Perler Bead Pattern Maker

Turn a cartoon, a game character, a logo or a photo into a Perler bead pattern in real bead colors. Choose your brand (Perler, Hama, Artkal or Nabbi), how many beads wide it should be and how many colors you have, and see at once how many pegboards it needs and how big it will be. Fix single beads by hand, then download a printable PDF with one page per pegboard and the exact number of beads of each color. Your picture stays on your device.

How to Make a Perler Bead Pattern

1. Pick a picture. Clear shapes and strong outlines work best: cartoons, game sprites, emoji, logos and pixel art. Crop it close to the subject first.
2. Add it to the page. Choose the file, drop it onto the page or paste it. A picture with a transparent background keeps an empty background automatically.
3. Choose the beads and the size. Pick your bead brand and enter the width in beads. The number of pegboards and the finished size are shown, so you know whether you have enough boards.
4. Choose the colors. Set the maximum number of colors. If you only own a starter set, keep it low and remove any color you do not have with × in the color list; it is replaced by the nearest color.
5. Fix details. Choose a color in the list and use Paint or Erase to fix eyes, outlines and single beads.
6. Download and print. Download the PDF and follow it board by board, or keep the PNG on a tablet next to your pegboards.

Bead Sizes and Pegboards

A large square pegboard holds 29 × 29 beads. Change the pegboard size in the tool if yours is different, and the PDF splits the pattern to match.

Tips for a Bead Pattern That Looks Good

• Fewer beads, bolder picture. Beads are big pixels. A character at 29 to 40 beads wide reads better than a busy photo; save photos for patterns of 60 beads or more.
• Match your bead box. Choose the brand you own and lower the number of colors until the list only shows colors you have.
• Outlines matter. A black or dark outline around a character makes it stand out after ironing. Paint it in if the picture has none.
• Empty background. Leave the background empty for a shape you can hang or use as a magnet, or fill it with one color for a square tile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a Perler bead pattern from a picture?

Add the picture on this page, choose your bead brand, the width in beads and the maximum number of colors. The picture is turned into a grid of real bead colors. Remove colors or fix single beads, then download the PDF with one page per pegboard and the number of beads you need of each color.

How big is a Perler bead pattern?

Standard Perler, Hama, Artkal S and Nabbi beads are 5 mm, so 29 beads, one large square pegboard, make about 14.5 cm (5.7 in). Mini beads are about 2.6 mm, half the size. The page shows the finished size and how many pegboards the pattern needs.

What size picture works best?

Cartoons, game sprites, logos and pixel art with clear outlines work best. One pegboard of 29 × 29 beads is enough for a simple character; faces and pets need two to four pegboards across. Crop the picture close to the subject before you add it.

Can I use Hama or Artkal beads instead of Perler?

Yes. Choose Perler, Perler Mini, Hama Midi, Hama Mini, Artkal S, Artkal C or Nabbi, and the pattern uses that brand's colors and numbers. Standard 5 mm beads of these brands fit the same pegboards.

How many beads do I need?

The color list counts the beads of every color exactly, with the total at the bottom. Buy about 10% extra of each color for spares and dropped beads.

How do I follow the pattern on several pegboards?

The PDF has one page per pegboard with its row and column on the pattern and a small map showing where it goes. Put the pegboards together, place the beads board by board, then iron the whole piece at once, or iron each board and join them with a second pass.

Is my picture uploaded?

No. The pattern is made inside your browser, and the picture never leaves your device.

Is it free?

Making, editing and previewing patterns is free, and so is the color list. Downloading the PDF, PNG or shopping list counts as one use per picture, with a free daily allowance; a membership raises the limit for people who make patterns every day.