If you've been inspired by The Great Pottery Throwdown and want to give air dry clay a go then you've come to the right place.
Air dry clay is a brilliant material and perfect for beginners. It's cheaper, less messy and needs less equipment than its professional pottery counterparts (for example no pottery wheel is required).
We have a complete guide on how to use air dry clay here on Gathered but if you're starting from scratch then a kit might be your best option.
Many kits come with all the tools, clay and guidance you need and they can be very affordable.
We've rounded up 15 air dry clay kits to help you fall in love with the world of clay. They come at a range of price points and many of them are perfect for solo or group crafting.
Pick your favourite below and enter into the relaxing world of pottery.
Best air dry clay kits for…
- Best affordable kit: The Range air dry clay kit, £5.99
- Best for couples: Sculpd pottery kit, £44
- Best for beginners: Pott'd kit, £39
Once you've bought your new clay then you'll need some project inspiration. We have a collection of the best air dry ideas for adults as well as over 30 pottery painting ideas. If you'd prefer to work with a softer medium check out our polymer clay kits instead.
Air dry clay kits to buy in 2024
1. Pott'd air dry clay kit
Best for pottery newbies
What's in the kit?
- 2 x 1kg bags clay
- 5 x wood pottery tools & tool bag
- Potter’s sponge
- 8 x acrylic paints
- 2 x paint brushes
- Base coat and gloss varnish
- Quick-start guide
- Easel
Pott'd have made an air dry clay kit that is suitable for people of all ages. This all-encompassing kit comes with everything you need to make a bunch of clay creations.
We love that the kit comes with lots of clay as well as eight colourful acrylic paints. Sealant is included to stop your paint from chipping and to give your pieces a professional feel. It's also available for next-day delivery!
As well as the instructional guide, Pott'd have a great Instagram that's full of inspiration to help you mold something unique.
Pros: Quick start guide, 5 sculpting tools, enough clay to make 8-10 creations
Cons: You need to provide protective items to keep yourself clean!
- Buy now in the US from Pott'd ($64)
2. Sculpd Pottery Kit
Best for crafting with pals
What's in the kit?
- 2kg air-dry clay
- Beginners pottery guide
- Tools & tool bag
- White acrylic eggshell paint
- Waterproof glossy or matte varnish
- 2 x ultra fine bristle paintbrushes
- Potter's sponge
Sculpd is the home of pottery-making kits. Their kits are designed to be done with friends and family to help you all craft together.
The kit comes with everything inside including their special varnish which makes your designs waterproof. The Sculpd site is also ideal for beginners as they have lots of ideas, inspiration, and video tutorials.
Pros: Choose between matte and gloss, access to Sculpd Gallery and online instructions
Cons: Expensive
3. Maverick Toys air dry clay kit
Best for crafting with kids
What's in the box?
- 1kg air-drying clay
- 7 x clay tools
- 5 x paintbrushes
- 1 x wooden board
- 4 x paints
- Instructional video links
This kit is great because it comes with so many tools. There's tools to help you add detail, form, and dimensions to your projects. Once you've got this kit you'll have tools you can use over and over.
We also love that it comes with a wooden board saving your countertops from messy clay smears. Turn the clay from this kit into our air dry clay Christmas decorations.
Pros: 1kg of clay, plenty of tools, video tutorials
Cons: No written instructions in the kit
- Buy now in the US from eBay ($35.41)
4. Mora Approved air dry clay kit
Best for beginners
What's in the kit?
- 500g air dry clay
- Illustrated instructions
- 1 x sponge
- 5 x tools
- 3 x units of real pressed flowers
Mora Approved has created an air dry pottery kit that's perfect for newbies. With just the basic essentials and only 500g of clay, you can make their two projects and decide if you love it!
It's also ideal because it takes you through step by step how to make a small vase and bowl. It includes 5 tools, a sponge, and 3 units of real pressed flowers.
Pros: Detailed instructions for 2 projects, choice of clay colour, flowers included
Cons: Only comes with 500g of clay
- Buy now from Etsy (£27.45 | $28.90)
5. Plant pot air dry clay kit
Best for plant lovers
What's in the kit?
- 750g air dry clay
- 2 x wooden tools
- 1 x loop tool
- 1 x tub of slip (clay glue)
- 1 x tub of sealer
- 1 x paint Brush
This kit is stripped back and portable with just the essentials inside. The clay and instructions allow you to make this very sweet plant pot.
Jasmine Pottery Studio sells lots of fun air dry kits on their Etsy so have a browse and pick your favourite funny character. Check out our best acrylic paint sets if you want to paint your new plant pot!
Pros: Plant pot instructions, mini glue and sealant, portable packaging
Cons: Only bare essentials and no paints
- Buy now from Etsy (£29 | $38.27)
6. Noah air dry clay kits
Best for group crafting
What's on the kit?
- 2 x 750g packs of air-dry clay
- 8 x pottery tools
- 1 x white acrylic paint
- 1 x clear varnish
- 8 x paints
- Pottery beginners guide
This kit is a big one! It's truly customisable and you can buy up to five kits at once for a group craft session for 10. If you're new to air dry clay don't worry as it comes with a handy pottery guide as well as everything you need.
You can also choose paints in different colour themes like basic, primary, pastel and metallic. You could use this kit to make our ring holder or clay trinket dish DIY.
Pros: 8 tools, pottery guide, lots of cool paint colourways
Cons: Expensive
- Buy now in the US from Noah's Box ($60)
7. Hinkler air dry clay kit
Best value for money
What's in the box?
- 300g air-dry clay
- 2 x rose-gold foil sheets
- 2 x paints
- 20ml pot of glue
- 1 x paintbrush
- 24-page book
This nifty little kit is from The Range and is one of the cheapest we've found. The booklet includes a range of mini projects to make and they're all as pretty as they are easy to make.
Jewellery maker Sophie Splatt shows you how to make a trinket dish, marbled coasters, tea light holders and much more.
Pros: Affordable, 24 page booklet, gold foil
Cons: Only 300g of clay included
- Buy now from The Range (£5.99)
8. Eco-friendly air dry clay kit
Best for eco-conscious crafters
Look after the planet with Clay Imagined's eco-friendly kit. Both the paint and glue are vegan and non-toxic plus all the packaging is biodegradable and compostable. The kit comes with detailed instructions on how to make a pinch pot, bowl and candle holder.
If you run out of clay then head to our where to buy the best air dry clay article which shows you all the places you can buy in bulk.
Pros: 5 tools, detailed instructions, eco-friendly
Cons: Only white paint included
- Buy now from Etsy (£27.95 | $36.88)
9. Anpro air dry clay kit
Best for pottery party
What's in the kit?
- 4 x 500g air dry clay bags
- 8 x plastic tools
- 5 x wooden tools
- 2 x gloss varnishes
- 2 x sponges
- 2 x paint brushes
- 10 x paints
- 1 x palette
- 1 x rolling pin
- 4 x instruction manual
- 1 x storage bag
Planning a pottery party? This pottery kit has got you covered. With 4 bags of clay and 4 separate instruction manuals, there'll be enough for everyone to get stuck in.
This kit also includes a paint palette, which is a handy addition.
Pros: Comes with cutters and stamps, guide included
Cons: No paints included
10. The Crafting Cartel's air dry clay kit
Best for potters who want a good amount of clay
What's in the kit?
- 1.6kg of air dry clay (stone grey, terracotta or both)
- 9 x clay tools (including sponge)
- Instructions
With 1.6 kg of clay, you'll have hours of fun with this air dry clay kit. Nine specialist clay tools will help you carve your own creations, and there's also a detailed instructions booklet.
They have several different clay kits for you to choose from with the more expensive kits including paints, dried flowers and more. Why not use this kit to make our fridge magnets?
Pros: Choice of clay colour, 9 tools, tips and toolkit guide
Cons: Cheapest kit doesn't come with paint
- Buy now from Etsy (£32.25 | $42.56)
11. Abstract air dry clay kit
Best for makers wanting to let their creativity fly
What's in the kit?
- 1kg DAS Italian air dry clay
- 12 x tools
- 8 x acrylic paints
- 6 x gilding leaves (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 copper)
- PVA glue
- Paint brush
- Sandpaper
Inner Canvas is the craft therapy box everyone needs in their life. This fab kit comes with 1kg of clay alongside 8 paints and 12 tools.
We love the fact this kit comes with 8 sheets of gilding paper too. In three colours, it gives an extra sparkle to your design and will make them look extra special.
You'll also be given access to step by step YouTube videos which will guide you through the making process.
Pros: Unique design, gilding leaves, 12 piece tool kit
Cons: More expensive
12. London Wildflower's air dry clay kit
Best for beginners
What's in the kit?
- 2kg air dry clay
- Rolling pin
- Wooden board
- 6 x tools
- Paint brush
- Sponge
- Water container
- Sandpaper
- 22-page instruction booklet
London Wildflower has created the ultimate beginner air dry clay kit. All the essential tools are included as well as a few bonus ones like a sponge for smoothing, a potters pin tool and more.
The 22 page booklet will also talk you through all the basics of air-dry clay making.
Pros: Different clay size options, 22-page booklet, sponge
Cons: Paints and varnish not included
- Buy now from Etsy (£45 | $59.38)
13. Mesh & Cloth's air dry clay kit
Best for crafting on the go
What's in the kit?
- 500g of clay
- 1 x metal rib
- 1 x tool to cut
- 1 x sponge
- 2 x wooden tools
- 26 page instruction booklet
Mesh & Cloth's kit is a very minimal air dry kit which is great if you just want the basics. It comes with five different tools, 500g of clay and a full instructional booklet.
This mini kit contains everything you need and is perfect for popping in your weekend away bag.
Pros: Bi-lingual booklet, gift wrap
Cons: Very minimal tools and materials included
- Buy now from Etsy (£39.67 | $41.77)
14. The Edinburgh Craft Club air dry clay kit
Best for video instructions
What's in the kit?
- Air dry clay for 2 vases
- Clay tools
- Clay scraper
- Sponge
- Pink & blue acrylic paint
- Paint brush
- Templates
- Instruction sheet
- Access to HOW TO video
This funky kit from The Edinburgh Craft Club is great if you have some blooms you need to display. With this kit, you'll learn how to make these cool geometric vases.
It comes with video instructions as well as templates, an instruction sheet and all the clay/paints you need.
Pros: Unique design, templates and video instructions
Cons: Low quality, plastic tools included
- Buy now from Not on the High Street (£32 | Etsy $42.23)
15. Hey Clay air dry clay kit
Best for young makers
What's in the box?
- 15 x cans of air dry clay
- 2 x modelling tools
Aimed at ages 3+, this Hey Clay air dry clay kit is a fun way to get young children sculpting and modelling alongside their grown-ups.
It features 15 cans of air dry clay and two modelling tools, with all the colours to make the fun animals on the packaging.
Pros: Kid-friendly design, inexpensive
Cons: No painting needed, limited tools
Start sculpting with air dry clay kits
Buying a kit is a great way to try out a new craft, as all the tools and equipment you need are usually included, as well as instructions. Depending on whether you've used air dry clay before, you may want to choose a kit aimed at complete beginners, or pick something a little more advanced.
Whichever you choose, buying a kit with enough clay for two makes this a fun way to spend a creative afternoon with a friend!
Learn to use air dry clay
Got a taste for sculpting with clay? Take your skills a step further with our guide on how to use air dry clay.
