Kiln shelves are the flat refractory slabs that hold your pots inside the kiln, and posts are the columns that hold the shelves apart. Together with stilts, cookies and kiln wash they are called kiln furniture. For most home potters the best start is the furniture kit made for your kiln, then a few extra shelves and posts as your loads grow.
This guide is research-based. We compared kiln maker shelf tables, dealer listings, Amazon listing specs and refractory maker guidance; we did not fire these shelves ourselves. Where a figure comes only from an Amazon listing, we say so.
Quick picks
- Best kit for a mid-size kiln: Skutt KM-1027 Furniture Kit (eight half shelves and 36 posts, matched to the KM-1027)
- Best kit for a small 240V kiln: Skutt KM-818 Furniture Kit (5/8 in shelves sized for the KM-818)
- Best for cone 10 in a large kiln: Skutt KM-1227 Furniture Kit (1 in thick half shelves)
- Best premium shelf: Advancer nitride-bonded silicon carbide (thin, light, does not warp; dealer only)
- Best budget replacement shelf: Chunful 15.5 in octagon shelf (cordierite and mullite, per listing)
- Best budget half shelves: Weysat 15.5 in half octagon pair
- Best extra posts: Nuanchu 8-pack high-alumina posts
- Best kiln wash: AMACO Kiln Wash (dry), or Penguin Pottery liquid kiln wash if you want no mixing
Kiln shelves compared
| Product | What you get | Thickness | Fits | Rating stated | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skutt KM-1027 Furniture Kit | 8 half shelves, 36 posts | 5/8 in | KM-1027, KS-1027 | Matched to kiln | Check price |
| Skutt KM-818 Furniture Kit | Full and half shelves, small post set | 5/8 in | KM-818 family | Matched to kiln | Check price |
| Skutt KM-1227 Furniture Kit | 8 half shelves, large post set | 1 in | KM-1227 family | Matched to kiln | Check price |
| Advancer shelves | Single full or half shelves | 5/16 in | Many sizes | Pre-fired above 2,700°F | Dealer only |
| Chunful octagon shelf | 1 full shelf, 15.5 in | 5/8 in | Measure your kiln | 2,282°F (listing) | Check price |
| Weysat half shelves | 2 half shelves, 15.5 in | 5/8 in | Measure your kiln | 2,282°F (listing) | Check price |
| Nuanchu kiln posts | 8 posts, 4 x 1 in | n/a | Any kiln | Not stated | Check price |
Skutt KM-1027 Furniture Kit
Skutt calls the KM-1027 its most popular model for potters, and this kit is the simplest way to load it fully on day one. The Ceramic Shop's listing describes eight 22 in half shelves and a 36-piece large post assortment with six posts each of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in. Skutt's own shelf table lists the same eight 5/8 in half shelves for the KM-1027.
Half shelves suit a 23 in kiln: a full shelf that size is heavy to lift over a top-loader wall, and halves let tall and short work sit side by side. Skutt's furniture kit page notes that half shelves at the same level can share posts, so two half shelves need four posts instead of six.
The kit ships at about 94 lb according to the dealer listing, so plan for freight. Skutt recommends 1 in shelves for cone 10, so if you fire high fire every week, consider the thicker shelves or Advancer instead.
- Shelves: 8 half shelves, about 10 5/8 x 22 in, 5/8 in thick (Skutt shelf table)
- Posts: 36, six each of 1 to 6 in
- Fits: Skutt KM-1027 and KS-1027 (23 x 23 in opening, 27 in deep)
- Shipping weight: about 94 lb
- Price: not captured in our research; check the live price
Pros
- Complete, matched set from the kiln maker
- Half shelves make loading flexible
- Wide post range covers mugs to vases
Cons
- Only fits 23 in Skutt-size kilns
- Heavy freight
- 5/8 in shelves are thinner than Skutt's own cone 10 advice
Who should skip it: Owners of any kiln other than a KM-1027 or KS-1027, and potters who mainly fire to cone 10.
Skutt KM-818 Furniture Kit
The KM-818 is a popular 18 x 18 in, 2.6 cubic foot kiln for home potters who have 240V power. Its furniture kit gives you shelves sized to fit the octagonal chamber without guesswork. Skutt's shelf table lists 5/8 in shelves for this model, with full shelves of about 15 x 16 in and half shelves of about 8 x 15 in, plus a small post assortment.
A mix of full and half shelves lets you fire a tall vase on one side and small bowls on two levels on the other, and 5/8 in shelves keep the weight down.
Skutt's table prints the shelf count in a way that is hard to read, and the Amazon title does not list contents. Confirm the exact number of shelves and posts with the seller before you buy, especially if you plan to fill the kiln on the first firing.
- Shelves: 5/8 in thick; full about 15 x 16 in, half about 8 x 15 in (Skutt shelf table)
- Posts: Small post assortment (sizes not published on the pages we checked)
- Fits: Skutt KM-818 and related 818 models
- Shipping weight: about 50 lb (Skutt shelf table)
- Price: not captured in our research; check the live price
Pros
- Sized for the KM-818 chamber
- Lighter 5/8 in shelves
- One purchase covers a full first load
Cons
- Exact contents not clearly published
- 5/8 in shelves are not Skutt's pick for regular cone 10
Who should skip it: Anyone without a KM-818 family kiln, and cone 10 potters who want 1 in shelves.
Skutt KM-1227 Furniture Kit
This is the heavy-duty option. Skutt's furniture kit page says that for high-temperature firing to cone 10 it only recommends 1 in thick half shelves, and this is the kit that follows that rule for the KM-1227. Skutt's shelf table lists eight half shelves of about 13 x 26 in with a large post assortment.
Thicker shelves resist sagging under heavy stoneware loads at high temperature, which is where thin cordierite shelves are most likely to warp. The cost is weight: Skutt's table gives a kit shipping weight of about 182 lb, and each shelf is noticeably heavier to lift in and out of a deep top loader.
The Amazon listing title confirms the 1 in thickness but does not list the full contents, so check post sizes and counts with the seller. If you already own a KM-1227 and fire cone 6 only, a 5/8 in set may be lighter to handle.
- Shelves: 8 half shelves, about 13 x 26 in, 1 in thick (Skutt shelf table and listing title)
- Posts: Large post assortment
- Fits: Skutt KM-1227 models only
- Shipping weight: about 182 lb (Skutt shelf table)
- Price: not captured in our research; expect a high price for a full 1 in kit
Pros
- Follows Skutt's own cone 10 shelf advice
- Less prone to sagging under heavy loads
Cons
- Very heavy shelves and freight
- Only fits KM-1227 kilns
- Full contents not shown on the listing
Who should skip it: Anyone with a smaller kiln, and cone 6 potters who would rather lift lighter shelves.
Advancer nitride-bonded silicon carbide shelves
Advancer kiln shelves are a nitride-bonded silicon carbide shelf, only 5/16 in thick, and kilnshelf.com (Smith-Sharpe, the main US outlet) describes them as 19 times stronger and 50% lighter than conventional kiln shelves. It also says they will not warp even after hundreds of firings under heavy loads, and that their surface porosity is under 1%.
The thin profile gives back space, and the low weight is easier on your back. Smith-Sharpe says the shelves have been fired above 2,700°F (about cone 16) in manufacture and will not warp under typical pottery firings even after repeated firings to cone 12, so there is no need to flip them.
The catch is price. On kilnshelf.com in October 2026, half shelves for top-loading electric kilns ran about $225 to $390 each and full shelves about $300 to $500; check the live price. L&L Kilns says Advancer shelves are great but expensive, and warns to keep them totally dry, because water soaked into them can cause them to burst in a firing. Smith-Sharpe adds that it takes prolonged exposure to a continuous moisture source to cause problems, not normal humidity.
- Material: Nitride-bonded silicon carbide
- Thickness: 5/16 in for most sizes
- Sizes: Half and full 8, 10 and 12-sided shelves for top loaders, plus squares, rectangles and rounds
- Rating: Pre-fired above 2,700°F; no warping to cone 12 per Smith-Sharpe
- Kiln wash: Optional for many uses; a high alumina wash is generally recommended
- Where to buy: Pottery dealers and kilnshelf.com, not Amazon
Pros
- Thin and light
- Does not warp
- Dense surface sheds glaze drips
Cons
- Several times the cost of cordierite
- Must be kept dry
- Can crack from flame impingement or uneven heating
Who should skip it: Beginners who fire cone 06 to 6 a few times a month, where standard cordierite shelves do the job for far less.
Chunful 15.5 in Octagon Kiln Shelf
When one shelf cracks you rarely need a whole kit, and this is the kind of low-cost replacement that fills the gap. The Amazon listing describes a 15.5 in octagon shelf, 5/8 in thick, made from cordierite and mullite and rated to 2,282°F. That size suits kilns with roughly 17 to 18 in interiors, such as the KM-818 class, but measure your own chamber first.
The rating is the number to watch. 2,282°F is above cone 6 at a 108°F per hour finish (2,232°F) but below cone 10 (2,345°F), according to Orton's chart. That makes this shelf a reasonable fit for low-fire and cone 6 work, not for cone 10. Since the maker does not publish a spec sheet we could find, treat the rating as the seller's claim.
Wash the top surface before glaze firings and keep posts in line, and a cordierite shelf like this can last many firings.
- Size: 15.5 in octagon, 5/8 in thick (per listing)
- Material: Cordierite and mullite (per listing)
- Rating: 2,282°F (per listing)
- Maker spec sheet: not published by the maker
Pros
- Much cheaper than a maker kit shelf
- Standard 5/8 in thickness
- Suits cone 6 and below
Cons
- Unbranded import with listing-only specs
- Rating too low for cone 10
Who should skip it: Cone 10 potters and anyone whose kiln needs a different shelf size.
Weysat 15.5 in Half Octagon Kiln Shelves (2 pack)
Half shelves are the most useful upgrade for a small kiln, and this two-pack is a low-cost way to add them. The listing describes two half-octagon shelves for a 15.5 in layout, 5/8 in thick, rated to 2,282°F. Put together they form one full shelf; used apart, they let you fire a tall piece on one side and shorter work on two levels on the other.
Half shelves are also easier to lift and less likely to crack from uneven heating, since each piece is smaller. The same rating caution applies as for the Chunful: 2,282°F covers cone 6 (2,232°F at 108°F per hour) with a small margin and does not reach cone 10.
When using halves, set three posts under each shelf, or share posts where the two halves meet at the same height, as both Skutt and L&L describe.
- Contents: 2 half-octagon shelves (per listing)
- Size: 15.5 in full octagon when paired, 5/8 in thick (per listing)
- Rating: 2,282°F (per listing)
- Maker spec sheet: not published by the maker
Pros
- Flexible loading
- Lighter to lift than a full shelf
- Low cost for two shelves
Cons
- Listing-only specs
- Not for cone 10
- Check fit against your kiln diameter
Who should skip it: Owners of 23 in and larger kilns, and anyone firing above cone 6.
Nuanchu 8-Pack Kiln Posts
You will run out of posts before shelves. This pack gives eight high-alumina posts, 4 in tall and 1 in across, according to the listing. Four-inch posts are a common height for mug and bowl shelves, so a pack like this fills the gap left by a kit's mixed assortment.
The listing does not state a cone rating, and we found no maker spec sheet, so check how they behave in your first few firings. Look for cracks or a lean before trusting them under a full shelf of heavy ware.
Keep posts the same height under any one shelf and stack them directly above the posts below, as L&L advises. Grind or scrape any glaze drips off the tops so shelves sit level.
- Contents: 8 posts (per listing)
- Size: 4 in tall x 1 in (per listing)
- Material: High alumina (per listing)
- Rating: not published by the maker
Pros
- Cheap way to add shelf levels
- Common 4 in height
- Works in any kiln
Cons
- No rating or maker spec sheet
- One height only
Who should skip it: Anyone who already has a full post assortment from a kiln kit.
AMACO Kiln Wash
Kiln wash is the sacrificial coating that keeps glaze drips from fusing to your shelves. AMACO says its kiln shelf wash prolongs shelf life and makes glaze drips easy to remove, and its instructions are to coat all shelves before a glaze firing at about 1/16 in thick. It comes as a dry powder that you mix with water; Skutt describes mixing kiln wash to a cream consistency before painting it on.
AMACO sells it in 1 lb and 4 lb sizes (and a 40 lb bag), which is plenty for a home kiln. Skutt's manual says to brush one side of each shelf, leaving a 1/2 in margin at the edge, and never to wash the walls or lid.
Because it is a dry powder, mixing it carries a dust risk. AMACO's label carries a warning for respirable crystalline silica. Mix it outdoors or with good ventilation and wear a NIOSH-approved respirator. How often to recoat and which side to wash are covered on our kiln wash page.
- Form: Dry powder, mix with water
- Sizes: 1 lb jar, 4 lb carton, 40 lb
- Coat: About 1/16 in on shelves before glaze firing (AMACO)
- Safety: Contains crystalline silica (Prop 65 warning)
Pros
- Well-known brand
- Cheap per coat
- Bulk sizes
Cons
- Must be mixed
- Dusty powder needs a respirator
Who should skip it: Potters who want a premixed product and only coat a shelf or two.
Penguin Pottery 16 oz Liquid Kiln Wash
If mixing dry powder sounds like a chore, a premixed liquid wash is the alternative. The listing describes a ready-to-use pint (16 oz) that you stir and brush straight onto the shelf. That avoids most of the dust that comes with mixing dry wash, which is a real advantage in a small home studio.
A pint covers fewer shelves than a few pounds of dry powder. We could not load a maker page with application details, so follow the label on the jar for coats and thickness. As a rule of thumb, L&L suggests about three coats on new shelves, then spot repairs.
Like any wash, it goes on the top of the shelf only, and should be kept off the edges so flakes do not fall onto ware below.
- Form: Premixed liquid (per listing)
- Size: 16 oz pint (per listing)
- Application details: not published on a maker page we could load
Pros
- No dry powder to mix
- Quick to use
- Good for a few shelves
Cons
- Higher cost per coat than dry wash
- Listing-only specs
Who should skip it: Studios with many shelves to coat, where a dry bag is far cheaper.
How to choose kiln shelves and furniture
Kiln shelf materials: cordierite, mullite and silicon carbide
Most hobby electric kiln shelves are cordierite or cordierite and mullite blends, so a cordierite kiln shelf is the default replacement for most home kilns. Clay-King describes cordierite as the popular go-to for electric kilns thanks to its low cost and solid performance. High-alumina mullite shelves are thicker and heavier; Smith-Sharpe sells them at 1 in thick for wood and gas reduction firing. Silicon carbide kiln shelves are the premium group. Clay-King notes they are lighter and resist warping, and nitride-bonded silicon carbide such as Advancer is the thinnest and lightest of all.
Whatever the material, use a shelf sold as a kiln shelf and rated above your firing cone. Floor tiles, stone, glass, metal sheet and loose bricks are not made to carry a load at kiln temperatures; they can crack, slump or melt, and soft insulating brick from the kiln walls is too weak to use as a shelf.
Thickness and cone
Skutt's guidance is clear: for cone 10 it only recommends 1 in thick half shelves, while for lower temperatures a 5/8 in shelf is fine and lighter. Compare any listing rating with Orton's chart. A shelf rated to 2,282°F is fine for cone 6 at 2,232°F (108°F per hour) but not for cone 10 at 2,345°F.
Size and shape
Clay-King suggests shelves about 2 to 3 in smaller than the inside diameter of the kiln, so heat can move around the edges and the shelf does not touch the elements. Match the shape too: octagon, 10-sided and 12-sided shelves follow the walls of matching top loaders. Half shelves are easier to lift and give you more loading options.
Kiln posts: how many and how tall
Skutt and L&L both recommend three posts per shelf, because three points never wobble. L&L says to use four for heavy loads, especially on the bottom shelf, and warns that more than four can make shelves crack or warp. Stack each post directly above the one below, keep posts about 1 in in from the shelf edge rather than at the very edge, and set the bottom shelf on 1/2 in posts rather than on the kiln floor. Buy posts in several heights; our kiln posts guide goes deeper.
Kiln stilts and cookies
Kiln stilts hold a piece off the shelf so a glazed base does not stick. Clay-King describes tripod, multi-point and heavy-duty styles. Check the cone rating on the package: wire-tipped stilts are mostly sold for low-fire work, and stoneware or porcelain softens enough near maturity to sag or pick up marks on points. At cone 6 and up, most potters wipe the foot clean of glaze and fire flat on a washed shelf. A "cookie" (a small disc of bisque or refractory under a runny-glaze piece) protects the shelf from drips; see glaze running.
Kiln wash and the kiln floor
Wash the top surface of shelves before glaze firings, as AMACO and Skutt describe. Skutt's manual tells owners never to wash the walls or lid. Questions about which side and how often are answered on our kiln wash page.
Where to buy kiln shelves and furniture
Kiln shelves for sale fall into three channels. The first is your kiln maker's dealer network: Skutt sells its furniture kits and single shelves through pottery dealers such as The Ceramic Shop, and dealers list shelves by kiln model, which removes the sizing guesswork. The second is pottery suppliers such as Clay-King, which stock cordierite and silicon carbide shelves, posts, stilts and other kiln accessories in standard shapes. The third is Amazon, where generic cordierite shelves, half shelves and post packs are sold with listing-only specs, as with the Chunful, Weysat and Nuanchu picks above.
Advancer shelves are the exception: Smith-Sharpe sells them through kilnshelf.com and pottery dealers, not Amazon. Before you order any kiln furniture for sale online, measure the inside of your kiln at its narrowest point, check the shelf shape (round, octagon, 10-sided or 12-sided), confirm the thickness and cone rating, and plan for freight on heavy kits. Prices change often, so compare a dealer's live price with a maker kit before buying single shelves.
Making shelves last
Smith-Sharpe lists flame impingement and uneven temperatures across a shelf (thermal gradients) as the main causes of thermal shock failure in Advancer shelves, and the same physics applies to any shelf. Keep shelves clear of elements, fire at sensible rates, load heavy pieces evenly and do not open a hot kiln. Store shelves dry and flat, and never stand on them. For a broader view of kiln upkeep, see kiln maintenance.
Kiln wash powder and shelf grinding dust contain crystalline silica. Scrape and grind shelves outdoors or with dust control, wet clean afterward instead of sweeping, and wear a NIOSH-approved respirator and eye protection.
If you are still choosing a kiln, our best kilns for home pottery guide covers sizes and the shelf space each one gives you, and our guide to loading a kiln shows how to put shelves and posts together.
Sources: Skutt furniture kits page and Ceramic Kiln Shelf Table (kit contents, thickness advice, post counts); Skutt KM-1027 and KM-818 product pages; Skutt KilnMaster manual (kiln wash application); The Ceramic Shop listing for the Skutt KM-1027 Furniture Kit; kilnshelf.com (Smith-Sharpe) Advancer product listings and resources page; L&L Kilns knowledgebase (Advancer, post placement, loading, kiln wash coats); Clay-King kiln shelf, furniture and stilt category pages; AMACO Kiln Wash product page; Amazon listings for the Chunful, Weysat, Nuanchu and Penguin Pottery products (listing specs only); Orton cone chart; Skutt KM operating manual (first shelf on 1 in posts above the floor slab). Specs checked October 2026.