Plaster Bead Calculator — Angle Beads & Stop Beads

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.