Manual or Automatic: 
Manual means you turn it up and various temperatures, and off, based on the status of the cones.  Automatic means you program an electronic panel (or use one of several preprogrammed profiles) and everything is done for you, including appropriate ramping and shutoff.  VERY convenient. 

Zone control: 
Further (new) automation can control the sections of your kiln so you get even heating from top to bottom.  

Size: 
For doing pottery, it's hard to beat the most popular model, the 1027, which is 7 cu ft and goes to cone 10.  Anything smaller than this and you'll only be firing a few pieces at a time.  Options on the smaller end are the 818 which is 2.6 to 4 cu ft at cone 10, and the 1018 which is from 4.2-4.6 cu ft at cone 10.  An option on the larger end is the 1227 which is 9.9 ct ft and up, but cannot go to cone 10 except in the Production version (PK).  See large kilns.  

Many of the manual kilns can be expanded by adding wired or blank rings to increase the firing capacity.  Wired rings allow the kiln to maintain temperature, while blank rings max the kiln out at cone 1.

If you make small items such as figurines or jewelry the smaller kilns are great.  

Power Requirements:  
Your kiln selection is limited if you rent your house/apartment and cannot modify the power.  Some possibilities are:

	The 714, which uses 208/240vAC. 20 amps, probably what you  already have for your electric dryer.  This kiln is 1.4 cu ft and  goes to cone 8; it can be expanded to 1.8 cu ft at cone 1.
	The 614-3, which is .8 cu ft and uses 115v, 30 amps.
	The 609, which is .6 cu ft and runs on a standard 115v, 20 amp  circuit.

Maximum temperature:  
Some kilns will go to cone 10, some cone 5, some cone 1.  

Type of clay: 
There are some designed specifically for Porcelain, which fire slower to prevent blistering.  (ie 818P,  comes in sizes from 2.6 cu ft to 4.6 ct ft at various cone ranges.) 

Insulation: 
Many Skutt kilns come with an option for a 3" thick firebrick, slightly thicker and more insulative than normal.  Potters choose this option for energy savings and slower cooling.

Loading:  
The taller the kiln, the more difficult to reach in to load shelves and wares.  Watch for this especially when adding blank rings to increase capacity.  The 1018 was designed specifically to be low and easy to load.

Usage: 
The 1227PK and 1231PK are new lines designed for the heavy needs of industrial users.  They feature durability and fast ramp times.

Shipping: 
You will be contacted with exact shipping prices for kilns, and asked whether you wish to continue with the order.