Best For Beginners: Faber-Castel Do Art Pottery Studio

When it comes to pottery wheels for kids, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• All these kits require adult supervision, in our opinion. Yes, many say they are for kids aged 8 and up—but that doesn’t mean you as a parent don’t need to be involved.

• Most kid pottery wheels are battery operated. And yes, they can go through a lot of batteries—have extras standing by.

• All of the kits in this article have air-dry clay. Yes, it may take a day or two to dry, but there is no need for a kiln or special drying method.

After looking at several kits and trying them out with actual kids, we thought Faber-Castel’s Do Art Pottery Studio as the best bet for beginners. We loved the quality of this kit and all the included items. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Fun!

• 3 pounds of clay—more than other similar sets we researched.

• For ages 8 and up.

• Includes paints, glaze, tools, clay and more.

• Also includes apron.

What Needs Work

• Batteries (4C) not included.

• Messy . . . but to be fair, so are most of these kits!

Best Budget-Friendly: Made By Me My Very Own Pottery Wheel Kit

Good news: you don’t have to spend big bucks to get a good pottery wheel kit for kids. While this set has less clay (2 pounds) than others we researched, we still liked the bang for the buck here: you get paint colors, tools and a sponge. 

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Fun!

• Affordable.

• Includes everything you need to make pottery: clay, tools, paint and more.

• Runs on batteries (you can do it outside—which is good, as it can be messy!).

What Needs Work

• No variable speeds.

Best For a Rainy Day: Insnug Pottery Wheel Art Craft Kit

If you want to introduce kids to pottery and need to entertain kids inside on a rainy day, this kit is a good place to start. Our parent readers said they loved all the included accessories (clay, paint and even gems). 

When it comes to kits like this, we always ask the age-old question: is it fun? And this kit definitely passes that test!

What We Liked

• Fun for beginners.

• All inclusive: clay, brushes, paint, gems and more tools.

• Battery powered.

• Includes 2 carving tools.

• For ages 8-12 years.

What Needs Work

• Loud.

• Messy.

Best For Gift Making: Cool Maker, Pottery Studio

This kit was a reader favorite and takes a different approach to a kids’ pottery wheel kit: instead of making a cup or bowl, you get supplies for six specific projects: jewelry holder, pencil holder, smartphone speaker and more. These can be gifted to friends and family . . . a nice touch!

What We Liked

• Fun!

• Includes metallic paint.

• Easy to use.

• Includes all supplies: clay, paint, tools and more.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Requires 4 C batteries that aren’t included. To be fair, most kids’ pottery wheel kits we tried and researched ran on batteries that weren’t included. But since C batteries aren’t as common as others in a typical household, you have been forewarned—have some ready, so you can use this gift right away!

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!