Mix clay to any color — with exact ratios
1Pick your target color
Tap the swatch to pick a color, or type a HEX code.
2Select the clays you have
Toggle only the clay colors you own. You can add custom ones too. (Up to 10 at once)
3Recommended mixing ratios
Actual results vary by clay brand and pigment. Mix a small test batch first.
How to use
Tap the swatch, or paste a HEX code picked from a photo.
Toggle on only the colors you own. Add custom colors if needed.
Count out same-sized balls of clay per the ratio and knead until uniform.
Popular clay color recipes
Approximate ratios based on the five basics (white, black, red, yellow, blue). Use the calculator above for an exact match.
| Target color | Mixing ratio |
|---|---|
| Apricot | White 8 : Yellow 1 : Red 1 |
| Light pink | White 9 : Red 1 |
| Sky blue | White 8 : Blue 1 |
| Mint | White 8 : Blue 1 : Yellow 1 |
| Lavender | White 8 : Blue 1 : Red 1 |
| Beige | White 10 : Yellow 2 : Red 1 |
| Orange | Yellow 3 : Red 1 |
| Brown | Red 2 : Yellow 2 : Black 1 |
| Khaki | Yellow 4 : Black 1 |
| Gray | White 8 : Black 1 |
Why clay mixes like paint, not like light
Clay colors come from pigments that absorb light, so mixing is subtractive — yellow plus blue makes green, and the more colors you add, the darker and muddier the result. This calculator simulates that behavior with a light-absorption mixing model, instead of naive RGB averaging.
Learn how to use white and black, fix muddy colors, and get clay-specific tips in the complete clay color mixing guide.
Frequently asked questions
How are the mixing ratios calculated?
Pigment mixing (clay, paint) is subtractive, so simple RGB averaging gives wrong answers. This calculator predicts mixed colors with a light-absorption (optical density) mixing model, then searches for the ratio with the smallest perceptual color difference (CIEDE2000).
Which types of clay does it work for?
Any clay you blend by kneading: air dry clay, polymer clay (Sculpey, FIMO, etc.), paper clay and modeling clay. Pigments vary by brand, so expect small differences.
The real color looks slightly different. Why?
Pigment strength and base brightness differ between brands. Mix a small test batch with the suggested ratio first, then fine-tune: add a bit more of the primary if it looks pale, or more white if it looks dark.
How should I use white and black clay?
For pastels, start from a white base and add tiny amounts of color. Black is extremely strong — add it a rice-grain at a time, keeping it under about one tenth of the total.
Can I use it without all five basic colors?
Yes. Toggle on only the clays you own and the calculator finds the best mix using just those. You can also add custom colors like neon pink or skin tone.