Selecting the right size kiln

Selecting the right size kiln

Posted by Anne M Bracker on May 28th 2019

Our friends at Yellow Door Studio posted a photo on Facebook recently that reminds us how important it is to consider the dimensions of the pieces you make when purchasing a kiln. 

Using a large sheet of paper (like newspaper), draw or cut out the following circles:

  • 15-1/2" (representing kilns with 8 sides or inside diameter of approx 18")
  • 21" (representing kilns with 10 sides or inside diameter of approx 23")
  • 26" (representing kilns with 12 sides or inside diameter of approx 28")


Use those kiln shelf paper templates to test out how you'd load a kiln shelf using your own work. Bisque firing loads can have pieces touching and/or stacked but pieces in a glaze firing loads can't touch unless you want them fused together.