Perler vs Hama vs Artkal vs MARD: How the Fuse Bead Brands Compare

If you have shopped for fuse beads, you have probably met four names again and again: Perler, Hama, Artkal and MARD. They all make small plastic tubes that you place on a pegboard and fuse with an iron, so it is tempting to treat them as interchangeable. In many ways they are, but there are real differences in where they are sold, which sizes they offer, how many colours you can choose from and how they behave when mixed. This guide compares them on things that matter when you are buying, and is careful to separate what is well established from what varies by product line.

A note before we start: brands add and retire colours, change packaging and launch new lines. We avoid quoting official colour counts, because they change and are often counted differently (for example, whether glitter or glow colours are included). Check the current colour chart from the brand or retailer before ordering.

The short version

Brand	Where it is most common	Main sizes	Palette	Notes
Perler	North America	Standard (about 5 mm), mini, large	Broad, with many specialty finishes	Widely sold in US craft stores
Hama	Europe	Midi (5 mm), mini (about 2.5 mm), maxi (about 10 mm)	Broad	Danish brand, very common in European toy shops
Artkal	Online, worldwide	5 mm and 2.6 mm mini, in more than one series	Very broad, especially in mini sizes	Popular with pixel artists who need many shades
MARD	China, online	Mostly sold for small-bead work	Very broad, with sets often referred to by colour count	Common on Chinese platforms and in Chinese patterns

The rest of the article explains these points in more detail.

Perler

Origin and availability. Perler is an American brand and the name many North Americans use for the whole craft. It is easy to find in US and Canadian craft and toy stores, which is a real advantage if you like to buy in person.

Sizes. Perler's main line is its standard bead of about 5 mm, which fits standard square pegboards of 29 by 29 pins. It also makes mini beads for finer work and larger beads intended for small children.

Palette. Perler offers a wide selection of solid colours plus specialty finishes such as pearl, glitter, translucent and glow-in-the-dark. If you need a particular novelty finish, Perler is a good place to look.

Who it suits. Beginners in North America, families buying starter kits, and anyone who wants to pick up a missing colour the same day.

Hama

Origin and availability. Hama is a Danish brand and the most familiar name in much of Europe, where "Hama beads" is often used as the generic term. It is widely stocked in European toy shops and supermarkets.

Sizes. Hama clearly separates its three sizes: maxi (about 10 mm) for young children, midi (5 mm) as the standard, and mini (about 2.5 mm) for detailed work. Each size has its own pegboards, and the packaging is clearly labelled, which helps when buying for children.

Palette. Hama's midi range covers the colours most projects need, including pastels, neons, translucent and glitter options. Its range of very closely related shades is narrower than the largest online brands, which matters mainly for photo portraits.

Who it suits. European buyers, schools and families, and anyone who wants consistent, easily available beads for character and sprite designs.

Artkal

Origin and availability. Artkal is a Chinese manufacturer that sells mainly online and ships internationally. It has a strong following among pixel artists and people who make large, detailed pieces.

Sizes and series. Artkal sells 5 mm beads and 2.6 mm mini beads, and offers more than one series within those sizes, with differences in plastic and finish (often described as softer and harder beads). Series are identified by a letter code in the product name, and colour codes are specific to each series, so check the series before you mix bags or follow a chart.

Palette. Artkal's appeal is breadth. Its ranges, particularly in mini sizes, include many closely spaced shades, which helps with skin tones, fur and gradients.

Who it suits. People converting photos, making large wall pieces or working in mini beads who need more shades than high-street brands offer.

MARD

Origin and availability. MARD is a Chinese brand that is widely sold on Chinese marketplaces and is common in patterns shared by Chinese crafters. Outside China it is mostly bought online.

Sizes. MARD is especially associated with small-bead work. Bead sizes can differ between products, so confirm the diameter on the listing and buy a matching pegboard.

Palette. MARD colour sets are often referred to by their colour counts, such as 221 or 291 sets. If you follow patterns from Chinese creators, they may well use MARD codes, so having the matching set saves a lot of conversion work.

Who it suits. Crafters following Chinese-language patterns, and anyone who wants a large mini-bead palette at online prices.

Can you mix brands?

On pegboards

Beads of the same nominal size generally fit pegboards of the same pin spacing, regardless of brand. A 5 mm bead from one major brand will normally sit fine on another brand's 5 mm board. What does not work is mixing sizes: midi beads will not fit mini boards, and mini beads will fall over on midi pins.

In the same piece

Mixing brands in one project is possible, and many crafters do it to fill gaps in a palette. Things to watch for:

Melting behaviour. Different plastics can soften at slightly different rates. In a mixed piece, one brand may be fully fused while another still looks raw. Iron a small test piece with both brands first.
Height and diameter. Small differences in size can make the surface slightly uneven, which shows on a large flat area.
Finish. The same nominal colour, such as a basic red, can look noticeably different between brands under the same light.

A practical rule: keep one brand for large flat areas and big colour regions, and mix only for small details where a missing shade matters.

Colour codes do not transfer

Each brand uses its own codes. "Code 1" in one brand has nothing to do with "code 1" in another. A pattern written for Hama codes needs converting before you can buy Perler beads for it. Cross-brand charts give approximate equivalents, but they are matches by appearance, not identical colours.

How to choose

Ask four questions:

Where will you buy? If you want to shop in person, choose what your local stores carry: usually Perler in North America and Hama in Europe.
What size are you making? For children and beginners, standard 5 mm beads from any major brand. For detailed portraits, a mini range with many shades.
How many shades do you need? Cartoons and sprites need only a few colours. Photo portraits need many related shades, which favours brands with very large palettes.
Whose patterns will you follow? Use the brand the pattern was written for, or convert it carefully.

Planning with a specific brand

Because codes differ, it is much easier to plan a pattern in the brand you will actually buy. Our Bitbead pattern generator includes palettes for Perler, Hama, Artkal, Artkal Mini, MARD 221, MARD 291 and COCO 291, so the chart and the shopping list use the codes printed on your bags. If you switch brands, regenerate the pattern rather than relying on a rough conversion table, and check important colours against real beads.

Summary

All four brands make good beads. Perler and Hama win on local availability and clear product lines for families. Artkal and MARD win on palette breadth and online pricing, especially for small beads and photo-based work. Match the bead size to your pegboard, test before mixing brands in one piece, and plan in the brand you will buy.