- Best all-round: the Sculpey Premo 24-color sampler, which the listing calls strong and flexible enough for caning and mica shift.
- Easiest to condition: FIMO Soft, listed to bake at 230 °F for 30 minutes.
- Firm and precise: FIMO Professional, for canes and fine detail.
- Figure sculpting: Super Sculpey, semi-translucent beige.
- Polymer clay is not food-safe. Keep its tools, trays and oven thermometer separate from your kitchen gear.
The best polymer clay for you depends on what you make, because firmness matters more than brand. Soft clays are easy on the hands and good for beginners. Firm clays hold crisp cane patterns and fine detail. All of them stay workable until baked in a home oven, so no kiln is needed.
We compared eight polymer clays from five brands in our catalogue, Sculpey, FIMO, CiaraQ, Artecho and ReArt. We looked at listed firmness, color count, weight and bake instructions. Bake temperatures are quoted only where the listing states them. Otherwise, follow the temperature printed on the package.
Our picks
Sculpey Premo 24 Color Sampler, 1.5 lb
- Clay body
- Polymer oven-bake
- Weight
- 1.5 lb (681 g)
- Count
- 24 colors
The Premo sampler holds 24 colors, 1.5 lb in total, built around an artist's mixing palette. Sculpey describes Premo as flexible, very strong and durable, made for caning, mokume gane and mica shift. It suits jewelry makers who mix their own colors.
Best for: jewelry makers and color mixers
Skip if: you want one big block of a single color
- 24 colors including pearl and metallic tones
- Strong and flexible per the listing
- Listed for advanced techniques
- Bake temperature not in this listing; follow the package
- Small amount of each color
STAEDTLER FIMO Soft Polymer Clay, 1 lb, White
- Clay body
- Oven-bake polymer
- Weight
- 1 lb block
- Color
- White
- Bake
- 230°F for 30 minutes
FIMO Soft is designed especially for beginners and hobby artists, per the listing. It comes in a 1 lb white block divided into 8 portions for easy measuring. The listing gives clear instructions: bake at 230 °F for 30 minutes, then cool completely.
Best for: first projects and mixing custom colors from white
Skip if: you need very firm clay for fine canes
- Listed bake: 230 °F for 30 minutes
- Pre-divided into 8 portions
- 1 lb block
- White only; colors bought separately
- Softer clays can smear fine detail
Sculpey III Polymer Clay Sampler, 30 x 1 oz
- Clay body
- Polymer oven bake
- Weight
- 1.88 lb (853 g)
- Count
- 30 Colors
Sculpey III is listed as soft, easy to use and a great introduction to oven-bake clay. This sampler has 30 colors in 1 oz bars, 853 g in total. Small bars let you try many colors without overbuying.
Best for: beginners, charms and small figures
Skip if: you plan thin, flexible jewelry pieces
- 30 colors
- Soft and easy to condition
- 1 oz bars for sampling
- Bake temperature not in this listing
- 1 oz goes quickly on larger projects
STAEDTLER FIMO Professional Polymer Clay, 12 Colors
- Clay body
- Oven-bake polymer, firm
- Size
- 0.88 oz blocks
- Count
- 12 Colors
FIMO Professional is firm with very high dimensional stability, per the listing, and is aimed at caning, mokume gane and bargello. After baking, it's described as fracture-resistant and flexible even in thin details. It comes in 12 colors in 0.88 oz blocks.
Best for: experienced makers and cane work
Skip if: you have weak hands or want quick conditioning
- Firm, holds crisp patterns
- Flexible thin details per the listing
- 12 colors
- Takes more conditioning
- Bake temperature not in this listing
Super Sculpey Beige Polymer Clay, 1 lb
- Clay body
- Polymer oven bake
- Weight
- 1 lb
- Color
- Beige (semi-translucent)
Super Sculpey is a soft beige sculpting clay that the listing aims at sculptors, model makers and studios. It holds fine tooling without filling in and has a semi-translucent, skin-like look once baked. The block weighs 1 lb.
Best for: figures, busts and character sculpts
Skip if: you want bright colors
- Holds fine tool marks
- Semi-translucent beige finish
- Can be carved, sanded and painted after baking
- One color
- Bake temperature not in this listing
CiaraQ 50-Color Polymer Clay Kit with Tools
- Clay body
- Polymer oven bake
- Size
- 20g / pcs
- Count
- 50 Colors
- Includes
- 14 sculpting tools, storage box
CiaraQ packs 50 colors in 20 g pieces, plus 14 sculpting tools and a storage box. The listing calls the clay soft, non-sticky and ASTM certified. It's an easy all-in-one gift for kids and beginners who want lots of colors.
Best for: kids, families and gift sets
Skip if: you need large amounts of one color
- 50 colors
- 14 tools and a storage box included
- ASTM certification stated in the listing
- 20 g per color
- Bake instructions not in the listed specs
Artecho Polymer Clay Kit, 70 Colors with Tools
- Clay body
- Oven bake polymer
- Size
- 20g / pcs
- Count
- 70 colors
- Bake
- 120-130℃, 15-30 minutes
Artecho's kit has 70 colors in 20 g pieces, plus sculpting tools and jewelry accessories. The listing recommends baking at 120–130 °C (about 248–266 °F) for 15–30 minutes. That's warmer than FIMO's listed 230 °F, so don't bake the two brands together without checking.
Best for: adults who want maximum colors and jewelry findings
Skip if: you mix brands in one bake
- 70 colors
- Jewelry accessories included
- Listed bake: 120–130 °C, 15–30 min
- Small pieces per color
- Higher listed bake temperature than FIMO
ReArt Oven Bake Polymer Clay, White, 1.1 lb
- Clay body
- Polymer oven bake (PVC)
- Weight
- 1.1 Pound
- Color
- White
ReArt's white polymer clay is a PVC oven-bake clay in a 1.1 lb block. The listing says it stays soft until baked and won't air dry. Like FIMO Soft white, it's a base for mixing your own colors or painting after baking.
Best for: bulk white for mixing and practice
Skip if: you want a well-documented bake schedule
- 1.1 lb block
- Stays soft until baked
- Listed as PVC, so the material is clear
- Bake temperature not in this listing; check the package
- Single color
What should you look for in polymer clay?
Polymer clay is PVC-based modeling clay that stays soft until you heat it. Since every brand cures in a home oven, compare these features:
- Firmness. Soft clays (FIMO Soft, Sculpey III) condition fast. Firm clays (FIMO Professional) hold sharp canes. Premo sits in between.
- Strength after baking. Thin earrings and pendants need a flexible clay. Premo and FIMO Professional both list strength and flexibility.
- Color range. Samplers give variety. Single 1 lb blocks are better for mixing your own colors.
- Bake instructions. Brands differ. FIMO Soft lists 230 °F for 30 minutes, while Artecho lists 120–130 °C for 15–30 minutes.
- Special finishes. Super Sculpey's semi-translucent beige suits figures, and pearl and metallic colors suit mica shift.
Colors per set or kit
Number of colors stated in each listing
What temperature do you bake polymer clay at?
Bake at the temperature on your clay's package, not a generic number. The listings that state one in our catalogue are below. Underbaked clay stays brittle. Overheated clay can scorch, darken and give off fumes, which is why makers specify a temperature.
Listed bake temperature
°F; Artecho's range converted from 120–130 °C
Compare the polymer clays by listed specs
Values are copied from each listing. A dash means the listing doesn't state it.
| Product | Clay body | Count | Weight | Bake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpey Premo 24 Color Sampler, 1.5 lb | Polymer oven-bake | 24 colors | 1.5 lb (681 g) | — |
| STAEDTLER FIMO Soft Polymer Clay, 1 lb, White | Oven-bake polymer | — | 1 lb block | 230°F for 30 minutes |
| Sculpey III Polymer Clay Sampler, 30 x 1 oz | Polymer oven bake | 30 Colors | 1.88 lb (853 g) | — |
| STAEDTLER FIMO Professional Polymer Clay, 12 Colors | Oven-bake polymer, firm | 12 Colors | — | — |
| Super Sculpey Beige Polymer Clay, 1 lb | Polymer oven bake | — | 1 lb | — |
| CiaraQ 50-Color Polymer Clay Kit with Tools | Polymer oven bake | 50 Colors | — | — |
| Artecho Polymer Clay Kit, 70 Colors with Tools | Oven bake polymer | 70 colors | — | 120-130℃, 15-30 minutes |
| ReArt Oven Bake Polymer Clay, White, 1.1 lb | Polymer oven bake (PVC) | — | 1.1 Pound | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Soft vs firm polymer clay
| Soft (FIMO Soft, Sculpey III) | Firm (FIMO Professional) | |
|---|---|---|
| Conditioning effort | ✓ Low | ✗ Higher |
| Crisp canes | ~ Can smear | ✓ Holds pattern |
| Good for kids | ✓ Yes | ✗ Hard on small hands |
| Fine detail | ~ Fair | ✓ Very good |
Deciding between the two big brands? Read Sculpey vs FIMO. If you're unsure whether you want oven-bake clay at all, start with air-dry vs polymer clay.
How do you make and bake a polymer clay piece?
- Condition
Knead or roll the clay until it's warm and pliable. Firm clays take longer.
- Shape on a clean surface
Work on a tile or glass mat, and keep lint away. Pale colors pick up dust easily.
- Join parts
Press parts firmly together. A liquid bonder helps. Sculpey Bake & Bond lists bonding raw or baked clay and conformity with ASTM D4236.
- Preheat and check
Preheat to the package temperature and confirm it with an oven thermometer.
- Bake on a dedicated tray
Follow the listed time; FIMO Soft lists 30 minutes. Tent the pieces with foil to stop browning.
- Cool, then finish
Let pieces cool fully before sanding, drilling or painting. FIMO says to cool completely before finishing.
Leftover raw clay doesn't air dry, so wrap it and store it away from heat and dust.
Which polymer clay should you choose?
- Jewelry and earrings: the Sculpey Premo sampler or FIMO Professional, for strength in thin pieces.
- First projects: FIMO Soft or the Sculpey III sampler. More starter ideas are in total beginners.
- Kids and gifts: the CiaraQ 50-color kit with tools, with an adult handling the oven.
- Maximum colors: Artecho's 70-color kit.
- Figures and sculpture: Super Sculpey.
- Bulk white for mixing: FIMO Soft white or ReArt white.
Polymer clay is one of several no-kiln routes; see everything in no kiln needed. For air-dry options, read the best air-dry clay. All clays are in the clay category.
Mistakes to avoid with polymer clay
- Guessing the bake temperature. Brands differ by up to 36 °F in our listings.
- Baking different brands together without checking that their temperatures overlap.
- Underbaking. Pieces that look done can still be brittle. Bake the full listed time.
- Sharing kitchen tools. Keep clay tools, trays and the pasta machine for clay only.
- Making food items. Polymer clay isn't listed as food-safe. Use it for decor and jewelry only.
- Skipping ventilation. Open a window while baking, and never exceed the package temperature.
We compared the listed firmness, color count, weight, bake instructions and included tools for every polymer clay in our catalogue. We report bake temperatures only where a listing states them. We did not condition or bake these clays ourselves.