Best Clear Glazes: Crystal-Clear Coats That Do Not Cloud or Craze
Updated How we research
A clear glaze has one job, and it is surprisingly hard to do well: vanish. It should seal the surface, deepen underglaze color, and add gloss or a soft satin sheen without milkiness, pinholes, or a craze pattern spreading across your work a week after the firing. Clears also interact with clay bodies differently, so a glaze that fires glassy on one stoneware can cloud on another. In this guide we compare the clear glazes that consistently fire transparent, covering both brushing bottles for small studios and dry dipping clears for potters glazing in volume. We also explain application thickness, why clears go cloudy, and which products fit each firing range.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.1 out of 10.
- Best overall:Amaco LG-10 Clear Gloss Glaze, 16 oz. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.1/10.
- Also great value:Speedball 002000 Stoneware Glaze, Clear, 16 oz. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.5/10.
- Solid build:Mayco S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing Glaze, Pint. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.1/10.
- Feature-rich:AMACO Celadon C-11 Clear Gloss Glaze, 1 Pint. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.0/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not change our picks. Affiliate disclosure
Amaco LG-10 Clear Gloss Glaze, 16 oz
AMACO's LG-10 lead free liquid gloss glaze in clear, a 16 Oz pint for low fire earthenware.
Mayco S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing Glaze, Pint
Mayco's Crystal Clear brushing glaze S-2101 in a pint, a low fire clear for sealing underglaze designs.
- 1.Amaco LG-10 Clear Gloss Glaze, 16 oz8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Mayco S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing Glaze, Pint8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.AMACO Celadon C-11 Clear Gloss Glaze, 1 Pint8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Penguin Pottery Clear Glaze, Cone 06-04, 1 Pint7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Duncan Pure Brilliance Clear Brush-on Glaze, 16 oz7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Speedball 002000 Stoneware Glaze, Clear, 16 oz7.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Sax True Flow Gloss Glaze, Natural Clear, 1 Pint7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
| # | Product | Our score | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amaco LG-10 Clear Gloss Glaze, 16 oz | 8.1/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 2 | Mayco S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing Glaze, Pint | 8.1/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 3 | AMACO Celadon C-11 Clear Gloss Glaze, 1 Pint | 8.0/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 4 | Penguin Pottery Clear Glaze, Cone 06-04, 1 Pint | 7.8/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 5 | Duncan Pure Brilliance Clear Brush-on Glaze, 16 oz | 7.8/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 6 | Speedball 002000 Stoneware Glaze, Clear, 16 oz | 7.5/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 7 | Sax True Flow Gloss Glaze, Natural Clear, 1 Pint | 7.0/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
AMACO's LG-10 lead free liquid gloss glaze in clear, a 16 Oz pint for low fire earthenware.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + LG-10 is a classic low fire clear widely used in classrooms
- + Lead free formula is suitable for functional ware when fired correctly
- + Brushable liquid glaze is easy for beginners to apply
- - Low fire only, so it will not mature in stoneware firings
- - Thick coats can look cloudy over dark clay bodies
Mayco's Crystal Clear brushing glaze S-2101 in a pint, a low fire clear for sealing underglaze designs.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Brushing formula applies smoothly in even coats
- + Crystal Clear is popular over Mayco underglazes and colors
- + Glossy finish makes painted designs look bright and finished
- - Low fire clear, so stoneware potters need a different glaze
- - Needs several coats brushed carefully to avoid thin spots
AMACO's Celadon C-11 mixing clear transparent gloss glaze, 16 oz. (473 mL), Cone 5-6 for bisque ware.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cone 5-6 clear gloss suits the most common mid fire kilns
- + Mixing clear can be blended with colorants for custom celadons
- + Transparent gloss shows underglaze and clay color beneath
- - Mixing clear is meant for tinting, so plain clears may be simpler
- - Pint jar covers limited ware if dipping rather than brushing
Penguin Pottery's clear low fire glaze, Cone 06-04, in a 1 Pint jar for low fire clay bodies.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cone 06-04 range matches common low fire kiln schedules
- + Clear glaze protects and brightens underglaze designs
- + Pottery-focused brand with clear labeling for beginners
- - 1 Pint jar is small for dipping larger pieces
- - Low fire range will not work on mid fire stoneware
A 16 ounce jar of Duncan Pure Brilliance brush-on clear glaze, fired to cone 06. This is a low-fire clear for earthenware and low-fire underglaze work, not a high-fire stoneware glaze.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Fires at cone 06 to a brilliant gloss that the maker says enhances the colors underneath.
- + Listing states it is nontoxic and will not crack or craze when fired to shelf cone 06.
- + Clear directions in the listing: two flowing coats with a glaze brush, letting it dry between coats.
- - Low fire only: the listing covers cone 06, so it is not a clear for cone 5 to 6 stoneware.
- - Brush-on formula in a 16 ounce jar, so it is not practical for dipping anything but very small pieces.
Speedball's 002000 stoneware glaze in clear, 16 oz, for durable mid fire and higher firing pottery.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Stoneware clear gives a tough, glassy surface for functional ware
- + Budget-friendly jar from a widely stocked brand
- + 16 oz jar is enough to brush a set of mugs
- - Confirm the cone range on Speedball's glaze chart first
- - Brush application can streak without careful coats
A pint of Sax True Flow gloss glaze in Natural Clear, a lead-free low-fire glaze that the listing rates dinnerware safe at cone 06 to 05. An economical clear for earthenware, not for stoneware firings.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Listed as lead-free and dinnerware safe when fired to cone 06 to 05.
- + Non-toxic and conforms to ASTM D-4236, which matters for classroom and shared studio use.
- + Positioned by the maker as an economically priced gloss glaze, in a standard 16 ounce pint.
- - Low-fire glaze: the listing rates it for cone 06 to 05, so it is not a clear for cone 5 to 6 stoneware.
- - Sparse listing with no application notes, coat count or guidance on use over underglaze.
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Low fire only, so it will not mature in stoneware firings (Amaco LG-10 Clear Gloss Glaze, 16 oz)
- Low fire clear, so stoneware potters need a different glaze (Mayco S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing Glaze, Pint)
- Mixing clear is meant for tinting, so plain clears may be simpler (AMACO Celadon C-11 Clear Gloss Glaze, 1 Pint)
- 1 Pint jar is small for dipping larger pieces (Penguin Pottery Clear Glaze, Cone 06-04, 1 Pint)
- Low fire only: the listing covers cone 06, so it is not a clear for cone 5 to 6 stoneware. (Duncan Pure Brilliance Clear Brush-on Glaze,...)
- Confirm the cone range on Speedball's glaze chart first (Speedball 002000 Stoneware Glaze, Clear, 16 oz)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among clear glazes: crystal-clear coats that do not cloud or craze?
Amaco LG-10 Clear Gloss Glaze, 16 oz is our top overall pick. AMACO's LG-10 lead free liquid gloss glaze in clear, a 16 Oz pint for low fire earthenware. It earns our score of 8.1/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Mayco S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing Glaze, Pint is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Mayco's Crystal Clear brushing glaze S-2101 in a pint, a low fire clear for sealing underglaze designs.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Pottery Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
Popular right now
- Underglaze TechniquesArticle
- Best Underglaze Pencils: Draw Fine Ceramic Detail on BisqueBuying guide
- Best Clay Storage Containers to Keep Clay Workable for MonthsBuying guide
- Why Glaze Crazes and How to Prevent ItArticle
- Recycling ClayArticle
- Best Ware Boards for Moving and Drying Pots SafelyBuying guide
Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.