Perler vs Hama vs Artkal: a side-by-side comparison of the three big fuse-bead brands
The short answer
Want overseas-tutorial compatibility? Pick Perler. Love a soft European look? Pick Hama. Want easy buying at high value? Pick Artkal. All three are 5mm midi size, so pegboards are interchangeable; the real differences are color gamut and how easily you can restock.
Five-dimension comparison
| Dimension | Perler | Hama | Artkal S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | USA | Denmark | China |
| Colors | 117 | 89 | 176 |
| Size | 5mm midi | 5mm Midi | 5mm standard |
| Special colors | transparent / fluorescent / pearl | transparent / fluorescent / pearl / metallic | mostly standard |
| Availability | import / proxy | import | many domestic channels |
Pick by audience
- Students / budget-sensitive: Artkal — fast restocking, low unit price.
- Illustration / Nordic-style fans: Hama — soft, natural tones.
- Following overseas pixel-art tutorials: Perler — match the codes directly.
Full color tables for all three brands are on the fuse-bead color charts, with codes, HEX, RGB and color families so you can do precise palette matching.