By The Eye desk · Last verified 12 October 2026
A one-off pottery class in Singapore costs roughly S$45 to S$98 per person, based on studio prices published in July 2026, and a wheel-throwing trial is most often about S$78 to S$98 for 90 minutes to two hours. Your piece is glazed and fired afterwards, so expect to collect it weeks later. Regular courses run from about S$320 for four sessions. For heritage, head west: off Jalan Bahar stand Singapore’s two surviving dragon kilns, long wood-fired tunnels built by Teochew potters. Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle at 85 Lorong Tawas still fires its 1940s kiln and runs classes too.
Clay is a lovely way to spend a slow afternoon: muddy hands, no screens, and a slightly wonky bowl you will treasure. Here is what you pay and where the history lives.
Quick facts
- Trial classes: about S$45 to S$98 per person (July 2026 listings).
- Wheel-throwing tasters usually last 1.5 to 2 hours; hand-building sessions can be shorter or longer.
- Glazing and firing are usually included; collection comes later, as the clay must dry and be fired.
- Multi-session courses start around S$320 for four lessons at one studio.
- Dragon kilns: two survive near Jalan Bahar, at Thow Kwang and the former Guan Huat kiln.
- A dragon-kiln firing can reach about 1,200°C and run for many hours.
What does a pottery class cost?
These are sample trial prices published by Seth Lui in July 2026. Studios change prices and formats often, so confirm on the studio’s own booking page.
| Studio (area) | Class | Price | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayable (Havelock Road) | Pottery-making class | S$45 | 50 min |
| The Potters’ Guilt (Pearl’s Hill) | Pottery on the Wheel | S$58 | 1 hr 30 min |
| Meso Ceramics (Geylang) | Wheel throw experience | S$78 | Not stated |
| Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle (Lorong Tawas) | Trial on Potter’s Wheel | S$80 | 2 hr |
| sen by Prodigal Co (MacTaggart Road) | Wheel-throwing taster | S$80 | 1 hr 30 min |
| Studio Asobi (Hougang) | Living clay workshop | S$95 | 3 hr |
| Am I Addicted Pottery Studio (Orchard Central) | Standard wheel throwing | S$98 | 2 hr |
Worked example: trial or course?
Ceramic House Singapore listed a S$80 trial, a four-session course at S$320 and a ten-session course at S$600. The four-session course works out at S$320 ÷ 4 = S$80 a lesson, the same as the trial; ten sessions come to S$600 ÷ 10 = S$60 a lesson. If you are sure you will keep going, the longer course saves S$20 a session. If you are not sure, a single trial is the kinder first step.
Hand-building or the wheel?
- Hand-building uses pinching, coiling and slabs. It is relaxed, good for children and groups, and easier to get a usable plate or cup on day one.
- Wheel throwing is the classic spinning wheel. It is harder at first, as centring the clay takes practice, but it is the experience most people picture. Instructors often help you finish a piece in a first session.
- Glazing may be done by you on a later visit or by the studio in a colour you choose. Ask which, and whether extra pieces cost more.
What are the dragon kilns?
A dragon kiln is a long, sloping brick tunnel built up a hillside. It has a “head” where the fire starts, a “body” where pots are stacked, and a “tail” that drives smoke to the chimney. Stoke holes along the sides let potters feed wood in stages, and flying ash settles on the pots to form a natural glaze. Teochew potters brought the design to Singapore, and kilns once operated in places such as Jurong, Hougang, Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong.
| Kiln | Built | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Thow Kwang, 85 Lorong Tawas | 1940s (sources give 1940 or 1944) | About 27m long with 17 pairs of stoke holes; described by Docomomo Singapore as the only working dragon kiln; part of Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle, with workshops and a shop |
| Guan Huat, off Jalan Bahar | 1958 | Once the longest at about 43m; restored with Singapore Tourism Board funding in 2003 and refurbished as Jalan Bahar Clay Studios |
Firings are occasional events rather than a daily show, and a firing can reach about 1,200°C. Thow Kwang has run special dragon-kiln workshops, for example during the Singapore HeriTage Fest, where a cup fired in the kiln was ready for collection after four to five weeks. Watch the studios’ channels for firing dates.
The WahLiao Verdict
Book one trial class near you and budget about S$80, then decide. If the wheel grabs you, a multi-session course brings the cost per lesson down. Make one trip west to Lorong Tawas, though, because walking past a wood-fired dragon kiln that has survived since the 1940s gives your little bowl a story. Go in the cooler morning, wear clothes you do not mind marking, and be patient for the firing.
Questions people ask
Can I take my pot home the same day?
Usually not. Clay must dry, then be fired and often glazed and fired again, so studios ask you to collect it, or arrange delivery, some weeks later.
Are pottery classes suitable for children?
Many studios run family or children’s sessions, and hand-building is the easiest start. Check each studio’s minimum age.
Can I visit the dragon kilns without a class?
Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle runs a shop and studio on site. Check its opening times before travelling, as the area is far west and public transport is limited.
Is pottery food-safe?
Ask your studio. Food safety depends on the clay, the glaze and the firing, and studios will tell you whether a piece is meant for food or for display.
Sources: Seth Lui, pottery workshop prices, July 2026; Docomomo Singapore, Thow Kwang Dragon Kiln; Remember Singapore, Jalan Bahar dragon kilns history; Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, dragon kilns and Teochew pottery; National Heritage Board, Thow Kwang workshops at Singapore HeriTage Fest. The Eye explains; it does not endorse.
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For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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