1. Bead sizes at a glance
“Pony bead” usually means the middle row of this table. The maker on this site lets you set any diameter from 6 to 12 mm so the finished-size estimate matches the beads you actually bought.
| Size | Diameter | Hole | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | ~6 mm | ~2.5 mm | Fine detail on large tapestries; smaller hands find them fiddly |
| Standard pony | ~9 mm | ~4 mm | Almost everything — the size our patterns assume |
| Jumbo | ~12 mm | ~5 mm | Chunky small pieces, kids’ workshops, bold simple motifs |
Measure a bead from its supply before starting rather than trusting the listing — brand-to-brand differences of half a millimeter add up over 60 columns.
2. Finished tapestry chart
Pick your grid width (columns) and read across for the finished width at each bead diameter. Height works the same way with rows. For example, a 40 × 56 grid in 9 mm beads finishes at roughly 36 × 50 cm.
| Grid columns | 6 mm beads (cm / in) | 9 mm beads (cm / in) | 12 mm beads (cm / in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 columns | 14.4 cm / 5.7 in | 21.6 cm / 8.5 in | 28.8 cm / 11.3 in |
| 30 columns | 18.0 cm / 7.1 in | 27.0 cm / 10.6 in | 36.0 cm / 14.2 in |
| 40 columns | 24.0 cm / 9.4 in | 36.0 cm / 14.2 in | 48.0 cm / 18.9 in |
| 52 columns | 31.2 cm / 12.3 in | 46.8 cm / 18.4 in | 62.4 cm / 24.6 in |
| 64 columns | 38.4 cm / 15.1 in | 57.6 cm / 22.7 in | 76.8 cm / 30.2 in |
| 80 columns | 48.0 cm / 18.9 in | 72.0 cm / 28.3 in | 96.0 cm / 37.8 in |
Wider than about 45 cm, plan for a dowel or stick at the top to keep the piece flat — a large tapestry hangs from its own weight.
3. Choosing a grid size
- First project: 24–30 columns wide. Small enough to finish in an evening or two, big enough to show a clear motif.
- Gift-size wall piece: 40 columns in 9 mm beads ≈ 36 cm wide — the sweet spot for most rooms.
- Statement piece: 64–80 columns. Budget real time: an 80 × 80 grid is 6,400 beads. Print the row-by-row PDF and work in sessions.
- Finer detail without going huge: keep the grid, drop to 6 mm beads — same pattern, two-thirds the size.
4. Size questions
What size is a standard pony bead?
The classic pony bead is about 9 mm outer diameter with a roughly 4 mm hole. That is the size this site’s patterns assume by default. Always measure a sample bead — “pony bead” is a loose category and actual sizes drift between brands.
How wide is a 40-column pony bead tapestry?
With standard 9 mm beads, 40 columns come to about 36 cm (14.2 in) wide. With 6 mm beads the same grid is about 24 cm, and with 12 mm beads about 48 cm. The full chart above covers common widths.
How many beads do I need per square inch?
One bead fills one grid cell. With 9 mm beads, a 10 × 10 cm square of tapestry takes about 11 × 11 = 121 beads, plus roughly 10% spares. The maker’s shopping list counts exact totals for your pattern automatically.
Does the cord change the finished size?
Barely. The beads sit edge to edge, so the finished size is driven by bead diameter times the number of columns. Thick cord adds a little height at the top and bottom rows only.
Which bead size is best for a first tapestry?
9 mm standard pony beads: they are the easiest to string, the cheapest in bulk, and match every beginner pattern on this site. Move to 6 mm mini beads only when you want finer detail on a large wall piece.
Set your bead size in the maker
The studio estimates finished dimensions live as you edit, using 6–12 mm bead sizes.