Perler Bead Pattern Library - Free Downloads and Online Editing
Browse publicly shared perler bead patterns, check colors against your own brand's codes, download a version with grid and color chart, or open one in the editor to change it.
- bead brands
- 9
- bead brands
- colour values
- 291
- colour values
What a perler bead pattern actually contains
A perler bead pattern is a construction drawing: the picture is divided into a grid, each cell holds one bead, and the row and column numbers tell you where that bead goes. The cell color points to one entry in a palette, and that entry carries the color code printed on a bead bag. A preview image alone is not a usable pattern; what makes one workable is the color legend plus row and column coordinates.
Every pattern in this library comes from the same editor data: grid size, color list, bead count per color, and the equivalent code in each supported brand. That is why one pattern can be exported with MARD, Perler or Hama codes without hand conversion, and why the bead counts you read on this site match what the editor shows.
How to read the color chart
The color chart lists every color used in the pattern. Each row holds a swatch, the color code, the name and the bead count for that color. Start with the number of rows, which is how many bead bags you need, then sort the rows by count to decide what to buy first.
Column numbers run across the top and row numbers down the left side; together they pin down any single cell. On a large pattern, divide the picture into vertical sections by column so you finish one section before moving on, which is far less error-prone than counting a single long row. Transparent cells mean no bead goes there, so never treat them as white.
Brand and color code coverage
The whole site shares one palette of 291 color values. Each brand maps its own numbering system onto that same set of colors. The table below shows how many codes each brand can supply from the current palette:
| Brand | Available codes | Code example |
|---|---|---|
| MARD | 291 | A1 · B12 · C25 |
| COCO | 291 | E02 · D03 |
| 漫漫 | 283 | E2 · B1 |
| 盼盼 | 291 | 2 · 28 |
| 咪小窝 | 283 | 77 · 79 |
| Perler | 90 | Lemon · Cheddar |
| Hama | 77 | H03 · H79 |
| Artkal | 118 | S14 · SP3 |
| Nabbi | 30 | N13 · N26 |
Code examples are taken from the real mapping data: alphanumeric codes cover MARD, Hama and Artkal, while Perler uses color names. Brands with fewer entries cover only part of the palette, so check that the target brand has a code for every color in the pattern before you buy beads.
Pegboard sizes and bead counts
Pegboards are measured in cells; multiply the two sides and you get the number of beads needed to fill one board. The common square sizes are:
| Board size (cells) | Beads per full board |
|---|---|
| 52×52 | 2,704 |
| 29×29 | 841 |
| 64×64 | 4,096 |
| 104×104 | 10,816 |
A single editor page supports 16 to 104 cells per side. Patterns larger than one board are split across pages on export, so you can print them in order and join the sheets.
How to work from a perler bead pattern
- 1
Pick a pattern and check its size
Open the pattern detail and read the cell count and color count first. The cell count tells you how many pegboards you need; the color count tells you how many bead bags to prepare. Patterns wider than one board are split automatically on export.
- 2
Match the codes to your brand
Switch the color chart to the brand you actually own and check each code. The same color has a different label per brand: an alphanumeric code under MARD, a color name under Perler, an H-number under Hama.
- 3
Place beads by row and column
Start at the top-left corner and work down row by row, left to right within each row. Fill the large color blocks first to fix the outline, then the smaller areas, and leave isolated single beads for last, since that order makes counting mistakes easier to spot.
- 4
Fuse the beads
Cover the work with ironing paper and move a medium-hot iron in slow circles until the holes start to close. Never hold the iron still, or that spot flattens. Fusing both sides gives a flatter, sturdier result than one pass.
- 5
Export and reuse
For printing, export the version with grid lines, row and column coordinates and the color chart, print at 100% on A4 and join the sheets. Tiled export is a Pro feature, and free accounts can preview the first two pages. To change colors or scale, import the pattern into the editor, edit, then export again.
Four mistakes worth avoiding
Beading straight from the preview
A preview has no row or column numbers, so counting cells by eye drifts after a few rows. Use the exported chart with grid and coordinates and check each row as you finish it.
Matching beads to screen colors
Screens and physical beads differ, most of all in light grays and creams. Trust the color code rather than the swatch, and place a small test patch when two neighboring colors look close.
Estimating bead counts by area
The count in the color chart is tallied cell by cell, so use it directly as your shopping list. Estimating by area usually leaves you short on the most-used colors, often by more than ten percent.
Ironing too hot
Excess heat melts bead edges into the paper and flattens the shape. Keep the iron at medium, keep it moving, and stop as soon as the holes close evenly.
What you can export
Publicly shared patterns
Patterns shared in the gallery can be viewed and downloaded directly, with no subscription needed for personal beading.
Browse by category
Filter by animals, characters, decorations or geometric designs, and check size and color count before you start.
Export with color chart
Export a version with grid lines, row and column coordinates and the color chart, then print it tiled on A4 and join the sheets.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Can I use these perler bead patterns for free?
Every pattern shared publicly in the gallery can be viewed and downloaded free of charge for personal beading. Before you sell finished pieces or redistribute a pattern, read the license note on that pattern. If no license is stated, treat it as all rights reserved and ask the author first.
Which bead brands do the patterns support?
Nine brands: MARD, COCO, 漫漫, 盼盼, 咪小窝, Perler, Hama, Artkal and Nabbi. They share one palette of 291 color values. On export the pattern is written in the codes of the brand you select, so it never asks for a code that brand does not make.
Can I edit a pattern after downloading it?
Yes. Import it into the editor to change individual cells, swap one color code across the whole pattern, or resize the canvas, then export again. If you publish the modified version, follow the license terms of the original pattern.
How are the bead counts calculated?
Counts are tallied cell by cell: however many cells a color occupies is how many beads of that color you need. The total in the color chart is the sum across all colors and works directly as a shopping list. Add a few spare beads per color to cover dropped or damaged pieces.
How many pegboards does one pattern need?
Divide the pattern's cell count by the cells on one board. A 29×29 board holds 841 beads when full, so a 52×52 pattern needs four boards joined together, or four separate sessions fused afterwards. When a pattern exceeds one board, the editor splits the export into multiple pages.
What should I watch out for when printing?
Export with grid lines, row and column coordinates and the color chart, then print on A4 at 100% scale and leave fit-to-page off, because scaling shifts the grid and the beads stop lining up. For multi-page patterns, align the sheets using the join marks in the corners before placing the first bead, and keep the pages in order so a row continued on the next sheet does not get reversed.
Do standard and mini bead patterns work the same way?
The grid is what matters: the same cell count works with either bead type, and only the finished size changes. Standard beads are about 5 mm across and mini beads about 2.6 mm, so the same 29×29 pattern comes out roughly half the size in mini beads. Follow the cell count when you place beads, and use the physical size only when you are deciding where the finished piece will fit.
What if I do not have every color?
Replace missing codes in the editor with the closest colors from the palette, then recheck contrast so neighboring blocks stay distinct. Sorting the color chart by quantity also helps: handle the highest-volume colors first and substitute only the rare ones.
Create your own pattern
View, edit and export perler bead patterns online, with color code mapping for nine brands and A4 tiled printing.
Open a pattern in the editor