Kiln Firing Schedule Calculator

Work out kiln firing schedule instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Kiln Firing Schedule Calculator

Heating time is the temperature rise divided by the ramp rate, and natural cooling is slower, modelled here at about 60% of the heating rate. Cooling is the longest part of the cycle and cannot be rushed, since opening a kiln above about 200 C thermal shocks the glaze.

Formulas

Heating time

hours = (target - start temperature) / ramp rate

Total cycle

total = heating + soak + cooling time

Worked example

With the default values below, Kiln Firing Schedule Calculator returns Total firing cycle of 27.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Target temperatureminimum 50 C: 1,220 C
Ramp rateminimum 1 C/h: 120 C/h
Soak at temperatureminimum 0 min: 20 min
Starting temperatureminimum -20 C: 20 C

Results

Total firing cycle: 27.00 h
Cycle in hours and minutes: 27h 00m
Heating time: 10.00 h
Cooling time to a safe opening temperature: 16.67 h

Step by step

1Values used
2Heating time
3Total cycle
4Total firing cycle= 27.00 h
5Cycle in hours and minutes= 27h 00m
6Heating time= 10.00 h
7Cooling time to a safe opening temperature= 16.67 h

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 2 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 Kiln Firing Schedule figure worked out?

hours = (target - start temperature) / ramp rate. Heating time is the temperature rise divided by the ramp rate, and natural cooling is slower, modelled here at about 60% of the heating rate.

Why does this matter?

Cooling is the longest part of the cycle and cannot be rushed, since opening a kiln above about 200 C thermal shocks the glaze.

What do I need to enter?

Enter target temperature, ramp rate, soak at temperature, starting temperature. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.