The short answer
Ceramics is the broader term, and pottery is a part of it. Pottery generally refers to vessels and objects made from clay and hardened by firing, while ceramics covers that and a wider range of fired, non-metallic, inorganic materials. In casual conversation, people often use the two words interchangeably, and that is rarely a problem.
What counts as ceramics
Ceramics is a broad category of materials that are shaped and then hardened or altered by heat. It includes clay-based wares such as plates and tiles, and it also extends to materials used in industry, such as some bricks, sanitary ware and technical ceramics. Porcelain is a ceramic, as are earthenware and stoneware.
What counts as pottery
Pottery usually means objects such as bowls, mugs, jugs, plates and vases made from clay and fired. The word can refer to the objects, to the craft of making them, and to the workshop where a potter works. Pottery is commonly made by hand building or on a wheel; see hand building vs wheel throwing for how those approaches differ.
Earthenware, stoneware and porcelain
Pottery is commonly grouped into three main types of clay body (covered fully in pottery clay types and how to choose one):
- Earthenware: generally fired at lower temperatures, often remains porous unless glazed, and is often associated with terracotta.
- Stoneware: generally fired at higher temperatures than earthenware, and usually dense and durable once fired.
- Porcelain: made from fine, usually white clay such as kaolin-based bodies and fired at high temperatures, giving a hard, often translucent result.
Exact firing ranges depend on the specific clay, so always follow the instructions that come with the clay and glaze you use.
Key pottery terms by stage
Clay and shaping
- Clay body: the specific mix of clays and other materials a clay is made from.
- Slip: clay thinned with water to a liquid, used for joining, decorating or casting.
- Wedging: kneading clay to even out its consistency and remove air pockets.
- Throwing: shaping clay on a spinning wheel.
- Pinch, coil and slab: the three basic hand-building methods.
Drying and firing
- Greenware: unfired clay, which is fragile.
- Leather-hard: clay that has stiffened but is still slightly damp, a common stage for trimming and joining.
- Bone dry: completely dry but unfired.
- Kiln: a special oven used to fire clay.
- Bisque firing: a first firing that hardens the piece before glazing.
Glazing and finishing
- Glaze: a glassy coating applied to a piece and melted onto it during firing.
- Glaze firing: the firing that matures the glaze.
- Food safe: a label that depends on the glaze and firing; check with the maker or manufacturer.
Other words you will hear
A person who makes pottery may be called a potter, a ceramicist or a ceramic artist. “Ceramics” is also commonly used by studios and classes to describe pottery courses.
Can you do pottery at home?
Yes, many people do, especially with hand building, which needs little equipment. The step that is harder at home is firing, because a kiln is a large investment. Many hobbyists use a studio that fires work for a fee, and some try pottery without a kiln. See how to start pottery for more, or our wider introduction to pottery as a hobby.