Paper Bead Template
Make paper bead strips at the exact size you need. Choose from 6 strip shapes, set the width and length, and see the finished bead worked out before you print. Fill the strips with your own colours or a picture, or leave them plain to trace onto paper you already have. You get a true-size PDF for Letter, A4 and larger sheets, a cut file in SVG and a PNG. Free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Nothing to upload. The template is made in your browser, and any picture you add stays on your device.
Your finished bead
An estimate, worked out from the strip for a tight roll. Air and glue make real beads a little bigger, and published paper thickness charts differ.
Strip size
Paper and hole
Match a bead you rolled
Start from the bead size you want
Sheet
Print on the strips
Everything is drawn in your browser: nothing is uploaded or stored. The PDF prints at true size at 100% (Actual size).
How to make a paper bead template
- Choose a strip shape. The long triangle makes the classic oval bead.
- Set the strip width and length. The width becomes the length of the bead.
- Choose your paper and enter the width of your rolling stick, to see the finished size.
- Pick a sheet size, then leave the strips plain or fill them with colour or a picture.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size). Measure the 50 mm bar to check the size.
What you can use it for
- Beads from old magazines, wrapping paper or maps, using a plain template to trace
- Matching sets of beads for necklaces and bracelets
- Classroom craft sessions, with strips cut ahead of time
- Beads from your own photo or artwork, printed across the strips
- Cut files for a cutting machine
Paper bead sizes
Long triangle strips rolled around a 2 mm stick. Widths are worked out for a tight roll on uncoated paper, 0.097 mm thick for 80 gsm and 0.140 mm for 120 gsm. Real beads come out a little bigger.
| Strip | Bead length | Width, 80 gsm | Width, 120 gsm | Strips per Letter sheet | Strips per A4 sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 7 in | 25.4 mm | 5.1 mm | 6.0 mm | 14 | 13 |
| 1 × 10 in | 25.4 mm | 5.9 mm | 7.0 mm | 14 | 13 |
| ¾ × 10 in | 19.0 mm | 5.9 mm | 7.0 mm | 19 | 18 |
| ½ × 10 in | 12.7 mm | 5.9 mm | 7.0 mm | 29 | 28 |
The bead length comes straight from the strip width. Paper thickness varies between brands, and published thickness charts differ, so the bead size is an estimate. Measure your paper if you need to be exact: measure a stack of 100 sheets and divide by 100.
6 strip shapes and the beads they make
Each row uses a strip 1 in wide and 10 in long on 80 gsm paper around a 2 mm stick. A tapered strip stacks up where it’s longest, and that’s what shapes the bead.
| Strip | Bead | Widest | At the middle | Strips per Letter sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long triangle | Oval bead, tapered to both ends | 5.9 mm | 5.9 mm | 14 |
| Right triangle | Cone, wide at one end | 5.9 mm | 4.4 mm | 14 |
| Rounded | Fat, rounded bead | 5.9 mm | 5.9 mm | 8 |
| Double point | Two humps with a waist | 5.9 mm | 3.7 mm | 9 |
| Trapezoid | Barrel with a flat middle | 5.9 mm | 5.9 mm | 10 |
| Rectangle | Straight tube | 5.9 mm | 5.9 mm | 7 |
How the bead size is worked out
Rolled paper fills a ring around the hole, and the area of that ring equals the length of paper times its thickness. So at any point along the bead, the diameter is the square root of d² + 4lt/π, where d is the hole, l the length of strip at that point and t the paper thickness.
The tool measures l from the strip outline at each point across the bead. That’s how it draws the side view, and why a double point strip shows two humps.
Working in beads rather than paper? The Bead Pattern Maker makes loom, peyote and brick stitch charts. For other paper sizes, see Paper Sizes.
Tips for even beads
- Use the same stick and the same strip size for every bead in a set.
- Keep the roll centred as you go, so the bead stays even.
- A narrow, long triangle gives a rounder bead. A wide, short one gives a slimmer bead.
- Leave the first turn dry, so the bead slides off the stick.
- Print on the side you want to see, then roll with that side facing out.
More free printable craft tools
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Frequently asked questions
How do you make a paper bead?
Cut a strip, then roll it around a thin stick starting at the wide end. Add glue along the strip as you go, keep the roll centred, and press the tail down. Slide the bead off once the glue has dried.
What size strip do I need?
The strip width sets the bead length. A 1 in wide strip makes a bead about 1 in long. The length sets how fat it gets. On 80 gsm paper with a 2 mm hole, a 1 × 10 in triangle works out at 5.9 mm across. The calculator shows it for your own size.
Does this work out the finished bead size?
Yes, as an estimate. It uses the outline of your strip, the paper thickness and the width of your stick. The result is for a tight roll, so real beads come out a little bigger. Roll one and enter its width under Match a bead you rolled, and the tool corrects the sizes.
What is the best paper for paper beads?
Regular printer paper rolls easily. Thicker paper makes a fatter bead from a shorter strip, but very thick card is hard to roll tightly. Magazine pages work too.
Why does a longer strip make a fatter bead?
More paper goes around the hole. The diameter grows with the square root of the length, so doubling the length doesn’t double the width.
Is the PDF true to size?
Yes. The strips are drawn to your measurements. Print at 100% or Actual size, not Fit to page, and measure the 50 mm bar at the bottom of the sheet.
How long can the strips be?
On a US Letter sheet with the default margin, up to 267.4 mm along the long edge. For longer strips, choose a larger sheet or glue two strips end to end.
Is there an SVG for cutting machines?
Yes. Cut file SVG holds the cut lines at true size in millimetres. Where two strips share an edge, that line appears once, so the machine doesn’t cut it twice.
Why does the SVG have no colours?
It’s only the cut lines. For colour, print the PDF or PNG and cut by hand, or use the PNG with your machine’s print then cut feature.
Can I use my own picture on the beads?
Yes. Choose My picture across the strips under Print on the strips. The picture spreads across the sheet, so each bead shows a different part of it. Your picture stays on your device.
Why are the strips head to tail?
Turning every other strip fits more on a sheet, and neighbours share one cut. Untick the option if you want them all the same way round.
Which side of the strip shows?
The side facing out as you roll. Most of a tapered bead shows the middle and tail of the strip, so the wide end stays hidden.
What can I roll the beads on?
A toothpick, a skewer or a coffee stirrer all work. The width of the stick sets the hole, so check that your thread or cord fits through it.