Best Pizza Ovens For Your Home In 2024 – Indoor, Outdoor, Gas, Wood & Electric

If you’re a fan of pizza, a pizza oven is one of the best investments you can make. With a pizza oven, you can make pizzeria quality pizza at home for a fraction of the cost of eating out. This is an especially attractive option for those who live in parts of the world where top-quality pizza isn’t available at every street corner—in other words, most people.

That said, with so many features and options to choose from, buying a pizza oven can be an overwhelming experience. In terms of brands, you have the likes of Ooni, Gozney, and Bertello (among others), then in terms of features you have wood, gas, multi-fuel, 12 inches, 16 inches, indoor, outdoor, etc, etc.

With this many options to consider, it’s easy to get caught in a state of analysis paralysis. The goal of this article is to sort through the details for you and help make the process a little easier.

Related Post: Ooni vs Gozney Roccbox – In-Depth Pizza Oven Comparison

What is the Best Pizza Oven? That Depends on You…

When it comes to choosing the best pizza oven, there are a few important things to consider. First, you’ll want to think about the type of pizza you want to make. Different types of pizza do best cooked in different types of ovens.

For example, if you want to make Neapolitan-style pizza, you’ll need a high-temperature oven that can reach at least 800-900F. On the other hand, if you prefer New York-style pizza, a lower temperature oven with a large baking surface is ideal. These are concepts I speak about all the time on this website.

Additionally, you’ll want to think about form factor and function such as portable vs countertop, indoor vs outdoor, or even premade vs a custom DIY brick oven. This is why it’s important to decide ahead of time where and how you want to use your pizza oven—at home, on the road, or some combination of both.

To help you make this decision, this buyer’s guide will highlight what I believe are the best pizza ovens for various categories and use case scenarios. I’ll also give you a general guide into what kinds of things you should be considering before making a purchase, to make sure the pizza oven you buy matches how you plan on using it.

My Favorite Pizza Ovens In Brief:

Pizza Oven	Price	Weight	Max Pizza Size	Max Heat	Build Materials	Fuel Type(s) Supported
Ooni Koda 16	$599	40 lbs	16-inch	950°F	Durable, insulated, powder-coated carbon steel shell	Propane
Stoke 13 Gas	$299	34.7 lbs	12-inch	900°F	Stainless steel/porcelain enamel	Propane
Ooni Fyra 12	$349	22 lbs	12-inch	950°F	Stainless steel/ceramic fiber	Wood pellets
Ooni Karu 16	$799	62.6 lbs	16-inch	950°F	Stainless steel/ceramic fiber	Wood, charcoal, gas
Gozney Roccbox	$499	44 lbs	12-inch	950°F	Stainless steel/silicone	Wood, Propane
Alfa Nano	$1,399	110 lbs	16-inch	950°F	iron sheet, stainless steel, ceramic fiber	Wood
Bertello	$499	46 lbs	12-inch	930°F	Stainless steel/ceramic fiber	Wood, charcoal, gas
Ooni Volt 12	$999	39.2 lbs	12-inch	850°F	powder coated carbon steel and stainless steel	Electric
Breville Pizzaiolo	$799	47 lbs	12-inch	750°F	Brushed stainless steel	Electric
CPO-700 Grill Top	$130	12.7 lbs	12-inch	Varies	Stainless steel	Grill
Ooni Pizza Steel 13	$99	11.5 lbs	12-inch	Varies	430-grade stainless steel with sand blasted finish	Grill/Home Oven
Ooni Karu 12G	$499	34 lbs	12-inch	950°F	Commercial grade cold-rolled carbon steel shell with high-temperature resistant, powder-coated finish	Wood, charcoal, propane
Gozney Dome	$1,699	128 lbs	16-inch	950°F	Stainless steel/fire bricks	Wood, propane
Ooni Koda 12	$399	20.2 lbs	12-inch	950°F	Commercial grade cold-rolled carbon steel shell with high-temperature resistant, powder-coated finish	Propane

Best Pizza Oven Quick Decision Guide

If you don’t feel like reading through this entire guide to figure out which pizza oven is best for you, just glance over the following use case scenarios. Depending on which statement is most applicable to you, you can probably come up with a good pizza oven option based on the process of elimination.

“I don’t care about size or which fuel type it burns, I just want the cheapest pizza oven possible.”

If your biggest concern is price, the choice becomes a lot easier. I recommend going with the Ooni Koda 12 (propane) for $399, or the Ooni Fyra 12 (wood-fired) for $349 for an easy to use and cost efficient pizza oven.

“I only want a pizza oven to make New York style pizza.”

For the best pizza oven for New York style pizza, you’re going to need a 16 inch baking surface or larger. For this, the obvious choice is either the Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven (propane) for $599 or the Ooni Karu 16 (multi-fuel) for $799. Both of these pizza ovens are big enough to fit a New York style pizza and work with propane for easy temperature controls.

“I only want to make Neapolitan style pizza.”

If you only want to make Neapolitan style pizza, a 12 inch pizza oven is more than big enough, which thankfully leaves you with lots of options. However, for the sake of simplicity, I’m going to recommend the Ooni Karu 12G (multi-fuel) for $429 because it gives you the option to make Neapolitan sized pizza with either propane, charcoal, or wood. This gives you the flexibility to go the authentic wood-fired route on some days, and also the convenience of being able to just turn on the propane and start cooking on other days.

“I don’t have a backyard or a balcony for an outdoor pizza oven.”

If you lack outdoor space for a traditional pizza oven, your only option is an electric indoor oven. For this, I recommend the Ooni Volt 12 or the Breville Pizzaiolo, both electric and selling for $999. Although I prefer the Ooni Volt because it reaches a higher temperature than the Breville (850F vs 750F), both of these pizza ovens perform well.

Alternatively, you can also opt for a baking steel like the Ooni Pizza Steel 13 for use in a regular home oven. This won’t get nearly as hot as a pizza oven, but they work great and are very inexpensive. This won’t be appealing to many people, but it’s something to consider.

“I have a balcony but my building doesn’t allow anything that produces smoke.”

If you can have a pizza oven but can’t produce smoke, your options are either a propane outdoor oven or an electric indoor oven. In this case I recommend the Ooni Koda 12 (propane) for $399 or the Ooni Volt 12 (electric) for $999. Neither of these pizza ovens produce any smoke or ash so your neighbors won’t notice anything except the smell of delicious pizza cooking.

“I don’t want to have to do much maintenance or clean my pizza oven very often.”

While all pizza ovens require some cleaning from time to time, if you want to minimize maintenance, you’ll want to stick with an electric or propane pizza oven. These pizza ovens don’t produce smoke or ash, which means only having to brush or scrape off any organic debris left behind by the pizza. This is about as close you can get to zero maintenance.

Why didn’t my favorite pizza oven make the list?

Every pizza oven on this list I either own personally or have had hands-on experience with it. The idea of this article is not to simply list a bunch of pizza ovens from Amazon and copy and paste the specifications and features—there are plenty of other websites for that. My aim is to leverage my years of experience using pizza ovens and making pizza to help you make the best decision for you.

That said, just because a pizza oven isn’t on this list doesn’t mean it isn’t a good one. In fact, if you have a questions about a particular pizza oven you don’t see here, let me know in the comments and I’ll give you my honest opinion of it based on the features, technical specifications, and price. I’ll also be adding any new pizza ovens I try to this list going forward.

How to Choose The Best Pizza Oven

To choose the best pizza oven for your needs, there are a few questions you should ask yourself first. This will help you decide between an indoor vs outdoor, one fueled by propane gas vs wood, and even a portable vs built-in outdoor pizza oven.

What type of pizza do you want to make?

This can be anything from a standard American style pizza with a bready crust and lots of toppings, to a traditional Neapolitan pizza with a thin base, puffy outer crust and minimal toppings. Each style of pizza has a different optimal temperature and varying baking surface size requirements.

What size pizza do you want to make?

This is probably the most important decision you’ll have to make when it comes to choosing a pizza oven. Most pizza ovens come in 12 inch or 16 inch models, which refers to the maximum size pizza the oven can fit. So, for example, if you like big New York style slices, you’ll need at least a 16 inch baking surface. On the other hand, if you plan on making mostly Neapolitan style pizza, you can save money by buying a model with a 12 inch baking surface. If you need more help, check out the pizza oven size guide in the table above.

What fuel type do you plan on using?

Each kind of pizza oven supports one or more fuel types such as electric, charcoal or a gas and wood pizza oven. When a pizza oven supports more than one type of fuel, this is called a “multi-fuel” pizza oven. Multi-fuel ovens are very convenient because they allow you to use different fuels based on what makes sense at the time, but they are also more expensive. If you can decide ahead of time which kind of fuel you plan on using most of the time, you can save money by buying a pizza oven that only supports one fuel type.

For reference, most fuel types are for outdoor pizza ovens because burning fuel produces smoke. For an indoor pizza oven, the best option is electric.

What’s Your Pizza Oven Budget?

When selecting a pizza oven, you need to decide if you’re looking to spend as little money as possible, if you want a pizza oven with all the bells and whistles, or if you plan on using it for commercial purposes.

For example, if you’re new to making pizza at home, you may want to opt for a less expensive model just to see if you enjoy the process and then consider upgrading sometime in the future.

On the other hand, if you already know how to use a pizza oven, or are committed to using one indefinitely, you’ll do best to invest in a pizza oven with more features that will last you for years to come.

If you’re looking for a commercial pizza oven for your business, there are even more things to consider. This includes things like if you need a pizza oven with a conveyor, one that sits on a countertop, or a stone or brick pizza oven. This will all depend on what style of pizza your business deals in and how much your pizza costs.

Types of Pizza Ovens

There are so many different kinds of pizza ovens that it would be impossible to list them individually, but here are several of the most popular types:

• Outdoor Pizza Ovens: Most of the pizza ovens on this list are categorized as outdoor pizza ovens—and for a good reason. Anytime you’re burning fuel, you’re producing potentially lethal gasses as a by product. This is why pizzerias have to invest in expensive ventilation systems to make sure any harmful smoke or gas is safely directed far from where anyone can breathe them in. For this reason, it usually makes most sense to use a pizza oven outdoors unless it’s fully electric. Outdoor pizza ovens are generally fueled either with gas, wood, charcoal, or some combination of all three.
• Wood-fired/Charcoal Pizza Ovens: This includes pizza ovens that burn solid fuel to produce heat, which usually means traditional wood logs but can also include wood pellets, charcoal, and coal. The benefit of using a solid fuel is that it infuses the pizza with a smoky taste, which is a characteristic of most Neapolitan and New York style pizza. On the other hand, solid fuels produce smoke, ash, and soot and must be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure a clean tasting pizza.
• Electric Pizza Ovens: Electric pizza ovens are the most convenient kind of pizza oven because they don’t produce any smoke or harmful gasses, and can be used anywhere in reach of an electric outlet. Electric pizza ovens are perfect for those who live in apartments or condos without access to an outdoor space or a balcony. For this same reason, many pizzerias opt for an electric commercial pizza oven that can be placed wherever makes the most sense based on their particular workflow and don’t require complicated ventilation systems.
• Grill Top Pizza Ovens: A grill top pizza oven is basically an attachment for a standard backyard grill. Generally, these “ovens” consist of an enclosed pizza stone that sits on top of a hot grill that gets extremely hot. The main difference between a grill top pizza oven and a standard pizza oven is that the grill top version cannot generate its own heat and must be used in conjunction with a grill to function. This is very similar to how a pizza stone or pizza steel works in a home oven.
• Countertop Pizza Oven: Countertop pizza ovens can include any of the kinds of pizza ovens listed above, but they usually refer to the various kinds of commercial pizza ovens that sit on the counter of a restaurant or pizzeria and often work using a conveyor system. Countertop pizza ovens can also include domestic electric pizza ovens that are designed to fit on a standard kitchen counter, such as the Ooni Volt 12.

Is A Pizza Oven Worth It?

Many people wonder if it’s worth buying a pizza oven at all since most of us already have a perfectly good oven right in our kitchen. To answer this question requires a little background knowledge of pizza and how pizza ovens work.

To put it most simply, a pizza oven is designed specifically for making pizza, while a home oven is designed for general baking and cooking. There are several reasons why a pizza oven is better than a home oven for making pizza:

1. High temperatures: Pizza ovens can reach temperatures of up to 1000°F, which is much higher than most home ovens. This high temperature is essential for creating a crispy, chewy crust and cooking the toppings quickly. Leopard spotting on Neapolitan style crust requires a temperature of at least 430C (800F) to form, for example.
2. Even heat distribution: Pizza ovens have a special design that allows for even heat distribution, which ensures that the pizza cooks evenly and doesn’t burn on one side.
3. Short cooking time: Because of the high temperature and even heat distribution, pizzas cook quickly in a pizza oven. This means you can cook multiple pizzas in a short amount of time, which is great for entertaining guests.
4. Authentic flavor: A pizza oven can give your pizza an authentic wood-fired flavor that’s hard to replicate in a home oven. This is because a wood-fired pizza oven uses wood as fuel, which creates a unique flavor that can’t be achieved with a gas or electric oven.

Overall, a pizza oven is a great investment for anyone who loves making pizza at home. While a home oven can work in a pinch, a pizza oven will give you the best results and allow you to make delicious, authentic pizzas that rival those from your favorite pizzeria.

But ultimately, it’s up to you to make the best by doing your research, weighing the pros and cons, reading reddit reviews, and consulting buying guides such as this.

Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

Outdoor pizza ovens are the broadest and most common kind of pizza oven available on the market. These kinds of pizza ovens include everything from large wood-fired units to portable propane or natural gas models.

Most people who are simply looking for a patio or backyard pizza oven don’t have many particular requirements in terms of fuel source or pizza styles, so this list reflects that and focuses on convenience and price above all.

Pros	Cons
Can be used in any outdoor space to make any kind of pizza	Can only be used outdoors, not safe for indoor use

Ooni Koda 16—My #1 Outdoor Pizza Oven Choice

• Price: $599
• Fuel Types: Propane, Natural Gas
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 950F (510C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: New York, Neapolitan, general American

The Ooni Koda 16 is my number one choice for those looking for a general purpose pizza oven for their backyard. This pizza oven runs only on gas, which is the cleanest and most convenient fuel source. Gas is the fuel source that most people prefer because it’s easier than burning wood and requires no advanced knowledge of tending to fires or manually adjusting flames, etc. Just hook up the gas, turn the knob, and you’re ready to go.

The Ooni Koda 16 is also quite large with a 16 inch baking surface, making it the best pizza oven for New York style pizza as well as smaller Neapolitan style pizza as well. This large baking surface, oven opening and easily adjustable heat makes the Ooni Koda 16 perfect for pan pizza as well, such as Detroit, Sicilian, or “grandma” styles.

The Ooni Koda 16 may not be able to infuse your pizza with a smoky flavor like with wood or charcoal, but it makes up for it in convenience, price, and size. It’s even capable of using natural gas with an optional attachment. This pizza oven is very likely to please almost any pizza preference.

Stoke 13” Gas Powered Oven

• Price: $299
• Fuel Types: Propane
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 900F (482)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Small-medium sized pizza, like Neapolitan or California styles

The Stoke 13” Gas Powered Oven another great outdoor pizza oven option—it’s gas powered, relatively small, and costs only $299, making it one of the least expensive models on this list.

I like the Stoke 13” because it has a solid feel to it, is well insulated, and is built from high-quality materials—unlike most budget pizza oven models. I also appreciate that the fact that the Stoke pizza oven includes a pizza peel, a carrying case, a pizza cutter, and a built-in thermometer—definitely not normal when it comes to budget pizza oven models. This alone will save you (potentially) hundreds of dollars in the long run if you planned on buying them anyways.

The stoke 13” pizza oven also looks very cool as well, which counts for something in my opinion.

Ooni Fyra 12—The Wirecutter Favorite

• Price: $349
• Fuel Types: Wood-pellets
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 950F (510C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Neapolitan, wood-fired

The Ooni Fyra 12 is a 12 inch wood-fired pizza oven, but instead of using normal wood logs for fuel, it uses wood-pellets. Wood-pellets are much easier and more efficient to use than traditional wood logs, which is one of the reasons I recommend it for those looking for a relatively easy pizza making experience. And as far as wood-fired pizza ovens go, it doesn’t get much easier than the Ooni Fyra 12.

Wirecutter named the Ooni Fyra 12 as one of their favorite pizza ovens because of its “small but mighty” form factor and robust set of features, and I have to agree. I especially like the gravity-fed pellet hopper, which takes a lot of the guess work out of fueling and refueling. All you have to go is fill the hopper with a scoop of pellets and occasionally top it up. As the pellets burn, more are automatically drawn into the fuel tray as needed. This is an amazing and underrated feature when it comes to wood-fired pizza ovens.

Best Wood Fired Pizza Oven

A wood-fired pizza oven is an oven specifically designed to cook pizza using wood as the fuel source. These ovens typically have a dome-shaped interior and can reach extremely high temperatures, often up to 950F or higher.

Since wood-fired pizza ovens require more maintenance than gas or electric, you should only get one if you’re specifically looking to cook with wood .

Wood-fired pizza ovens are ideal for those who already have some experience dealing burning wood and managing flames, or those who are committed to learning how. This kind of pizza oven is perfect for making Neapolitan and other traditional wood-fired styles of pizza.

Pros	Cons
Most “authentic” pizza oven, infuses smoky flavor into crust, easy to get extremely high temperatures	More difficult to use, steeper learning curve, more maintenance required

Ooni Karu 16—My #1 Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Choice

• Price: $799
• Fuel Types: Wood, charcoal, propane, natural gas
• Max Pizza Size: 16 inches
• Max Heat: 950F (510C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: All styles

The Ooni Karu 16 is one of the most impressive pizza ovens on the market, especially if you plan on using it with wood. That said, it’s also great with propane and charcoal as well.

The Ooni Karu 16 is good for all styles of pizza, from personal sized Neapolitan using wood, or a large New York style pizza using charcoal or gas at a lower temperature. In fact, the Ooni Karu 16 is the only officially AVPN recognized Neapolitan pizza oven, which is the big deal if you follow Italian pizza trends and regulations.

Furthermore, the Ooni Karu 16 is probably the best pizza oven for users of all skill levels. If you’re a beginner, or just want to get started cooking pizza quickly, you can just hook it up to propane and turn it on. On the other hand, if you’re an expert, you can easily load up the fuel tray with wood or charcoal and make amazing pizzeria quality pizza right at home.

Some of the features I like the best about the Ooni Karu 16 are its insulated hinged glass door, the built in thermometer, and powder coated carbon steel shell for retaining heat. Keep in mind though that the built in thermometer (while very useful) only measures the ambient temperature of the air, not the baking stone itself, so you’ll still probably want an infrared thermometer as well.

Gozney Roccbox

• Price: $499
• Fuel Types: Wood, Propane
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 950F (510C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Wood-fired, Neapolitan, other small styles

The Gozney Roccbox is one of the most well known pizza ovens on the market outside of Ooni, and I can see why. The Roccbox is solidly built and performs extremely well as either a gas or wood-fired pizza oven, which makes it very easy for me to recommend.

In addition to high performance, the Roccbox is a stylish pizza oven which probably accounts (at least somewhat) for its popularity. One unique feature of the Roccbox that I love is its “Safetouch” silicone jacket, which keeps the oven extremely well insulated, as well as relatively cool to the touch. This is an ideal feature to consider if you’ll be using your pizza oven around children or pets.

The Roccbox comes with a gas burner but can be easily switched to a detachable wood hopper. It also has a built-in thermometer, fold-out legs, and comes in a bright green or standard black color. Although it has a relatively small baking surface (barely 13 inches), it’s still big enough to make amazing Neapolitan or other 12 inch style pizzas.

Alfa Nano Pizza Oven

• Price: $1499
• Fuel Types: Wood, gas
• Max Pizza Size: 16 inches + extra room
• Max Heat: 932F (500C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Wood-fired, Neapolitan, New York, large and small

The Alfa Nano pizza oven (formerly known as Alfa One) has been around for a few years, but it’s only recently come on my radar after a trusted friend and colleague introduced me to it. I have to say, after having the chance to look at it and try it out, I’m impressed.

The Alfa Nano pizza oven one of the few Italian designed and manufactured pizza ovens on the market, which speaks to its construction quality and performance. Italians know how to make good cooking appliances, especially when it comes to pizza.

The first thing that struck me about the Alfa Nano pizza oven is its size. Despite being a fairly compact looking unit, the baking surface is absolutely massive at 23.5” x 16” inches. This, in theory, gives you the ability to cook a 16 inch pizza with room to spare for other items like bread or a skillet of vegetables at the same time. The possibilities are endless with this wood-fired and gas powered pizza oven.

The Alfa Nano can be used alone as a countertop pizza oven, or it can be placed on an optional wheeled base that can be easily moved wherever it’s needed. This oven actually reminds me a lot of the Gozney Dome, which has similar functionality and price.

Bertello 13 Pizza Oven

• Price: $499
• Fuel Types: Wood, Gas
• Max Pizza Size: 16 inches + extra room
• Max Heat: 932F (500C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Wood-fired, Neapolitan, New York, large and small

The Bertello pizza oven is something I first saw on Shark Tank along with everyone else before getting my hands on one some time later. This is a good quality pizza oven that’s often compared with Ooni, and it’s clear the company is going after some of their market share in the premium pizza oven space. This is likely why Kevin O’Leary was attracted to it and ended up giving it his financial backing.

The Bertello pizza oven can easily cook with wood or propane, which is convenient for those times when burning wood and producing smoke just isn’t appropriate. The baking surface is 12.5 x 13.5 inches, which is a bit small, but still (barely) big enough for a 12 inch pizza so I guess I can’t complain.

I’ve read some reports that fueling and refueling the Bertello (using wood) is more difficult than similar Ooni models, but I honestly didn’t find it to be too much of a problem.

What I like the most about the Bertello is that the price is all-inclusive, meaning you get both wood and gas burners, a pizza peel, an infrared thermometer and a carrying case in one bundle. With most pizza ovens, this all comes sold separately, despite being required for use, so the Bertello can potentially save you hundreds of dollars if you don’t already own these accessories.

Best Electric Pizza Oven – Best Pizza Oven To Use Indoors

Electric pizza ovens have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their convenience and ease of use. These ovens are designed to replicate the cooking process of a traditional wood-fired oven, but without the need for wood or gas.

Electric pizza ovens typically feature heating elements that heat up quickly and maintain a consistent temperature, allowing for fast and efficient cooking. Despite some limitations in achieving the exact taste and texture of a wood-fired pizza, electric ovens are practical and affordable option for making delicious pizzas at home or in a commercial kitchen. In fact, in my opinion, very little (if anything) is lost by using an electric pizza oven compared to other fuel types.

Despite there being lots of electric “pizza ovens” on the market, the vast majority of them are gimmicky, too expensive, not hot enough, and ultimately not worth your time or money. The two electric pizza ovens I’ve listed here, the Ooni Volt 12 and the Breville Pizzaiolo, are the rare exceptions.

Pros	Cons
No learning curve, no flame management, indoor safe	More expensive, no 16 inch options, less “authentic” (if that matters to you)

Ooni Volt 12—My #1 Electric Pizza Oven Choice

• Price: $999
• Fuel Types: Electric
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 750F (400C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Wood-fired, Neapolitan, New York, large and small

The Ooni Volt 12 is one of the newest additions to the portable pizza oven market, and it’s already made a huge impact. This pizza oven is the first fully electric pizza oven for the domestic pizza oven market to reach temperatures up to 850F (450C), and it’s completely safe to use indoors.

Like the Breville Pizzaiolo that came before it, the strongest selling point of the Ooni Volt 12 is its ease of use and the endless customization it allows. Not only can the top and bottom heating elements be adjusted to suit your liking via an innovative “balance” dial, there’s also a “boost” function that temporarily raises the temperature of the stone for an extra crispy crust, or simply to heat the stone back up between pizzas.

That said, the most compelling reason to buy the Ooni Volt 12 is that it can be used indoors or outdoors thanks to its weather resistant construction, and it’s even designed to fit comfortably on an average kitchen counter.

This pizza oven is ideal for those who live in apartments or condos without the outdoor space for a traditional pizza oven, or for those who simply prefer the convenience of an electric oven. Just make sure you plan on using your oven mostly indoors, because you’re paying a premium for that ability compared to other pizza ovens of the same size.

Breville Pizzaiolo Pizza Oven

• Price: $999
• Fuel Types: Electric
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 750F (400C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Wood-fired, Neapolitan, New York, large and small

The Breville Pizzaiolo pizza oven has been on the market for some time now, and it’s one of the ovens I recieve the msot questions about. For a long time, this pizza oven was closest thing on the market to a fully featured pizza oven that’s completely electric and indoor safe.

This version of the Breville Pizzaiolo is the second iteration since the oven was initially launched several years ago. Updates include a round baking stone rather than the previous square one. I know this change addresses some issues people were having with the previous version (namely the baking stone cracking), but I have to say I generally don’t like round baking stones because it reduces the overall cooking area compared to a square.

That said, the Breville Pizzaiolo is still large enough for a 12 inch pizza and it performs very well in my experience. The temperature only goes up to 750F, which is low compared to most other pizza ovens, but it’s still hot enough to make an authentic Neapolitan pizza, or whichever style you prefer (as long as it’s small).

One of the things I like the most about the Breville Pizzaiolo is how easy it is to use—simply turn it on, select which style of pizza you want from the several presets offered, and you’re ready to go. There’s even a knob to adjust how well done you like your pizza, which is sure to please most people. It’s basically as easy as using a toaster oven—it even kind of looks like one, too.

This is an amazing pizza oven, for sure, but you’re going to want to weigh it against the Ooni Volt 12 before making a purchase because it does pretty much everything this one does while providing a bigger baking surface and a higher temperature for the same price.

Best Grill Top Pizza Oven

A grill top pizza oven isn’t really a pizza oven at all, rather it’s an accessory used in conjunction with a regular backyard grill. It’s basically a large, enclosed pizza stone that uses the heat of a grill as its fuel source, similar to how you would use one in a home oven.

These kinds of devices really only make sense if you already have a grill big enough to fit one and want to cook pizzas in the same space. I say this because the typical grill top pizza oven isn’t much less expensive than a standalone pizza oven in the first place, so you really need a specific reason to want one.

That said, grill top pizza ovens can be very effective, and if you’re looking to make pizzas and burgers at the same time in one place, this is really the only answer. Here are a few of them that I’ve had the opportunity to try.

Pros	Cons
Less expensive, uses grill you already own, convenient	Not as hot as pizza oven, not much better than pizza stone on grill, not much less expensive than standalone pizza oven

Cuisinart Grill Top Pizza Oven—My #1 Choice

• Price: $129.99
• Fuel Types: Whatever your grill uses
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: depends on your grill
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Neapolitan, other small pizza styles

I have to admit, the first time I saw the CPO-700 in action, I thought the whole thing was a bit strange. I’d never actually seen a grill top pizza oven in action before, but then again I don’t grill much so that could be part of the reason. My friend (who also makes pizza) had bought it off of Amazon to try out, so I was eager to see how it works.

To my surprise, it actually worked quite well. In fact, the results were very similar to using a pizza steel in a home oven, if not a bit better, which makes sense considering it works essentially the same way.

While I really liked using this grill top pizza oven, it’s difficult to give it a general recommendation because so much of its performance relies on the grill you’re going to be using it with and how efficient it is as conducting heat to the oven’s internal baking stone.

If your grill is big enough and hot enough to fit this grill top pizza oven, you’ll most likely have good results. The unit itself measures 16″ x 14″ x 4.75″, so make sure your grill can fit it before you go ahead and buy one. Also, the CPO-700 doesn’t have an oven door, so if your grill has a hood that can close over the whole thing you’ll probably get better results and a more evenly cooked crust.

One thing I like about the CPO-700 compared to other grill top pizza ovens is the price—at only $129.99, it’s barely more expensive than a pizza steel. So if you have the desire to make pizza using your grill (assuming it can accommodate it), you’ll love this “pizza oven”.

Ooni Pizza Steel 13

• Price: $99
• Fuel Types: Whatever your grill uses
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: depends on your grill
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Neapolitan, other small pizza styles

You might be wondering why I’ve included a pizza stone designed for a home oven on this list of grill top pizza ovens. The reason is because it’s actually not much different than a grill top unit and is completely safe to use on a grill.

The Ooni Pizza Steel 13 is 13.5 x 13.5 inch slab of steel that normally designed to sit on a rack in a home oven, but it can just as easily work on a grill top as well. It basically works the same way as a grill top pizza oven by absorbing the heat from the grill and creating a high heat baking surface to cook a pizza.

The only major drawback of a pizza steel vs a dedicated grill top pizza oven is the lack of an enclosure around it. However, if your grill has an insulated cover that can be completely closed over the baking area, then you’ve essentially replicated a grill top oven. In fact, you might even get better results because steel is better at conducting heat than stone or ceramic.

That said, be advised that your experience using a pizza steel on your grill will largely depend on how efficient your grill is at conducting heat. So if your think your grill is up to the task, you might want to pick one of these up for $99. As a bonus, you can use it in your home oven as well.

I love my Ooni Pizza Steel 13, so I don’t hesitate to recommend it for use anywhere. If you want more information on this, read my Ooni Pizza Steel 13 review.

Best Neapolitan Pizza Oven

If you want to make authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, there are lots of pizza ovens to choose from.

Typically, the best Neapolitan pizza ovens are wood-burning because the high heat generated by burning wood creates a characteristically unique flavor and texture in the crust that’s difficult to replicate exactly with other kinds of fuel. This mostly has to do with smoke infusion from burning wood.

Also, wood-fired ovens are the traditional way of making Neapolitan style pizza since its invention in Naples centuries ago. This is why wood is considered the most “authentic” way of making Neapolitan pizza.

That said, you don’t absolutely need to burn wood to make an amazing Neapolitan style pizza. In fact, almost all of the ovens listed here (above and below) are capable of making Neapolitan pizza as well.

For the sake of this list, I’ve included pizza ovens that are capable of burning wood, but are also equipped for other fuel sources if you don’t feel like dealing with the hassles of working with wood (flame management, increased maintenance, etc).

Pros	Cons
Most “authentic” pizza oven, infuses smoky flavor into crust, easy to get extremely high temperatures	More difficult to use, steeper learning curve, more maintenance required

Ooni Karu 12G—My #1 Neapolitan Pizza Oven Choice

• Price: $429
• Fuel Types: Wood, Charcoal, Propane
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 950F (500C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Neapolitan, Wood-Fired, Coal-Fired, etc.

Released in 2023, the Ooni Karu 12G is easily Ooni’s most thoughtfully designed pizza oven yet. Compared to the previous Ooni Karu 12, this new G model is much closer in terms of features to the larger Ooni Karu 16, Ooni’s current flagship pizza model. Not only that, the Karu 12G goes a step further with hugely improved heating performance—up to 29% faster using 26% less fuel.

When I first heard that Ooni was dropping a new pizza oven, I was a little skeptical what they had to offer since their lineup was already so broad. So far, I’m pretty impressed—the Ooni Karu 12G has flagship features at a (relatively) budget price.

That’s a big deal, because now I can bring all the power of the Ooni Karu 16 with me in a 12 inch pizza oven weighing only 32lbs. It also supports cooking with wood, charcoal, or propane (with an optional attachment).

I love the improved performance of this pizza oven, as well as the glass door and built-in thermometer. I also like that Ooni preserved the signature sleek look characteristic of the rest of their lineup.

I’m listing the Ooni Karu 12G as the best Neapolitan style pizza oven simply because it’s the 12 inch version of the Ooni Karu 16—the only pizza oven officially recognized by the AVPN (which you can find further up on this list). But in reality, you can use this pizza oven to make any style of pizza perfectly using whichever fuel source you prefer, as long as it fits within a 12 inch oven.

Gozney Dome

• Price: $1,699
• Fuel Types: Wood, Propane
• Max Pizza Size: 18 inches
• Max Heat: 950F (500C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Neapolitan, New York, basically any style you can imagine

The Gozney Dome pizza oven is one of my favorites, and you can see why just by looking at it. Not only does the Dome perform as well (or better) as any other professional pizza oven, it looks amazing, too. The Gozney Dome is just as much of a lifestyle statement as it is a functional pizza oven.

The Gozney Dome has everything you could want in a pizza oven, along with the ability for future upgrades via plug and play “accessory ports” that will keep this oven up to date and relevant for years to come. And that’s not including the features that come standard, including a digital thermometer with built in meat temperature probes, easy ventilation controls, and even a steam injector for fluffier and crispier crusts.

Just like the Roccbox pizza oven Gozney is famous for, the Dome has world class insulation which helps retain heat and keeps the outside relatively cool to the touch. For this reason, the Dome is a great choice for backyards that have kids or pets running around, especially when the oven is elevated up on the Dome Stand you can buy separately.

I love the look, feel, and performance of this pizza oven, and I think you will, too. It’s not cheap, but it’s a bit like buying a piece of furniture that doubles as a pizza oven. The Gozney Dome is about as close as you’re going to get to having a domed Neapolitan pizza oven in your backyard without building it yourself out of bricks.

Did I mention that the Dome is massive as well? With an 18.5 x 21.6 inch baking surface, it can easily fit an extra large pizza, or even multiple smaller pizzas at the same time.

That said, if all you’re looking for is a premium pizza oven, make sure to look at the Ooni Karu 16 as well which is much less expensive and has many of the same features. But if you can afford the Gozney Dome and want something special for your backyard, I highly recommend it.

Best Budget Pizza Oven

Sometimes all you want is a pizza oven that will make the best pizza for the least amount of money in the easiest way possible.

Ooni Koda 12—My #1 Choice

• Price: $399
• Fuel Types: Propane
• Max Pizza Size: 12 inches
• Max Heat: 950F (500C)
• Ideal Pizza Styles: Neapolitan, New York, basically any style you can imagine

The Ooni Koda 12 is my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a premium quality pizza oven that’s both easy to use and very affordable. This pizza oven is well designed, highly efficient, very portable, and won’t break the bank if you buy one.

At only $399, the Ooni Koda 12 is one of the least expensive pizza ovens in Ooni’s lineup, which is a selling point in itself. It also weighs only 20lbs, making it easy to take on camping trips or to a friend’s house, or even just back and forth from the basement. I remember when I first lifted the box the Koda 12 came in I was surprised by how light it felt, and of course the oven itself is even lighter.

One of the reasons this pizza oven is so inexpensive is because it’s a 12 inch model that only supports propane. This might seem like a drawback, and it is if you want a wood-fired oven specifically, but most people are only interested in using propane anyways.

Propane is the easiest to use of all fuel choices—just unbox the oven, hook it up to a propane source, and you’re good to go. This pretty much eliminates any learning curve required compared to burning solid fuels like wood or charcoal, which can get tricky sometimes.

With the Ooni Koda 12, you’ll still be able to make amazing Neapolitan sized pizza of any style, just without the benefit of smoke infusion like with charcoal or wood. For me, smoke infusion is nice, but it isn’t necessary for a perfectly good pizza.

My advice for anyone interested in making pizza at home is to get the Ooni Koda 12 for $399 for most of the benefits of a wood-fired oven without the learning curve or extra cleanup. If you want a slightly bigger pizza oven, pick up the Ooni Koda 16 for a similar set of features and a bigger 16 inch baking surface.

Best Pizza Oven Highlights

• The best pizza oven for you will fit your budget, pizza preferences, and living arrangements, so be careful when making a final decision.
• If you don’t have a large backyard or balcony to work from, you’ll want to stick with propane because it doesn’t produce smoke or ash.
• If you don’t have any outdoor space at all, the best pizza oven for you is an electric one that’s designed for indoor use.
• If you want to minimize cleanup and maintenance, propane and electric are best because they don’t produce smoke or soot. You’ll still need to cleanup any flour and food debris, however.
• The best pizza oven for Neapolitan pizza is a 12 inch, but if you want to make New York style pizza you’ll need a 16 inch baking surface.
• If you want the least expensive pizza oven, single fuel source models are generally less expensive than multi-fuel. Also, 12 inch models are usually less expensive than 16 inch models due to the increased size.

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