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Best Modeling Clays

Updated March 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Sculpey Oven-Bake Clay
Sculpey
Oven-Bake Clay
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Best for Kids
Bottom Line

This pack of modeling clay stays soft and flexible until baked and gives a child plenty of time to have fun.

Pros

Set is vast and colorful, with 30 options out of the box. Polymer clay meets EN 71 AP safety standards and is safe to work with and bake. Great for creative kids who want to make detailed models.

Cons

Veteran sculptors might find this clay sub-par.

Best Bang for the Buck
Sargent 1-Pound Solid Color Modeling Clay
Sargent
1-Pound Solid Color Modeling Clay
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

This modeling clay maximizes creativity with a solid gray color that's ripe for the practicing sculptor.

Pros

One pound of modeling clay that's non-toxic and non-hardening. Endlessly reusable for practicing, art references, and more. Works well with plaster if you want a permanent sculpture.

Cons

Harder to use for permanent projects.

DAS Air-Hardening Modeling Clay - 2.2 lbs.
DAS
Air-Hardening Modeling Clay - 2.2 lbs.
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

White, air-drying clay that's beloved by sculptors and model-makers for its quality and ease of use.

Pros

No oven required as it dries in 24 hours. Great for quick projects that don't require lots of time. Versatile use from kids to established artists. Easy-to-paint with tempera and acrylic.

Cons

Not ideal for long-term projects, as it slowly hardens over several hours.

ifergoo 36-Color Modeling Clay Kit
ifergoo
36-Color Modeling Clay Kit
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Most Versatile
Bottom Line

This set keeps things clean, with individual containers for every color and an endless world of creativity.

Pros

Air-drying clay goes from the container to the finished product in hours. Non-toxic material complies with national safety standards. Includes sculpting tools to teach fundamentals.

Cons

Each color is less than 1 ounce. Not for professionals.

Van Aken Plastalina Modeling Clay
Van Aken
Plastalina Modeling Clay
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Great for Practicing
Bottom Line

This professional-grade clay never hardens so it can be used over and over again.

Pros

There’s 1 pound of it and it comes in 19 colors such as several shades of blue, red, and brown. By never hardening, it can be used for practicing, making molds, and the like. Great for newcomers and professionals.

Cons

It cannot be oven baked to set a sculpture permanently.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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60
Consumers
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10
Hours
Researched
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