Pottery is an art and its utility has been increased these days confirming the choice of best pottery clay. While choosing the clay for pottery, the artist has to keep two things in mind: the purpose of the final object, and the quality of the clay he is considering for use. The pottery clay must be soft and malleable, and devoid of impurities. There are several types of clay, and only some of them are used in pottery . Among them is potter's clay, ceramic, porcelain,

Potter's clay is the most common clay used in pottery. It is simply the result of rock decomposition into flat plates, these microscopic plates trap water in between them and this accounts for the suppleness of the clay, and what is often referred to as ‘plasticity'. Such pottery clay is deposited by rivers, and is dug out and used as such. Sometimes, it is refined before use, or mixed with other material. Naturally occurring potter's earth does not contain iron.

This clay is also called potter's earth and is sometimes used not to make the final object, but simply as an intermediary mold. This clay is a slightly modified form of the natural clay. It is called Water-based Extended Drying clay.

Pottery clay is fairly cheap and easily available. It is soft and easily shaped by simply using the fingers.

Ceramic and porcelain are two other materials used in pottery. Porcelain clay is white stone that has been crushed and purified by mixing with water. The impurities sink to the bottom, and the paste is strained and left to solidify. It is then freed of superfluous water and worked with spades till it becomes smooth. It is also called china clay or terra alba.
Another pottery clay is argil. This is a kind of white clay.