For those of us who love to work with our hands and get stuck into as many different crafts as possible, working with pottery and ceramics can be a wonderfully creative adventure to undertake. The Great Pottery Throwdown has completely inspired us to start making with air dry clay and we love how easy and affordable it is.
You can make almost anything from air dry clay, and one of its best properties is just how easy it is to use. We show you just how easy it is over in our how to use air dry clay tutorial.
Unlike polymer clays or traditional fired ceramics which need to be heated and cured in the extreme heat of a kiln before they will harden and set, air drying clay simply does what it says, and cures at room temperature. It’s also non-toxic, which makes it the ideal medium for creating projects at home – and also for small children to use and experiment with.
It can take a little time for air dry clay items to set (thicker, larger projects may take up to a week to be fully dried), but once hardened the items should last for years to come. Once set, air dry clay is wonderfully versatile and can be decorated in a variety of ways, including by painting, rubbing and filing, or even creating a faux glaze effect with a varnish.
You don’t necessarily need any fancy tools to work with air dry clay, though having a few on hand will certainly make things easier. For those new to the craft, a kit may be the best way to try out new techniques – which is why we’ve put together a round-up of 15 of our favourite clays and kits below, to guide you on your way.
Once you've picked up your air dry clay why not make a few of our projects! We have air dry clay vases, air dry clay Christmas decorations and 31 more air dry clay ideas for adults and kids. But first, it's time to buy your clay...
Where to buy air dry clay
All these online retailers sell air dry clay for competitive prices. There's also plenty of craft stores around the country that sell air dry clay so it's worth checking your local store.
15 of the best air dry clays
From basic clay packs that you can use to mould your creations from scratch to all-singing, all-dancing colourful kits, we’ve scoured the web to bring you the best air dry clay products from across the UK.
1. Noah Home Air Dry Pottery DIY Kits
For those looking to get stuck into air dry clay modelling straight away, the range of beginner’s sets available from Noah is a fantastic place to start.
There’s four different kits to collect – with the choice of white clay only, primary colours, pastels, or metallics . Each one comes pre-packed with everything you will need to start your new hobby, including 2kg of ready-to-use clay, eight wooden carving tools, white foundation paint, and a bottle of varnish, so you can give your new creations that extra-special glossy finish.
Each kit also comes provided with full beginner-friendly illustrated instructions and easy-to-access videos to guide you through making your first pottery masterpieces.
Pros: Comes with everything you need to get started.
Cons: If you already have tools, this may be less economically efficient.
- Buy now in the US from Noah's Box ($60)
2. DAS Air Drying Clay
Of course, we can’t put together a list of the best air dry clays without including one of the industry’s biggest names, DAS.
Available in a variety of different colours, sizes, and finishes, DAS air dry clay is simple to work with, moulds easily, and dries to a firm and strong finish. As with all air dry clay there’s no baking required; simply design your model and then leave it to dry, allowing 24 hours per centimetre of clay.
DAS air dry clay can be coloured and decorated with poster paints, acrylics, and varnish, which will give it a glossy, professional finish.
Pros: Reputable brand, great quality, comes in different sizes, colours, and finishes.
Cons: Doesn't come with any tools or paints.
3. Pebeo Gedeo air drying clay
There's plenty of inventive ways to use air dry clay without buying an entire kit. If you're up for using household items such as a rolling pin, knives and forks, cookie cutters, an old sponge, and other bits and bobs you have lying around, all you need is the clay!
Pebeo Gedeo air dry clay comes in black, grey, red, or white, in 1.5kg pouches.
Pros: variety of colours, good size to prevent drying out.
Cons: Doesn't come with tools or paint.
4. Baker Ross white air dry clay
For a simple, white clay that's easy to paint, this air dry clay from Baker Ross is a great choice. At only £4.95 a kilo, its a bargain! And if the white colour isn't for you, choose between their terracotta or grey options.
Pros: Great for painting if you already have the tools, cheap, different colour options.
Cons: Will look plain without paint or varnish.
- Buy now from Baker Ross (£4.95)
5. Mora Approved air dry clay kit
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)
6. The Edinburgh Craft Club air dry clay kit
This funky kit from The Edinburgh Craft Club is perfect for displaying your blooms in style. You'll learn how to create these cool geometric vases with the included air dry clay for two vases.
The kit comes with video instructions, templates, and an instruction sheet to guide you through the process. It also includes clay tools, a clay scraper, sponge, pink and blue acrylic paint, a paintbrush, and access to a HOW TO video.
Pros: Modern design, comes with pink and blue paint, templates are funky.
Cons: Low quality, plastic tools included
- Buy now from Not on the High Street (£32 | Etsy $42.23)
7. Sculpd Pottery Kit
This cute pottery kit from Sculpd contains everything you'll need to sculpt, carve, paint, and seal your own pinch pots, succulent plant pots, trinket dishes, vases, candle holders, sculptures and everything in between.
Each box contains 2kg of premium British air dry clay, a 20-piece step-by-step beginner’s guide, a selection of carving, shaping and cutting tools and a little bag to store them in, white acrylic eggshell paint, waterproof glossy or matte varnish (your choice), two ultra fine bristle paintbrushes, and finally a potter's sponge, for smoothing.
Once you’ve made your creations, be sure to share them on social media – at the end of each month the company picks its Sculpd of the Month member from their tagged posts and sends them out a new pack of clay, so they can continue creating.
Pros: Loads of clay, comes with tools and paint, bonus clay opportunity.
Cons: If you already own tools this may not be as cost effective.
8. CiaraQ Air Dry Clay Kit
This fantastic kit from Cocoboo is perfect for introducing kids to pottery, with 36 different colours of air dry clay included alongside 3 tools and a36 zip lock bags, for keeping clay fresh.
Creative play has been proven to be hugely beneficial for childhood development, and air dry clay is the perfect medium – through rubbing, pinching, tearing, twisting, and pressing, kids can practice their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and stimulate their imagination and creativity.
Pros: Great for kids, huge range of colours, comes with bags.
Cons: Could be more tools/accessories.
9. Make Your Own Pottery Kit
The gorgeous at-home pottery kits from London Wildflower provide all the tools you need to get creative with clay, and they also make wonderful gifts.
There are three to choose from, with a basic option, a large-size version, and even a couples’ kit, allowing you and your beloved to get creative together (who else is thinking of that scene from Ghost right now?!).
Each one contains everything you need to get started, including a range of professional metal tools, non-toxic air dry clay, a wooden board, and a full instruction booklet.
Pros: Option for couples, includes rolling pin and wooden board, great small business.
Cons: Doesn't come with paint.
- Buy now from Etsy (£45 | $59.38)
10. Fimo Air Basic Modelling Clay
You’d be forgiven for assuming that Fimo only makes polymer clays, which need baking in an oven before they will set and cure. However, that’s not actually the case – the company also make high-quality air drying clay too.
It’s made from at least 95% natural ingredients and is ideal for art, recreation, and hobby projects, as well as for educational purposes in schools, kindergartens and in the home.
Once hardened this clay can be filed, sanded, drilled, painted, and varnished, and the clever foil packaging prevents leftovers from drying out too quickly, meaning the raw product lasts longer, too.
Pros: Great value, different colour options available, foil packaging means leftovers don't dry out.
Cons: Doesn't come with tools or paints.
11. Pott’d Air Dry Clay Kit
Kit-creators Pott’d describe this product as giving you some much-needed quality time to get your hands dirty and your mind clean, and we couldn't agree more with that sentiment.
Sculpting clay with your hands can be wonderfully therapeutic and relaxing, and this pastel-coloured kit is the ideal way to while away an afternoon and clear away those creative cobwebs.
Each kit includes everything you’ll need to get started, including two packs of premium air dry clay, a quick-start guide, a set of eight acrylic paints, two brushes, a white base paint, a sealant, and a set of five wooden sculpting tools and smoothing brush.
Pros: Contains everything you need to get started, includes a canvas tool bag.
Cons: Doesn't come with a rolling pin or board.
- Buy now in the US from Pott'd ($64)
12. Hobbycraft Superlight Air Drying Clay
Priced at just £1 per 30g pack, this superlight air dry clay from Hobbycraft is the perfect material for creating colourful models, sculptures and more. It’s easy to work with and as the name suggests, extremely lightweight, which makes it extra malleable and perfect for smaller hands.
It’s available in a broad range of colours, with a free mixing guide included with each pack to help you create the perfect shade. Take the customisation one step further by decorating your makes with poster paints, acrylics, and varnishes, to give them a ‘just glazed’ look.
Pros: Comes in a huge range of colours, cheap and cheerful, good for kids.
Cons: Lots of plastic packaging due to the sachets being smaller.
- Buy now from Hobbycraft (£1 | $1.49)
13. Pottery Tribe kits – Potter Paint & Posy Kit
Designed and created in Edinburgh, these beautiful pottery starter kits come in a kraft gift box with top tips and a toolkit guide. You can choose your favourite colour of clay from three options.
They'd make a lovely gift and are the only kit in this round-up to include a little posy of blooms to display in your first handmade vase. If the flowers aren't for you there are other versions of this kit – you can also order just a starter pottery kit or a potter and paint kit.
Pros: Comes with dried flowers, rolling pin, and sustainable packaging.
Cons: More expensive.
- Buy now from The Crafting Cartel (£54 | $69.44)
14. The Works air dry clay kit
Designed for children aged 3 and up, the Hey Clay air dry clay kit offers a delightful opportunity for young ones to sculpt and model alongside their adults.
The kit includes 15 cans of air dry clay, two handy modelling tools, and a range of colours to create the charming animals depicted on the packaging.
Pros: Kid-friendly design, inexpensive
Cons: No painting needed, limited tools
15. Scola Air Drying Modelling Clay
Once you’ve fallen in love with creating your own pottery, you’ll want to really get stuck into the hobby – and what better way than by purchasing a whopping 12.5kg of all-natural air drying clay to work with?
Scola air dry clay is a natural product that’s mined in Staffordshire, the home of the Potteries, and can be moulded, shaped, and stretched into any shape you like.
The addition of Nylon fibres to the mixture gives your models and creations extra strength, and any dried parts can be reconstituted and reworked by covering with a damp cloth overnight until they re-hydrate, ready for use the next day.
Pros: Large bag, great value for money.
Cons: If you're just starting out it may be too much.
We hope you've managed to pick up some air dry clay! For more pottery goodness head over to our best pottery kits and pottery painting ideas.
