Complete Guide

Complete Clay Types & Properties Guide

Master clay selection with our comprehensive guide to clay types, properties, and best applications. Compare earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, and specialty clays to choose the perfect clay for your pottery projects.

22 min read
18,000+ potters helped
Updated Dec 2024
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Major Clay Types Comparison

Earthenware

Low-Fire Clay

Firing Temp

Cone

Shrinkage

8-12%

Plasticity

High

Cost

$0.40-0.60/lb

Best For:

  • Decorative pottery
  • Plant pots and planters
  • Tiles and sculpture

Stoneware

Mid to High-Fire Clay

Firing Temp

Cone

Shrinkage

11-14%

Plasticity

Medium to High

Cost

$0.60-0.80/lb

Best For:

  • Functional pottery
  • Dinnerware and tableware
  • Cooking vessels

Porcelain

High-Fire Clay

Firing Temp

Cone

Shrinkage

14-19%

Plasticity

Medium

Cost

$0.80-1.20/lb

Best For:

  • Fine dinnerware
  • Decorative objects
  • Thin-walled vessels

Detailed Clay Properties & Characteristics

Earthenware

Low-Fire Clay

Cone
8-12% shrinkage
$0.40-0.60/lb

Key Properties

Firing Temp:Cone
Shrinkage:8-12%
Absorption:10-15%
Plasticity:High
Color:Red, brown, buff, white

Characteristics

  • Very plastic and workable
  • Low firing temperature
  • Porous after firing
  • Bright glaze colors
  • Prone to thermal shock

Best Applications

  • Decorative pottery
  • Plant pots and planters
  • Tiles and sculpture
  • Beginner pottery
  • Large sculptural work

Pros & Cons

PROS:

  • +Easy to work with
  • +Inexpensive
  • +Vibrant glazes

CONS:

  • −Not food safe (unglazed)
  • −Fragile
  • −Limited durability

Stoneware

Mid to High-Fire Clay

Cone
11-14% shrinkage
$0.60-0.80/lb

Key Properties

Firing Temp:Cone
Shrinkage:11-14%
Absorption:1-5%
Plasticity:Medium to High
Color:Gray, brown, buff, white

Characteristics

  • Strong and durable
  • Low porosity when fired
  • Good thermal shock resistance
  • Natural earth tones
  • Versatile working properties

Best Applications

  • Functional pottery
  • Dinnerware and tableware
  • Cooking vessels
  • Outdoor pottery
  • Production pottery

Pros & Cons

PROS:

  • +Very durable
  • +Food safe
  • +Good workability

CONS:

  • −Higher firing cost
  • −Limited color range
  • −Heavier than earthenware

Porcelain

High-Fire Clay

Cone
14-19% shrinkage
$0.80-1.20/lb

Key Properties

Firing Temp:Cone
Shrinkage:14-19%
Absorption:0-3%
Plasticity:Medium
Color:Pure white, off-white

Characteristics

  • Extremely fine particle size
  • Translucent when thin
  • Pure white color
  • Very dense when fired
  • Challenging to work with

Best Applications

  • Fine dinnerware
  • Decorative objects
  • Thin-walled vessels
  • Artistic pottery
  • Professional ceramics

Pros & Cons

PROS:

  • +Beautiful white color
  • +Translucent quality
  • +Very strong when fired

CONS:

  • −Difficult to work
  • −Expensive
  • −High shrinkage

Fire Clay

Refractory Clay

Cone
6-9% shrinkage
$0.50-0.70/lb

Key Properties

Firing Temp:Cone
Shrinkage:6-9%
Absorption:15-25%
Plasticity:Low to Medium
Color:Buff, gray, white

Characteristics

  • High alumina content
  • Excellent heat resistance
  • Low shrinkage
  • Coarse texture
  • Less plastic than other clays

Best Applications

  • Kiln furniture
  • Kiln shelves
  • High-temp applications
  • Industrial ceramics
  • Refractory products

Pros & Cons

PROS:

  • +Extreme heat resistance
  • +Low shrinkage
  • +Stable at high temps

CONS:

  • −Poor plasticity
  • −Coarse texture
  • −Limited applications

Ball Clay

Secondary Clay

Cone
18-25% shrinkage
$0.60-1.00/lb

Key Properties

Firing Temp:Cone
Shrinkage:18-25%
Absorption:Varies
Plasticity:Very High
Color:White to light gray

Characteristics

  • Extremely plastic
  • Fine particle size
  • High shrinkage
  • Used in clay bodies
  • Not used alone

Best Applications

  • Clay body ingredient
  • Increasing plasticity
  • Porcelain bodies
  • White burning clays
  • Throwing bodies

Pros & Cons

PROS:

  • +Maximum plasticity
  • +White firing
  • +Fine texture

CONS:

  • −Excessive shrinkage alone
  • −Too plastic by itself
  • −Expensive

Paper Clay

Specialty Clay

Varies
10-15% shrinkage
$1.00-1.50/lb

Key Properties

Firing Temp:Varies
Shrinkage:10-15%
Absorption:Varies by base
Plasticity:Enhanced
Color:Varies by base clay

Characteristics

  • Contains paper fiber
  • Self-healing properties
  • Joins wet to dry clay
  • Reduced cracking
  • Excellent for repairs

Best Applications

  • Large sculptures
  • Complex constructions
  • Repairs and joins
  • Experimental work
  • Mixed-media ceramics

Pros & Cons

PROS:

  • +Forgiving to work
  • +Repairs easily
  • +Less cracking

CONS:

  • −More expensive
  • −Different feel
  • −Limited suppliers

Quick Comparison: Major Clay Types

PropertyEarthenwareStonewarePorcelainFire Clay
Ease of UseExcellentGoodChallengingDifficult
DurabilityFairExcellentExcellentSuperior
Food SafetyWith glaze onlyExcellentExcellentNot suitable
CostLowMediumHighMedium
Firing CostLowMediumHighVery High

Recommended Firing Schedules

Earthenware

Recommended firing parameters

Bisque:Cone 04 (1830°F)
Glaze:Cone 06-04 (1830-1886°F)
Ramp Rate:150-200°F/hour
Hold Time:15-30 minutes
Atmosphere:Oxidation

Stoneware

Recommended firing parameters

Bisque:Cone 08-06 (1751-1830°F)
Glaze:Cone 5-10 (2167-2345°F)
Ramp Rate:100-150°F/hour
Hold Time:20-45 minutes
Atmosphere:Oxidation or Reduction

Porcelain

Recommended firing parameters

Bisque:Cone 08-06 (1751-1830°F)
Glaze:Cone 8-12 (2280-2419°F)
Ramp Rate:80-120°F/hour
Hold Time:30-60 minutes
Atmosphere:Oxidation or Reduction

How to Choose the Right Clay for Your Project

For Beginners

Choose: Earthenware
Forgiving, easy to work, low-cost, great for learning basic techniques

For Functional Pottery

Choose: Stoneware
Durable, food-safe, dishwasher-safe, perfect for everyday use

For Fine Art

Choose: Porcelain
Elegant white color, translucent quality, premium appearance

For Sculptures

Choose: Paper Clay
Self-healing, versatile joining, excellent for complex forms

Professional Clay Selection Tips

Testing New Clay Bodies

  • • Always test new clays with small samples first
  • • Make test tiles to document shrinkage and absorption
  • • Test fire to your target temperature
  • • Document your results for future reference
  • • Test glaze compatibility on new clay bodies
  • • Consider seasonal clay variations

Cost Optimization Strategies

  • • Buy clay in bulk for better pricing
  • • Reclaim and recycle clay scraps
  • • Mix your own clay bodies for specific needs
  • • Consider shipping costs when ordering
  • • Store clay properly to prevent waste
  • • Track usage to optimize inventory

Clay Storage & Preparation Best Practices

Storage

  • • Keep clay moist with plastic wrap
  • • Store in cool, consistent temperature
  • • Avoid freezing temperatures
  • • Label different clay types clearly
  • • Use oldest clay first (FIFO system)

Preparation

  • • Wedge clay thoroughly before use
  • • Remove air bubbles completely
  • • Age clay for improved plasticity
  • • Test moisture content for consistency
  • • Condition clay to room temperature

Quality Control

  • • Check for foreign contaminants
  • • Test plasticity and workability
  • • Monitor color consistency
  • • Document firing results
  • • Track shrinkage and absorption rates

Master Your Clay Calculations

Use our professional pottery calculators to optimize your clay selection and usage

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