Beadsmith Craft Wire Gauge Guide

Beadsmith Craft Wire is a popular choice for jewellery making, wire wrapping and creative projects. Available in a range of gauges and colours, this tarnish-resistant craft wire features a copper core with a protective coating, making it easy to work with while helping maintain its finish over time.

This guide is designed specifically to help you choose the right Beadsmith Craft Wire gauge for your jewellery making projects. If you are looking for other wire types such as beading wire or our broader range of jewellery wire, you can explore those separately.

Quick tip: The higher the gauge number, the finer the wire. The lower the gauge number, the thicker and stronger the wire.

What Do Wire Gauges Mean?

When it comes to craft wire, the gauge refers to the thickness of the wire. The higher the gauge number, the finer the wire. The lower the gauge number, the thicker and stronger the wire.

For example, 28 gauge wire is very fine and flexible, while 16 gauge wire is much thicker and better suited to structural jewellery work.

Quick Reference: Use this chart to quickly choose the right wire gauge for your project.

Gauge Thickness Best For
28ga Very Fine Wire weaving, wrapping small beads, delicate detail work
26ga Fine Detailed wire wrapping, securing beads, intricate jewellery work
24ga Versatile General wire wrapping, links, simple findings, decorative designs
22ga Medium Bead links, jump rings, headpins, simple jewellery components
20ga Strong Headpins, eye pins, ear wires, clasps, stronger wire wrapping
18ga Thick Clasps, jump rings, frames, chain maille, structural jewellery designs
16ga Heavy Duty Frames, rings, larger components and bold structural designs

28 Gauge Craft Wire

28 gauge craft wire is one of the finest wire sizes in the Beadsmith Craft Wire range. It is ideal for delicate wire weaving, wrapping tiny beads and adding intricate decorative detail to jewellery designs.

If you are creating fine embellishments or need a flexible wire for detailed work, 28 gauge is an excellent choice.

26 Gauge Craft Wire

26 gauge craft wire is slightly stronger than 28 gauge but still fine enough for detailed wrapping work. It is commonly used for securing beads, adding embellishments and creating intricate wire designs.

This gauge is ideal when you want a little more structure while still keeping a delicate look.

24 Gauge Craft Wire

24 gauge craft wire is one of the most versatile options in the range. It works well for wire wrapping, making links, shaping simple findings and general jewellery making.

If you are unsure where to start, 24 gauge is often a great all-round choice for both beginners and experienced jewellery makers.

22 Gauge Craft Wire

22 gauge craft wire is a popular medium wire that balances flexibility and strength. It is commonly used for bead links, jump rings, headpins and other jewellery making components.

This is a practical gauge for many everyday jewellery projects and is often chosen when you need both structure and workability.

20 Gauge Craft Wire

20 gauge craft wire is a stronger option that is ideal for creating headpins, eye pins, ear wires, clasps and more durable jewellery components.

It is a great choice when your design needs a sturdier wire that can still be shaped with tools.

18 Gauge Craft Wire

18 gauge craft wire is thick and durable, making it ideal for structural jewellery work. It is commonly used for clasps, jump rings, chain maille, frames and stronger wire-wrapped designs.

If you are creating bold or more substantial jewellery pieces, 18 gauge offers the extra strength you need.

16 Gauge Craft Wire

16 gauge craft wire is one of the thickest options in the Beadsmith Craft Wire range. It is best suited to frames, rings, large components and heavy-duty structural designs.

This gauge is ideal for projects where strength and shape retention are more important than delicate detail.

Which Craft Wire Gauge Should I Choose?

If you are new to craft wire, 24 gauge and 22 gauge are often the easiest places to start. These gauges are versatile and work well for a wide range of jewellery making techniques.

  • Choose 28ga–26ga for delicate detail, bead wrapping and fine wire work
  • Choose 24ga–22ga for general jewellery making, links and components
  • Choose 20ga–16ga for stronger findings, frames and structural designs

If you would like to experiment with several sizes before buying larger spools, our mini spool sets are a handy way to try different gauges and colours.

Explore Our Beadsmith Craft Wire Range

At Sunset Crystals, we stock a beautiful range of Beadsmith Craft Wire in different gauges, colours and mini spool sets to suit every style of jewellery making.

Browse our full collection of jewellery wire to explore available colours and sizes, or view our beading wire range if you are looking for wire designed specifically for stringing beads.

Beadsmith Craft Wire Assorted Colours