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Clay Quantity Calculator

Work out clay quantity instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Clay Quantity Calculator

Clay weight is piece volume times density times the number of pieces, with a wastage allowance for trimmings and failed throws. Throwing wastage of 20% is normal because centring consumes clay that never becomes a pot, and reclaim takes days to become usable again.

Formula

Clay weight

grams = piece volume x density x pieces x (1 + wastage)

Worked example

With the default values below, Clay Quantity Calculator returns Clay needed of 4.104. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Volume of one pieceminimum 0.1 cm3
300 cm3
Number of piecesminimum 1
6
Clay densityminimum 0.1 g/cm3
1.9 g/cm3
Trimming and wastageaccepts 0–100 %
20 %

Results

Clay needed
4.104 kg
Clay in grams
4,104 g
Clay per piece before wastage
570.0 g
12.5 kg bags to buy
1

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Clay weight
  3. 3Clay needed= 4.104 kg
  4. 4Clay in grams= 4,104 g
  5. 5Clay per piece before wastage= 570.0 g
  6. 612.5 kg bags to buy= 1

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Clay Quantity figure worked out?

grams = piece volume x density x pieces x (1 + wastage). Clay weight is piece volume times density times the number of pieces, with a wastage allowance for trimmings and failed throws.

Why does this matter?

Throwing wastage of 20% is normal because centring consumes clay that never becomes a pot, and reclaim takes days to become usable again.

What do I need to enter?

Enter volume of one piece, number of pieces, clay density, trimming and wastage. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.

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