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Plaster Bead Calculator — Angle Beads & Stop Beads
Calculate how many plaster beads you need for corners, reveals, and edges. Uses standard UK bead lengths.
Outward (salient) corners — protected with angle bead. Counts 1 bead per corner; add a length for any corner taller than your chosen bead.
Inward corners are usually scrim/paper-taped, not beaded — leave at 0 unless you are fitting internal-angle beads.
3 beads per window (2 sides + 1 top)
3 beads per door (2 sides + 1 top)
Adds 10% extra for damaged or short beads
10% is standard for bead work
Price per individual bead length
Number of beads per window (default 3: 2 sides + 1 top)
Number of beads per door (default 3: 2 sides + 1 top)
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How We Calculate This
Our plaster bead calculator counts up the total number of bead lengths needed based on the number of corners, window reveals, and door reveals in your project. Each feature requires a specific number of bead lengths.
How we count beads
- External corners: 1 angle bead per corner (floor to ceiling), assuming the corner is no taller than your chosen bead length
- Internal corners: usually scrim/paper-taped rather than beaded — only count these if you are fitting internal-angle beads (otherwise leave at 0)
- Window reveals: 3 beads per window (2 sides + 1 top)
- Door reveals: 3 beads per door (2 sides + 1 top)
Angle beads protect outward (external) corners. Inward (internal) corners are normally reinforced with scrim tape or paper joint tape, as recommended by British Gypsum and Knauf — so the internal-corner box defaults to 0 unless you specifically use internal-angle beads.
Standard UK sizes
Plaster beads are available in 2.4m and 3m lengths from all major UK suppliers including British Gypsum, Knauf, Catnic and Expamet (some ranges also offer 2.7m). The 2.4m length matches the standard UK floor-to-ceiling height; for taller rooms (e.g. 2.7m new-builds or 3m+ period ceilings) choose 3m beads so one length still reaches floor to ceiling. Beads are typically galvanised thin-coat or standard depth depending on the plaster system being used.
The “total linear metres purchased” figure counts whole bead lengths you need to buy — not the exact length of bead run on the wall. Reveal pieces are short and cut from full lengths, so the metres value reflects what you order, with offcuts allowed for in the wastage percentage.
The wastage allowance accounts for any beads damaged during fitting or cut-offs that are too short to reuse. 10% is usually sufficient for most projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main types used in UK plastering are: angle beads (for external corners, providing a straight, protected edge), stop beads (used where plaster meets a different surface like a door frame), thin-coat beads (for skim coat applications over plasterboard), and reveal beads (for window and door reveals). Most are galvanised steel or stainless steel and come in 2.4m or 3m lengths.
Standard plaster beads in the UK come in 2.4m and 3m lengths. For rooms with standard 2.4m ceiling height, 2.4m beads are the most efficient as they fit floor-to-ceiling with no cutting needed. Use 3m beads for taller rooms or for window reveals where you can cut multiple pieces from one length.
Plaster beads can be fixed with dabs of plaster (bonding or multi-finish), galvanised nails, or staples from a bead nailer. For dot and dab work, beads are pressed into the adhesive. Always check they are plumb and straight with a spirit level before the fixing sets. Use stainless steel beads in wet areas to prevent rusting. Use our Plaster Coverage Calculator to work out how much plaster you need alongside the beads.
Each standard window reveal needs 3 beads: one on each side (vertical) and one across the top (horizontal). For a bay window, you may need additional beads for the angled sections. Door reveals also need 3 beads: two sides and the top.
Angle beads are used on external corners where two plastered walls meet at a right angle — they protect the corner and provide a straight edge. Stop beads are used at the edge of a plastered area where it terminates, for example where plaster meets a door frame or window frame. Stop beads give a clean, defined edge.
Usually no. Angle beads protect outward (external) corners. Inward (internal) corners are normally reinforced with scrim tape or paper joint tape and then plastered into the angle — this is what British Gypsum and Knauf recommend. Internal-angle beads do exist for a crisper finish, but most jobs do not use them, so set the internal corners box to 0 unless you are specifically fitting internal-angle beads.
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Last updated: February 2026
Verified against UK standards · estimates only, confirm with your supplier.