---
title: "Kiln Cone Chart & Temperature Converter | Ceramic Drift"
description: "What temperature is cone 6? Orton's cone chart for cones 022 to 12 at 15, 60 and 150 °C/h, in °C and °F, plus the nearest cone for any kiln temperature."
url: https://ceramicdrift.me/
---

Orton's chart, in °C and °F

# Kiln cone chart and temperature converter

Cone 6 is 1222 °C (2232 °F) for an Orton self-supporting cone when the kiln climbs 60 °C (108 °F) an hour over the last 100 °C. Pick any cone from 022 to 12 and a heating rate, or type a kiln temperature to find the nearest cone.

## How to read a cone chart

Pyrometric cones measure heat-work, the combined effect of temperature and time, not temperature alone. That is why each cone has several temperatures: in a slow firing the cone, like your ware, soaks up heat for longer and bends cooler; in a fast one it needs more heat. Read the column for how fast your kiln climbs over the last 100 °C.

- **Self-supporting cones** stand at the right angle on their own base, so they are the easiest to set and read. **Large cones** go in a plaque; **small cones** go in a kiln-sitter, and the chart lists them at 300 °C/h only.
- **Not sure of your rate?** Orton's rule of thumb: divide 100 °C by the hours your ware spends in the top 100 °C, holds included. The [firing schedule builder](https://ceramicdrift.me/firing-schedule-builder/) does this for you.
- **Use three cones.** Orton's set is a guide cone one number cooler, the firing cone, and a guard cone one hotter. A cone counts as fired when its tip comes level with its base.
- **Holds add heat-work.** As a guide from Orton, firing 10 °C (18 °F) lower needs about 20 minutes of hold to give the same heat.

## Orton cone chart, cones 022 to 12

Orton's own figures for each cone, kind of cone and heating rate (°C/h or °F/h over the last 100 °C or 180 °F). Blank cells are not listed on the chart.

| Cone | Self-supporting | Large | Small |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 15 °C/h | 60 °C/h | 150 °C/h | 60 °C/h | 150 °C/h | 300 °C/h |  |
| 022 | not listed | 586 | 590 | not listed | not listed | 630 |
| 021 | not listed | 600 | 617 | not listed | not listed | 643 |
| 020 | not listed | 626 | 638 | not listed | not listed | 666 |
| 019 | 656 | 678 | 695 | 676 | 693 | 723 |
| 018 | 686 | 715 | 734 | 712 | 732 | 752 |
| 017 | 705 | 738 | 763 | 736 | 761 | 784 |
| 016 | 742 | 772 | 796 | 769 | 794 | 825 |
| 015 | 750 | 791 | 818 | 788 | 816 | 843 |
| 014 | 757 | 807 | 838 | 807 | 836 | 870 |
| 013 | 807 | 837 | 861 | 837 | 859 | 880 |
| 012 | 843 | 861 | 882 | 858 | 880 | 900 |
| 011 | 857 | 875 | 894 | 873 | 892 | 915 |
| 010 | 891 | 903 | 915 | 898 | 913 | 919 |
| 09 | 907 | 920 | 930 | 917 | 928 | 955 |
| 08 | 922 | 942 | 956 | 942 | 954 | 983 |
| 07 | 962 | 976 | 987 | 973 | 985 | 1008 |
| 06 | 981 | 998 | 1013 | 995 | 1011 | 1023 |
| 05½ | 1004 | 1015 | 1025 | 1012 | 1023 | 1043 |
| 05 | 1021 | 1031 | 1044 | 1030 | 1046 | 1062 |
| 04 | 1046 | 1063 | 1077 | 1060 | 1070 | 1098 |
| 03 | 1071 | 1086 | 1104 | 1086 | 1101 | 1131 |
| 02 | 1078 | 1102 | 1122 | 1101 | 1120 | 1148 |
| 01 | 1093 | 1119 | 1138 | 1117 | 1137 | 1178 |
| 1 | 1109 | 1137 | 1154 | 1136 | 1154 | 1184 |
| 2 | 1112 | 1142 | 1164 | 1142 | 1162 | 1190 |
| 3 | 1115 | 1152 | 1170 | 1152 | 1168 | 1196 |
| 4 | 1141 | 1162 | 1183 | 1160 | 1181 | 1209 |
| 5 | 1159 | 1186 | 1207 | 1184 | 1205 | 1221 |
| 5½ | 1167 | 1203 | 1225 | not listed | not listed | not listed |
| 6 | 1185 | 1222 | 1243 | 1220 | 1241 | 1255 |
| 7 | 1201 | 1239 | 1257 | 1237 | 1255 | 1264 |
| 8 | 1211 | 1249 | 1271 | 1247 | 1269 | 1300 |
| 9 | 1224 | 1260 | 1280 | 1257 | 1278 | 1317 |
| 10 | 1251 | 1285 | 1305 | 1282 | 1303 | 1330 |
| 11 | 1272 | 1294 | 1315 | 1293 | 1312 | 1336 |
| 12 | 1285 | 1306 | 1326 | 1304 | 1324 | 1355 |

## Sources

- Every cone temperature: [Orton Ceramic Foundation, Orton Pyrometric Cones: Temperature Equivalents, Cone Numbers 022-12](https://www.ortonceramic.com/_files/ugd/7c9d79_655ff5f02f474711ad75e37f7f5bd03b.pdf) (°C and °F), the “New Cone Chart” linked from [ortonceramic.com/pyrometric-cones](https://www.ortonceramic.com/pyrometric-cones); file dated March 2026, checked 2 November 2026. Its key gives the applications for cones 022 to 011, 010 to 3 and 4 to 12.
- Heat-work and the 27, 108 and 270 °F/h columns: [Orton, Pyrometric Cones FAQ](https://www.ortonceramic.com/pyrometric-cones-faq). The effective heating rate rule of thumb: [Orton, Pyrometric Cones Resources](https://www.ortonceramic.com/pyrometric-cones-resources).
- The three-cone system, the end point (tip level with the base), the hold guide and small cones in the Kiln-Sitter: [Orton, Cones and Firing: a practical guide to successful firings](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0572/0029/files/cones-and-firing-booklet.pdf) (booklet, 2013).
- Ranges: [Digitalfire, Medium Temperature](https://digitalfire.com/glossary/medium+temperature) (cone 4 to 7), [Earthenware](https://digitalfire.com/glossary/earthenware) (cone 010 to 04), [Stoneware](https://digitalfire.com/glossary/stoneware) (about 1200 °C and up) and [Porcelain](https://digitalfire.com/glossary/porcelain) (usually above 1180 °C). Self-supporting cones sit at the right angle by themselves: [Digitalfire, Pyrometric Cone](https://digitalfire.com/glossary/pyrometric+cone).

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- [Clay shrinkage calculator](https://ceramicdrift.me/clay-shrinkage-calculator/): Test-tile shrinkage, the size to throw for a fired size, volume shrinkage and a ruler to print.
- [Glaze batch calculator](https://ceramicdrift.me/glaze-batch-calculator/): A percentage recipe with additions in grams or ounces, rescaled to 100, with an SG and water helper.
- [Kiln firing cost calculator](https://ceramicdrift.me/kiln-firing-cost-calculator/): kW, hours, duty cycle and your price per kWh give the cost per firing and per piece.
- [Firing schedule builder](https://ceramicdrift.me/firing-schedule-builder/): Ramp, target and hold segments with the total time and a temperature chart to print.
- [Pottery gift timeline](https://ceramicdrift.me/pottery-gift-timeline/): Work back from a gift date through drying, two firings and the studio queue. Add it to your calendar.
- [Food-safe glaze guide](https://ceramicdrift.me/food-safe-glaze-guide/): What makes a glaze safe for mugs and bowls, how it is tested, and a checklist before you gift or sell.

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## Questions

**What temperature is cone 6?**

On Orton's chart a self-supporting cone 6 bends at 1222 °C (2232 °F) when the kiln climbs 60 °C an hour over the last 100 °C. At 15 °C an hour it bends at 1185 °C (2165 °F), and at 150 °C an hour at 1243 °C (2269 °F).

**What temperature is cone 04 for a bisque firing?**

A self-supporting cone 04 is 1063 °C (1945 °F) at 60 °C an hour, 1046 °C (1915 °F) at 15 °C an hour and 1077 °C (1971 °F) at 150 °C an hour.

**Which cones are mid-range, earthenware and stoneware?**

Digitalfire calls cone 4 to 7 medium temperature, or mid-range, and cone 010 to 04 earthenware. Orton's chart lists cones 4 to 12 for porcelain, china and stoneware. Your clay's maker gives the cone for each clay body.

**Why does the chart stop at cone 12?**

Orton's current chart covers cones 022 to 12, so this converter does too, rather than mixing in figures from older charts. Hotter cones are used mainly for industrial firings.