5 Pottery Molds to Try for Superior Slab Building (2025) 

Time to put your hand building hats on. By now, you’ve made the pinch pots, you’ve coiled a vase, and now, you’re dipping your toe into the world of slab building. Sure, you can free hand it. But if you’re looking for a more professional way to make your tableware, molds are the way to go. 

What’s a mold? So glad you asked. A mold is a guide that comes in many different shapes  and sizes to make anything from plates to mug handles. All you have to do is lay your slab on the mold, cut around it, and boom—you’ll have a consistent, smooth-looking piece every time. 

If it’s your first try at molds, where should you start? We’ve rounded up some of our favorites—so pick your pottery poison and slab build the day away! 

6 Pcs Pottery Mold Tools

This six piece pottery mold set will go a LONG way on your hand building journey.  Let’s start with the obvious—these are excellent molds to create a set of plates ranging from 5 in to 10.9 inch. So, from dinner to dessert, you’ll have every size plate you need! But better yet, you can actually stack these molds to form a bowl shape. Consider it a two-for-one mold deal!

Bonus: If you’re stacking your molds to make bowls, you might notice that you can see the seams from where one mold touches the other. If you’re wanting a cleaner end result, The Pottery Toolkit has the solution for you: The Seamless cover. Available in two sizes, this silicone cover removes those pesky lines to save you some studio time. 

Oval Serving Tray 

You can throw perfect circular platters on the wheel—but sometimes, you just need an oval platter in your tableware mix. This tray mold from The Ceramic Shop is perfect for serving hors d’oeuvre at a party, or just as a decorative piece. Similar to the 6 pc set, all you need to do is lay a rolled slab over the mold, and cut away the excess. Let it dry, fire it, and voila! Your oval serving tray is ready for action. 

Large Rectangle Slump Mold

Looking for more of a tray design? This other mold from The Ceramic Shop will d the trick. The mold shapes the outside of your form into a rectangular serving dish, and then you’re free to decorate to your heart’s content. Whether you’re wanting a traditional porcelain plate or a more earthy look, this plaster mold can turn any clay into your next hosting center! 

4 Pack Pottery Molds

Looking for pottery molds that create a piece faster than you can say “slab”? This is the mold for you. Roll out your slab, set it on some foam, and press your mold into the slab to create your piece. It’s a fun, fast process to get even/consistent bowls. 

Pottery Mug Handle Molds 

I don’t know about you but I dread making handles for mugs. I typically pull my handles, and they always turn out a bit wonky—they’re either comically large or too thick for my piece. To remedy this, I’m investing in these pottery mug handle molds ASAP. This set comes with 12 molds, and a variety of sizes for square, round, diamond, and triangular handle shapes. Great for shaping and cleaning up your handles, I think these will be a game changer in my mug-making process. 

Wrapping Up: 5 Pottery Molds to Try Out

Slab building just got a serious upgrade. Whether you’re crafting a full dinnerware set, experimenting with trays, or finally getting those mug handles just right, these molds bring consistency and ease to your handbuilding game. No more lopsided bowls or mismatched sizes—just smooth, pro-looking pieces every time. So go ahead—pick your mold, press your slab, and let the clay (and compliments) roll in.