Low fire clay is any pottery clay designed to mature at the cool end of the kiln range, usually cone 06 to 04. It is the clay to choose if your kiln does not reach mid-fire temperatures, if you work in a classroom, or if you want the brightest glaze colors. It is also the clay most likely to be damaged by a firing that goes too hot. This guide is research-based, using maker spec sheets from AMACO and Laguna, not our own firings. Specs checked October 2026.
What is low fire clay?
"Low fire" describes the firing range, not one type of clay. Most low fire pottery clay is earthenware, either red (high in iron) or white. Many white low fire bodies are talc bodies, where talc acts as the flux that lets the clay mature at low temperature. Laguna's EM330, for example, is described as a basic talc body, and Laguna also sells a talc-free option (EM100). Our earthenware clay guide explains the clay family in more depth.
Low fire clay is not the same as air-dry clay or oven-bake polymer clay. It still needs a kiln. It just needs a cooler one.
Low fire clay cone range
Most low fire bodies are made for cone 06 to 04. Temperatures are from Orton's chart for self-supporting cones at 108°F per hour.
| Range | Cones | Temperature | Clay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low fire | 06 to 04 | 1,828°F to 1,945°F (998°C to 1,063°C) | Earthenware, low fire white |
| Mid-fire | 5 to 6 | 2,167°F to 2,232°F (1,186°C to 1,222°C) | Stoneware, cone 6 porcelain |
| High fire | 10 | 2,345°F (1,285°C) | Stoneware, porcelain |
The maker's sheet is the final word. AMACO rates No. 25 White Art Clay from cone 04 to cone 3, which is unusually wide, and No. 67 Sedona Red up to cone 02. Laguna labels most of its low fire clays cone 06 and its R-2 Red bodies cone 04. See our pottery cone chart for every cone.
Who should use low fire pottery clay?
- Owners of small or older kilns that do not reach cone 5 or 6. Check your kiln's rated maximum cone before you buy clay.
- Classrooms and kids' programs, where low firing temperatures and bright colors suit decorative projects.
- Potters who want vivid color. Low fire glazes cover the widest range of bright reds, oranges and yellows.
- Decorative and sculptural work, where low shrinkage helps pieces stay close to their made size.
- Pit, saggar and raku-style work, where a porous, open body handles thermal shock. Laguna lists EM330 for saggar and pit firing.
If you want tough everyday mugs and plates and your kiln reaches cone 6, mid-fire stoneware is usually the better choice. Our stoneware clay guide explains why.
Low fire clay bodies compared
Figures are from each maker's own page.
| Clay | Cone | Fired color | Shrinkage | Absorption | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMACO No. 25 White Art Clay | 04 to 3 | Off-white | 6.3% at 04 | 13.7% at 04 | Check price |
| AMACO No. 67 Sedona Red | Up to 02 | Red to red brown | 7% at 05 | 11.7% at 05 | Check price |
| Laguna White ^06 (EM210) | 06 | Not published by the maker | 5.5% | 17% | Sold out at Laguna |
| Laguna ^06 White (EM330) | 06 | Off-white | 6% | 16% | Sold out at Laguna |
AMACO's moist low fire clays list at about $30 to $50 per box before shipping in October 2026, and Laguna lists its cone 06 bodies at about $0.65 to $1.00 per lb. Check the live price, and ask a dealer about Laguna stock, since its own store showed the whole cone 06 line sold out.
AMACO No. 25 White Art Clay
No. 25 is the most flexible low fire clay here because AMACO rates it from cone 04 all the way to cone 3. It fires off-white, keeps glaze and underglaze color true, and suits wheel throwing, hand-building and modeling.
- Cone range: 04 to 3
- Shrinkage / absorption: 6.3% / 13.7% at cone 04
- Size: 25 lb or 50 lb; AP seal
Pros
- Wide low fire range
- White body
- Low shrinkage
Cons
- Porous
- Must be glazed inside to hold liquid
Who should skip it: anyone firing to cone 5 or 6, which is past its rated range.
AMACO No. 67 Sedona Red
Sedona Red is AMACO's red low fire body, rated up to cone 02. Absorption falls from 11.7% at cone 05 to 9.2% at cone 02, but shrinkage rises from 7% to 13%, so fire your test tiles and pieces at the same cone.
- Cone range: up to cone 02
- Shrinkage / absorption: 7% / 11.7% at cone 05
- Size: 50 lb; AP seal
Pros
- Rich red color
- AMACO says it does not slump or warp at low temperatures like other red clays
Cons
- Dark body mutes light glazes
- Only one size
Who should skip it: potters who want bright, true glaze color.
How to choose a low fire clay
Check your kiln first
Look up your kiln's rated maximum cone on its data plate or in the manual. If it stops at cone 04 or cone 1, low fire is your range. If it reaches cone 6, you can still use low fire clay, but you must program low fire schedules and keep it out of stoneware loads.
Pick a fired color
White bodies keep glaze and underglaze color true; red bodies give a warm terracotta base. If you plan bright painted designs, start with a white clay such as AMACO No. 25.
Match the clay to your method
Smooth low fire clays throw well on the wheel and suit small, detailed work. Grogged low fire bodies, such as Laguna's R-2 Red with grog, suit sculpture, tiles and thick hand-built pieces because grog helps them dry evenly.
Compare the cone range
A wider range gives you more room for error in an older kiln. AMACO No. 25 runs from cone 04 to cone 3; most Laguna low fire bodies are labeled cone 06.
Low fire clay for kids and classrooms
Low fire clay is the standard in many schools because it fires in smaller kilns, shrinks less, and pairs with bright, easy glazes and underglazes. AMACO marks No. 25 and No. 67 with its AP (Approved Product) seal in moist form. Even with AP-sealed clay, wet clean tables and floors and keep dry clay dust down, because the silica hazard comes from dust, not the label. For kids without kiln access, air-dry clay is the simpler choice, though it never becomes ceramic.
Can you throw low fire clay on the wheel?
Yes. Many low fire bodies are soft and plastic, and AMACO lists both No. 25 and No. 67 for wheel throwing as well as hand-building. The main differences from stoneware are feel and strength. Low fire clay can feel softer and stickier, so use a little less water, and finished pots are more fragile, so keep walls and rims a touch thicker on functional pieces. Trim at leather hard as you would with stoneware.
Firing low fire clay
A common sequence is to bisque at cone 04 and glaze fire at cone 06 or 05, which leaves the bisque a little more mature than the glaze firing. Some potters do the reverse. Our bisque firing guide covers the options. Whatever you choose, keep the glaze firing inside the clay's rated range and use glazes made for low fire; see low fire glazes.
Low fire kilns draw less energy per firing than mid-fire ones, and many small 120V kilns reach low fire cones. For any kiln, use the maker's stated volts, amps, breaker size and plug type, and have a licensed electrician install or check the circuit. Our small kiln guide lists maker figures.
Low fire vs mid-fire clay
| Feature | Low fire (cone 06 to 04) | Mid-fire (cone 5 to 6) |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption (maker examples) | 11.7% to 17% | 0.3% to 3% |
| Shrinkage (maker examples) | 5.5% to 7% | 11% to 13.9% |
| Glaze color | Brightest range | Wide range, slightly less vivid reds |
| Durability | Chips more easily | Dense and tough |
| Kiln | Small kilns, many 120V | Usually 240V |
Common mistakes
- Firing low fire clay with a cone 6 stoneware load. It will likely slump or melt.
- Assuming a white low fire clay is stoneware because it looks pale.
- Leaving vases and mugs unglazed inside and expecting them to hold water.
- Mixing low fire scraps into stoneware reclaim, which can make the stoneware bloat at cone 6.
Safety: low fire clays, including talc bodies, contain silica. Wet clean, never dry sweep, and wear a NIOSH-approved respirator when mixing dry materials. Kilns get very hot outside; follow the maker's clearance and ventilation rules.
What you need
You need a low fire clay body, low fire glazes, and a kiln that reaches at least the clay's maturing cone. Our best clay for pottery guide compares low fire and mid-fire options, and our best small kilns guide helps you pick a kiln for low fire work.
Sources: AMACO product pages for No. 25 White Art Clay and No. 67 Sedona Red; Laguna Clay product pages for EM210 and EM330 and its cone 06 collection page; AMACO and Laguna mid-fire product pages for comparison figures; Orton pyrometric cone chart (self-supporting cones, 108°F per hour). Specs checked October 2026.