Total Lead Came
22.5 ft
6 ft Sticks
4
Support Bars
0
Lead Came Required
22.5
linear feet
Border Came
7.0 ft
Internal Came
13.5 ft
6 ft Sticks
4
Support Bars
0
| Profile | Channels | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| U Came (lead) | 1 | Curved borders |
| H Came (lead) | 2 | Internal seams, curves |
| Zinc U Came | 1 | Straight borders, structural |
Inputs
Result
Perimeter = 84". Border = 7.0 ft. Internal seam estimate = 13.47 ft. Total = (7.0 + 13.47) × 1.10 = 22.5 ft. Sticks = ceil(22.5/6) = 4. Area = 432 < 576, no support bars.
Inputs
Result
Perimeter = 132". Border = 11.0 ft. Internal = 42.09 ft (dense × 1.14). Total = (11.0 + 42.09) × 1.14 = 60.5 ft. Sticks = 11. Area = 1080 > 576, bars = 1.
Start with the panel perimeter for border came, then estimate the internal seam network from the piece count. Add a waste allowance (10–15%) for trimming, miters, and damaged sections.
| Panel Size | Pieces | Approx. Total Came |
|---|---|---|
| 12" × 16" | 12 | 10–14 ft |
| 18" × 24" | 24 | 20–25 ft |
| 24" × 36" | 40 | 40–50 ft |
| 30" × 36" | 60 | 55–65 ft |
Panels larger than about 4 square feet (576 sq in) need reinforcement bars. Tall or heavy panels are especially vulnerable to sagging. The calculator flags support bars once the panel exceeds this threshold.
U came (or C came) has one channel and is used for panel borders. H came has two channels and joins glass pieces internally. Zinc U came is popular for borders because it provides structural rigidity.
| Came Type | Channels | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| U Came (lead) | 1 | Curved borders |
| H Came (lead) | 2 | Internal seams, curves |
| U Came (zinc) | 1 | Straight borders, structural |
Divide the total came footage by 6 and round up. An 18×24-inch panel with 24 pieces typically needs 4 sticks of 6-foot came. Always buy 1–2 extra sticks for breakage.
Yes. Dense patterns with many small pieces create more internal seams and use about 14% more came than simple patterns with fewer, larger pieces at the same panel size.
See more craft calculators for stained glass, fusing, and ceramic work.
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2026
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