Best Clay Bars: Clean Your Paint the Right Way

A clay bar is your shortest path to the smoothest paint on the block.

byEvan Williams|
Cleaning & Detailing photo

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BYEvan Williams/ LAST UPDATED ON August 3, 2023

No matter how many times you’ve washed your ride, there’s always bits left behind. Those bits can be things like tiny particles of dirt, pieces of dead bugs, or bits of bird droppings that you can barely see but can feel when you run your hand down a fender. Soap and water will never get them off, and waxing just covers them. 


To remove those annoying pieces of detritus, you need a clay bar. A clay bar on your paint is like a pumice stone on tired feet or a detoxifying face mask. It removes the bad stuff and leaves you with a surface that’s fresh and smooth. This is how you find the best clay bar for you and your paint. In this article, we’ll round up some of the best clay bars on the market to help you find the one that fits your exact needs.

Best Overall
Mothers California Gold Clay Kit Express

Mothers California Gold Clay Kit Express

Summary

Comes with a beginner-friendly clay bar and a great spray detailer, perfect to get you started.

Pros
  • Bar and detailer in one box
  • DIY friendly
  • Affordable price
Cons
  • No storage container
  • One level of density might not be enough for the most contaminated cars
Best Value

Chemical Guys Medium Clay Bar

Summary

Simple and effective, this clay bar will tackle all but the worst paint contamination

Pros
  • Medium density for your average user
  • Comes in a reusable blister package
  • Color coded in case you have more than one grade
Cons
  • Plastic wrap tough to remove
  • Softer than other bars
  • Color means dirt can be tougher to see
Honorable Mention

Griot’s Garage Paint Cleaning Clay

Summary

Medium strength, 226 grams of clay, and a container to store what’s left, this is great if you’re going to be claying frequently

Pros
  • Large bar, if you need it
  • Resealable tub
  • Extra malleable
Cons
  • Bar can be too big for easy handling
  • Light density won’t remove worst dirt
  • Softer and stickier than other brands

Summary List

How We Selected the Products

To choose the best clay bars, we looked at brands that are known for providing the best detailing products. Your paint is the most noticeable part of your vehicle and probably the most expensive to fix, so tried and tested products are important. We avoided products from unknown companies for the same reasons. Price is important and so is usability, or how well the clay sticks together when you use it without sticking to the paint. A reusable container is also important because you’re not likely to use the whole product at once and you don’t want to just stick it in a grocery bag every time.

Our product selections, rankings, and awards for this story are based on research. While we haven’t conducted real-world testing on all of these products yet, we’ve looked at consumer testimonials and data, tutorials, and general discussions on social media and in forums. We also consider price and specification in the context of the segment. And, of course, we rely on our institutional knowledge of the automotive landscape to weed out weak products.

Best Clay Bars: Reviews & Recommendations

To use a clay bar on your car, you need a lubricant. This kit from Mothers comes with both in one package. You get a 100-gram bar and a 16-ounce bottle of Mothers California Gold Instant Detailer to help you get the job done. While other bars let you choose from fine or coarse clays, the latter being something better left to an expert, the Mothers bar is meant to be DIY friendly for beginners. The bar is more malleable than other bars, making it easier to mold to the vehicle and easier to use. So, it’s fine if you’ve never clay-barred a vehicle before. 


One bar should be enough to completely clay a full-size car or most SUVs, which is good because Mothers doesn’t include a place for you to store the bar once you’re done. That means you’re probably going to throw out what’s left. If you’ve got Instant Detailer left, though, you can keep using that for a quick shine (with a cinnamon scent) on your vehicle.

Specs:
  • Brand: Mothers
  • Model: 07241
  • Weight: 3.53 ounces

Pros:

  • Clay bar and detailer
  • DIY friendly
  • Low price
Cons:
  • No bar storage
  • Can’t choose coarse or fine clay

Chemical Guys markets their products to the pros as well as serious DIY enthusiasts. That’s why they offer three grades of clay bar: heavy, light, and medium. What’s the difference? The density of the clay. If you’ve never clayed your vehicle before, you might need a heavy density. If you do it frequently, light is probably fine. For the average job, choose medium. The bars are also color coded in case you feel like having more than one around. 


The medium bar is meant to work on your paintwork, removing contamination, airborne rust, rail dust, and other paint problems. It also works to clean those from plastic, wheels, and even glass, getting rid of stubborn dirt without risking scratching your precious paint finish. Chemical Guys has their own Clay Luber lubricant — available by the gallon so you’ll never run out — but this bar is happy with whatever clay lubricant you use. This clay bar even comes with a clamshell package that can be resealed to keep your bar safe until the next use.

Specs:
  • Brand: Chemical Guys
  • Model: CLY_402
  • Weight: 3.53 ounces

Pros:

  • Medium density for your average user
  • Comes in a reusable blister package
  • Color coded if you have more than one grade

Cons:

  • Plastic wrap tough to remove
  • Softer than other bars
  • Color means dirt can be tougher to see

The Griot’s Garage Clay Bar is more than just a bar. It’s more than double the size of the other bars on this list. Coming in a large tub instead of a single bar, Griot’s lets you take just a small amount of clay out of the container each time. You never need to dirty more clay than you need, you don’t need to worry about throwing out a whole bar because you dropped it on the ground, and you can use a small amount to handle the extra-gritty parts of the job such as rocker panels and wheels. The storage tub keeps the rest secure and clean until the next use.


Griot’s says the tub can clean about seven vehicles, depending on the size of the vehicle and the amount of contamination. That makes this big pack a great deal if you’re planning on claying multiple rides. This is light clay, so it may not remove the most stubborn contamination, but for the average vehicle, this is a great and user-friendly way to smooth your paint as well as clean your glass and other brightwork.

Specs:

  • Brand: Griot’s Garage
  • Model: Paint Cleaning Clay 11153
  • Weight: 10.4 ounces

Pros:

  • Large bar
  • Resealable tub
  • Extra malleable

Cons:

  • Bar can be too large for some hands
  • Light density won’t remove worst dirt
  • Softer and stickier than other brands

Meguiar’s C2100 clay is labeled as aggressive, and that means it is ready to remove even the most stubborn contamination such as road tar, paint overspray, rail dust, and even industrial fallout. If it’s adhered to your paint surface, this will remove it. Plus it can do the same for glass, metal, and even plastic surfaces. While this product will remove virtually any contamination from your paint, there are some tradeoffs. This clay is going to take more elbow grease from you, the person rubbing the paint. A bar this aggressive will likely leave what’s called clay marring, tiny scratches in the finish that will need machine polishing and waxing. That extra step is just part of the game when it comes to making your vehicle’s paint as smooth as possible.


This is a large bar and it comes with a reusable tub to store what you don’t use. However, even the 200-gram bar may not last for multiple vehicles because of how much dirt it can remove from your vehicle. For finishes that need it, though, this pro-level clay bar is tough to beat.

Specs:
  • Brand: Meguiar’s
  • Model: C2100
  • Weight: 7 ounces

Pros:

  • Aggressive clay for worst contamination
  • 200-gram bar
  • Comes with storage tub

Cons:

  • Stiffer to use
  • Expect to have to machine polish after clay
  • Takes lots of rubbing

Mothers has reimagined the clay bar with its Speed Clay 2.0. Instead of a malleable lump, Mothers has taken the clay bar and bonded it to an easy-to-use handle. It also behaves more like an eraser than traditional clay.

No more folding the clay over and over again, Speed Clay lets you hold the ergonomic applicator and rub the paint with comfort. The rubber polymer technology shears off, removing paint contaminants as well as the contaminated particles of the clay. 


With Mothers Speed Clay, you can actually clay your car as you wash it, instead of adding a second step and using a spray detailer or lubricant. You can even clay the car as you are waxing it. Less work and more shine is the goal, and thanks to this new clay system, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Unlike conventional clay bars, this bar isn’t sticky. So, if you drop it on the ground, which would ruin a normal bar, you can hose off Speed Clay or dip it in your wash bucket, and it is safe to use again on your paint. Thanks to the new tech, one bar can be used to clean up to 20 vehicles.

Specs:

  • Brand: Mothers
  • Model: 17240
  • Weight: 5.6 ounces

Pros:

  • Can clay up to 20 vehicles
  • Easy-use applicator
  • No dropped-bar worries

Cons:

  • Less aggressive than clay
  • Applicator and bar can separate
  • Mothers warns of counterfeits

Our Verdict

Mothers California Gold Clay Kit Express won our pick for best clay bar overall based on its price, the fact that it comes with almost everything a DIYer needs, and because the coarseness of the clay is a great balance of effectiveness and beginner friendliness. Now get out there and make your paint hood smooth.

Types of Clay Bars

There are big differences between the different types of clay bars. Natural and synthetic, different grades of coarseness, and even different uses. We’ve summarized some of the key things you should look for and the things you should know.

Compound Strength

There are three main types of clay bars: fine, medium, and aggressive. Fine clay bars are perfect for vehicles with less contamination or for users who want to clean their finish but not spend all day doing it. They’ll remove much of the contamination but not all. They’re easier to slide across your paint and less likely to leave scratches. Medium bars bridge the middle ground, removing more stubborn contamination while still being OK for the average user. Aggressive clays will remove the most stubborn paint contamination. However, they’ll take more elbow grease to do it, and you’ll almost certainly need to machine polish your paint after you finish with the clay.

Glass Cleaning

A clay bar is a great way to clean your car’s windshield, too. A mild bar can remove stubborn debris that makes your windshield rough, hurts your visibility when the sun is low, and causes your wipers to leave water behind. It won’t get rid of pitting, but it can make a big difference. While most bars are glass-safe, check to make sure on the bar you’re planning to use.

Rubber Polymer/Synthetic

Rubber and synthetic clays like Mothers Speed Clay 2.0 are more like a sponge with a handle. They have two very different layers, one for the paint and one to hold on to. They’re not actually clay, but the handheld layer and the properties of the rubber “clay” layer make them much easier to use. Easier to hold, they also don’t require that you fold in contaminants and re-shape the bar with each panel of your vehicle.

Key Features

Strength

Knowing your goals and how much work you’re ready to put in are the key to picking strength. If you haven’t spotted any serious contaminants, or you’re just looking to remove a build-up of bug guts and road tar, then a fine clay is all you need. Trying to turn your car into a concours winner and are already planning to machine polish and correct the finish? Then the aggressive clays are going to help you get there.

Size

How much clay you’ll need depends on the size of your vehicle, how dirty it is, and how aggressively you’re planning to rub. Most clay comes in a 100-gram bar. With a mild clay, that should cover a couple vehicles. With a more aggressive clay or a more contaminated vehicle, you’ll probably need more. In that case, a 200-gram bar or a product that gives you multiple 100-gram bars in one container is probably a better bet. If you only need 100 grams, don’t buy a larger size. The clay can dry out over time.

Lubricant

Clay bars must be used with a lubricant, either one designed specifically for the purpose or a spray detailer or spray-wax product. If you don’t use one, the clay can stick to the paint and damage it. The most important thing here is that it makes the surface slick for the bar to slide across, so if you already have a favorite product on the shelf it should be fine to use.

Tips

  • Break your clay bar in two (or more) pieces if you’re worried about dropping it. Smaller pieces may even be easier for you to hold as you work, and having an extra piece on hand may help to ease the stress of clay barring. You can also buy two clay bars instead of one, if you prefer.
  • It’s nearly impossible to re-package your clay bar in the original packing after its first use. Properly store your clay bar for next time by putting it in a plastic bag or sealed jar. Spray some lubricant in the container/bag as well for added moisture.
  • To prep your vehicle for clay barring, first wash it as you normally would. Rinse the vehicle down well and then wash it thoroughly. Prepare your clay bar and lubricant and clay bar the car. Then, rinse your vehicle and wash it again. That should remove any leftover clay bits and any suspended contaminants still on the paint.

FAQs

Q: How can I practice using a clay bar if I’ve never used one before?

The easiest way to try out clay barring is to pick a trim piece closer to the ground that is less visible or to use or to try it out on a painted piece you don’t care about. A visit to the local junkyard may give you a low-cost panel to work on. Spray both the painted piece and clay bar liberally with lubricant. Begin with light pressure and measured movements.

Q: How do I know if the clay bar is actually working?

Pick a spot on the paint that you want to remove, making sure it is a contaminant and not a scratch or paint chip. After spraying the clay bar and a small area around this spot, move the clay bar across the clean surface of the spot, making a few passes. Lift the clay bar, fold it over, and make another pass. If it glides more smoothly than the first pass, it is removing contaminants.

Q: Will clay bars scratch my paint?

Fresh clay bars, straight from the package, should not scratch your paint. However, if you end up picking up sharp debris, it can scratch your paint. Watch the path of your clay bar as you move across the paint. Pause every so often to inspect the clay bar itself and knead it, folding in to get a fresh surface. Dig out any contaminants you can see and discard. If you drop the bar on the ground, it’s time to toss it.

Q: Can I clay bar over touch-up paint?

The short answer is probably not. Depending on the application and age of the touch-up paint, the clay bar could end up removing it, leaving you with the original paint chip. If you happen to move across the touch-up paint as you go, you likely won’t cause any damage, but note these spots as you go in order to avoid them.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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