Acrylic Beads

Acrylic Beads — Painted, Plated, Clear & Decorative Beads

Our acrylic beads collection is the largest on the site — over 2,000 products in every shape, color, and finish you can think of. Acrylic is one of the most versatile bead materials available: it's lightweight, affordable, comes in an enormous range of decorative styles, and works for everything from keychains and bracelets to earrings and bag charms. If you need beads with visual variety at a low price point, this is where you start.

Styles and Finishes

Acrylic beads come in more surface finishes than any other bead material. Our collection includes painted beads with printed patterns and designs, plated and metallic beads with gold, silver, or chrome-look coatings (CCB plastic — lightweight but looks like metal), clear and transparent beads for a crystal-like look, glow-in-the-dark beads, ABS imitation pearl beads with a pearlized surface, and glitter beads with embedded sparkle. If you're looking for chunky round beads with rhinestone, stripe, or crackle finishes, check our bubblegum beads collection — those are also acrylic-based.

Shapes for Every Project

Beyond standard rounds, we stock acrylic beads in flower, butterfly, heart, star, cross, leaf, teardrop, cube, flat disc, oval, faceted, and pony bead shapes. Flower and butterfly beads are popular for spring and summer jewelry. Heart and star beads work well for personalized gifts. Faceted beads catch the light like crystal at a fraction of the price. Mix shapes freely within a single project — combining rounds with a few decorative shapes adds texture without adding cost.

CCB and ABS Plastic Beads

Two specialty materials live in this collection. CCB beads (Copper Clad Beads) are lightweight plastic beads with a metallic plating that looks like real metal beads but weigh almost nothing — perfect for earrings and any project where weight matters. ABS beads are used mainly for imitation pearl finishes, giving a smooth pearlized look that works well in bridal jewelry, elegant keychains, and gift accessories.

Pony Beads

Pony beads are a staple craft bead — small barrel-shaped acrylic beads with large holes, available in opaque, transparent, glitter, and metallic finishes. They're used for kids' crafts, friendship bracelets, hair braiding, kandi bracelets, and decorative projects. Our pony beads come in single-color packs and mixed assortments.

Pairing Acrylic Beads with Other Materials

Acrylic beads mix well with other bead types. Combine them with rhinestone spacers for sparkle, metal spacer beads for structure, or silicone beads for a mixed-texture look. For beadable pen builds, acrylic beads with 2.2mm+ holes slide onto pen rods just like silicone. Pair painted acrylic beads with a silicone focal bead on a keychain for a unique mixed-material design.

Acrylic Beads for Your Small Business

Acrylic beads are the most budget-friendly bead material, which makes them ideal for high-volume sellers who need to keep costs low. They're especially popular for kids' party favors, bulk bracelet-making kits, and affordable gift items. Stock a range of shapes and finishes so you can offer variety without overloading on any single style. We also carry the cords, clasps, and tools you need to finish your projects.

Acrylic Beads — Frequently Asked Questions

What are acrylic beads?

Acrylic beads are lightweight plastic beads made from acrylic resin. They come in a wider range of decorative finishes than almost any other bead material — painted, plated, clear, glow-in-the-dark, pearl, glitter, and more. They are affordable, easy to work with, and available in dozens of shapes and sizes.

What is the difference between acrylic beads and silicone beads?

Acrylic beads are hard, rigid, and usually glossy. Silicone beads are soft, flexible, and matte. Acrylic offers more decorative finish options (metallic, glitter, crystal-look) and is less expensive. Silicone is more durable, won't crack or chip, and is food-safe for teething products. Many crafters use both — silicone for keychains and pens, acrylic for jewelry and decorative projects.

What are CCB beads?

CCB stands for Copper Clad Bead. These are lightweight plastic beads coated with a metallic finish that looks like real metal. They're much lighter than actual metal beads, which makes them great for earrings and projects where weight is a concern. The metallic coating comes in gold, silver, rose gold, and other tones.

What are pony beads used for?

Pony beads are small barrel-shaped beads with large holes. They're used for kids' craft projects, friendship bracelets, kandi bracelets, hair braiding, and decorative accessories. Their large hole makes them easy to string on cord, elastic, or pipe cleaners, making them one of the most beginner-friendly bead types.

What size holes do acrylic beads have?

Most acrylic beads have hole sizes between 1.5mm and 2.5mm, which fits standard beading cord, elastic, and most beadable item rods. Pony beads have larger holes (around 4mm) designed for thicker cord or pipe cleaners. Always check the hole size listed in the product description before ordering.

Can I use acrylic beads on beadable pens?

Yes, as long as the bead hole is 2.2mm or larger. Many acrylic beads fit standard beadable pen rods. Painted rounds, faceted beads, and rhinestone acrylic beads are popular choices for pen decoration. If a bead feels tight, a bead reamer can widen the hole slightly.