How Many Beads Are on a Rosary? A Beginner's Guide
The first time you pray the rosary, you'll lose count somewhere in the third decade. Everybody does.
That's fine. Knowing how the beads are laid out makes it a lot easier to find your place again. Here's how a rosary is put together, what you pray on each bead, and how long the whole thing takes. If you still need a rosary of your own, start with our rosary collection.
How many beads are on a rosary?
A standard five-decade rosary has 59 beads, plus a crucifix and a centerpiece:
- 53 small beads for the Hail Marys: 50 in the five decades and 3 near the crucifix.
- 6 larger beads (or beads set apart by more space) for the Our Fathers.
- 1 crucifix, where you start.
- 1 centerpiece, often a medal of Mary, where the loop joins the short strand.
The parts of a rosary
The short strand hangs from the centerpiece: the crucifix, one large bead, three small beads, and one more large bead.
The loop holds the five decades. A decade is ten small beads in a row. Between each decade sits one large bead.
That's all there is to it. The rosary repeats the same pattern five times, which is exactly why it's easy to pray from memory once you have it down.
What to pray on each bead
- On the crucifix: make the Sign of the Cross and pray the Apostles' Creed.
- On the first large bead: pray the Our Father.
- On the three small beads: pray three Hail Marys, traditionally for an increase in faith, hope, and charity.
- Before the next large bead: pray the Glory Be.
- On the next large bead: announce the first mystery, then pray the Our Father.
- On the ten small beads: pray ten Hail Marys while you think about the mystery.
- After the decade: pray the Glory Be. Many people add the Fatima Prayer here: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy."
- Repeat steps 5 through 7 for the remaining four decades. On the fifth decade, the Our Father is prayed on the centerpiece.
- To close: pray the Hail, Holy Queen, then make the Sign of the Cross.
The mysteries change by day of the week. We list all twenty in The Mysteries of the Rosary, Day by Day.
How long does it take to pray the rosary?
Most people pray a full rosary in about 15 to 20 minutes. Your first few will take longer, and that's fine. Some days you'll have time for all five decades. Some days you'll have a single decade at a red light. Pray what you can.
How to keep your place
- Let your fingers count. Move one bead per Hail Mary and stop thinking about the number.
- Use the big beads as checkpoints. When your thumb hits a large bead, you've finished a decade.
- Pick a rosary you can feel. Beads with some weight and space between them are easier to count without looking. The Black Panther and Silver Fox use metal beads on leather cord.
- If you lose count, keep going. Nobody is grading you. Eleven Hail Marys never hurt anyone.
Where to go next
If you're wondering why Catholics pray this way at all, read Why Do Catholics Pray the Rosary? And once the rosary becomes a daily habit, keep it in a pouch so it lasts. Here's why that matters.
Peace,
David & the OréMoose Team
Frequently asked questions
How many beads are on a rosary?
59: 53 Hail Mary beads and 6 Our Father beads, plus a crucifix and a centerpiece.
How many Hail Marys are in a rosary?
53 on a standard five-decade rosary: 50 in the decades and 3 at the start.
How long does it take to pray the rosary?
About 15 to 20 minutes for all five decades.
What is a decade of the rosary?
One Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be, prayed while thinking about one mystery.
Can I pray just one decade?
Yes. One decade prayed well is better than five rushed.
