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.

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By International Gem Society

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.

lapis, onyx, and silver — Lapis, onyx, and silver necklace. Photo by Sheila Sund. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Beads per Inch

Bead Size	Beads per Inch	Beads per 16"	Beads per 24"
2 mm	12.5	200	300
3 mm	8.3	133	200
4 mm	6.25	100	150
5 mm	5	80	120
6 mm	4.2	66	99
7 mm	3.6	57	86
8 mm	3.13	50	75
10 mm	2.5	40	60
12 mm	2.1	33	50

Printable actual size bead size chart

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).

Silk	A	B	C	D	E	F	FF
Nylon	1	1.5	2	3	4	5	8

glass, silver, and nylon — Necklace, green glass and silver beads on nylon thread. Photo by Jessica Spengler. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Necklace Lengths

Choker	14 to 16 inches, falls to hollow of neck
Princess	18 inches
Matinee	20 to 24 inches, falls to the crown of the bust
Opera	28 to 32 inches
Rope	Anything more than 32 inches

Printable necklace size chart

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.

bead and necklace size charts - turquoise and wood beads — Necklace with blue turquoise focal piece, green turquoise cylinder beads, and white wood beads. Photo by Natalia. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

$Table of Refractive Indices and Double Refraction of Selected Gems$

Table of Refractive Indices and Double Refraction of Selected Gems

Refractive indices and double refraction (birefringence) help gemologists identify gems. The following table lists these values for selected gemstones.

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