiny palette, and kids graduate to midi within months.