Bead Shapes (Ultimate Chart)
A bead’s shape affects how it sits on a string, how it catches the light, and whether it works as a spacer or a pendant. This guide compares seventeen common shapes and bead categories, with examples and project ideas.
So, what are all the different bead shapes? Some common bead shapes include round, seed, cathedral, disc, donut, barrel, marquise, faceted, bicone, briolette, teardrop, bugle, cube, tile, dog bone, flower, and baroque.
Start with the project: round beads and discs are useful for simple strings, seed beads suit finer beadwork, and drops can form a pendant or earring. Before ordering, check the bead dimensions, hole diameter, and number and position of holes. A bead can have the right outline and still need different thread or findings. Jump to the comparison chart for a quick reference.
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1. Round
See round bead examples on Amazon
Round beads are one of the most common shapes. They’re a sphere with a hole going through the middle.
These beads are often used for fillers on necklaces and bracelets. Children often use round beads to create friendship jewelry, keychains, or bookmarks.
However, round beads are extremely versatile, and can also be used for dreamcatchers, wind chimes, and even on a pair of earrings.
You can also glue round beads to a flat round or square surface to create a homemade coaster!
2. Seed
See seed bead examples on Amazon
Seed beads are a little different, as they can be many different shapes. The thing that sets seed beads apart is their size.
As one might imagine, seed beads are very tiny in size, like many plant seeds. They come in a range of sizes, but don’t get as large as some pendant beads.
There are different shapes available for seed beads, but the most common is rocaille, or the simple round shape.
Seed beads work great as filler between larger beads on a string to create bracelets and necklaces, but would also work great if used on individual dangling strings to create earrings.
Since they’re so small, they’d also work great to make stemware charms, used to wrap around stemware glasses and help people tell their glasses apart from other people’s.
3. Cathedral
See cathedral bead examples on Amazon
Cathedral beads are unique in shape. They usually start as a smooth, round bead, but are then cut to have facets along the middle.
These facets give the beads a more antique, gothic look, traditionally seen in old cathedrals.
Because these beads are reminiscent of churches, they work great to create rosaries.
They can also be used for jewelry, but would be an eye-catching choice for dreamcatchers, suncatchers, or even garden décor because of the way they’ll reflect light from the facets.
4. Disc
See the Ywmimn flat-disc bead kit on Amazon
Disc beads are almost self-explanatory; they’re shaped flat and round, like a disc.
Hole direction varies. Thin heishi discs often have a hole through the center and stack along the cord; a flat coin bead may instead be drilled from edge to edge so that its face remains visible. Check the listing’s hole diagram rather than assuming all disc beads thread the same way.
Small polymer-clay discs can make a light, flexible bracelet, while larger coin beads can form a statement necklace or earrings. Choose the diameter and material to suit the project, rather than treating every disc as a large bead.
They also work well among smaller beads, like seed beads, as decorative additions to wind chimes or dreamcatchers.
5. Donut
See donut bead examples on Amazon
Donut beads are like disc beads, except they’re a little thicker and the hole goes through the middle of the bead – like a donut!
They work great for stringing on top of each other for a stacked look – like a candy necklace, but with real beads.
Like round beads, donuts are a versatile shape that can be used for jewelry as well as other projects like dreamcatchers, wind chimes, or coasters.
Their flatter surface makes them a little easier to work with for coasters in comparison to round beads.
6. Barrel
See barrel bead examples on Amazon
Barrel beads are shaped like a barrel; for anyone unfamiliar with this shape, it’s a round cylindrical shape with the ends tapered in to be a little more narrow than the middle.
These beads tend to look best as a spacer or filler in between other statement or eye-catching beads, like disc beads.
They’re most often used in jewelry, since they can easily fill in space between other larger beads on long strings for necklaces, while also dangling on their own to create a simple pair of earrings.
7. Marquise
See marquise bead examples on Amazon
Marquise beads have an almond shape to them, meaning that they’re a long, slender bead that’s rounded in the middle and tapers off to pointed ends on each side.
These beads can vary a little in shape. Some marquise beads are thicker in the middle giving it a slightly more rotund look, while others are quite slender.
They’re often used on jewelry, specifically on smaller pieces such as bracelets and earrings. They can be used as a single dangling bead on earrings or to create the whole length of a bracelet.
Their long, slender shape also works great as a decorative accent to the tassel of a bookmark.
8. Faceted
See faceted bead examples on Amazon
Faceted beads refer to beads of any shape that have facets to them.
Just like seed beads can be a variety of shapes and their defining trait is their size, faceted beads can be a variety of shapes, with their defining trait being the cut facets along the surface of the bead.
These facets cut into the sides of the beads make them particularly great at reflecting light, giving them a more sparkly and vibrant look.
Because of their light reflecting advantage, these beads are often used to create art or craft projects that will catch the light often, such as dreamcatchers, suncatchers, wind chimes, garden décor, and more.
See the Suhome faceted-bead assortment on Amazon
The Suhome example is a small faceted-bead assortment. Use it as a spacer or part of a repeated pattern; it is not a top-drilled briolette pendant. Check the current listing’s dimensions before choosing thread.
9. Bicone
See bicone bead examples on Amazon
Bicone beads look like someone took two cone shaped beads and molded them together at their wide ends.
This bead has a wide area in the middle that comes to a sharp edge, then drastically tapers off at each end to a sharp point.
These beads have a stunning look, since the conical shapes do a great job of catching the light. They’re also more visually interesting compared to a simple round shape, making them a great decorative element.
They’re typically used to create jewelry, but are also often used for wind chimes and dreamcatchers, as well as children’s crafts.
10. Briolette
Briolettes are drop- or pear-shaped beads, commonly faceted and drilled near the narrow end for hanging. They vary in size. Fire Mountain Gems’ briolette selection distinguishes shape and drill orientation, which are both worth checking before you buy.
These beads tend to be used as a pendant to hang on the bottom of a project like suncatchers or wind chimes, or to be the central focus of a project like a necklace.
They can also be used to create Christmas ornaments, as a pendant hanging down the bottom.
11. Teardrop
See teardrop bead examples on Amazon
Teardrop describes the outline: narrow at one end and rounded at the other. It overlaps with briolette, so the name alone does not tell you the size, faceting, or hole position.
Some drops are smooth and others are faceted. A hole through the top lets a drop hang from a loop or wire wrap; a hole running lengthwise needs a different arrangement. Check how the bead is drilled as well as its overall shape.
These beads are great to use for smaller dangly pieces, such as on earrings or hanging wall décor like dreamcatchers. They also make great end pieces for bookmarks.
12. Bugle
See bugle bead examples on Amazon
Bugle beads are commonly seen and used, but may not be recognized by name alone. They’re very thin beads shaped like a tube, looking almost like sprinkles from far away.
These beads are often used in children’s craft projects, because they take up a lot of room on the string with just a small bead. Children also use them to glue onto a flat surface, like a picture frame.
They traditionally make up the bulk of a bracelet or necklace, with other statement beads in between.
They also work great for dangly earrings, just like seed beads. You can string them on multiple, small strings on the bottom of a hoop to create statement earrings.
13. Cube
See cube bead examples on Amazon
Most of the beads on this list so far have been round, so it’s time to recognize that not all beads are rounded!
Some beads, like cube beads, are more geometric. A cube bead is in the shape of a cube, and the hole will either go through two of the flat planes on the cube, or two corners of the cube, making it more of a diamond.
These beads are often used in jewelry, but also make great accents to hanging decorations like wind chimes and dreamcatchers. Since they’re flat on one side, you can also use them to create a coaster.
14. Tile
See tile bead examples on Amazon
Tile beads are flat and usually square or rectangular. Some have one hole and some have two. For example, MIYUKI’s TILA beads have two parallel holes. Check the hole count and spacing if you are following a bead-weaving pattern; tile-shaped beads from different manufacturers are not automatically interchangeable.
These beads are most often used in jewelry, specifically on necklaces and bracelets. Their square, flat shape is more comfortable to wear compared to the large square shape of a cube bead.
They can also be used to create mosaic art, or to glue onto a flat surface for coasters.
15. Dog Bone
See dog bone bead examples at Brooklyn Charm
Dog bone beads are another of the more unique shapes on the list. They’re almost like the opposite of a barrel bead.
They have a cylinder shape, but the middle of the cylinder dips in and is a little thinner, then the cylinder gets wider as it gets to the ends. This creates a shape that’s reminiscent of a dog bone.
These eye-catching beads are typically used in jewelry, specifically children’s jewelry. They work great on necklaces and bracelets, but don’t look as nice on earrings.
Their unique shape makes them a great choice for hanging projects like dreamcatchers, but they wouldn’t work well on flat projects like coasters.
16. Flower
See flower bead examples on Amazon
Flower beads are always shaped like a flower, but what type of flower can vary.
There are some flower beads that take the shape of a simple, drawn flower, like one that just has five or six daisy petals. There are some flower beads that have a more complex and dynamic style, such as rose-shaped beads.
Flower beads are typically used to add a more creative and decorative element to jewelry. They can be used at the end of a dangly string of seed or bugle beads.
The rose-shaped beads are also widely used to make Catholic rosaries, since roses are a big symbol of Mary in the Catholic church.
17. Baroque
See baroque bead examples on Amazon
Baroque beads are the most unique bead shape on this list. Why? Because each baroque bead is totally different!
They’re made to be irregular in shape, looking like a raw rock or nugget that you might find in nature. This makes them extremely popular for more natural-looking jewelry, especially on jewelry that uses a lot of turquoise.
They work great on any bead project because they add so much unique character. You can add them to a dreamcatcher, suncatcher, wind chimes, Christmas ornament, bookmark, stemware charm, or keychain.
The only project they may not work great with is coasters. With their unusual shape, the glass wouldn’t be able to sit flat on the surface.
Ultimate Chart
Select a shape name to return to its explanation. These project ideas are starting points; dimensions, weight, and hole placement still need to suit your design. Fire Mountain Gems’ shape chart also shows how similar outlines can have different drill directions.
| Bead Shape | Description | Project Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Round | A traditional round, circular, ball shape with a small hole drilled through the middle | Jewelry, children’s craft projects, wind chimes, dreamcatchers, coasters, keychains, bookmarks |
| Seed | Very tiny beads with a hole in the middle; can come in a variety of shapes; most common are the rocaille, or round seed beads | Filler beads on jewelry or dangly strings of beads on delicate jewelry like earrings, stemware charms |
| Cathedral | Flat facets around the middle section with patterned glass on top and bottom | Rosaries, jewelry, suncatchers, dreamcatchers, garden décor |
| Disc | Flat, round beads; size and hole direction vary. Thin heishi discs stack along the cord. | Large statement jewelry, decorative accents on wind chimes and dreamcatchers |
| Donut | Similar to a disc bead, but usually more rounded; the hole is in the middle of the circle, creating a donut shape | Jewelry, wind chimes, dreamcatchers, coasters |
| Barrel | Longer, round bead with edges that are slightly tapered, creating the shape of a barrel | Jewelry, especially as a space filler between statement beads like disc beads |
| Marquise | Oval shape with pointed ends, also called almond | Smaller jewelry such as earrings and bracelets, bookmarks |
| Faceted | A smooth bead that has had facets cut into the surface to give it more sparkle and help reflect light; can be any shape | Dreamcatchers, suncatchers, wind chimes, garden décor |
| Bicone | Looks like two cone shapes have been molded together at the wide ends | Jewelry, dreamcatchers, wind chimes, children’s crafts |
| Briolette | Drop or pear shape, commonly faceted and top-drilled; size varies. | Statement jewelry, suncatchers, wind chimes, ornaments |
| Teardrop | Shaped like a teardrop or water droplet, with a pointy end at the top and a wider, rounded end at the bottom | Earrings, dreamcatchers, other hanging wall décor, bookmarks |
| Bugle | Thin tubular bead, looks like sprinkles from far away | Jewelry, children’s craft projects |
| Cube | Shaped like a cube, with the hole going through two flat planes or two corners of the cube | Jewelry, wind chimes, dreamcatchers, coasters |
| Tile | Flat square or rectangle; check whether it has one or two holes. | Jewelry, mosaic art, coasters |
| Dog Bone | Cylinder with the middle a little cinched and the ends a little wider to create a curved, dog bone type shape | Necklaces, bracelets, dreamcatchers |
| Flower | Shaped like a flower; can be a simple, flat flower with 5-6 petals or a more ornate design like a rose | Decorative and dangly jewelry, rosaries |
| Baroque | Any irregular shaped bead made to look like a natural rock or nugget | Jewelry (especially turquoise jewelry), dreamcatcher, suncatcher, wind chimes, Christmas ornament, bookmark, stemware charm, keychain |
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