The fuse-bead market has diversified considerably in recent years. In 2026, several brands compete on creative tables everywhere. Here is our complete analysis to help you make the right choice for your profile and projects.
📌 In a nutshell: Hama remains the go-to reference. Nabbi offers the best value for money. Artkal Mini is the choice for advanced artists. Perler is great but harder to find outside the US.
🏆 Hama — The Danish reference since 1947
Hama Beads
✅ Pros
- Consistent quality, batch after batch
- 50+ colours in the Midi range
- Extremely sturdy pegboards
- 3 sizes (Mini / Midi / Maxi)
- Available everywhere (toy shops, Amazon)
- Ironing paper included
❌ Cons
- Slightly higher price than competitors
- Fewer pastel shades than Artkal
- Plastic packaging, not very eco-friendly
Hama offers three size ranges:
- Hama Maxi (10 mm): for children from 3 years old. XXL beads, easy to handle, simple designs. The standard board has 11×11 pegs.
- Hama Midi (5 mm): the universal size, from 5 years old. 29×29 pegs on the standard board (14.5 cm × 14.5 cm). Over 50 colours available.
- Hama Mini (2.5 mm): for very detailed creations, from 10 years old. The standard board is 15×15 pegs but the beads are 2× smaller, allowing far more detail.
Retrouver les produits Hama Midi : plaque Hama Midi Standard (29×29) · perles blanches ×1000 · perles noires bio ×1000 — * liens affiliés
🥈 Nabbi — The smart budget alternative
Nabbi Beads
✅ Pros
- ~40% cheaper than Hama
- 100% compatible with Hama Midi pegboards
- Good hold after ironing
- Sold in large, economical bags
❌ Cons
- Fewer colours available (~35 vs 50+)
- Slight colour variation between batches
- Harder to find in stores
Nabbi is the ideal choice if you use a lot of beads — as a family, in a workshop or for large multi-board formats. The compatibility with Hama Midi pegboards is a major advantage.
Les perles Nabbi s'utilisent sur les plaques Hama Midi Standard — * lien affilié
🎨 Artkal — Precision for pixel artists
Artkal Beads
✅ Pros
- Palette of 140+ colours (pastels, transparents, iridescents)
- Remarkable dimensional precision
- Mini 2.6 mm beads: extraordinary detail
- Soft matte finish, very pleasant
- Excellent for portraits and colour gradients
❌ Cons
- Own pegboard system (not Hama compatible)
- Higher price per bead
- Less widely available (Amazon or official site)
- Too small for young children
Artkal is the choice of demanding creators. Its Mini beads (2.6 mm) allow pixel-art creations of unmatched precision, with a colour palette no other brand can match: transparents, iridescents, neons, subtle pastels...
Pour débuter sur plaques Hama, préférez la gamme Midi : plaque Hama Midi Standard · seau perles bio grand volume — * liens affiliés
⚠️ Note: Artkal and Hama pegboards are not interchangeable! Artkal Mini 2.6 mm beads do not fit on Hama Midi 5 mm boards. Always check compatibility before buying.
🇺🇸 Perler — The highly-rated American brand
Perler Beads
✅ Pros
- Large palette (80+ colours including exclusives)
- Large economical bags
- Very complete themed kits
- Solid and consistent quality
❌ Cons
- Not widely available locally (online order only)
- Slightly looser tolerance → small gaps
- Pegboards less rigid than Hama
📊 Full comparison table
| Brand | Size | Price /1000 beads | Colours | Board compat. | Rec. age | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hama Midi | 5 mm | ~1,50 € | 50+ | Universal standard | 5 years+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hama Mini | 2,5 mm | ~2,20 € | 50+ | Hama Mini only | 10 years+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hama Maxi | 10 mm | ~0,90 € | 30+ | Hama Maxi only | 3 years+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Nabbi | 5 mm | ~0,85 € | 35+ | Universal standard | 5 years+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Artkal Mini | 2,6 mm | ~2,00 € | 140+ | Artkal only | 10 years+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Artkal Midi S | 5 mm | ~1,20 € | 100+ | Universal standard | 5 years+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Perler | 5 mm | ~1,10 € | 80+ | Universal standard | 5 years+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🎯 Our picks by profile
Which choice for you?
💡 FAQ
Can you mix beads from different brands?
Yes, with conditions. Nabbi, Artkal Midi S and Perler beads (all 5 mm) are generally compatible with Hama Midi boards. However, mixing Hama Midi and Hama Maxi beads is impossible (incompatible sizes) and can warp the boards.
Are Hama beads safe for children?
Hama Midi and Mini are not recommended for under-3-5 year-olds (ingestion risk). Hama Maxi (10 mm) is designed for toddlers (from 3 years old). In all cases, supervise children during handling and make sure the ironing paper and iron remain out of reach.
How many beads should I budget for?
A standard 29×29 Midi board = 841 cells. Allow 150 to 300 beads per main colour and 50 to 100 for accent colours. For a 2×2 multi-board project, multiply by 4.
Acheter en volume : sachet 1000 perles Hama Midi (par couleur) · seau 30 000 perles multicolore · kit découverte tout inclus — * liens affiliés, même prix pour vous