Best Pottery & Modeling Clays of 2025

"I bought this for my daughter's school project. She absolutely loves it and has been creating little figurines every day. It's incredibly easy to use—there's no need to bake it. We just let it air dry, and within 24 hours, it's usually ready for some colors. We still have plenty left over, kept in a tight container for future use. It's been so much fun and therapeutic!"

"I haven't used this since I was in tenth grade, and now at 38, it's still super fun! It's engaging for kids of all ages, and the clay typically dries within 48 hours, depending on the thickness. Just be prepared—it's a bit messy! I provided my daughter a bowl of water to dip her fingers in while working. Totally worth it for the fun!"

"Crayola Air Dry Clay is a fantastic option for kids who love arts and crafts! I bought this for my children, and it's been a hit with them from day one. The 25lb bulk size is great for multiple projects, and the clay is easy to work with—soft and smooth, making it perfect for little hands. One of the best things about this clay is that it air-dries, so there's no need for baking, making it super convenient for quick projects."

"I recently bought the Kids Polymer Clay Set as a Christmas gift for my child, and it was a huge hit! The set includes a variety of vibrant colors, easy-to-follow instructions, and all the necessary tools. It kept my child engaged for hours, and I loved how soft and easy to manipulate the clay is. There's no need for baking since it air-dries, and it's safe and non-toxic, making it perfect for younger kids!"

"As someone new to polymer clay, I found this product to be a great starting point. I made numerous crafts and still have plenty of clay left after six months. While it takes some molding to work with, the quantity is impressive for beginners. I experienced some color transfer issues, but overall, I enjoyed my experience and think it's worth the money!"

"I got this clay to make fridge magnets, and I was pleasantly surprised by the good variety of colors. It was very easy to work with, which is a huge advantage when creating small charms. Even though one of my boxes was a bit damaged, I still found the product to be very practical and enjoyable!"

"I've tried several air dry clays, but this one is by far the best. It works incredibly well, is super durable, and lasts forever if stored properly. I love that it dries slowly, allowing me to bend my creations while they’re still not fully dry. Once it dries, it looks almost like plaster and has a nice whitish tone. It's definitely a fun addition to my crafting supplies!"

"As someone who doesn't do much 3D art, I found this clay super easy to work with. It dried sturdy and had an amazing texture. Blending was a breeze with just water, and I had a lot of fun using it. Cleanup was simple too; I just used soap and water!"

"I bought 2.2 lbs of this clay and was surprised by how little it was! I sculpted a squirrel, but I barely had enough clay for it. However, I really liked how the clay felt in my hands and its ability to capture detail. Since I’m not in a hurry for it to dry, I’m not sure how that aspect will turn out yet."

"As a creative person, I find this clay lasts a long time without drying out. The tools included are fantastic too, making it a great deal!"

"I've really enjoyed using this clay! It hardens nicely and is easy to work with, plus the set of modeling tools is excellent!"

"This clay is incredibly versatile and comes with a comprehensive 40-piece toolset. I've had great success with both pottery and detailed sculpting projects!"

"I initially bought 10 lbs for Christmas gifts, but I still have a lot left! Using a wet paper towel in the bag helped preserve it. I had a blast making jewelry dishes and embedding trinkets, although some items needed to be glued back on due to my technique. I recommend mod podge for the inside finish. Overall, I'm satisfied with the quality after doing some research on air-dry clay."

"I purchased this for my adult son as a Christmas gift, and he started a project the very next day. He finds it easy and fun to work with, which makes me happy!"

"As an art major who loves ceramics, I decided to try this air dry clay because traditional ceramics can be pricey. I'm thrilled with how quick and easy it is to use! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in ceramics or looking for a fun activity with friends or kids."

"I bought this clay for a fun project with friends and have become completely obsessed! Making little clay magnets has been a joy. The clay is incredibly easy to mold, and the colors don't bleed into each other. It dries at just the right pace—not too fast or slow, and no baking required! It even comes with three super useful tools. The quality is fantastic, and my creations turned out amazing (see photos!). I highly recommend this clay for beginners and seasoned crafters alike!"

"My nieces and nephews had a blast with this air clay! It was amazing to see them be so creative. My niece is 11 and my nephew is 8, and they played for over an hour. There are lots of colors available, and it wasn't messy at all!"

"My grandbabies, aged 8 and 10, had so much fun with this! My 8-year-old granddaughter created a monkey with bananas, a frog on a lily pad, and a cute little puppy among other adorable creations! I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it dried and how lightweight the finished items were—almost like a foam material! I would definitely buy this again!"

“I absolutely love this set! It's easy to use and offers a great variety of colors. The kids aged 3-13 enjoy playing with it together. The texture is fantastic and it’s a great value. I’ve bought several for our home and as gifts.”

“I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve purchased this clay. My mom is a huge fan too! She’s creating her own kid show online and really loves making all these creatures and characters. It’s just good clean fun!”

“This clay provides hours of entertainment for young children. It’s soft, non-sticky, and the variety of colors is impressive. It truly air dries as advertised, allowing creations to be kept forever. I love it so much that I buy it for every birthday party we attend!”

"I found this clay to be fantastic for both novice and experienced crafting. Its accessibility and ease of use make it ideal for DIY projects. While it may not be as durable as traditional fired clay, it's perfect for decorative items and allows for endless creativity!"

"Using this clay to create ghosts was a breeze! It was my first time working with clay, and I was impressed by its quality. The packaging was secure, and I was thrilled to see that it dried quickly on its own, ready for painting in just a few hours!"

"My experience with ACTIVA Supreme Artist's Air-Dry Modelling Clay was mixed. While I enjoyed the creative process, I noticed the drying time was quicker than expected, making it challenging to achieve detail. Also, I encountered some cracking as it dried, which affected the finished look."

"I found the clay to have great texture and color with zero complaints. The customer service was a standout, providing helpful advice that really enhanced my experience. After following their prep instructions, the clay was easy to work with and felt amazing. As someone who usually preps my own clay, this was a delightful change. I'm excited to see how my customers react to the new jewelry line I'm creating!"

"For my kid's science project on erosion, I received two bags of clay, which was sufficient for our needs. I can't speak to its quality for sculpting or crafting, but it worked well for our project."

"While this clay wasn't the best I've ever used, it certainly wasn't terrible. For the price, it's a solid choice, especially for beginners. I found it a bit challenging to make it pliable, but it was a good amount for the price."

"I purchased this 36-color air dry magic clay kit for my children, and it has been nothing short of a hit! The variety of colors is fantastic, and the texture is perfect for molding. It's soft, pliable, and doesn't stick to little hands. This kit is truly mess-free, which I greatly appreciate as a parent. An added bonus is the project booklet that came with it, full of ideas that got my kids started right away. Overall, this kit is excellent for encouraging creativity and fine motor skills."

"We absolutely love this clay kit! My kids, a 7-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy, enjoy it immensely. It's not messy, easy to manipulate, and the clean-up is simple. The clay dries quickly while keeping its shape, making it a great activity for my daughter during playdates. This will be my 3rd purchase; it's an inexpensive gift option too!"

"I was really pleased with this product; I thought I was buying actual clay, but it's air clay! It feels more like a play-doh/slime mix but is super easy to work with. When it dries, it becomes a hard foam that's easy to tear apart. No baking is required, and the variety of colors is great. I'm gifting this for Christmas to some play-doh lovers in the family!"