An underglaze set is a boxed group of underglaze colors, usually 6 to 12 jars, pans or crayons, sold so you can start decorating pottery without buying colors one at a time. For most beginners the best underglaze set is the Mayco Fundamentals UG-KIT1: twelve 4 oz jars with a white and a black, from a line Mayco shows fired from cone 06 to cone 10. Below we compare six sets from Mayco, AMACO, Speedball and Duncan, with each set's contents checked on the maker's page where the maker publishes them. This is a research-based guide: we compared maker pages and US dealer listings; we did not paint or fire these sets ourselves.
This page is about sets. For single underglaze lines and which one to buy jar by jar, see our best underglazes guide. New to underglaze? How to use underglaze covers brushing, layering and fixing mistakes.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Mayco Fundamentals UG-KIT1 (12 x 4 oz, white and black included, colors listed by Mayco)
- Best velvet finish: AMACO Velvet 12-color sets (cone 05 to 10 line; check the color list with the seller)
- Best semi-moist set: AMACO Semi-Moist Underglaze Set #112 (8 watercolor-style colors, rated cone 04 to 10 on its page)
- Best for cone 6 and cone 10: Speedball Underglaze 12-Color Sampler Pack #1 (opaque line rated cone 05 to 10)
- Best for low fire opaque color: Duncan Cover-Coat 12-color kit (opaque, cone 06 to 6, greenware or bisque)
- Best drawing set: AMACO Underglaze Chalk Crayon Set #208 (8 crayons, five rated to cone 10)
Underglaze sets compared
| Set | Pieces and size | Form | Cone (maker) | Colors listed by maker? | Price band | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayco Fundamentals UG-KIT1 | 12 x 4 oz | Liquid jars | Chips at 06, 6 and 10 | Yes | $45 to $50 (Mayco) | Check price |
| AMACO Velvet 12-color set | 12 jars (2 oz or pint, by pack) | Liquid jars | 05 to 10 | No (dealer lists only) | Check the live price | Check price |
| AMACO Semi-Moist Set #112 | 8 colors | Semi-moist palette | 04 to 10 | Yes | $50 to $55 (AMACO) | Check price |
| Speedball Sampler Pack #1 | 12 jars (2 oz per listing) | Liquid jars | 05 to 10 | No | $85 to $95 (Speedball list) | Check price |
| Duncan Cover-Coat 12-color kit | 12 x 2 oz (per listing) | Liquid jars | 06 to 6 | No | Check the live price | Check price |
| AMACO Chalk Crayon Set #208 | 8 crayons | Dry crayons | 05, 5 or 10 by color | Yes | $50 to $55 (AMACO) | Check price |
Price bands are list prices on maker stores in October 2026 where makers sell direct. Dealer and Amazon prices vary, and Black Friday listings change daily, so check the live price before you buy.
1. Mayco Fundamentals UG-KIT1: best overall underglaze set
Mayco's Underglaze Assortment Kit is the set we would hand most beginners because Mayco itself lists exactly what is inside: twelve 4 oz jars of its best-selling Fundamentals underglazes. The colors are UG-51 China White, UG-46 Bright Yellow, UG-204 Orange, UG-206 Fire Engine Red, UG-208 Dragon Red, UG-87 Regal Purple, UG-97 Bright Blue, UG-1 Kings Blue, UG-68 Apple Green, UG-21 Leaf Green, UG-31 Chocolate and UG-50 Jet Black. That is a full color wheel plus a white and a black, so you can mix tints and shades from day one.
Mayco says Fundamentals can be used for complete coverage or for design work, applied to clay or bisque, with a broad firing range. Its fired color page shows the chips at cone 06 oxidation, cone 6 oxidation and cone 10 reduction, so this kit suits low fire, mid-fire and high fire potters. On individual color pages such as UG-50 Jet Black, Mayco shows a Dinnerware Safe badge and the ACMI seal, and says that for dinnerware you should apply a clear or matte clear glaze.
Four ounce jars also last far longer than the 2 oz jars in most sets. Older dealer listings describe this kit with 2 oz jars, so check the size on the listing you buy. Our Mayco Fundamentals review covers coats and cone 6 color shifts.
- Contents: 12 x 4 oz jars, listed by color on Mayco's page
- Cone: fired chips at cone 06, 6 and 10 (Mayco)
- Surface: clay or bisque
- Food label: Dinnerware Safe badge on color pages, under clear glaze
- Price band: $45 to $50 on Mayco's store
Pros
- Maker-confirmed color list
- 4 oz jars
- White and black for mixing
- Works from cone 06 to 10
Cons
- Older listings show 2 oz jars
- No pastels or neutrals beyond brown
Who should skip it: potters who want soft, muted colors. Pick pastel jars singly or a semi-moist set instead.
2. AMACO Velvet 12-color sets: best velvet finish
AMACO Velvet is one of the best-known underglaze lines, and a set is an easy way to try several colors. AMACO's Velvet product page rates the line for cone 05 to 10 and says you can apply it to greenware (wet, leather hard or bone dry) or bisque. It also says all Velvet underglazes have an approved food-safety status when applied and fired under an approved clear glaze, naming AMACO LG-10 or HF-9. Colors are most vibrant between cone 05 and 5, and AMACO warns that some pigments may burn out at higher temperatures.
The catch is contents. AMACO's own shop did not list its Velvet sets when we checked, so we could not confirm a color list from the maker. Dealers sell several versions: School Specialty lists a 12-pint classroom pack with Yellow V-308, Medium Blue V-326, White V-360, Jet Black V-361, Red V-382, Real Orange V-384, Purple V-322, Royal Blue V-336, Dark Green V-353, Teddy Bear Brown V-366, Amethyst V-381 and Rose V-318. A UK dealer lists a 12-color palette pack in 59 ml jars with substitutions allowed when colors are out of stock. Read the color list on the exact listing before you buy.
Unglazed, Velvet has the soft, velvety surface the name promises; under clear it intensifies. Our AMACO Velvet review lists which colors shift at cone 6.
- Contents: 12 jars; color list varies by set and seller
- Cone: 05 to 10, most vibrant 05 to 5 (AMACO)
- Surface: wet, leather-hard or bone-dry greenware, or bisque
- Food label: approved status under AMACO LG-10 or HF-9 clear
- Finish alone: velvety matte
Pros
- Very wide cone range
- Works on wet clay through bisque
- Huge single-color range to add later
Cons
- Maker does not list set contents
- Some pigments fade at high fire
Who should skip it: buyers who need to know every color before checkout and cannot get a list from the seller.
3. AMACO Semi-Moist Underglaze Set #112: best semi-moist set
AMACO's semi-moist underglazes come as a set of eight colors in one box (Nasco describes a hinged-lid plastic box), much like a watercolor set. AMACO says they are formulated to brush like watercolors: layer them for more opacity, add water for more transparency, and blend and dilute them for a range of effects. Set #112 (item 41275L) is the one we would pick first because it holds eight colors with both white and black: Red, Bright Yellow, Chartreuse, Warm Green, Aqua, Medium Blue, White and Black. AMACO's #112 page rates the set cone 04 to 10, with no exceptions among its colors.
That matters because AMACO's other sets include colors with a lower ceiling: Peach, Rose, Pink, Light Yellow and Maroon are cone 04 to 6. AMACO's pages also disagree on one color: the #109 page rates Bright Yellow cone 04 to 6, while the #112 page lists only Peach and Rose as exceptions. Treat Bright Yellow as a cone 6 color until a test tile says otherwise. Even so, #112 is the safest set if you fire cone 6 now and may fire cone 10 later. AMACO says to cover the design with a clear transparent glaze, or a colored transparent glaze for effects, and that the underglaze must be used with a proper glaze to be food safe. It names LG-10 or HF-9 as clears that may work depending on your clay.
A semi-moist set is also the tidiest gift: one flat box, no jars to tip over. Our planned AMACO semi-moist underglaze review covers technique in depth.
- Contents: 8 colors: Red, Bright Yellow, Chartreuse, Warm Green, Aqua, Medium Blue, White, Black
- Cone: 04 to 10 per the #112 page (Bright Yellow is 04 to 6 on the #109 page)
- Use: brush like watercolor; layer for opacity
- Food label: food safe only under a proper glaze (AMACO)
- Price band: $50 to $55 on AMACO's store
Pros
- Rated cone 04 to 10 on its page
- White and black included
- Compact palette
Cons
- Watercolor style needs layers for solid color
- Brush not listed as included
Who should skip it: potters who want flat, opaque color fields. Liquid jar sets cover large areas faster.
AMACO semi-moist underglaze sets compared
| Set | Item | Colors (AMACO) | Cone 04 to 6 only |
|---|---|---|---|
| #108 | 41212B | Light Yellow, Maroon, Dark Blue, Blue-Green, Dark Green, Light Brown, White, Black | Light Yellow, Maroon |
| #109 | 41214S | Bright Yellow, Lilac, Medium Blue, Mahogany Brown, Pink, Turquoise, Warm Green, Warm Gray | Bright Yellow, Pink |
| #110 | 41216E | Light Brown, Rose, Light Blue, Chartreuse, Peach, Purple, Aqua, Sun Tan | Peach, Rose |
| #111 | 41274K | Real Orange, Light Red, Violet, Electric Blue, Salmon, Red, Amethyst, Hunter Green | None listed |
| #112 | 41275L | Red, Bright Yellow, Chartreuse, Warm Green, Aqua, Medium Blue, White, Black | None listed (the #109 page rates Bright Yellow 04 to 6) |
AMACO's Set #109 page listed #108 and #111 as out of stock, while those sets' own pages showed them in stock when we checked. Confirm availability at checkout.
4. Speedball Underglaze 12-Color Sampler Pack #1: best for cone 6 and cone 10
Speedball's underglazes are formulated, in Speedball's words, for a wide firing range from cone 05 to 10, and Speedball describes them as opaque. It also says they are suitable for dinnerware when used and fired as directed, and recommends bisquing to cone 05 to 04. Speedball notes that some colors hold up at high fire and recommends a test tile for your clay and process, which is honest advice for any underglaze above cone 6.
The 12-Color Sampler Pack #1 is the entry point to a 48-color line, sold in 2 fl oz and pint sizes. Opaque underglaze is the easiest kind to use on darker clay because one color sits on top rather than letting the body show through. That makes this pack a good fit for cone 6 stoneware potters who want bold, solid designs.
The weak point is documentation. Speedball's underglaze page lists the Sampler Pack and four other packs, but not the colors inside, the jar size or the item number. Dealer and Amazon listings describe it as twelve 2 oz jars (item 001085); check the color list on the listing you buy. Speedball's list price put it at the top of this guide's price range.
- Contents: 12 colors; jar size and colors not listed by Speedball
- Cone: 05 to 10 (Speedball); bisque to cone 05 to 04
- Opacity: opaque
- Food label: "suitable for dinnerware when used and fired as directed"
- Price band: $85 to $95 at Speedball's list price
Pros
- Opaque colors
- Cone 05 to 10 range
- 48-color line to grow into
Cons
- Maker does not list the colors in the pack
- Higher list price
Who should skip it: buyers on a tight budget. The Mayco kit gives twelve larger jars for less on the maker's store.
5. Duncan Cover-Coat 12-color kit: best for low fire opaque color
Duncan Cover-Coat is an opaque underglaze aimed at low fire and mid-fire work. Duncan's page says it fires from cone 06 up to cone 6 and is formulated for both greenware and bisque. Used alone it dries to a porous matte finish that fires to a softer look; a clear glaze over it gives a glossy finish. That opacity is why Cover-Coat is popular for bold color over red or brown clay.
Duncan's food statement is worded in a way that is easy to misread. The page says it is "safe for use on food containers when applied to full coverage", and also refers to a nontoxic, food-safe clear glaze applied over it. Because the unglazed surface is porous, we would treat a clear glaze over any food surface as required, not optional.
Duncan's own page lists no kits. The 12-color Cover-Coat kit is sold through Amazon and dealers, and its color list comes from the seller, so check it before you buy. This is the set for cone 06 to 05 earthenware and classroom-style work; at cone 6 it sits at the top of its range.
- Contents: 12 colors per seller listing; not listed by Duncan
- Cone: 06 to 6 (Duncan)
- Surface: greenware or bisque
- Finish alone: porous matte; glossy under clear
- Food label: "safe for use on food containers when applied to full coverage"
Pros
- Strong opacity over dark clay
- Greenware or bisque
- Well suited to low fire
Cons
- Stops at cone 6
- Kit contents not on the maker page
- Porous without clear
Who should skip it: potters who fire cone 10, or who plan to. Choose the Mayco, Speedball or AMACO #112 set instead.
6. AMACO Underglaze Chalk Crayon Set #208: best drawing set
Not everyone wants to paint. AMACO's Underglaze Chalk Crayon Set #208 (item 41252J) gives eight crayons that AMACO says can be used as is, sharpened for fine detail or dissolved in water for painting or spraying. That makes it the most natural set for people who draw or sketch, and a good companion to a jar set for line work and shading.
AMACO lists a cone limit for each color, and they differ. Black, Brown, Dark Blue, Dark Green and White are rated to cone 10; Turquoise and Yellow to cone 5; Rose to cone 05. So at cone 5 this is a seven-color set, and at cone 6 or cone 10 a five-color set. AMACO's page does not say which surface the crayons are for or how to fix the drawing, and it gives no written food statement beyond a food-safe underglaze graphic. Our underglaze crayons guide covers application and smudge control.
- Contents: 8 crayons: Black, Brown, Dark Blue, Dark Green, White, Turquoise, Yellow, Rose
- Cone: 10 for five colors, 5 for two, 05 for Rose (AMACO)
- Use: dry, sharpened, or dissolved in water
- Food label: no written statement on the page
- Price band: $50 to $55 on AMACO's store
Pros
- Draw like pastels
- Five colors to cone 10
- Doubles as paint with water
Cons
- Mixed cone limits
- Rose stops at cone 05
- Little surface guidance from AMACO
Who should skip it: potters who want to cover large areas. A liquid jar set is faster.
Looking at Mayco Stroke & Coat kits too? They look like underglaze sets on the shelf, but Mayco calls Stroke & Coat a glaze. See our Stroke and Coat review for how they differ.
Underglaze sets as gifts
An underglaze set is one of the most useful gifts for someone who already makes pottery, because color is the step many potters run short on. Before you buy, check three things. First, the potter needs access to a kiln, at home or at a studio that fires students' work; underglaze has to be fired. Second, match the set to their cone: ask what their studio fires, or choose a set rated across a wide range, such as the Mayco kit or AMACO #112. Third, add the pieces that make a set usable on day one: a few soft brushes, a pint of clear glaze rated for their cone, and some bisque tiles or bisqueware for practice.
For someone with no kiln and no studio access, a fired-pottery set is the wrong gift. Look at our pottery kits for adults instead, or at the wider list in gifts for potters. Buying for Black Friday? Underglaze sets can sell out in the gift season, so check stock and the live price early.
How to choose an underglaze set
Start with the firing cone
Every set here has a cone range, and some single colors inside a set have their own lower limit. If you fire cone 6, avoid sets where several colors stop at cone 04 to 6 unless you are happy at the top of their range. If you may fire cone 10 later, pick a set rated to cone 10 throughout, such as AMACO #112, or a line with published cone 10 chips, such as Mayco Fundamentals.
Liquid jars, semi-moist palettes or crayons
Liquid jars give solid color and cover large areas; they are what most beginners expect. Semi-moist sets brush like watercolor and build up in layers. Crayons and pencils draw lines and shading. Many potters end up with a jar set plus one drawing set.
Jar size and color count
Most sets hold 2 oz jars; the Mayco kit holds 4 oz. Twelve colors is a comfortable start. A set that includes white and black is worth more than a set with two extra bright colors, because white lightens and black outlines, and you can mix new shades from both within the same line.
Know what the label covers
Underglaze is not a food surface on its own. AMACO says its Velvet and semi-moist colors reach food-safety status only under an approved clear glaze, and Mayco says to apply clear for dinnerware. Our clear glaze guide covers which clear to use at your cone.
We cannot promise that any underglaze design will be food safe on your pots. Results depend on the clear glaze you use, firing to its stated cone and testing your own ware. Keep underglaze decoration off lips and food surfaces until you have tested the combination.
Safety
Underglazes contain ceramic pigments and minerals. Keep food and drink away from your decorating table, wash brushes and hands after use, wet wipe your work area rather than sweeping dry dust, and read the maker's SDS for each set. Give the kiln the clearance its maker specifies when you fire.
Sources: Mayco UG-KIT1 Underglaze Assortment Kit page, Fundamentals fired color page and UG-50 Jet Black page; AMACO Velvet Underglaze product page; AMACO shop pages for Semi-Moist Underglaze Sets #108, #109, #110, #111 and #112 and Underglaze Chalk Crayon Set #208; Speedball underglazes page; Duncan Cover-Coat page; dealer listings at School Specialty (Velvet classroom pack), Pottery Crafts UK (Velvet palette pack) and Nasco (semi-moist set of 8). Specs checked October 2026.