Perler Mini bead pattern maker
Turn a photo into a Perler Mini pattern: each cell is one 2.6 mm Mini bead matched to the Perler Mini palette, with a bead count per color and the finished size. Mini beads put twice as many cells into the same width, so photos keep more detail.
Updated
or drop or paste an image here. It stays on your device.
Your photo starts at 56 beads wide (the sample below is 29 × 29); height follows the photo. Up to 150 wide free.
2 to 30 colors free; up to 80 with Pro.
Sample chart: a strawberry, 29 × 29 beads (3 × 3 in on 2.6 mm mini pegboard) in 10 Perler Mini colors. Its background is left unstitched (533 cells of bare pegboard), so the key counts only the motif. Choose a photo to chart your own at 56 beads wide.
- Grid
- 29 × 29
- Finished size
- 3 × 3 in (7.5 × 7.5 cm)
- Colors
- 10 Perler Mini
- Beads
- 308
| Symbol | Swatch | Perler Mini | Name | Beads | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | 80-19005 | Red | 188 | 61.0 % | |
| O | 80-19059 | Hot Coral | 68 | 22.1 % | |
| + | 80-19010 | Dark Green | 21 | 6.8 % | |
| # | 80-19021 | Light Brown | 9 | 2.9 % | |
| @ | 80-19002 | Creme | 8 | 2.6 % | |
| % | 80-19080 | Green | 5 | 1.6 % | |
| & | 80-15181 | Light Grey | 3 | 1.0 % | |
| = | 80-19033 | Peach | 2 | 0.6 % | |
| S | 80-19063 | Blush | 2 | 0.6 % | |
| T | 80-19098 | Sand | 2 | 0.6 % |
Bead counts are exact: one bead per cell. Share is each color's part of all beads; buy a little extra of each color for losses. Thread and bead colors on screen are approximations of the real material.
Free PDF up to 60 × 60 beads (vector chart with real text symbols, color key and estimates). PNG has no size limit.
Pro, $14 once: PDF at any size with a page map, 31 to 80 colors, symbol-only or color charts, a shopping-list CSV and saved projects.
What this Perler Mini bead pattern maker makes
Perler Mini beads are about half the size of the standard 5 mm beads, so a design 56 beads wide is roughly the width of a 29-bead standard design. That extra resolution is what makes faces, lettering and detailed sprites possible.
The Mini range has fewer colors than the standard range, so the tool matches against the Mini palette only. Every color in the key is one you can buy in Mini size.
The Perler Mini bead preset
| Grid material | 2.6 mm mini pegboard |
|---|---|
| Size of one bead | 2.6 mm square |
| Beads per inch | 9.77 |
| Beads in 10 × 10 cm | 1,444 |
| Color palette | 41 Perler Mini colors; Perler Mini fuse beads (2.6 mm) |
| Suggested width | 56 beads = 14.6 cm (5.7 in) |
| Suggested color limit | 12 colors (free tool: up to 30) |
| Shopping list in the key | bead count per Perler Mini color |
How big a Perler Mini bead pattern comes out
Finished width = beads × 2.6 mm. The table uses the nominal grid (2.6 mm mini pegboard); real pieces vary slightly with the material.
| Width (beads) | Width (cm) | Width (in) | Square design: beads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 Perler Mini beads | 14.6 | 5.7 | 3,136 |
| 84 Perler Mini beads | 21.8 | 8.6 | 7,056 |
| 112 Perler Mini beads | 29.1 | 11.5 | 12,544 |
| 140 Perler Mini beads | 36.4 | 14.3 | 19,600 |
Perler Mini beads for a target width
At 2.6 mm per bead, 10 cm takes 38 beads. Use this table to pick the width for a coaster, a keyring or a framed piece.
| Target width | Width in beads | Beads for a square design |
|---|---|---|
| 5 cm wide | 19 Perler Mini beads | 361 |
| 10 cm wide | 38 Perler Mini beads | 1,444 |
| 15 cm wide | 57 Perler Mini beads | 3,249 |
| 20 cm wide | 76 Perler Mini beads | 5,776 |
How to read a Perler Mini bead pattern
Each cell is one Mini bead. Read row by row and use the 10-bead grid to keep your place; at this size losing a row is easy, so tick off rows on a printout.
Tweezers are almost essential. Place the outline and the darkest colors first, then fill the lighter areas, comparing with the bead counts in the key.
Materials for Perler Mini bead patterns
- Perler Mini beads (2.6 mm) in the colors from the key.
- Mini pegboards made for 2.6 mm beads; standard boards do not fit.
- Fine-tipped bead tweezers, ironing paper and an iron without steam.
- A magnifier lamp helps on large designs.
Make a Perler Mini bead pattern from a photo
-
Choose a detailed image
Mini beads suit photos, faces and small text. Crop tightly so the subject fills the grid.
-
Set the width
The preset starts at 56 beads, about the size of one standard 29-bead board. Increase it for more detail.
-
Pick the number of colors
Twelve to twenty colors keeps the work manageable at this size.
-
Place and check
Work row by row with tweezers and check each row against the chart before moving on.
-
Fuse gently
Mini beads melt faster than standard beads: iron at a lower setting and for less time, checking often.
Tips for Perler Mini bead patterns
- Lower heat matters more with Mini beads; the holes close fast and the colors can darken if overheated.
- Sort only the colors you need today; at 2.6 mm a spilled tray costs an evening.
- Mini colors share names and numbers with many standard Perler colors, so you can mock up a design in standard beads first.
- Screens exaggerate the difference between similar pale colors; check those against real beads.
Perler Mini color pages
Each page lists the color's hex value and its nearest equivalents in other brands by CIEDE2000.
Perler 5 mm pages for the same colors
Color references
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a Perler Mini bead pattern from a photo?
Yes. Upload the photo, set the width in Mini beads and the color limit, and the tool matches every cell to the Perler Mini palette and counts beads per color.
How much smaller are Perler Mini beads?
Mini beads are about 2.6 mm against 5 mm for standard beads, so the same design is roughly half as wide, or holds twice as many beads in the same width.
Can I use the standard Perler palette for Mini beads?
Not every standard color exists in Mini size, so this page uses the Mini palette. Use the standard Perler bead page if you are working with 5 mm beads.
How big is an 112-bead Perler Mini bead pattern?
112 beads at 2.6 mm each come out 29.1 cm (11.5 in) wide. A square design that size has 112 rows and 12,544 beads.
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