A raku kiln is built to reach raku temperatures quickly and open fast so you can lift red-hot pots out for reduction or cooling. Most burn propane, sit outdoors, and open by lifting the chamber (a "top hat") or swinging the walls apart. This guide covers the commercial raku kilns sold in the US, their propane needs, and the fire code points to settle first.
We are a research site and did not fire these kilns. Figures come from maker pages and dealer listings named in the Sources line.
Types of raku kiln
A regular electric kiln is a closed box you fire for hours and leave shut until it cools. A raku kiln is built around the moment of opening, heats fast, and lives outdoors. For how gas and electric firing compare in general, see gas kiln vs electric kiln.
Top-hat (lift chamber) gas kilns
The chamber lifts straight up off a fixed floor where the pots sit, so you reach them from all sides while the hot shell stays above you. Olympic's Raku line uses this design with a hand winch and 2.5 in or 3 in firebrick walls, which hold heat between loads.
Clamshell kilns
The walls are hinged and fold open. Peter Pugger's Clam Shell uses 1 in ceramic fiber over a soft-brick base. Fiber heats quickly but is more delicate than brick.
Electric raku kilns
An electric kiln can be used for raku if its maker designs or approves it for that use. Olympic's 1214E Raku E is a 120V model with a firing chamber lift assist. Power must be off before you open it or reach in with tongs.
Chambers sold without a burner
Laguna's Heatwave Raku Kiln is a Superwool fiber chamber, 21 in wide and 18 in tall, with burner, hose and regulators sold separately. Laguna says it passes 1,850°F (1,010°C) in about 15 minutes with its burner kit; it was listed as sold out when we checked. If you buy a bare chamber, use the burner kit its maker matches to it.
Commercial raku kilns compared
| Kiln | Fuel | Chamber | Max rating | Heat input | Walls | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic 18 Raku | Propane or natural gas | 17.5 x 22.5 in; 2.37 cu ft setting | Cone 10, 2,350°F (1,288°C) | 120,000 BTU/hr (2 burners) | 2.5 in firebrick | Check price |
| Olympic 23 Raku | Propane or natural gas | 23.4 x 27 in; 5.7 cu ft setting | Cone 10, 2,350°F (1,288°C) | 240,000 BTU/hr (3 burners) | 2.5 in firebrick | Check price |
| Olympic 28 Raku | Propane or natural gas | 28.25 x 27 in; 8.9 cu ft setting | Cone 10, 2,350°F (1,288°C) | 280,000 BTU/hr (4 burners) | 3 in firebrick | Dealer only |
| Peter Pugger Clam Shell | Propane | 22.5 x 22.5 x 28 in (dealer figure) | Not published by the maker | 75,000 BTU burner | 1 in fiber, soft-brick base | Check price |
| Olympic 1214E Raku E | Electric, 120V | 11.25 x 13.5 in; 0.86 cu ft | Cone 4, 2,100°F (1,149°C) | 1,920 W | 3 in firebrick | Check price |
Max ratings are what the kiln can reach, not what raku needs. Raku glazes usually mature far lower; Mayco's raku glazes fire to cone 06, listed at 1,850°F (1,010°C). See our pottery cone chart for how cones map to temperatures.
Olympic 18 Raku
The 18 Raku is the entry point to Olympic's gas raku line. It is picked because Olympic publishes a full spec sheet for it, including burner count, BTU rating, gas pressure and propane use, which makes planning your gas supply easier.
A thermocouple safety shut-off stops the gas if the flame goes out, the key safety feature on any gas raku kiln. Olympic quotes 5 gallons of propane for a cone 10 firing; raku runs lower and shorter, but Olympic does not publish a raku-specific figure.
- Chamber: 17.5 in wide x 22.5 in deep; setting area 14.5 x 19.5 in
- Volume: 2.37 cu ft setting (3.29 cu ft total)
- Max temperature: cone 10, 2,350°F (1,288°C)
- Burners: 2 venturi burners, 60,000 BTU each (120,000 BTU/hr total), ignition system, thermocouple safety shut-off
- Gas: propane at 11 in water column or natural gas at 7 in water column; 3/4 in gas pipe
- Walls: 2.5 in firebrick
- Size and weight: 39 in wide x 72 in high; 235 lb
- Price band: typically $2,450 to $3,100 at US dealers in October 2026; check the live price
Pros
- Full published spec sheet
- Winch lift keeps the hot chamber away from you
- Flame-failure shut-off
- Brick holds heat between loads
Cons
- 235 lb and tall, so it needs a permanent outdoor spot
- Low pressure regulator is an extra on dealer listings
- Dealers quote 12 to 15 week lead times
Who should skip it: potters who need to store the kiln in a shed between sessions, or who only want a few raku days a year and can use a community studio instead.
Olympic 23 Raku (and the 28 Raku)
The 23 Raku uses the same winch-lift design with a larger chamber and three burners. It is picked for potters who make tall vases or fire several pieces per load. Olympic quotes 7 gallons of propane for a cone 10 firing.
The 28 Raku is the biggest in the line (4 burners, 8.9 cu ft of setting space, 3 in brick, 480 lb), which suits a studio or school more than a backyard.
- Chamber: 23 3/8 in wide x 27 in deep; setting area 20 3/8 x 24 in
- Volume: 5.7 cu ft setting (7 cu ft total)
- Max temperature: cone 10, 2,350°F (1,288°C)
- Burners: 3 at 80,000 BTU each (240,000 BTU/hr total), ignition, thermocouple safety shut-off
- Gas: propane at 11 in water column, natural gas at 7 in water column; 3/4 in pipe
- Walls: 2.5 in firebrick
- Size and weight: 43 in wide x 78 in high; about 320 lb
- Price band: typically $3,500 to $4,400 at US dealers in October 2026, before optional furniture, castors, regulator or vent hood
Pros
- Room for larger pieces
- Same safety shut-off and winch lift
- Optional castors and vent hood on dealer listings
Cons
- Higher propane use per firing
- Heavy at about 320 lb
- Overkill for small pots
Who should skip it: beginners and anyone making mugs, small bowls or test tiles, where the 18 Raku or a small electric raku kiln is plenty.
Peter Pugger Clam Shell Raku Kiln
Peter Pugger, better known for pug mills, builds a propane raku kiln with fold-down fiber walls on a wheeled steel frame. It is picked because it ships as a fuller package than most, with burner, regulator, gauge, gas valve, hose, shelf and posts listed as included. Peter Pugger describes it as a one-person operation with quick cycles.
The safety shut-off is not standard: the BASO thermocouple shut-off with pilot is an add-on, and we would treat it as essential. Peter Pugger also calls for at least a 40 lb propane tank, because smaller tanks may freeze during a firing.
- Chamber: 22.5 x 22.5 x 28 in per Clay-King's listing; interior size not published on the maker's page
- Burner: MR-750 venturi burner, 75,000 BTU, in a fixed cradle
- Walls: 1 in ceramic fiber on folding sides; 2,300°F (1,260°C) soft-brick base
- Max temperature: not published by the maker
- Included: burner, high pressure regulator, gauge, gas valve, 12 ft hose, one 5/8 in shelf, three 4 in posts; propane tank not included
- Safety option: BASO thermocouple safety shut-off with pilot (extra cost)
- Price band: typically $3,400 to $3,500 at US dealers in October 2026, plus about $360 for the BASO shut-off
Clay-King lists the chamber as 22.5 x 22.5 x 28 in and "approximately 11.7 cubic feet." Those dimensions work out to about 8.2 cu ft, and Peter Pugger does not publish a volume, so treat the cubic feet figure as unconfirmed.
Pros
- Comes with burner, regulator and hose
- Fiber walls heat fast
- Wheels make it easier to move and store
Cons
- Flame-failure shut-off costs extra
- Fiber walls are more fragile than brick
- Maker publishes few specs
Who should skip it: buyers who want a full published spec sheet or a brick kiln that holds heat between loads.
Olympic 1214E Raku E (electric)
This is one of the few electric kilns sold specifically for raku, picked for potters who cannot run propane at home. Its chamber lifts away from the pots like a small top-hat kiln.
The trade-off is safety discipline. Metal tongs inside a live electric kiln can touch energized elements, and Mayco's raku instructions say not to open or insert tongs into an electric kiln without shutting it off. Follow Olympic's power-off procedure every time.
- Interior: 11.25 in wide x 13.5 in deep; 0.86 cu ft
- Max temperature: cone 4, 2,100°F (1,149°C)
- Electrical (per Olympic): 120V, 16A, 1,920 W; 20A breaker; NEMA 5-20 plug; #12 copper wire (#10 if the run is over 40 ft)
- Walls: 3 in firebrick, stainless steel jacket
- Controller: Bartlett KilnStar digital (Genesis touchscreen optional)
- Size and weight: 26 x 26 x 54 in; 185 lb
- Price band: typically $1,950 to $2,500 at US dealers in October 2026
Have a licensed electrician confirm or install the 20A circuit and NEMA 5-20 receptacle. Do not run any kiln on an extension cord.
Pros
- No propane
- 120V
- Digital controller
- Doubles as a small low-fire kiln
Cons
- Small chamber
- Cone 4 maximum
- Power must be off before every pull
Who should skip it: potters who want large raku pieces, or who are not comfortable with a strict power-off routine.
Raku kiln for sale: price bands and where to buy
Commercial raku kilns are not impulse buys. From the dealer listings we checked in October 2026, Olympic's 1214E Raku E electric model typically sells for about $1,950 to $2,500, the Olympic 18 Raku gas kiln about $2,450 to $3,100, the Olympic 23 Raku about $3,500 to $4,400 before options, and the Peter Pugger Clam Shell about $3,400 to $3,500 plus roughly $360 for its safety shut-off. Check the live price, because freight, regulators, castors, furniture and propane tanks are often extra.
Most raku kilns for sale in the US go through pottery dealers rather than mass retail. Olympic sells through dealers such as Clay-King, Peter Pugger lists its kiln on its own site and through dealers such as Krueger Pottery and Clay-King, and Laguna sells its Heatwave chamber directly when in stock. Olympic dealers quoted 12 to 15 week lead times on the gas raku models, so order well before the season you plan to fire. Used raku kilns do turn up, but check that the burner, regulator and flame-failure shut-off are complete and original before buying.
What about Bailey and Paragon?
We checked both makers in October 2026. Bailey builds gas kilns, including reduction downdraft models, but we found no raku kiln on its site. Paragon mentions raku jewelry as an application but lists no dedicated raku kiln; our Paragon kilns guide covers its pottery models.
Propane setup basics
Keep the gas side simple and stick to what the kiln maker supplies or specifies.
- Use the maker's burner, regulator and hose. Olympic specifies propane at 11 in water column; Peter Pugger ships a high pressure regulator. They are not interchangeable.
- Size the tank to the burner, following the maker's minimum.
- Insist on flame-failure protection (a thermocouple safety shut-off).
- Leak-check every connection as the maker's instructions describe, before every firing.
- Follow the propane code. Tank placement in the US falls under NFPA 58 and your local fire code; your propane supplier can explain local rules.
If you are asking whether you can make your own raku kiln, our answer is to buy one of the commercial raku kilns above and set it up per its maker's instructions; we do not cover homemade builds.
We do not give instructions for building burners or raku kilns. Homemade burners and improvised gas fittings are a serious fire and explosion risk. Buy a commercial burner system and follow its manual.
Outdoor setup and local fire code
Many hobby potters do raku at home; our raku pottery guide lists what a home setup involves. Before you buy, confirm you are allowed to fire one. Many towns limit open flame, require a permit for propane appliances, or ban outdoor burning on high-risk days. HOAs and insurers may have their own rules; our kiln insurance and permits guide covers the questions to ask.
Then plan the site:
- Pick a level, noncombustible base such as concrete pavers or gravel.
- Keep the kiln clear of walls, eaves, fences, trees, dry grass and anything overhead, using the clearances in the maker's manual or larger.
- Place the propane tank where the maker's hose reaches without crossing the hot zone or walking paths.
- Set the reduction cans on bare ground or a metal sheet, close to the kiln but out of the walking path between kiln and can.
- Keep a fire extinguisher, a filled water bucket and a hose within reach, and keep children and pets well away.
- Check wind direction before each firing so smoke blows away from your house and your neighbors.
Treat the whole area as a hot zone. Our how hot does a kiln get guide explains kiln temperatures in more detail.
Common raku kiln mistakes
- Mixing a burner and chamber from different sources without the maker's approval.
- Skipping the safety shut-off to save a few hundred dollars.
- Firing under a carport or patio cover, where heat rises out of the opened chamber.
What you need
Once your kiln is sorted, read our raku firing guide for the full process and protective gear list. For hand protection, see our kiln gloves guide. If you also want a brick electric kiln for bisque firing and everyday glazes, Olympic's range is covered in our Olympic kilns guide.
Sources: Olympic Kilns product pages for 18 Raku, 23 Raku, 28 Raku and 1214E Raku E; Olympic raku and updraft gas kiln category page; Clay-King listings for Olympic 18 and 23 Raku and Peter Pugger Clamshell; Peter Pugger raku kiln page; Krueger Pottery listing for the Peter Pugger Clam Shell; Laguna Clay Heatwave Raku Kiln page; Mayco raku glaze instructions; Bailey Pottery and Paragon home pages; Ceramic Arts Network, Tips for Successful Raku Firing; Blick Art Materials and Chesapeake Ceramics listings for Standard 239 Raku Clay (cone 04 to 10). Specs checked October 2026.