Perler Beads Guide
Pegboard sizes, bead quantities and ironing — the complete perler workflow on one page.
Ironing guide
Ironing is where perler projects succeed or fail — too much heat or direct contact ruins the piece. Keep these rules:
- •Use medium heat (synthetic setting), never the hottest setting
- •Dry iron only, no steam: steam heats beads unevenly and leaves an uneven surface
- •Always keep ironing paper or parchment paper between the iron and the beads so nothing sticks
- •Move the iron in small circles, 10–30 seconds per area — never park it on one spot
- •Test a small sample of beads first to find the right temperature and timing for your iron
- •Press the piece flat with the paper still on and let it cool completely before removing — moving it hot warps it
- •If a large piece curls after cooling, stack a few books on top for several hours to flatten it again
Choosing a pegboard size
The common large square pegboard is 29×29 (841 beads). Bigger designs join several boards:
- •14×14 small board: keychains, charms and other minis
- •29×29 standard board: the everyday choice, about 14.5cm × 14.5cm finished
- •58×58 / 87×87: joined 29×29 boards for large wall art
- •Boards needed N = ceil(width/29) × ceil(height/29); a 58×58 design takes 4 boards
- •Finished size = cells × 0.5cm (Midi 5mm beads); 29 cells ≈ 14.5cm
Estimating bead quantities
Perler beads are counted per cell: one cell, one bead. Background cells usually stay empty.
- •Total beads = the sum of all non-background cells
- •Per-colour quantity = that colour's cell count — see the bead usage panel in the editor
- •Buy 10%–20% extra to cover loss and colour differences between batches
- •Export the shopping list CSV from the editor (colour hex, quantity, share) and shop from it directly
FAQ
What iron setting should I use for perler beads?
Medium heat (synthetic setting) — never the maximum. Always iron dry without steam, and test a small sample first to avoid over-melting.
Do I really need paper when ironing?
Yes. Always keep ironing paper or parchment paper between the iron and the beads, otherwise the beads melt onto the iron and ruin both the piece and the iron.
How big can a single pegboard design be?
One 29×29 board holds 841 beads — about 14.5cm finished. Larger designs join multiple boards: boards needed = ceil(width/29) × ceil(height/29); a 58×58 design takes 4.
How many beads of each colour do I need?
One cell is one bead, so total beads equal the non-background cell count. Check the per-colour bead usage panel or export the shopping list CSV, then add 10%–20% extra.
Why did my piece curl after ironing?
Usually it was removed too soon or heated unevenly. Let it cool completely before taking it off the board; for large pieces, press a few books on top for several hours to flatten.
How do I calculate the finished size?
Cells × 0.5cm (Midi 5mm beads). A 29×29 design measures about 14.5cm × 14.5cm.