- The best kiln shelves for most home kilns are cordierite-mullite shelves cut to your kiln's shape. Weysat's 13-inch round 2-pack lists 2282 °F and 1/2 inch thick.
- Read the temperature rating: shelves here list 2280–2282 °F. That is above Orton cone 6 (2232 °F at 108 °F/hr) and about equal to cone 8 (2280 °F), but below cone 10 (2345 °F).
- Posts here list 2380–2390 °F, with high-alumina picks from Tuanse and PandaHall.
- Coat shelf tops (never the underside) with kiln wash such as Penguin Pottery's ready-to-use liquid so glaze drips do not weld pots to the shelf.
The best kiln shelves and furniture fit your kiln's interior, are rated comfortably above the cone you fire and come with enough posts to stack shelves level. Kiln furniture is the shelves, posts and stilts that hold work in the kiln. It lets you fire more pieces per load, which affects both your output and your firing cost.
We compared eight products from Weysat, Chunful, Colingmill, Verdanzia, Skutt, Tuanse, PandaHall and Penguin Pottery on listed size, thickness, material and maximum temperature, then checked those ratings against Orton cone data. We did not fire them. Complete furniture kits sized to a specific kiln are rare in our catalogue; the one bundle we have comes with a Skutt kiln package. For firing basics, see bisque vs glaze firing.
Our picks
Weysat 13" Round Kiln Shelf, 2-Pack
- Max temperature
- 2282°F
- Size
- 13"
- Thickness
- 0.5 inches
- Count
- 2 Pcs
Weysat lists two 13-inch round shelves, 0.5 inch thick, in cordierite and mullite rated to 2282 °F. The maker says the material stays stable without softening or thermal cracking, and round shelves match most top-loading electric kilns.
Best for: round electric kilns firing to cone 6
Skip if: you fire to cone 10
- 2 shelves
- 13 in, 1/2 in thick
- Rated 2282 °F
- Not rated for cone 10
- Measure your kiln; 13 in will not fit small test kilns
Chunful 15.5" Octagon Kiln Shelf
- Max temperature
- 2282°F
- Size
- 15.5"
- Thickness
- 5/8"
- Count
- 1
Chunful lists a 15.5-inch octagonal shelf, 5/8 inch thick, cordierite and mullite, rated to 2282 °F. Octagon shelves follow the shape of many multi-sided kilns and the extra thickness helps against sagging.
Best for: octagonal kilns
Skip if: your kiln is round or small
- 15.5 in
- 5/8 in thick
- Rated 2282 °F
- Sold singly
- Listing also mentions microwave kilns; ignore that for pottery
Colingmill 13" Half Round Kiln Shelf
- Max temperature
- 2282°F
- Size
- 13 inches
- Thickness
- 1/2 inch
Colingmill lists a 13-inch half-round shelf, 1/2 inch thick, rated to 2282 °F. Half shelves are lighter to lift and let you stack tall and short pieces at different heights in the same layer.
Best for: flexible loading
Skip if: you want one-piece shelves
- Half-round for mixed heights
- Rated 2282 °F
- Lighter to handle
- Material not stated in the specs
- Need three posts per half shelf
Verdanzia 7" Square Kiln Shelf, 2-Pack
- Max temperature
- 2280°F
- Size
- 7.09 x 7.09 inches
- Thickness
- 0.63-inch
- Count
- 2
Verdanzia lists two 7.09-inch square shelves in cordierite and mullite rated to 2280 °F. The title says 0.5 inch thick while the description says 0.63 inch, so check the listing. Small square shelves suit small front- and top-loading test kilns.
Best for: small 120 V test kilns
Skip if: you need exact thickness for clearance
- 2 shelves
- 7.09 in square
- Rated 2280 °F
- Thickness conflict on the listing
Tuanse Round Kiln Posts 1.75 x 4", 4-Pack
- Max temperature
- 2390 °F
- Size
- 1.75 x 4 Inch Tall
- Count
- 4
- Material
- High alumina
Tuanse lists four high-alumina round posts, 1.75 inches wide and 4 inches tall, rated to 2390 °F. Four-inch posts suit mugs and bowls; the wide diameter gives a stable footprint.
Best for: spacing shelves for mugs and bowls
Skip if: you need a range of heights
- 4 in tall
- High alumina
- Rated 2390 °F
- One height only
PandaHall Hollow Kiln Posts 2x1.6x1.2", 6 pcs
- Max temperature
- 2380°F
- Size
- 2x1.6x1.2 inch
- Count
- 6pcs
- Material
- High alumina
PandaHall lists six hollow high-alumina posts measuring 2 x 1.6 x 1.2 inches, rated to 2380 °F. Rectangular posts give two heights depending on orientation, handy for low pieces, tiles and plates.
Best for: low loads and fine-tuning heights
Skip if: you need tall posts
- 6 posts
- Multiple heights by orientation
- Rated 2380 °F
- Short; stack carefully or add taller posts
Penguin Pottery Liquid Kiln Wash, 16 oz
- Size
- 16 fl oz (1 Pint)
- Form
- Ready to use liquid
Penguin Pottery's kiln wash is a ready-to-use 16 oz liquid. The brand explains that kiln wash is a protective layer on shelves so glazed pieces do not stick when glaze runs, a pot tips or clay is over-fired, and advises several thin coats with drying between them.
Best for: new shelves and re-coating
Skip if: you prefer mixing from powder
- Ready to use, no mixing
- 1 pint
- Clear application advice
- Coat tops only; never the underside
How hot can these kiln shelves go, compared with cones?
Shelf ratings are given in °F; glazes and clays are rated in cones. The scale below places each listed rating against Orton cone values at a medium heating rate (108 °F per hour over the last 180 °F).
Listed furniture ratings vs Orton cones
Orton self-supporting cones, medium rate. Furniture ratings as listed by each maker.
What to look for in the best kiln shelves and furniture
- Fit. Measure the inside of your kiln. Leave space between the shelf edge and the elements or walls so heat can circulate; your kiln maker's manual gives the clearance.
- Shape. Round for round kilns, octagon for multi-sided kilns, square for small test kilns. Half shelves help mixed loads.
- Thickness. Thicker shelves (5/8 inch) resist sag on wider spans; thinner shelves save weight and space.
- Rating. Choose a rating above your hottest firing. See the scale above.
- Posts. Three posts per shelf sit steadier than four on a slightly uneven shelf. Stack posts directly above each other between layers.
- Kiln wash. Coat shelf tops only.
Handle shelves like the heavy ceramic they are. Lift with both hands, store them on edge in a rack or flat on a padded shelf, and never drop them onto another shelf. Before each firing, glance over both faces for hairline cracks and flaking wash. A shelf that rings clearly when you tap it gently is usually sound; a dull sound can mean a crack, so look closer.
Kiln furniture compared
| Product | Size | Thickness | Count | Max temperature | Material | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weysat 13" Round Kiln Shelf, 2-Pack | 13" | 0.5 inches | 2 Pcs | 2282°F | Cordierite and mullite | — |
| Chunful 15.5" Octagon Kiln Shelf | 15.5" | 5/8" | 1 | 2282°F | Cordierite and Mullite | — |
| Colingmill 13" Half Round Kiln Shelf | 13 inches | 1/2 inch | — | 2282°F | — | — |
| Verdanzia 7" Square Kiln Shelf, 2-Pack | 7.09 x 7.09 inches | 0.63-inch | 2 | 2280°F | — | — |
| Tuanse Round Kiln Posts 1.75 x 4", 4-Pack | 1.75 x 4 Inch Tall | — | 4 | 2390 °F | High alumina | — |
| PandaHall Hollow Kiln Posts 2x1.6x1.2", 6 pcs | 2x1.6x1.2 inch | — | 6pcs | 2380°F | High alumina | — |
| Penguin Pottery Liquid Kiln Wash, 16 oz | 16 fl oz (1 Pint) | — | — | — | — | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Which piece of furniture does what?
| Shelves | Posts | Stilts and pads | Kiln wash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holds work | ✓ Yes | ✗ Spaces shelves | ✓ Small or glazed-foot pieces | ✗ Protects shelves |
| Needed for bisque | ✓ For more than one layer | ✓ Yes | ~ Rarely | ~ Optional |
| Needed for glaze firing | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ~ Earthenware glazed all over | ✓ Yes |
| Picks here | Weysat, Chunful, Colingmill, Verdanzia, Skutt | Tuanse, PandaHall | See below | Penguin Pottery |
How to load kiln shelves and posts
- Wash the shelves
Brush 2–3 thin coats of kiln wash on the shelf tops, letting each dry. Keep wash off the edges and underside so flakes do not drop onto pots below.
- Place the bottom shelf on short posts
Raise the bottom shelf an inch or so off the kiln floor, following your kiln maker's instructions, so heat can circulate.
- Load, then post
Set pieces on the shelf with space between glazed work. Place three posts tall enough to clear the tallest piece plus a margin.
- Stack posts in line
Each post should sit directly above the one below so the load passes straight down.
- Add cones
Put witness cones where you can see them through the peephole, and use the cone chart to choose them.
Stilts, pads and kits worth knowing about
Incycall Five-Petal Kiln Stilts, 8-Pack
- Max temperature
- 2390°F
- Size
- 1.18 x 1.18 inch
- Count
- 8
Best for Supporting delicate pieces
Nuanchu Kiln Posts 4 x 1", 4-Pack
- Max temperature
- 2380°f
- Size
- 4 x 1 Inch
- Count
- 4
Best for Stacking kiln shelves
Penguin Pottery Dry Kiln Wash, 1 lb
- Size
- 1 lb Dry Mix
- Form
- Just add water
Best for Potters who coat shelves often
Incycall's five-petal stilts (8-pack, 1.18 inches, high alumina, listed to 2390 °F) lift small pieces glazed on the bottom. Nuanchu's 4 x 1 inch posts (2380 °F) add another height. Penguin Pottery also sells dry kiln wash, 1 lb, to mix with water. The only furniture kit in our catalogue arrives with the Skutt KM818 30 A package, which lists a furniture kit and vent; it is a 30 A kiln purchase that needs a suitable dedicated circuit, not an add-on. Browse the kilns category for more.
Kiln shelves for beginners and small kilns
- New 120 V test kiln owners: two small square shelves, a set of short posts and kiln wash. Read best 120V kilns to check what your kiln can fire.
- Mid-size round kilns: 13-inch round or half-round shelves rated 2282 °F, plus 4-inch posts.
- Cone 10 firers: skip the 2280–2282 °F shelves; buy furniture rated for cone 10.
- Functional ware sellers: clean shelves and well-placed cones help consistent firings; food safety also depends on firing correctly. See the food-safe ware hub.
- Total beginners: start in the beginners hub and do you need a kiln?.
Kiln furniture mistakes to avoid
- Firing above the shelf rating. Shelves can sag or crack.
- Kiln wash on the underside. Flakes fall onto glazed pots below.
- Posts out of line between layers. Uneven load stresses shelves.
- Glazed bottoms on bare shelf. Wipe glaze off feet or use stilts; otherwise pots fuse to the shelf.
- Shelves that touch the walls or elements. Leave space for heat to circulate.
- Ignoring cracks. Retire a cracked shelf rather than risk a collapse mid-firing.
We compare manufacturer specs and listing data (power, capacity, size, voltage, temperature or cone rating, firing range, what is included) and what the maker says each product is for. We did not throw on, fire or lab-test these products, and we never show invented scores, ratings or prices.