The Complete Guide to Bead Colors: 15 Brands, 2000+ Colors
From MARD to Perler, Hama to Diamond Dotz — understand each brand's color system and find the perfect beads for your project.
Why Color Choice Matters
Color is at the heart of bead art. Different brands vary significantly in color range, accuracy, texture, and price. Choosing the right brand and colors directly impacts your final piece. PixelBeadie's smart color matching algorithm uses CIE-Lab color space to find the closest match in any brand's palette.
This guide covers 15 major bead brands with complete color charts. You can also visit our interactive color chart tool to search and compare colors.
MARD
One of the largest color palettes available with 291 colors. Popular in the Chinese bead art community for its extensive range and affordable pricing.
Artkal A
Artkal's mini bead line with 144 colors. Known for vibrant, consistent colors and compatibility with Hama Mini beads.
Artkal C
Extended Artkal mini line with 174 colors including special edition colors. Great for detailed pixel art projects.
Artkal M
Artkal's midi bead series with 219 colors organized in sub-series (MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MM).
Artkal R
Artkal's standard 5mm bead line with 88 colors. Compatible with Perler and Hama Midi beads.
Artkal S
Artkal's expanded 5mm line with 198 colors including special finishes (glow, glitter, neon, pearlescent, transparent).
Hama Midi
The original fuse bead brand from Denmark, established in 1971. 91 colors including pastels, neons, and translucent options.
Hama Mini
Hama's mini bead line with 77 colors. Perfect for highly detailed designs and smaller projects.
Hama Maxi
Large 10mm beads designed for young children (ages 3+). 24 colors with easy-to-handle size.
Perler
The most popular bead brand in North America with 102 colors. Widely available in craft stores and online.
Perler Mini
Perler's mini bead line with 40 colors. Compatible with Hama Mini beads for detailed work.
Perler Caps
Unique flat-top beads that create a smooth, tile-like finish when fused. 25 colors available.
Nabbi
Swedish bead brand with 30 carefully curated colors. Known for consistent quality and rich pigmentation.
Diamond Dotz
The largest palette with 460 colors. Originally for diamond painting, these faceted resin dots create stunning mosaic art.
Yant
Chinese brand with 118 uniquely named colors inspired by nature, food, and everyday objects.
Brand Comparison Summary
| Brand | Colors | Size | Origin | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARD | 291 | 2.6mm | China | Detailed pixel art |
| Artkal A | 144 | 2.6mm | China | Detailed pixel art |
| Artkal C | 173 | 2.6mm | China | Detailed pixel art |
| Artkal M | 219 | 2.6mm | China | Detailed pixel art |
| Artkal R | 88 | 5mm | China | Standard bead art |
| Artkal S | 198 | 5mm | China | Standard bead art |
| Hama Midi | 91 | 5mm | Denmark | Standard bead art |
| Hama Mini | 77 | 2.5mm | Denmark | Detailed pixel art |
| Hama Maxi | 24 | 10mm | Denmark | Kids / beginners |
| Perler | 102 | 5mm | USA | Standard bead art |
| Perler Mini | 40 | 2.5mm | USA | Detailed pixel art |
| Perler Caps | 25 | 5mm | USA | Standard bead art |
| Nabbi | 29 | 5mm | Sweden | Standard bead art |
| Diamond Dotz | 460 | varies | South Africa | Diamond painting |
| Yant | 118 | 2.6mm | China | Detailed pixel art |
Ready to start creating?
PixelBeadie supports color matching for all brands above