Official Miyuki Factory Size Chart Round Seed Beads, Delica, Tila
Official Miyuki Factory Size Chart, Choosing Miyuki beads starts with the shape and size your project needs. This guide compares round seed beads, Delica cylinders, two-hole Tila beads and Bugles using Miyuki’s manufacturer reference measurements.
Compare the options below, then check your pattern and individual product listing before ordering. Measurements are approximate and may vary slightly with production lots and measurement conditions.
Understanding Miyuki seed bead sizes
Sizes such as 15/0, 11/0, 8/0 and 6/0 are bead size grades, not millimetre measurements. Within the round seed-bead range below, a higher size number means a smaller bead.
The grade alone does not identify a bead’s shape or dimensions. Round 11/0 seed beads and Delica 11/0 cylinders, for example, have different profiles and outer diameters.
Miyuki round seed bead size chart
| Round bead size | Approx. outer diameter | Approx. hole diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 15/0 | 1.5 mm | 0.7 mm |
| 11/0 | 2.0 mm | 0.8 mm |
| 8/0 | 3.0 mm | 1.1 mm |
| 6/0 | 4.5 mm | 1.5 mm |
Which round seed bead size should I choose?
Miyuki round 15/0 beads suit fine details, delicate edging and bead embroidery. Consider needle and thread compatibility carefully where a design requires repeated passes.
Miyuki round 11/0 beads are a versatile option for bead weaving, embroidery, fringe and jewellery patterns that specify round rocailles.
Miyuki round 8/0 beads offer a larger profile for bracelets, necklaces, stringing and mixed-bead designs.
Miyuki round 6/0 beads provide a bigger scale for stringing, decorative spacers and beadwork written for larger seed beads.
Follow your pattern’s specified size. Substituting a larger or smaller bead changes the spacing and finished dimensions.
What is the difference between 11/0 and 8/0?
Round 11/0 beads have a reference outer diameter of approximately 2.0 mm, compared with 3.0 mm for round 8/0 beads. Their reference hole diameters are 0.8 mm and 1.1 mm respectively.
Choose 11/0 where a pattern requires the smaller size and 8/0 where it calls for a larger profile. They are not direct substitutes without affecting the result.
Miyuki 6/0 vs 8/0 beads
Round 6/0 beads are approximately 4.5 mm across, while round 8/0 beads are approximately 3.0 mm across. Their reference hole diameters are 1.5 mm and 1.1 mm.
For cord or elastic projects, check the actual fit, allowing for doubled strands, needles and knots where relevant. A larger hole does not guarantee compatibility with every stringing material.
Delica vs round seed beads
Miyuki Delica 11/0 beads have a cylindrical profile, while round rocailles have a rounded profile. This affects how neighbouring beads sit together and the texture of finished beadwork.
| Bead type | Approx. outer diameter | Approx. hole diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Delica 11/0 cylinder | 1.6 mm | 0.8 mm |
| Round 11/0 rocaille | 2.0 mm | 0.8 mm |
Choose by shape as well as size grade, particularly when following peyote, brick-stitch or loom patterns. These beads share the same reference hole diameter, but their shapes and outer dimensions differ.
Tila, Half Tila and Quarter Tila dimensions
These two-hole beads offer different proportions for structured beadwork.
| Bead type | Approx. length × width × thickness | Approx. hole diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Tila | 5 × 5 × 1.9 mm | 0.8 mm |
| Half Tila | 5 × 2.3 × 1.9 mm | 0.8 mm |
| Quarter Tila | 5 × 1.2 × 1.9 mm | 0.8 mm |
The 1.9 mm measurement describes bead thickness, not hole diameter. Each bead has two holes; the reference hole diameter applies to each hole.
Explore our Miyuki Tila, Half Tila and Quarter Tila collections for patterns using these shapes. Follow the specified bead type and hole arrangement rather than treating the three formats as interchangeable.
Miyuki Bugle bead sizes
Bugle length and outer diameter describe different measurements. For standard round Bugles, Miyuki lists:
| Bugle size | Approx. length | Approx. outer diameter | Approx. hole diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 3 mm | 1.5 mm | 0.7 mm |
| 6 mm | 6 mm | 1.7 mm | 0.8 mm |
Use the length to compare the space a Bugle occupies along its hole, and the outer diameter to compare its width.
Choose the size your fringe, embroidery or beadwork pattern requires. Our Miyuki Bugle Beads 3mm and Miyuki Bugle Beads 6mm collections offer different lengths for these designs.
Choosing needles, thread and pack quantities
Check the hole size alongside your needle, thread or cord and the number of passes required. A reference hole measurement alone does not guarantee compatibility.
Make a small sample before starting. Compare your pattern’s requirements with the pack weight or quantity supplied, allowing extra for adjustments and finishing.
When replenishing supplies, match the full Miyuki colour code, bead shape, size and finish. Follow product-specific care guidance, as different coatings and surface effects can have different care requirements.
Source of measurements
The measurements in this guide are taken from Miyuki’s Size and Bead Count Data. They are manufacturer reference values rather than guaranteed tolerances for every individual bead.