The best underglaze for most home potters is AMACO Velvet. AMACO rates it from cone 05 to cone 10, it goes on wet clay, greenware or bisque, and one jar works in a low-fire test kiln or a cone 6 stoneware kiln. Pick AMACO LUG for sgraffito and covering big areas, Mayco Fundamentals for the biggest color range, and the Speedball sampler if you want a cheap way to learn. Underglaze is a clay-based color that stays where you paint it; our short guide to what underglaze is covers the basics.
This guide is research-based. We compared maker product pages, maker catalogs and US dealer listings rather than firing tiles ourselves, and we say so where a maker is silent or where two sources disagree. Specs checked October 2026.
Our underglaze picks at a glance
- Best overall: AMACO Velvet Underglaze (cone 05 to 10, any clay stage, food-safety status under named AMACO clears)
- Best for sgraffito and large areas: AMACO LUG Liquid Underglaze (made to cover big areas quickly)
- Biggest color range: Mayco Fundamentals Underglaze (50+ colors, cone 06 to 10)
- Best value starter set: Speedball Underglaze Sampler Pack (twelve 2 oz colors, cone 05 to 10)
- Opaque matte for low to mid fire: Duncan Cover-Coat (cone 06 to 6, greenware or bisque)
- Best for cone 6 to 10 stoneware: Coyote High Fire Underglaze (rated bright from cone 5 to cone 10)
- Best for fine lines: AMACO Underglaze Decorating Pencil (draw straight onto bisque)
Underglaze comparison table
| Underglaze | Best for | Cone range (maker) | Apply to | Coats for solid color | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMACO Velvet | All-round use | 05 to 10 (Blick lists 06 to 10) | Wet clay, greenware, cone 04 bisque | 3 (Blick, Clay-King) | Check price |
| AMACO LUG | Sgraffito, big areas | 05 on AMACO's page (Amazon listing says 05 to 10) | Wet clay, greenware, cone 04 bisque | Not published by the maker | Check price |
| Mayco Fundamentals | Color range | 06 to 10 | Wet clay, greenware, cone 04 bisque | 2 to 3 (Clay-King) or 3 (Krueger) | Check price |
| Speedball Sampler | Starter set | 05 to 10 | Bisque named on maker pages | Not published by the maker | Check price |
| Duncan Cover-Coat | Opaque matte | 06 to 6 | Greenware, bisque | Not on the page we checked | Check price |
| Coyote High Fire | Cone 6 to 10 | 5 to 10 | Not on the page we checked | Not on the page we checked | Check price |
| AMACO Pencil | Fine lines | Max 05, 5 or 10 by color | Bisque only | Line work | Check price |
1. AMACO Velvet Underglaze: best overall
Velvet is the underglaze many studios stock first, and AMACO's own product sheet explains why. It is rated from cone 05 to cone 10, with AMACO saying colors are most vibrant between cone 05 and cone 5, and it can go on wet, leather-hard or bone-dry greenware or on bisque. That means one set follows you if you move from a small low-fire kiln to cone 6 stoneware, and you can decorate at whatever stage suits your process.
Left unglazed, Velvet fires to the soft matte surface that gives it its name, and AMACO describes it as stiff enough that it will not run. Under a clear glaze the color gets more saturated. AMACO says all Velvet colors hold an approved food-safety status when they are applied and fired under its LG-10, F-10 or HF-9 clear glazes. The maker also lists sgraffito, mishima, screen printing, stamping and layering with its Opalescent glazes as uses, and dealers describe the colors as intermixable.
- Cone range: 05 to 10 (AMACO); Blick's listing says 06 to 10
- Apply to: wet clay, greenware, or mature cone 04 bisque
- Coats: three for opaque color (Blick and Clay-King listings)
- Finish: velvet matte unglazed; more saturated under clear glaze
- Sizes: 2 oz and 16 oz jars, some colors in gallons; numbered sets and class packs
- Price: typically $8 to $12 per 2 oz jar at US dealers in October 2026; check the live price
Pros
- Widest maker-rated cone range in this guide
- Works at every clay stage
- Food-safety status under named AMACO clears
- Easy to buy as singles, sets or pints
Cons
- AMACO notes some pigments burn out at higher cones
- Three coats for solid color takes time on a large piece
Who should skip it: potters who mostly add fine lines, lettering or signatures; a pencil or liner gives more control. Our AMACO Velvet underglaze review covers color shifts by cone in detail.
2. AMACO LUG Liquid Underglaze: best for sgraffito and large areas
LUG is AMACO's liquid underglaze line, and the maker pitches it for coverage: "these colors will cover large areas quickly." AMACO lists it for detailed painting, sgraffito, watercolor effects, wax resist and mishima, which is why LUG-1 Black over a white clay body shows up so often in high-contrast carved work. You can brush it on unfired clay, on greenware, or on mature cone 04 bisque, which AMACO gives as 1,945°F (1,063°C).
The cone rating needs care. AMACO's LUG page lists the line at cone 05, while the Amazon listing in our product table says cone 05 to 10. Krueger Pottery's description of LUG-1 Black adds detail: it fires at cone 05, "fluxes into a soft glaze-like surface at cone 6," and keeps a deep black with a soft sheen up to cone 10. So black is known to travel to stoneware temperatures, but other LUG colors are best tested at your cone before a big project.
- Cone range: 05 per AMACO's page; LUG-1 Black described to cone 10 by Krueger
- Apply to: wet clay, greenware, or mature cone 04 bisque
- Techniques listed: painting, sgraffito, watercolor effects, wax resist, mishima
- Coats: not published by the maker
- Sizes: 2 oz, pint and gallon (LUG-1 Black at Krueger)
Pros
- Covers big areas fast
- Built for sgraffito and mishima
- Deep black for graphic designs
Cons
- AMACO's page rates the line at cone 05 only
- Coat count not published
- Color is brightest under a clear glaze, so plan that step
Who should skip it: cone 6 potters who want a dry, velvety unglazed surface; Velvet is made for that look. If sgraffito is your goal, read our sgraffito pottery guide before you buy colors.
3. Mayco Fundamentals Underglaze: biggest color range
Mayco's Fundamentals line is the one to look at when you want a specific shade. Mayco's 2023 underglaze catalog lists more than 50 individual colors and describes them as formulated for greenware or bisque and fireable from cone 06 to cone 10. Mayco's online color guide shows every color fired three ways: cone 06 on white earthenware, cone 6 on white stoneware, and cone 10 in reduction. That lets you see the shift at your own cone before you buy.
Fundamentals fire to a soft matte finish when left bare and to a gloss under clear glaze. Mayco's catalog calls them AP Certified Non-Toxic and dinnerware safe when a clear glaze is applied, and describes them as blendable and intermixable. Mayco also gives a useful tip: if cone 06 does not develop the color you want, fire a little hotter, to cone 03 or 04.
- Cone range: 06 to 10 (Mayco)
- Apply to: wet clay, greenware, or cone 04 bisque
- Coats: 2 to 3 for solid coverage (Clay-King); 3 for opacity (Krueger, UG-050)
- Finish: soft matte bare; gloss under clear glaze
- Sizes: dealers list 4 oz and pint (gallon by special order); some still list 2 oz
- Price: about $6.50 to $7 per 4 oz jar at the two US dealers we checked; check the live price
Pros
- Very large palette
- Fired color guide at cone 06, 6 and 10
- Dinnerware safe under clear glaze per Mayco
Cons
- Krueger's listing says do not spray apply
- Jar sizes vary by dealer, so check ounces when comparing prices
Who should skip it: potters who want to airbrush underglaze; Krueger's Fundamentals listing says not to spray it.
4. Speedball Underglaze Sampler Pack: best value starter set
The Speedball Underglaze 12-Color Sampler Pack #1 is the simplest way to find out how underglaze behaves on your clay. It holds twelve 2 fl oz bottles: white, yellow, pink, royal blue, sky blue, medium green, brown, black, gray, orange, red and purple. That covers a full beginner palette, and because the colors are intermixable you can mix secondary shades instead of buying them.
Speedball describes these as opaque underglazes that "will not move or bleed," formulated for cone 05 to 10 and "suitable for dinnerware when used and fired as directed." The maker says the line was adjusted in late 2023 for smoother brushing, lists 48 colors in total and gives a shelf life of 2 years from manufacture. Speedball also notes that "several" colors hold well at high temperatures, which means not every color stays true at cone 10. Its pages recommend bisque firing to cone 05 or 04 but do not spell out greenware use, so read the bottle label if you decorate wet or leather-hard clay.
- Contents: 12 x 2 fl oz bottles (item 001085)
- Cone range: 05 to 10 (Speedball)
- Coverage: opaque; coats not published by the maker
- Full range: 48 colors in 2 fl oz and pint
- Shelf life: 2 years from manufacture (Speedball)
Pros
- A complete beginner palette in one box
- Opaque colors that stay put
- Intermixable
Cons
- Greenware use not spelled out on the pages we checked
- Only some colors hold at cone 10
- Older stock may be the pre-2023 formula
Who should skip it: potters who already know their favorite colors; buying those colors in pints costs less per ounce.
5. Duncan Cover-Coat Opaque Underglaze: opaque matte for low to mid fire
Cover-Coat is built around opacity. Duncan's product page calls it an opaque underglaze formulated for both greenware and bisque, firing from cone 06 to cone 6. Left bare it fires to a porous matte surface, which Duncan describes as "a softer look," or you can apply a clear glaze for shiny color. Strong coverage matters most on buff or red clay, where thinner underglazes let the clay color show through and dull the result.
Duncan says Cover-Coat is safe for food containers when a nontoxic, food-safe clear glaze is applied, and it points to a mid-range performance index for color-by-color results at cone 6. One practical note: Duncan stock is thinner than AMACO or Mayco at the US dealers we checked. Bailey Pottery's underglaze department, for example, lists AMACO, Coyote, Mayco, Minnesota Clay and Spectrum, but not Duncan, so check availability before you plan a palette around it.
- Cone range: 06 to 6 (Duncan)
- Apply to: greenware or bisque
- Finish: porous matte bare; shiny under clear glaze
- Coats: not stated on the Duncan page we checked
- Sizes: 2 oz jars and 12-color kits on Amazon
Pros
- Strong opacity over darker clay
- Works on greenware and bisque
- Color index for cone 6
Cons
- Tops out at cone 6
- Porous unless glazed
- Patchier US dealer stock
Who should skip it: cone 10 potters. Choose Velvet, Mayco Fundamentals or Coyote, which are rated to cone 10.
6. Coyote High Fire Underglaze: best for cone 6 to 10 stoneware
Most underglaze lines are formulated around low fire and then tested hotter. Coyote's line starts from the other end: the maker says its high fire underglazes "are all designed to be bright and true from cone five to cone ten." If you fire stoneware or porcelain at cone 6 or cone 10 and are tired of pinks and yellows fading, a coyote underglaze is worth a test order. The range has 31 colors, sold in 4 oz jars, pints and gallons.
The trade-off is information and reach. The Coyote page we checked does not state application stage, coats or a food-safety rating, so treat it like any new glaze material: fire a test tile on your own clay under your own clear glaze. It is sold mainly through Coyote and pottery dealers such as Bailey rather than big-box craft stores, so the product box below may fall back to an Amazon search.
- Cone range: 5 to 10 (Coyote)
- Colors: 31
- Sizes: 4 oz, pint, gallon
- Apply to, coats, food rating: not on the maker page we checked
Pros
- Formulated for mid and high fire
- Bigger 4 oz starter jar
- Sold by major pottery dealers
Cons
- Not for low-fire work
- Less published application data
- Limited Amazon presence
Who should skip it: anyone firing earthenware at cone 06 or 05; the line is rated from cone 5 up.
7. AMACO Underglaze Decorating Pencil: best for fine lines
Not every design needs a brush. AMACO's underglaze pencil lets you draw, shade, letter or sign directly on bisque with the control of an ordinary pencil. AMACO calls it "ideal for shading, fine line drawing or identification." It is also the easiest way for a beginner to add detail before learning brush control, and black is the most useful first color because it holds up to cone 10.
The maximum cone depends on the color. AMACO's listing, as quoted by Sheffield Pottery and Krueger, gives cone 10 for black, blue and green, cone 5 for brown and yellow, and cone 05 for rose. AMACO's directions say to dust the drawing lightly with a brush, sharpen with a knife or blade rather than a pencil sharpener, and sponge on the first coat of clear glaze so you do not smear the lines. Our underglaze pencils guide covers technique and other brands.
- Surface: bisque
- Max cone: 10 (black, blue, green); 5 (brown, yellow); 05 (rose)
- Item: 11420F (black), sold singly; assorted packs also listed
- Food use: AMACO says not for food surfaces unless covered with a dinnerware-safe clear such as LG-10, F-10 or HF-9
Pros
- Precise lines
- No brush or water needed
- Good for signatures and small details
Cons
- Bisque only
- Tiny coverage
- Dealers disagree on the low end of the range (Clay-King says cone 06 to 10, Bailey cone 05 to 10)
Who should skip it: anyone who decorates wet or leather-hard clay; the pencil is made for bisque.
Also worth a look: chalk crayons and Stroke & Coat
AMACO's Underglaze Chalk Crayons (Set 208) are eight 2 3/4 x 7/16 in sticks for bisque: yellow, brown, black, white, dark green, dark blue, turquoise and rose. Krueger lists their limits by color, with black, brown, dark blue, dark green and white to cone 10, turquoise and yellow to cone 5, and rose to cone 05. You can blend them with a finger or brush water over them for a watercolor look. Check the chalk crayon set on Amazon, or read our underglaze crayons page.
Mayco Stroke & Coat brushes like an underglaze, but Mayco calls it a glaze, rated for cone 06 to 10 on wet clay or bisque. Because it is a glaze it can move in the firing, so it is not a swap for underglaze in crisp carved designs. See our Stroke & Coat guide for how it differs. Check Stroke & Coat Kit #1 on Amazon.
What underglaze does, and how it differs from regular glaze
Underglaze puts color exactly where you paint it. Digitalfire describes underglazes as heavily pigmented mixes of clay, a little flux and ceramic stain, so they sinter and grip the pot instead of melting into glass. That is why underglazes hold crisp lines, lettering and carved edges, and why they fire to a matte surface when left bare.
Regular glaze is mostly glass formers and flux. It melts in the kiln, can run, and makes the smooth, sealed coat on a pot. In practice the two work as a team: underglaze carries the design and a clear glaze goes over it for shine and for food surfaces. Our underglaze vs overglaze comparison sets glaze, underglaze and overglaze side by side.
How to choose an underglaze
Four things decide which pottery underglaze suits you: your firing cone, the clay stage you like to decorate, how opaque you need the color, and whether the piece will hold food. The sections below take them one at a time.
Match the cone range to your kiln and clay
Every underglaze has a rated range, and colors shift inside it. On Orton's chart for self-supporting cones heated at 108°F per hour, cone 05 is 1,888°F (1,031°C), cone 6 is 2,232°F (1,222°C) and cone 10 is 2,345°F (1,285°C). Velvet and Speedball are rated cone 05 to 10, Mayco Fundamentals cone 06 to 10, Duncan Cover-Coat cone 06 to 6, and Coyote cone 5 to 10. Pinks, reds and some yellows are the colors most likely to fade near the top of a range, so check the maker's fired chart at your own cone. Our pottery cone chart lists the full temperature table.
Underglaze on greenware or bisque
Velvet, LUG and Fundamentals all list wet clay, greenware and cone 04 bisque, while pencils and chalk crayons are bisque only. Greenware suits sgraffito and lets the color go through the bisque firing; bisque is stronger to handle. Our guide on how to use underglaze walks through both routes.
Opacity, coats and underglaze paint consistency
Brush-on underglaze is thicker than craft paint and usually needs about three coats for solid color, according to the dealer listings we checked. Let each coat lose its shine before the next and change brush direction each time to avoid streaks. One thin, watered coat gives a wash or watercolor look instead. If a jar has thickened, stir in a few drops of water.
Clay color changes the result
Underglaze colors look brightest on white or light clay. On buff, red or brown stoneware, pick an opaque line such as Duncan Cover-Coat or lay down a white underglaze first. If you are still choosing a clay body, our best clay for pottery guide notes which bodies fire white.
Clear glaze and underglaze ceramics for food
On underglaze ceramics that will hold food or drink, cover the decorated surfaces with a clear glaze that the maker labels as food safe at your cone. AMACO ties Velvet's food-safety status to its LG-10, F-10 and HF-9 clears; Mayco says Fundamentals are dinnerware safe once clear glaze is applied.
No label can promise that your finished mug is food safe. Results depend on firing to the stated cone, on your clay and glaze fit, and on testing. Treat maker food-safety statements as conditional on following their directions exactly.
Brushes, tools and a turntable
Soft synthetic brushes give smooth coats, fan brushes and sponges help with washes, and fine-tip squeeze bottles make dots and raised lines. Keep separate brushes for underglaze and glaze. A banding wheel makes bands and stripes much easier.
Sets or singles
Buy a set first to learn which colors you reach for, then buy those in pints, which cost less per ounce. Close lids tightly, since underglaze thickens as water evaporates.
Dust and safety
Dry underglaze and clay dust contain silica. Clean up with a damp sponge or mop rather than dry sweeping, and wear a NIOSH-approved respirator when mixing any dry ceramic materials. Read each jar's safety label (look for the AP or CL seal) and keep jars away from food prep areas.
If you are wondering how underglaze differs from regular glaze or from china paint, our underglaze vs overglaze comparison explains it in one page.
Sources: AMACO Velvet product sheet (amaco.com) and AMACO shop pages for Velvet, LUG and underglaze pencils and crayons; Mayco Fundamentals color guide and Mayco 2023 underglaze catalog; Mayco Stroke & Coat page; Speedball underglazes page and Sampler Pack #1 page; Duncan Cover-Coat page; Coyote underglaze page; Digitalfire glossary entry for underglaze; Orton cone temperature chart; dealer listings at Blick, Clay-King, Krueger Pottery, The Ceramic Shop, Sheffield Pottery and Bailey Pottery; Amazon listing titles for ASIN matching. Specs checked October 2026.