Rhinestones are measured in SS, short for "stone size" — a sizing scale inherited from the stone trade, where a higher number means a bigger stone. SS is not a metric unit, which is why an SS16 and a 4 mm stone are the same thing described two different ways.
Rhinestone size chart: SS to mm
Every size below is stocked in all 123 of our colours.
| Size | Diameter | Pack | Pieces | Stones per inch | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS3 | 1.3–1.5 mm | 10 gross | 1,440 pieces | ~17 | micro detailing, cuticle lines and filling the gaps between larger stones |
| SS5 | 1.7–1.9 mm | 10 gross | 1,440 pieces | ~13 | fine nail art, jewellery accents and tight scrollwork |
| SS8 | 2.3–2.5 mm | 10 gross | 1,440 pieces | ~10 | nail art, earrings and delicate edging on fabric |
| SS10 | 2.7–2.9 mm | 10 gross | 1,440 pieces | ~9 | nail art, hair accessories and outlining appliqué |
| SS12 | 3.0–3.2 mm | 10 gross | 1,440 pieces | ~8 | apparel edging, dance costume detail and full-cover nails |
| SS16 | 3.8–4.0 mm | 10 gross | 1,440 pieces | ~6 | tumblers, denim, costume bodices and general craft work |
| SS20 | 4.6–4.8 mm | 10 gross | 1,440 pieces | ~5 | tumblers, shoes, stage costume and bold surface coverage |
| SS30 | 6.3–6.5 mm | 2 gross | 288 pieces | ~4 | statement centrepieces, belt work and pageant detail |
| SS34 | 7.0–7.3 mm | 2 gross | 288 pieces | ~3.5 | focal stones, bridal sashes and costume centrepieces |
| SS40 | 8.4–8.7 mm | 1 gross | 144 pieces | ~3 | large focal points, headpieces and display work |
| SS48 | 11.0–11.5 mm | 1 gross | 144 pieces | ~2.3 | showpiece centres, crowns and prop work |
| SS60 | 14.0–14.5 mm | ½ gross | 72 pieces | ~1.8 | statement centres, crowns, props and display pieces |
How to convert SS to millimetres
The rough rule is mm ≈ SS ÷ 4. SS16 divided by 4 is 4 mm, SS20 is about 4.8 mm, SS40 is about 8.5 mm. It drifts at the extremes but it is close enough to sanity-check a number in your head.
Which size should you use?
- Nail art — SS3 to SS10. Anything larger sits tall on the nail and needs a deeper apex to hold. See rhinestones for nails.
- Tumblers and drinkware — SS16 and SS20. Large curved surface, viewed from a distance. See rhinestones for tumblers.
- Dance and competition costume — SS12 to SS20 for coverage, SS30 and up for focal stones. Under SS12 stops reading as sparkle from the audience. See rhinestones for dance costumes.
- Apparel and denim — SS10 to SS20. Below SS10 the stone tends to sink into the weave.
- Bridal — mix sizes. Small stones scattered around larger anchors reads more expensive than one uniform size. See bridal rhinestones.
How many rhinestones do I need?
Work out your area, then divide by coverage. Set edge to edge, SS16 gives roughly 6 stones per linear inch, so about 36 stones per square inch; SS20 gives about 5 per inch, or 25 per square inch. Some worked examples:
- 20 oz tumbler, full wrap — roughly 2,000–2,500 stones in SS16, or 1,400–1,700 in SS20.
- Full-cover set of nails — 150–250 stones in SS5 to SS8, depending on nail length.
- Dance costume bodice — 1,500–3,000 stones in SS16, depending on how dense the design is.
Add 10–15% to whatever you calculate. Stones get lost, and dye lots can vary slightly between orders, so it is worth buying the whole job at once.
Pack sizes explained
Rhinestones are sold by the gross — 1 gross is 144 stones, and 10 gross is 1,440. Larger stones ship in smaller packs simply because they cost more per stone:
- SS3–SS20 — 10 gross, 1,440 pieces
- SS30 and SS34 — 2 gross, 288 pieces
- SS40 and SS48 — 1 gross, 144 pieces
- SS60 — ½ gross, 72 pieces
Hotfix or non-hotfix?
Every stone we sell is non-hotfix: a flat back with no glue layer, set with adhesive rather than heat. Non-hotfix is the more flexible option — it works on nails, hard surfaces like tumblers and acrylic, and on delicate or stretch fabrics that a heat applicator would damage. Use E6000 or a similar craft adhesive on hard surfaces, and gel or nail glue on nails.
Ready to pick a colour? Browse the colour chart with all 123 shades, or go straight to the full collection.