The best air-dry clay
Pinch pots, trinket dishes and dinosaurs with no kiln or oven: shape it at the kitchen table, let the air do the rest, then get the paints out.
Air-dry clay is the easy way into making pots, dishes and little sculptures at home. It hardens on its own as it dries, so there's nothing to fire, and once it's hard it can be painted, varnished and kept.
Most people want a smooth clay that's easy to paint, which is where DAS and Staedtler's FIMOair come in. We've also picked a big Scola block for classes and ambitious projects, Sculpd's grey clay for home pottery, and ready-coloured soft clay for little ones.
What matters
- Plain clay to paint, or ready-coloured for young children.
- How much: about a kilo makes two or three small pots or a planter.
- Thin pieces dry in hours, thick ones take days: dry them slowly, away from radiators.
- A coat of varnish to protect the paint.
#1 of 5
Best overall
DAS White Air Hardening Modelling Clay (1kg)
Under £10 Price range
A kilo of smooth white clay for solid, sturdy models that air-dries hard in 12 to 24 hours, then takes poster paint, pens or varnish. DAS takes its name from its inventor, the Italian poet and artist Dario Sala.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to work with for children and adults alike, good for school projects and model making, and say it gives families hours of fun.
A closer look: The maker says it washes off hands and out of most fabrics in the washing machine, which is good news for school jumpers. Keep leftover clay wrapped tightly so it's still soft for the next session.
- 1kg block
- Air-dries in 12–24 hours
- Paint, pens or varnish when dry
- Gluten-free
- Made in Italy
Best for: All-round modelling
- Amount
- 1kg
- Colour
- White
#2 of 5
Best budget
STAEDTLER FIMOair Basic Air-Drying Modelling Clay (1kg, white)
Under £10 Price range
Smooth, pleasant to handle and not sticky, it hardens in the air with no baking: a few hours for thin pieces, a few days for chunky ones. Once hard it can be filed, sanded, drilled, painted and varnished, so models can be tidied up after drying.
What owners say: Owners like the quality and the softer, easy-to-work texture, find most pieces dry within a day, and say it's great for painting and for making things with children.
A closer look: Because it can be sanded once dry, rough edges and fingerprints can be smoothed away with fine sandpaper before painting. FIMOair also comes in pale pink, grey and terracotta if white isn't the look.
- 1kg
- Smooth and not sticky
- No oven or kiln
- Sand, drill and paint when dry
- Tested by independent toxicologists
Best for: Smooth, sandable models
- Amount
- 1kg
- Colour
- White
#3 of 5
Best for young children
iFergoo Ultra Light Air Dry Clay (36 colours, 3 tools)
£10–£20 Price range
Thirty-six bright colours of soft, feather-light clay, so little ones can make animals and cakes without painting anything afterwards. It's non-sticky, leaves no residue on hands and air-dries completely in 24 hours.
What owners say: Owners say it keeps children entertained for hours, love the range of colours, and find it less messy than slime, with ideas included to get them started.
Heads up: It starts to firm up as soon as it's out, so press each colour back into its pack and seal it straight after playing.
A closer look: It's made for ages 3 and up, and can't go in the oven: it only dries in the air. Being so light, finished models are easy to glue onto card for birthday cards and pictures.
- 36 colours
- 3 modelling tools
- Air-dries in 24 hours
- Non-sticky, no residue
- Meets EN71 toy safety standard
Best for: Young children
- Amount
- 36 colour packs + 3 tools
- Colour
- 36 colours
#4 of 5
Best for big projects
Scola Reinforced Air Drying Modelling Clay (Stone, 12.5kg)
£10–£20 Price range
A 12.5kg block: enough for a whole class, a family's summer of projects or someone who likes to sculpt big. Nylon fibres give finished models extra strength, and Scola has made art materials in Britain since 1920, using clay mined in the UK.
What owners say: Owners say it's fantastic value for the amount, easy to mould and dries well, and that children get hours of fun out of it.
Heads up: To avoid cracks, the maker's advice is to keep it slightly moist while you work and away from very hot or cold spots while it dries.
A closer look: The block is heavy, so slice off what you need with a clay wire or an old knife and seal the rest back in its bag. Finished models take almost any paint, then a coat of PVA or varnish for a glossy finish.
- 12.5kg block
- Nylon-fibre reinforced
- Stone colour
- Wheat and gluten free
- No kiln needed
Best for: Big projects and classes
- Amount
- 12.5kg
- Colour
- Stone
#5 of 5
Best for home pottery
Sculpd Premium Air Dry Clay Bag
£10.00 RRP
Made for grown-ups trying pottery at the kitchen table: soft, supple clay that's easy to shape into pinch pots, trinket dishes and planters, and dries to a smooth pale grey that's lovely to paint.
What owners say: Owners call it the best clay they've used: easy to work, slow to dry out while they're shaping it and good value, and one even throws it on a potter's wheel.
A closer look: Start with a pinch pot: roll a ball, press a thumb into the middle and pinch the walls out evenly as you turn it. Air-dry clay softens again with water, so varnish a finished planter and use a plastic pot inside for real plants.
- 900g bag
- Enough for 2–3 pinch pots or a planter
- Dries pale grey and smooth
- Hardens in about 48 hours
- No kiln needed
Best for: Pottery at home
- Amount
- 900g
- Colour
- Pale grey
How they compare
| Feature | #1DAS white | #2FIMOair basic | #3iFergoo 36 colours | #4Scola 12.5kg | #5Sculpd bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best for young children | Best for big projects | Best for home pottery | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Price | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £10.00 RRP |
| Amount | 1kg | 1kg | 36 colour packs + 3 tools | 12.5kg | 900g |
| Colour | White | White | 36 colours | Stone | Pale grey |
| Best for | All-round modelling | Smooth, sandable models | Young children | Big projects and classes | Pottery at home |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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