MotifSmithPerler vs Hama vs Artkal vs MARD: Which Fuse Beads to Buy
All four make standard 5 mm fuse beads that fit the same boards. They differ mainly in color range, where they sell, and how they melt.
If you only want to make a few designs, buy whichever 5 mm brand is easiest to get where you live. All four brands here make beads that fit standard 29-peg boards. The differences start to matter once you care about matching colors or making large pieces.
The color ranges, side by side
These are the counts of colors in the card data MotifSmith uses. Sellers add and retire colors, so treat them as a guide.
| Brand | Colors in our data | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Perler | 103 | Easy to find in US craft stores |
| Hama | 92 | Common in Europe |
| Artkal S | 199 | Wide range, popular with pixel artists |
| MARD | 291 | Very wide range, popular in China |
| Nabbi | 30 | Smaller range, sold mostly in Scandinavia |
More colors help with photos and gradients. For simple designs and characters, 15 to 25 well-chosen colors are usually enough.
Do codes match between brands?
No. Each brand numbers its colors its own way, and a red in one isn't quite the red in another. To move a design across brands you have to look up the nearest color, one by one. Our bead color finder shows the closest bead in every brand with a match percentage, and the bead pattern maker can convert a whole pattern when you change brand.
The values come from a community project that sampled real beads, so they're close rather than official. Screens vary too. Check a real bead in daylight before you buy a lot.
Which should you choose?
- Starting out in the US: Perler, because you can pick it up in a store.
- Starting out in Europe: Hama, for the same reason.
- Detailed pixel art: Artkal S or MARD, for the extra colors.
- You already own a box: use it. Add your colors to My beads and turn on "Use only beads I own" when you make a pattern.