Clay Staining Calculator

A simple tool for determining how much stain to add to your clay for saturated, medium, or pale colors.

For deep colors like black, dark blue (Mazerine), and green (Peacock) I typically use a stain concentration of about 5%.

The exact percentage depends on the intensity of color I want to achieve—lower percentages result in a more pale hue, while higher percentages create a more saturated tone.

Results:
Stain Weight:
0.0 g
Clay Weight:
0.0 g
Total Weight:
0.0 g
Percentage:
10%
Standard Guidelines:
  • Saturated color: 18% pigment
  • Medium tone: 10% pigment
  • Pale/pastel: 5% pigment
Examples (1000g / 2.2lb of clay):
  • Saturated: 180g / 0.4lb stain
  • Medium: 100g / 0.22lb stain
  • Pale: 50g / 0.11lb stain

You’ve got your measurements! Now, check out this tutorial to learn how to properly mix the stain into your clay.