Kiln Cone Temperature Lookup
Look up the firing temperature in °F and °C for Orton pyrometric cones 06 through 10, with the use case for each range.
Midfire stoneware, the sweet spot for most home electric kilns.
Cones measure heatwork, meaning time and temperature together, not just peak temperature. A slower firing bends a cone at a lower peak temperature than a fast one, which is why the chart assumes a standard final ramp of 108°F per hour. A different ramp rate will shift these numbers.
| Cone | °F | °C | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 | 1828 | 998 | Bisque firing and low-fire glaze (earthenware). |
| 04 | 1945 | 1063 | Bisque firing and low-fire glaze (earthenware). |
| 02 | 2048 | 1120 | Transitional range between low-fire glaze and midfire stoneware. |
| 1 | 2079 | 1137 | Transitional range between low-fire glaze and midfire stoneware. |
| 5 | 2205 | 1207 | Midfire stoneware, the sweet spot for most home electric kilns. |
| 6 | 2232 | 1222 | Midfire stoneware, the sweet spot for most home electric kilns. |
| 8 | 2280 | 1249 | High fire and reduction stoneware or porcelain. |
| 10 | 2345 | 1285 | High fire and reduction stoneware or porcelain. |
How it works
Pottery kilns are usually programmed and read by pyrometric cone number rather than a single temperature, because the cone itself is what tells you the clay or glaze got done cooking. Orton self-supporting cones are small clay-and-mineral spikes that soften and bend over at a known point, and this chart lists the standard bending temperature for each cone at a final ramp rate of 108°F per hour, which is the rate most published cone charts assume.
Worked example: cone 6 is the most common target for home electric kilns firing stoneware, and it bends at 2232°F, or 1222°C, at that standard ramp rate. Cone 04, used for many bisque firings and low-fire glazes, bends much cooler at 1945°F (1063°C). Cone 10, used for high-fire stoneware and porcelain, needs 2345°F (1285°C). Pick your cone from the dropdown and the tool shows both temperature scales plus what that cone is typically used for, and the full table below has every cone at once if you're comparing a firing schedule.
FAQ
Why do cones matter more than just watching a thermometer?
A cone measures heatwork, the combined effect of time and temperature, not temperature alone. Two firings that both reach 2232°F can still under-fire or over-fire a piece if one ramped up much faster than the other, because the clay and glaze needed sustained heat, not just a peak number, to finish maturing.
Which cone should a beginner start with?
Cone 06 for a first bisque firing and cone 6 for a first glaze firing is the standard combination for stoneware clay in a home electric kiln, and it's what most beginner clay bodies and commercial glazes are formulated for. Check your specific clay and glaze packaging to confirm before your first firing.
What happens if my kiln fires faster or slower than 108°F per hour?
The cone will bend at a different actual temperature than the chart shows, since it's responding to accumulated heat over time, not a single reading. A slower final ramp lets a cone bend at a somewhat lower peak temperature, and a faster ramp needs a somewhat higher peak to bend the same cone.
Can I use one cone number for both bisque and glaze firing?
No, they're different steps with different goals. Bisque firing at a lower cone (commonly 06 or 04) leaves the clay porous enough to absorb glaze evenly, while the glaze firing goes to a higher cone that actually melts the glaze and matures the clay body fully.
For more on what happens inside the kiln, see understanding cone temperatures from cone 04 to cone 10, pyrometric cones and firing schedules, and bisque firing vs. glaze firing, what each one does.