- Glass and jewelry only. Microwave kilns have no temperature control or readout, so we don't recommend them for clay. Fire pottery in a real kiln.
- Best starter kit: WICAND's 10-piece kit, with a 4.9-inch platform, COE90 glass, kiln papers, cutter, file and gloves.
- Largest listed platform: Tujoe and Crabcut, both listed at 5.31 × 1.77 inches inside.
- Check your microwave: WICAND lists at least 800 W for the kiln alone and 1,000 W or more for the kit.
A microwave kiln is a small fiber-lined shell with a heat-absorbing coating inside. Put it in a household microwave and it gets hot enough to fuse small pieces of glass in minutes. WICAND's listing says 6–8 minutes. It's the cheapest way to try glass fusing, and it needs no new wiring.
Be clear about the limits before you buy. A microwave kiln has no thermometer, no controller and no programmed cool-down. You steer it with microwave power, time and practice. That's fine for pendants, earrings and cabochons. It isn't a way to fire clay. A few listings mention small low-fire pottery, but there's no way to confirm a cone, so we treat microwave kilns as glass and jewelry tools only.
Our picks
WICAND Large Microwave Kiln Kit, 10 pcs
- Interior size
- 4.9" (12.5 cm) platform
- Microwave
- 1000W or higher recommended
The WICAND kit includes the kiln (4.9-inch interior platform, about 7.5 × 3.3 inches outside), 10 kiln papers, a diamond file, a glass cutter, gloves and five bags of COE90 glass: opal, millefiori, confetti, frit and dichroic bits. The listing recommends a microwave of 1,000 W or more. You can fire your first piece the day it arrives.
Best for: a first fused-glass session with nothing else to buy
Skip if: you already have glass and tools
- Complete 10-piece kit
- COE90 glass included
- 4.9-inch platform
- Needs a 1,000 W+ microwave per the listing
- No temperature control
Diamond Tech Fuseworks Microwave Kiln Kit
- Type
- Microwave glass fusing kit
This Fuseworks kit comes from Diamond Tech's glass-craft line, the same family as the Fuseworks FW999 electric kiln. That's useful if you expect to move up to an electric kiln later. The listing gives very few details, so check the platform size and contents before you order.
Best for: beginners who want a known glass-craft line
Skip if: you want listed sizes to compare
- Established glass-craft brand
- Kit format
- Electric kiln in the same line
- Platform size and contents not listed in detail
Tujoe Large Microwave Kiln with 50 Papers
- Interior size
- 5.31 x 1.77 inches
- Outer size
- 7.68 x 4.33 inches
- Includes
- 50 kiln papers
Tujoe lists the interior at 5.31 × 1.77 inches and the outside at 7.68 × 4.33 inches, and includes 50 kiln papers. That's the widest platform listed in our catalogue, a little more room for a wider pendant or a pair of earrings fired together.
Best for: slightly larger pendants and batches of small pieces
Skip if: your microwave cavity is short; check the 4.33-inch outer height
- 5.31-inch interior listed
- 50 kiln papers included
- Microwave power requirement not listed
- No glass or tools included
Crabcut Large Microwave Kiln Kit, 50 Papers & Gloves
- Interior size
- 5.31 x 1.77 inches
- Outer size
- 7.68 x 4.33 inches
- Includes
- 50 kiln papers, gloves
Crabcut lists the same 5.31 × 1.77-inch interior and 7.68 × 4.33-inch outer size as the Tujoe, and adds gloves to the 50 kiln papers. Matching sizes often mean a shared design, so pick between these two on what's in the box.
Best for: beginners who want gloves in the box
Skip if: you already own heat-resistant gloves and prefer the Tujoe
- 5.31-inch interior listed
- 50 papers plus gloves
- Same listed size as the Tujoe
- Microwave power not listed
LinaLife 7.7" Microwave Kiln Kit
- Outer size
- 7.7"
- Includes
- Lining paper
LinaLife lists a 7.68-inch outer diameter and, in the listing text, an inside diameter of about 4.95 inches, with lining paper included. The listing also says the product is for people aged 20 and above.
Best for: adult crafters who want a mid-size shell
Skip if: you're buying for a teenager; the listing says 20+
- About 4.95-inch inside diameter per the listing
- Lining paper included
- Microwave power not listed
- Few papers compared with the 50-paper kits
Alolti 7.7" Microwave Kiln with 50 Papers
- Outer size
- 7.7"
- Includes
- 50 Pcs Kiln Paper
Alolti lists a 7.7-inch outer size and 50 kiln papers. The interior platform isn't listed, but a 7.7-inch shell suggests a working area close to the 5-inch class. Check the listing for the exact interior.
Best for: stocking up on papers along with the kiln
Skip if: you need a confirmed interior size
- 50 kiln papers
- 7.7-inch outer size listed
- Interior size not listed
- Microwave power not listed
MUCOFEI Microwave Kiln with 80 Papers
- Interior size
- 3.15x1.77 inches
- Outer size
- 4.72x3.27 inches
- Includes
- 80 kiln papers (8x8cm)
MUCOFEI lists a 3.15 × 1.77-inch interior and a compact 4.72 × 3.27-inch outer size, with 80 kiln papers (8 × 8 cm). It's the one to choose for a small microwave, or if you only make tiny studs and charms.
Best for: tiny studs, charms and compact microwaves
Skip if: you want pendants wider than about 3 inches
- Smallest outer size
- 80 kiln papers included
- 3.15-inch interior
- Microwave power not listed
What can a microwave kiln actually fire?
Good for
- Fused glass pendants, earrings, rings and cabochons.
- Dichroic and millefiori accents, like those in the WICAND kit.
- Quick tests before you commit to an electric kiln.
Not good for
- Pottery of any kind. With no temperature control or readout you can't confirm a cone, and none of these will mature stoneware.
- Slumping glass into dishes or molds.
- Anything wider than the platform, about 3–5 inches across depending on the model.
If you're after real pottery firings, look at 120V kilns with a listed maximum temperature, or the full home kiln guide. If glass is the hobby and you outgrow the microwave, electric glass fusing kilns add programmed annealing and a 7-inch shelf.
How big is a microwave kiln inside?
The interior platform decides how wide your piece can be, and the outer size decides whether the kiln fits your microwave and turns freely. The chart uses only the interior figures the listings give.
Listed interior platform, inches
Interior diameter or width from each listing. Alolti and Fuseworks don't list an interior size.
| Product | Interior size | Outer size | Includes | Microwave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WICAND Large Microwave Kiln Kit, 10 pcs | 4.9" (12.5 cm) platform | — | 10 kiln papers, file, glass cutter, gloves, 5 bags COE90 glass | 1000W or higher recommended |
| Diamond Tech Fuseworks Microwave Kiln Kit | — | — | — | — |
| Tujoe Large Microwave Kiln with 50 Papers | 5.31 x 1.77 inches | 7.68 x 4.33 inches | 50 kiln papers | — |
| Crabcut Large Microwave Kiln Kit, 50 Papers & Gloves | 5.31 x 1.77 inches | 7.68 x 4.33 inches | 50 kiln papers, gloves | — |
| LinaLife 7.7" Microwave Kiln Kit | — | 7.7" | Lining paper | — |
| Alolti 7.7" Microwave Kiln with 50 Papers | — | 7.7" | 50 Pcs Kiln Paper | — |
| MUCOFEI Microwave Kiln with 80 Papers | 3.15x1.77 inches | 4.72x3.27 inches | 80 kiln papers (8x8cm) | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Measure your microwave before you order. The kiln has to sit on the turntable, clear the walls and rotate freely. The taller shells, such as Tujoe and Crabcut at 4.33 inches, need more headroom than the MUCOFEI at 3.27 inches.
What should come in a microwave kiln kit?
Kits vary a lot in what they include, and the extras decide whether you can start the day the box arrives. Compare listings against this short list:
- Kiln papers. You need one under every piece. Tujoe, Crabcut and Alolti list 50 and MUCOFEI lists 80. WICAND's kit includes 10, and LinaLife lists lining paper.
- Heat-resistant gloves. Included with WICAND's kit and Crabcut. Buy a pair separately for the others.
- Compatible glass. Only WICAND's kit lists glass (five bags of COE90). Otherwise, buy one COE system and stick to it.
- Cutting and finishing tools. WICAND's kit adds a glass cutter and a diamond file for smoothing edges after firing.
- A stated microwave power. Only WICAND lists one. If the listing is silent, check the instructions before you rely on a lower-power microwave.
If you already own glass and tools, a bare kiln with plenty of papers is the better buy. If you're starting from zero, a complete kit saves a second order.
Microwave kiln or electric kiln: which one should you buy?
Microwave kiln vs small electric kiln
| Microwave kiln | Small electric glass kiln | |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring | ✓ Uses your microwave | ~ Dedicated 15–20 A circuit |
| Temperature control | ✗ Time and power only | ✓ Programmable controller |
| Annealing | ✗ Cools on the counter in its shell | ✓ Programmed slow cool |
| Piece size | ✗ About 3–5 in | ✓ About 7 in on a Firebox shelf |
| Pottery | ✗ No | ~ Small pieces in some models |
Source: Product listings, Clay at Home catalogue
Choose a microwave kiln if you're curious about glass jewelry, have limited space and don't want electrical work. Choose an electric kiln once you want repeatable results, bigger flat pieces or slumped dishes. Electric kiln vs microwave kiln compares them in more detail.
How to use a microwave kiln safely
- Check your microwave power
WICAND lists at least 800 W for the kiln alone and 1,000 W or more for the kit. Lower-power microwaves take longer and may not fuse fully.
- Use one glass system
Fuse only compatible glass, such as the COE90 glass in the WICAND kit, so the piece doesn't crack as it cools.
- Line the base
Put a kiln paper under every piece so the glass doesn't stick to the base.
- Fire in short steps
Start with the maker's suggested time and check through the vent hole. Overheating can make glass spread or bubble.
- Let it cool in the shell
Lift the kiln out with heat-resistant gloves, as WICAND advises, set it on a heat-safe surface and leave the lid on until it's cool. Opening it early can crack the glass.
Mistakes to avoid with a microwave kiln
- Trying to fire clay. There's no way to confirm a cone, so pottery belongs in a real kiln.
- Mixing glass from different systems. Mismatched COE leads to cracks, sometimes days later.
- Skipping the kiln paper. Glass fused straight onto the base can stick and damage the coating.
- Opening the lid early. A sudden temperature drop can crack an unannealed piece.
- Buying the biggest shell without measuring. A kiln that rubs the microwave walls won't heat evenly.
Browse all microwave kilns, kiln papers and glass kilns in the kilns category. A microwave kiln kit also makes a good small gift; see kits and gifts and our gifts for potters list. If you're setting up in a flat, small space and apartment covers the rest of the studio.
We compared the microwave kilns in our catalogue by listed interior platform, outer size, recommended microwave power and what's in the box, and by what each seller says the kiln is for. We did not fire glass in these kilns. Where a listing leaves out a size or power figure, we say it's not listed.