Pottery Clay Throwing Weight Chart

A pottery clay weight chart tells you how much clay to wedge before throwing a given form: for example, about 14 oz for an 8 oz coffee mug, 1 lb 6 oz for a small bowl and 3 lb for a medium dinner plate. Pick your form below to see the weight in pounds or grams plus the thrown size.

How to use the clay weight chart

1. Choose the form you want to throw, such as an 8 oz coffee mug, a small bowl or a medium teapot.
2. Pick imperial (pounds, ounces, inches) or metric (grams, centimeters).
3. If you are new to the wheel, choose “Yes” to add 25% extra clay, as the source chart suggests for beginners who leave thicker walls and bottoms.
4. Weigh out and wedge the clay shown in the result, then aim for the listed height and width on the freshly thrown pot.
5. Use “Copy” to paste your result into your notes, “Download CSV” to get the whole table as a spreadsheet, or “Print full chart” to put it on your studio wall. Copied text and the CSV both include the source and the date the data was checked.

The tool also estimates the fired size, using the 11–14% total shrinkage that the source chart assumes. Your own clay body may shrink more or less, so check the shrinkage figure on your clay’s data sheet.

Where the throwing weights come from

All 27 forms come from the Lakeside Pottery “Clay Poundage Chart,” which lists a clay weight in pounds and ounces for each piece, plus the height and width of the freshly thrown pot in inches. No formula predicts throwing weight exactly; the chart records what works in one studio. We only convert units:

• Grams = ounces × 28.349523125 (exact definition of the avoirdupois ounce), rounded to the nearest gram.
• Pounds = ounces ÷ 16.
• Centimeters = inches × 2.54.
• Beginner weight = chart weight × 1.25.
• Estimated fired size = thrown size × 0.86 to 0.89 (11–14% shrinkage).

Worked example: a beginner throwing an 8 oz coffee mug takes 14 oz × 1.25 = 17.5 oz, which is 1 lb 1.5 oz or about 496 g.

Clay weight for bowls and mugs: a throwing weight chart for everyday forms

If you are looking for a “how much clay for a mug” chart, the source gives three mug sizes: 10 oz of clay for a 6 oz coffee mug (thrown about 3 in tall and 3 in wide), 14 oz for an 8 oz coffee mug (5 × 3 in) and 1 lb 5 oz for a 14 oz beer mug (7 × 3.5 in). The capacities in those names describe the finished mug, not the amount of clay.

For bowls, the throwing weight chart lists 1 lb 6 oz for a small bowl, 4 lb for a medium bowl or large mixing bowl and 5 lb 12 oz for a large bowl about 12 in wide when freshly thrown. Plates run from 13 oz for a saucer to 4 lb for a large dinner plate. Pitchers, teapots, casseroles, decanters, storage jars and two practice cylinders round out the table.

Treat every number as a starting point. A clay with more grog, a thrower who pulls thinner walls or a design with a heavy foot can all shift the right amount. Many potters weigh every ball for a matching set and write down what worked so they can repeat it.

Methodology & sources

This chart uses a single published table, checked on November 9, 2026. Weights are copied as printed; gram, kilogram and centimeter values are our conversions using exact unit definitions. Two printed heights in the source (“4 .5” and “9 .0”) are read as 4.5 and 9.0 in, and the 1 liter wine decanter has no width in the source, so none is shown.

• Lakeside Pottery – Clay Poundage Chart: all clay weights, thrown sizes, the +25% beginner note and the 11–14% shrinkage assumption.
• Wikipedia – Ounce: 1 oz = 28.349523125 g.
• Wikipedia – Pound (mass): 1 lb = 16 oz = 0.45359237 kg.
• Wikipedia – Inch: 1 in = 2.54 cm.

Last updated: November 2026

FAQ

How much clay do I need for a mug?

The Lakeside Pottery chart lists 10 oz of clay for a 6 oz coffee mug, 14 oz for an 8 oz coffee mug and 1 lb 5 oz for a 14 oz beer mug. Beginners may want to add about 25% to allow for thicker walls and bottoms.

How much clay is needed for a bowl?

The chart gives 1 lb 6 oz for a small bowl (about 3 in tall by 6 in wide when freshly thrown), 4 lb for a medium bowl and 5 lb 12 oz for a large bowl.

Are the heights and widths finished sizes?

No. The chart’s heights and widths are measured on the freshly thrown pot. The source assumes 11–14% total shrinkage, so the fired piece will be smaller.

Why should beginners add extra clay?

The source suggests that people just starting out may want to add 25% for thicker walls on the bottom, since new throwers usually leave more clay in the base and walls.

Where do the gram values come from?

The source chart is printed in pounds and ounces. Grams are converted using the exact definition 1 oz = 28.349523125 g and rounded to the nearest gram.

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