Once the clay has been roughly molded by hand or on a wheel, it has to be refined and decorated, pottery tools come into the picture. They are meant for various purposes, and may be made of a variety of materials.

The tools used in pottery are:

Shaping tools
Throwing tools
Trimming tools
Texturing tools
Glazing tools

Some of the pottery-decorating instruments that fall under these categories are:

Shredders
Bevel tools
Combing tools
Mud cutters
Carving bows
Sponges
Loop end tools
Ribs (rigid flat tools)
Rolling pins
Hax tool
Scrapers
Wire tools
Gouges
Knives
Needles

Often, pottery tools are made by the potter himself to suit his particular requirements. These instruments for pottery are crafted using materials that are readily available, such as leaves, pinecones, shells, and others. The fingers, nails, and hands themselves are capable of a variety of patterns and intricacies.

These pottery decorating tools are often available in sets. These collections of tools for pottery vary in price depending upon quality and the number of tools. Pottery tool sets are available for both beginners and professionals.

While some of the tools are used as aids in the molding of the clay, others are used once the clay has partially hardened. At this stage, it is possible to carve and burnish the pottery. Tools are also used once the pottery has been hardened. At this stage, it is the glazing tools that are most needed.