Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
Outdoor Pizza Ovens

  • What Makes a Good Outdoor Oven?
pizza thermometer

outdoor pizza ovens were as mythical and unobtainable as a golden unicorn. Only the super-wealthy could afford one, let alone have space to actually build one. But now the longing is a thing of the past. The elusive golden horned pizza oven has been transformed into an affordable, compact, beautiful reality.

More than Just Pizza

These new outdoor pizza ovens deliver the goods. There is nothing as delicious as a pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven at extremely hot temperatures. But these ovens do so much more than make delicious pies. They can be used to cook meat, bread, cheese, and veggies too. Basically, it will make anything you would traditionally cook in your standard oven, but it will be so much better. Because anything cooked in a wood-burning stove will contain a element of smoky flavor.

Practical and Affordable

Traditionally, outdoor ovens were made with brick and mortar and took up half an acre. But luckily for us, we live in a world with better options. You can find a miniature replica of the brick and mortar oven or an innovative portable model. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ll help you find the best outdoor pizza oven on the market. Consider your budget before you jump in. Pizza ovens vary in style and features.

Prices range as drastically as your options; you could walk away with spending as little as $200 or as much as $4,000+. It all depends on what your specific requirements are.

Outdoor Pizza Ovens Under $500
NameFuelPrice
1. Ooni Frya 12WoodSee
2. Kettlepizza Pro 22WoodSee
3. Napoli BertelloGas, Wood, PelletSee
4. Pi Pizza OvenWoodSee
5. Camp Chef ItaliaWoodSee
6. Big HornGasSee
7. Mimiuo PortableWoodSee
8. Deco ChefGasSee
9. GaslandGasSee
Outdoor Pizza Ovens Under $1500
NameFuelPrice
1. Ooni ProGas, Wood, PelletSee
2. Roccbox PortableGas, WoodSee
3. Ooni KodaGasSee
4. Thor ArtisanWoodSee
5. Nonno PeppeWoodSee
6. Maximus ArenaWoodSee
Outdoor Pizza Ovens Under $3500
NameFuelPrice
1. Pronto 200WoodSee
2. ilFornino Pro SeriesWoodSee
3. ilFornino Pt PlusWoodSee
4. Bella PortableWoodSee
5. ALFA CiaoWoodSee

TYPES OF PIZZA OVEN FUEL SOURCES

wood log pile

Logs

chunks of wood

Wood Chunks

pellets for burning

Pellets

propane gas tank illustration

Gas

WOOD VS GAS: WHICH IS BETTER?

The larger ovens typically use logs or large chunks of wood as their heat source. Logs are known for burning hot, rising to temperatures over 900 degrees, which is perfect for pizza. To make outdoor ovens affordable and compact enough for average Joes like us, the fuel sources more commonly used are wood pellets and propane gas. These dual fuel oven sources require less room, but can still reach temperatures close to their logs fueled counterparts. Most pizza-making aficionados swear by pellet stoves. They believe you can’t get a true representation of wood-fired pizza without the wood — “wood made it good“— this seems like a fair point. But, gas fueled ovens reach very high temperatures, and perhaps more importantly, they maintain those temperatures better than wood or pellet ovens. The best choice for you depends on your perspective. If you already have a gas grill, then a propane sourced oven is more convenient. But if you believe, like many do, that the aromas associated with burning wood are essential to great pizza, then opt for a wood pellet oven. The real factor here is whether you prefer to haul around a propane tank or stock up on pellets/wood.

WHAT MAKES A Good Outdoor Oven?

Before you splurge on the new oven you saw at Home Depot, you should consider what makes a good pizza oven. Not all ovens are equal, and if, in your eagerness, you grab the first one you see, you may suffer from buyer’s remorse.

So what makes a good pizza oven?

flame icon

Fuel Source

To make outdoor ovens affordable and compact enough for average Joes like us, the fuel sources more commonly used are wood pellets and propane gas

size icon

size

The size of the oven will determine how large your pizza can be. But if you’re limited on your outdoor kitchen space, there are still many options available for you

brick oven icon

Design

The design of the oven will be the real test of quality. The best ovens have a vent
above the opening to help draw the heat up through the entire oven

insulation icon

Insulation

Quality insulation is paramount because of the necessity of maintaining very high temperature throughout the cooking process.

SIZE OF THE
PIZZA OVEN

 

BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER

You need to consider the size of the oven. If you throw pizza parties every Friday night, you need a large oven, one that can house a 16-inch pizza. If you are cooking just for yourself or your family, a smaller oven might be just right for you.

The size of the oven will determine how large your pizza can be. But if you’re limited on outdoor space, there are still many options available for you. And don’t worry, a smaller oven does not necessarily mean an inferior oven. Some pizza ovens are made with limited space in mind, being perfect for terraces or balconies, while others will look better in your outdoor kitchen.

These also usually require less fuel, and because of their small size, they tend to heat up more quickly. Not to mention, they are typically portable, making them much easier to store than their bulkier counterparts.

homemade pizza ovenHere’s a homemade oven that’s a perfect size for all our backyard baking needs

DESIGN OF THE PIZZA OVEN

The design of the oven will be the real test of quality. The best ovens have a vent above the opening to help draw the heat up through the entire oven. The smoke from the rear of the oven will also be sucked through the vent, circulating heat and flavor throughout the whole oven. Since the space within many of these ovens is smaller than traditional pizza ovens you’ll find the cooking process differs a bit from traditional methods. We have an article dedicated to making dough prefect for smaller ovens.

The circulation of air from :
  • The lower front opening to
  • The fire in the back of the oven
  • Then upward through the forward vent

is essential for evenly cooked, high-quality food.

UNDERSTANDING INSULATION OF OUTDOOR OVENS

The most important thing to consider when looking at pizza ovens insulation. Quality insulation is paramount because of the necessity of maintaining very high the temperature throughout the cooking process. If the insulation is faulty, the oven will not remain hot enough to produce quality food. You will end up with spotty and unevenly cooked pizza every time, basically disappointment every time. The exterior of the oven should be fully insulated, that means the hearth and the dome, both. Not only will this ensure consistent high temperatures, but it will also prevent the dome from setting fire to your backyard

youtube link to making an oven video

TYPES OF OUTDOOR PIZZA OVENS

There are a few different types of outdoor ovens, we’ll take a closer look at each kind, so you can figure out the right fit for you. There are two main categories of outdoor ovens:

commercial oven in wall

Stationary

ooni oven outside

Portable

STATIONARY OVENS

A stationary oven is large and basically immovable. It is usually built into the backyard; the designs and style vary as widely as the prices. You can hire a professional or try your hand at building one yourself. These are usually too expensive for the average Joe, but if you’ve recently won the lottery, then enjoy your new pizza oven. Nonetheless, we have collaborated some of the best high-end pizza ovens that won’t require a second mortgage.

PORTABLE OVENS

The best portable outdoor ovens are compact and affordable. In fact, all of our ‘Value Ovens Under $500‘ are all classified as portable. Typically, these types of outdoor ovens are made of metal instead of brick and are fueled with either wood pellets or propane gas. Building the ovens out of metal instead of brick offer obvious advantages.

First, brick ovens are massive, while metal ovens are smaller and lighter. Their small, compact frames make them more mobile and convenient for storage. Metal ovens can also incorporate a variety of features such as convection motors or rotating cooking surfaces.

Other portable ovens are approximately the size of your outdoor grill and are known as stand-alone ovens. This category has some of the best and worst options out there. Too many companies produce inferior models but cleverly pass off their stand-alone to unsuspecting buyers.

Understanding Creative Manufacture Verbiage

Portable oven manufactures are known for advertising insane high temperature and short cook times. They explain their products something like this:

Heats up to 1000°F in lest than a few minutes so
you can cook 5 pizzas in less than 15 minutes.

What you will find is that most portable outdoor pizza ovens will max out at around 800°F and it will take about 20 minutes to them there. Getting your oven hot is the key to a great crust and gooey cheese. With that being said, even though your ambient temperature is good enough to cook after 20 minutes, you really should let the oven preheat for about 45 minutes. By allowing the oven to preheat you ensure a crispy crust that doesn’t stick when trying to slide it out. Another factor that manufactures never mention in their calculations of how many pies you can turnaround in a short period of time. They never calculate the 10 – 15 minutes it takes your oven to bounce back to an ideal cooking temperature each time you remove a pie. When we tested several of these standalone pizza ovens we used the Fireboard 2 Pro to monitor internal temperatures of the oven. We have rated Fireboard 2 Pro the ‘Best Pizza Oven Thermometer‘.

pizza thermometer

8 BEST OUTDOOR PIZZA OVENS
UNDER $500

1. Ooni Frya 12 Outdoor Pizza Oven

The folks at Ooni keep getting closer to the perfect outdoor pizza oven. This iteration is truly portable, coming in under 25 pounds, and still functional, producing a great pie for your clan. Using real wood pellets, which you can find virtually anywhere, you get crispy pizzas with authentic wood fired flavors very quickly. It is an upgrade on the older Ooni 3 model we’ve reviewed in the past. For more details on the Fyra 12, see our full review here.

When we say very quickly, this unit can get over 900 degrees in fifteen minutes. It is truth in advertising, called a 12 because that is the largest pie that will fit easily into this unit.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

It doesn’t really have temperature control. To a point, the chimney baffle can slow things down, but otherwise it is flame on. Related to that, you want to watch your pellet feed. If you top off the feeder it can either cause a smolder with acrid smoke or blaze into scorching before cooking realms. A bit of attention, and a little practice, makes this easily avoidable.

WHAT WE LIKE

It delivers good pizzas quickly in a product that is priced for easy entry for most consumers.

PROS
  • Truly Portable
  • Rapid Heating
  • Affordable Option
CONS
  • Slight learning curve to maintain target temperature
  • Cooking space is limited

2. Kettlepizza Pro 22 Kit

The Kettlepizza Pro 22 is a kit you insert into your grill, which transforms it from barbecue to pizza oven. Grilling an edible pizza takes skills and practice. Every time you open the lid, you lose tons of heat, which is one of the real struggles people have when trying to bake pizza on a grill. The Kettlepizza Pro 22 solves this problem.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

The Kettlepizza Pro 22 solves this problem. But the real star in this show is the pizza stone. Pizza stones collect massive amounts of heat, which is the key to a great pizza crust.

This made in the USA oven kit comes with a solid stainless steel ring that fits perfectly into a standard Weber kettle, but it will also fit several other kettle style grills. The oven has a place to set wood chunks to burn that will create the aroma and flavors of an actual wood burning pizza oven oven.

With only a small opening in the pizza oven, temperatures can reach over 700 degrees, so you can finally grill a perfect pizza.

So here’s the most practical pizza oven if you own a kettle style grill (which many people do). While it’s not the best overall method/oven on the list, it is an affordable option and makes pizza without adding additional clutter to your backyard. See our full writeup on the KettlePizza Pro here.

WHAT WE LIKE

The problem is, well, not sure the oven kit is really necessary as you can grill a pizza without it —especially, if you have a pizza stone — it just makes the process a little easier.

And, unlike most other pizza ovens, this one isn’t ideal for anything other than pizza. Additionally, you’ll have to find a safe place to store it whenever you’re actually grilling.

PROS
  • Great pizza
  • Attaches to current appliance
CONS
  • Need charcoal and wood chunks
  • Need storage space

3. Napoli Bertello

Bertello has taken the market by storm with their sleek and multifunctional pizza oven. Whether you like cooking with pellets, wood , or gas you’ll have your choice. Boasting temperatures of 900°F (we reached 800°F) you can cook a pie in under 2.5 minutes (see the full review here).

The Bertello comes with a 13.5 x 12.5-inch cordierite pizza stone, which is perfect for 10 to11-inch pizzas. Each oven also includes a tray for pellets, charcoal, or wood chunks, and they offer a gas burner attachment so you can fuel your oven by any means.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

A Kickstarter success story, the Bertello Wood Fire and Gas Pizza Oven is a good mid-range product. Solid construction and compact design make this pizza oven versatile. It’s great for Neapolitan style pizza but can also be used to cook fish, veggies and pretty much anything you can put into a cast iron skillet.

WHAT WE LIKE

The small front opening helps keep temperatures high and consistent, but it also makes placing a pizza in the oven a little tricky. Finesse, and a steady hand are needed to prevent your pizza from crashing and burning.

PROS
  • Great construction
  • Fast cooking
  • Multi-fuel options
CONS
  • Tricky to place pizza in just right
  • Weight

4. Pi Pizza Oven from Solo

This portable pizza oven comes standard with two separate Cordierite pizza stones rather than one single slab. This allows you to make a 12-inch pizza that is easily accessed from the large opening in the front. If you’re using propane gas, it can reach as high as 800 degrees in just a few minutes. It can further burn real wood using the rear burner chamber in the back. As we know by now, heat is key in yielding a great crust – this model is capable reaching the highest temps quicker than the Napoli and Ooni.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

The most annoying part about the Pi Pizza oven is that there are many models that all offer add-ons with the standard oven. It’s perfectly fine, to begin with, a starter bundle that provides a basic pizza oven, a pizza roller, and a pizza peel. This type of oven will allow you to use wood since the gas burner is an add-on. Additional items like the digital thermometer are nice as well but only come with select Pi Pizza oven packages.

The other problem is that the wood-fired option needs to be continuously fueled to keep the temperature sustained. This can be irritating if you have many pizzas to cook and aren’t experienced enough with using a wood-fired pizza oven. See our writeup on the Pi Oven.

WHAT WE LIKE

The insulation and heat distribution for this oven is excellent and will radiate heat exactly where it needs to go. With a little bit of pizza-making experience, you can make a pizza in just 2 minutes with impressive results. Because it’s so lightweight, it can be brought anywhere and set up quick for any occasion.

PROS
  • Cooks pizzas in just 2 minutes
  • Real smoky flavor when using wood fuel
  • Extra wide front load for large pizzas
CONS
  • Pricy packages for starter oven bundle kits
  • Wood-burning chamber needs to be refueled often
  • You need to adjust the pizza often, so it doesn’t burn

5. Camp Chef Italia

The Camp Chef Italia pizza oven tries its best to replicate the authenticity of an Italian wood-fired brick oven. It’s double-walled construction, specialty burners, and ventilation design all work together to raise temperatures to the extreme. It has a manual micro-adjust valve, which allows for precision heat control.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

It is portable, versatile, and easy to use. It’s fueled by a one-pound disposable propane bottle and is small enough to travel with you wherever you go. But it also includes an adapter to fit a standard propane canister. Since it is a propane-fueled only oven, your pies will lack the aroma of a wood-fired pizza.

The cordierite stone is 13.25 x 20 inches, wide enough to make two small pizzas side by side. However, you can cook a single larger pizza when wanted. The ceiling of the oven is a little lower than other models, which reduces its versatility some, as other pans or food items won’t.

WHAT WE LIKE

The oven is easy to assemble and use. The instruction manual is a little tricky to understand, but it’s easy enough you might not need it.

PROS
  • Portable
  • Easy to use
  • 2 small pizzas at once
CONS
  • No wood flavor/aroma
  • Low ceiling

6. BIG HORN OUTDOORS Pizza Oven

This unit will indeed reach the target temps over 800 degrees, although not as quickly as the manufacturer suggests. But it gets there, so be aware, rotating at 30 second intervals, and planning a cook time of 1-2 minutes for thin crusts is fairly normal.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

The unit has space enough to cook a 12 inch pizza, it takes some practice and skill to maneuver that size pizza in, out, and around. The space contains the heat, so your other learning curve will be timing the brown of the crust and the toppings. The oven door is not hinged, it removes which means you need a temp resistant surface to place it on.

They are serious when they say flame will come out the chimney. Like any flame device, you need to be aware of your surroundings. In this case, watch your vertical clearance for eaves, branches, awnings and such. The flame will die down when you have gotten it to temp, and the pellets have become mostly coal.

WHAT WE LIKE

When fully preheated this unit knocks out the pizzas. Even with regular rotating, you’ll get the proper rustic markings, maybe a slight char, and good dark pebbling on the bottom crust.

PROS
  • Reasonably quick preheat time
  • Pellet fuel is easy to work with
  • User friendly directions
CONS
  • Opening could be larger
  • ‘Door’ is tricky to operate

7. Mimiuo Portable Pellet Oven

This unit comes with a 13 inch stone, so it does allow for a good size pizza, and the wide front opening makes it pretty close to ‘edge to edge’ for easy loading. It heats up pretty quick, and will get over 800 degrees from the pellet fuel.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

The instructions are lacking. If you have never used something like this before it will be daunting, and there aren’t many brand specific videos on YouTube. For example, the controllable vent for heat regulation, which should be a plus, makes for a steeper learning curve. It is easy to have a smoky sooty result with the firebox until you get practiced up.

Peripherally, it is a nice package with a peel and a cover, although the cover is pretty lightweight and prone to ripping.

WHAT WE LIKE

It gets to temp and holds it well with only minor management, and regular refreshing of the pellet fuel source. The stone holds heat decently (some may argue it could be a thicker slab). Clean up is easy, weight is about right for a portable unit.

PROS
  • Responsive start time to temp
  • Wide front opening
  • Good temperature characteristics
CONS
  • Learning curve steep due to poor instructions
  • Prone to smoke and soot

8. Deco Chef Outdoor Pizza Oven

This one is perhaps a better concept than execution. It comes close, but that may be all it is capable of doing, even in terms of portability, coming in heavy at 40 pounds compared to some other choices. This one is more suitable for static placement like an outdoor kitchen area.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

We use a stone to hold heat and keep it against the crust to get that crispness we seek. The problem is this stone takes a long time to get hot, just 500 is a challenge. Yes, the thermometer will read 900 for the chamber, but it will still take over 30 minutes to get the stone heated.

The size is deceptive because you can actually put a 14 inch pizza inside. Good luck turning it, which you must do, or moving it in general. So, you are left at the norm of a comfortable twelve inch limit on your pizza size.

WHAT WE LIKE

The size does allow for good air circulation, evening out the cooking, although you still have to turn the pie. But when the right size, turning is easy, as is in and out handling. The package includes some nice accessories like the slotted pan and drip tray for roasting non pizza items, pellet scoop, heat resistant glove, and a couple more. The burn box can actually accommodate charcoal which may help reduce the number of times you need to stoke the unit. It also has a good handles on both the front and the burn box

PROS
  • Large cooking surface
  • Variety of accessories
  • Decent handles where needed
CONS
  • Cold blooded, slow to warm up
  • Consumes a lot of fuel
  • Heavy weigh for portability

9. GASLAND Gas Pizza Oven, PZ101S

Gasland may have the easiest standalone pizza oven to use with this unit. It also has the added bonus of a small gas element under the stone to get even fast heating. The stated three minute pre-heat time may be slightly exaggerated, but it is hot in under 10 minutes.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

They say it only heats to 572 degrees. The thermometer says it is hotter, easily reaching 8-900 degrees in the chamber. The stone however, does not get over 550 or so. The exterior dimensions seem like you should be able to cook a pizza that is larger than 12 inches, but that is all the stone will accommodate.

The chamber element is along one side, so you have to rotate the pizza a couple times for even cooking. The only accessory is a hose to attach the unit to a propane tank. So your cost will go up to get some necessary items, unless you already own the things you need.

WHAT WE LIKE

Start to finish this will be a quick process. In 10 minutes you are cooking, thin crust pizzas are done in two minutes or less. And, the recovery time is quick getting ready for the next pie. Very simple operation also means you are up and running quickly from the get go.

PROS
  • User Friendly
  • Fast heat/re-heat times
  • Stone and chamber have separate controls
CONS
  • Small interior cooking space
  • Not built for portability
  • No cover or accessories

Final Take: Why We Love Outdoor Ovens

The only goal here is to make awesome pizza at home, know the ingredients, build it your own way and cook it to perfection. That last step is where we come in to help you out. We all might love a 5 foot brick igloo that gives us the perfect wood fired pizza…but urban living or lots of factors make that unworkable.

The fact is you can make a great pizza in your own oven with a good stone or flat iron grill, or just the backside of your largest cast iron skillet. Even your outdoor gas fired pizza oven options aren’t limited to the stand alone units. Green Mountain grills makes a great kit that converts their pellet grill to a very functional pizza oven. There are many generic options that take your gas fired grill to the next level of cooking pizza, our favorite is the BakerStone.

We are pretty pizza centric here, and our passion shows through when we get excited about all the wonderful tools available to produce this perfect food. We would be remiss if we did not point out how effective these devices can be for a multitude of cooking projects. We know there are folks who almost stop baking in the summer heat to keep their house cool. It is a very small step from pizza dough to baking bread, just keep a lower more continuous temperature. Cooking meats is a dream in the high heat, offering crispy seared outsides and tender juicy inside. The world of sous vide cooking thrives on a really hot searing to finish most projects. We understand if pizza still comes first, but don’t overlook the advantages of having the best outdoor oven in your cooking toolkit.

Quick reminder about heat. The goal of these devices is a high temp. Always keep that in mind, they are hot. They are supposed to be, really hot in fact. This is not set and forget cooking where you can just pop in the food, take a shower or whatever and come back to stuff ready to eat. Instead you will come back to incinerated charcoal blocks of sadness for your dinner.

If you have more money to spend on the ideal outdoor cooking experience, there are some high-end outdoor pizza ovens that you can buy and avoid going over-budget. The following are our top five outdoor kitchen picks, depending on your cooking preferences and the amount you’re willing to spend.

5 TOP OUTDOOR OVENS
UNDER $1,500

Searching for the best outdoor pizza ovens with a budget of $500 to $1,500 to spend? There are plenty of solid options out there for you to choose from, but to help narrow down your choices to some of the best on the market, the following are our top five based on their overall quality, durability, and features included for the price.

1. Ooni Pro

Ooni, formerly Uuni, is known for manufacturing some of the best pizza ovens available, and the Ooni Pro is no exception.

The Good

The Ooni Pro is Ooni’s larger portable oven, and it’s designed to cook a pizza within as little as a minute. The oven reaches a maximum heat of 932 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it ideal for heating authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, and it can preheat to the max temperature within around 20 minutes. You can cook pizzas up to 16″ using this oven, or you can use it to cook a variety of other meals such as fish, steak, and vegetables. The oven can retain and evenly spread heat easily thanks to its heavily insulated stainless steel design and cordierite pizza stone.

The Bad

The only issues you might find somewhat inconvenient with this oven are the lack of any kind of weatherproof cover, gas burner, or pallet burner, and you may need to preheat for longer than the advertised 20 minutes if you really want to prevent sticking on the stone.

Apart from requiring a few extra purchases and time to cook, this oven is one of the most cost-effective and reliable you’ll find.

2. Roccbox Portable

Another great option that we enjoyed was the Roccbox portable outdoor pizza oven, which also reaches high temperatures and features durable construction.

The Good

The Roccbox can heat up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit, which is great if you want to cook a pizza with artisan crust. It also includes both wood and gas burners depending on your cooking preferences, along with a built-in thermometer. You should be able to enjoy the perfect pizza within a minute after preheating the oven, and it’s also designed with body insulation that helps keep the oven’s exterior cool. With a weight of around 44 pounds, it’s also pretty easy to transport.

The Bad

One potential problem with this oven is that it can take a bit of trial and error to figure out which settings work best for you. You may need to wait longer than the preheating settings recommend to prevent sticking, for example, and playing around with different temperature settings might be in order.

All in all, the Roccbox is another dependable outdoor pizza oven that can give you some of the best results.

3. Ooni Koda Gas

The Onni Koda Gas pizza oven is a great mid-range portable oven. It comes pre-assembled and ready to use, just flip the legs open and set the stone in the oven. It preheats to over 900 degrees in 15 minutes(although we have not yet had a chance to put run this oven through the Artisan Pizza Test Kitchen) so this means you’re able turnaournd several pies in under 15 minutes which is a nice selling point when you’re looking to entertain. The Koda is also good for steak and fish.

The thick cordite stone is 13 inches wide, but 10-inch pizzas bake best in the oven. Pizza larger than 10 inches will be difficult to place and rotate in the oven. Sometimes pizza baked in the rear of the oven can result in an over-baked pie, so keeping the pizza near the front of the oven can prevent burning. Another option is to lower the temperature just before placing the pizza in the oven. But changing the temperature will increase the cooking time.

The overhead flame is hot enough to cook a small piece of meat safely, so no pre-cooking is necessary.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

The Koda connects to a regular 20-pound propane tank. If you want to take it camping, an adapter can be purchased from other retailers for the 1 pound tanks.

WHAT WE LIKE

Set up is a little bit of a bear, it requires some assembly and care. Once you’re all set up, you might need to run through a few pizzas until you have found the perfect process. But the learning curve is worth the effort to have a gas fired pizza oven at your disposal.

PROS
  • No assembly
  • Versatile/portable
CONS
  • Protective case not included
  • Adapter not included

4. Thor Artisan Pizza Oven

Though a little pricier than either the Ooni or the Roccbox, this Thor wood-fired stainless steel oven is not only great for cooking pizza, it can also cook many other delicious meals.

The Good

Featuring 430 stainless steel construction with a polished steel exterior, this durable oven is also highly portable. You get everything you need with this pizza oven if you want to enjoy authentic artisan-crust pizza, including a top-quality pizza stone surface, wire broom/brush, pizza peel, cutter, and spatula. It reaches temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes, with enough space to cook two to three pizzas or other items at a time, which makes it great for serving large groups of people on any occasion.

The Bad

One inconvenience that you may experience with this oven is the assembly required, as it can be confusing when setting up the legs based on the specific order in which you need to install them. The directions may be a little unclear, but you should be able to find videos on YouTube that can clarify installation if needed.

For a great cooking experience at a still-decent price, we definitely recommend the Thor.

5. Nonno Peppe

The most expensive on this list, the Nonno Peppe gives you plenty of bang for your buck. Still less expensive than many outdoor pizza ovens on the market, the Nonno Peppe is built to last and give you the results you want with every use while helping you stay within your budget.

The Good

The Nonno Peppe uses handmade terracotta bricks that keep the oven properly insulated, with stainless steel construction that resists corrosion even at the highest temperature settings. The oven reaches over 800 degrees Fahrenheit, and it features a built-in F/C thermometer to help you monitor the temperature. One of the things we like most about this oven is its spacious cooking area, with a 24″ x 24″ cooking surface that allows you to cook multiple dishes at once, which makes it great for larger parties and other occasions.

The Bad

The only real pain point we experienced with the Nonno Peppe had to do with assembly, as the smoke stack’s gasket on the top of the oven took multiple people to lift and install. Otherwise, it’s relatively easy to set up and you should have the oven up and running in no time.

While this oven is on the higher end in terms of cost, the Nonno Peppe is a great value and you’re sure to get plenty of use out of this model.

6. Maximus Arena

Last but far from least is the Maximus Arena Apomax countertop wood-fired pizza oven, which is very portable and reliable to leave all of your friends and family impressed.

The Good

You can set the Maximus Arena Apomax out on your patio or bring it with you on a camping trip to enjoy authentic pizza anywhere. The combination of steel and aluminum construction makes it one of the most durable models, with a ceramic tiled baking dish that allows for easy cooking of pizza and many other food items, from lasagna and fish to veggies and bread. You get a great wood-fired taste with every use and the fast cooking time and large 23.5″ x 23.5″ internal dimensions can cook as many as 30 pizzas every hour.

The Bad

The sole issues we found were that the thermometer wasn’t properly attached and you may need to glue it to the oven, and the pizza peel included with the oven is also somewhat flimsy, so you may need to take some care to avoid breaking it.

In the end, this pizza oven was one of our favorites. It’s portable, efficient, and can produce some delicious pies without costing a fortune.

5 BEST OUTDOOR OVENS
UNDER $3,500

1. Forno Venetzia Pronto 200

While this oven comes with the lowest price tag on this list, don’t think that you’re compromising quality with this purchase. You get a good deal with the Forno Venetzia.

The Good

Unlike a lot of other pizza oven models, the Forno Venetiza FVP200C comes fully assembled and ready to use, which means you can avoid the hassles of setup. The oven also comes with a fire brick hearth made with double-layered ceramic insulation, which allows for better heat retention and more even cooking. Like every other Forno Venetzia product, you get some authentic Italian design and engineering with the oven, particularly in its oak door handle and chimney cap. It’s really one of the best models you’re likely to find for premium outdoor cooking at home.

The Bad

The only potential downside of this oven is its relatively small size compared to other outdoor pizza ovens. If you want to be able to feed a lot of people at a family gathering or other occasion, you may be better off looking for a larger oven. The smaller size also accounts for its comparably lower price.

If you want a convenient ready-to-use oven, you can’t go wrong with the Forno Venetzia.

2. ilFornino Professional Series

The ilFornino Professional Series wood-fired pizza oven one of our favorites for a number of reasons, and it’s one of the less expensive ones in this price range if you’re trying to avoid going over $2,000.

The Good

the ilForninio Professional Series is a nice upgrade from their previous basic pizza oven model. It features high-grade 430 stainless steel construction of a thicker, heavy gauge stainless steel, which gives it more insulation and maintains the internal temperature more consistently for better cooking. In fact, the insulation is potentially 5 times greater than what you would get with a traditional pizza oven. The ceramic blankets and an additional layer of ceramic further optimize heat retention for more even cooking. Ultimately, you should be able to cook a delicious within around 25 minutes of starting this thing up. With a cooking area of around 1,007 inches, there’s plenty of space for up to six small pizza pies or three larger pies, which makes this oven great for cooking for larger groups.

The Bad

Our only complaints with this top-quality oven are that the oven could use a longer handle, maybe a foot longer, and assembling this oven takes some work because of its size and weight. You may need some help from friends or family when putting it together.

Other than a couple of small downsides, there’s a lot to love about this oven and it is definitely worth the price.

3. ilFornino Platinum Plus

ilFornino makes this list once again with the Platinum Plus wood-fired oven, which can give you the perfect cooking experience.

The Good

The Platinum Plus wood-fired oven features over 1,000 square inches of cooking surface for around six smaller pizza pies or three larger ones. The one flat cooking surface maximizes both heat retention and distribution, which helps ensure your pizzas are cooked evenly. You can also heat the pizza up to over 850 degrees Fahrenheit within 25 to 30 minutes, so if you’re looking to cook authentic Italian-style pizza, this oven can do the job. The 3-layered ceramic interior also ensures the oven stays consistently hot for up to three hours.

The Bad

In all honesty, we personally found nothing wrong with this oven. It’s easy to set up, it cooks as advertised, and it’s consistently reliable. Though the price tag might seem a bit on the high end for an outdoor pizza oven, you’re paying for premium quality through and through.

We were very happy with this oven, making it one of our biggest recommendations.

4. Bella Portable Pizza Oven

The Bella Medio28 is another great option if you want to enjoy a great outdoor cooking experience with some portability built in.

The Good

The Bella Medio28 portable oven features a stainless steel dome core along with a powder-coated wrap and a cooking floor made with high-grade ceramic. It’s also sufficiently insulated for consistent heat retention, with a large cooking space of 28″ x 24″. What makes this model particularly portable is its four wheels installed beneath the stand, allowing you to wheel the oven anywhere with ease. The oven can heat up to its max temperature and cook around 40 pizzas per hour if you need to feed a large and hungry crowd. The oven also comes with gloves as well as a stainless steel and wooden pizza peel.

The Bad

Like the ilFornino Platinum Plus, there really isn’t anything bad about this model in terms of functionality, construction, or ease of use.

Sure, it’s pricy and it’s not truly portable if you want to bring your cooking experience on the go for your next outing, but you pay for what you get, which is a lot in a single convenient and dependable oven. We definitely recommend the Bella Medio28 if quality and larger size are what you want.

5. ALFA CIAO

If you have a lot to spend on the perfect wood-fired pizza cooking experience, the ALFA Ciao pizza oven is sure to give you the results you want with every use.

The Good

This outdoor oven features a tall base and a refractory clay exterior and dome, along with a thick ceramic cooking floor. The construction helps maximize heat retention and keep the oven consistently hot. The compact design makes it great for use in smaller spaces to help save room whether for a home or a restaurant. You can also get this oven heated up within 30 minutes to a max temperature of 840 degrees Fahrenheit for authentic Italian cooking.

The Bad

If you’re looking for a sleek stainless steel design to add some visual appeal to your oven, this isn’t the model for you. The orange and black look might not be a total eyesore, but it’s not going to evoke a classic Italian pizza oven feel or serve as an architectural centerpiece. If you’re willing to forgo looks for quality cooking, this is definitely worth the buy.

It may be the most expensive we recommend, but you’re definitely getting premium quality when you buy the ALFA Ciao, with plenty of cooking space for large gatherings.

FAQs

Is an outdoor pizza oven worth it?

An outdoor pizza oven can be a great addition to any backyard or patio. There are a few key benefits to consider when deciding whether an outdoor pizza oven is worth it for you:

Speed: Outdoor pizza ovens can cook pizzas much faster than a traditional oven, often in as little as 5-10 minutes.

Flavor: The high heat of an outdoor pizza oven can give pizzas a delicious, crispy crust and a perfectly cooked interior. Ambiance: Cooking pizzas in an outdoor pizza oven can be a fun and social activity, and it can add a cozy and inviting atmosphere to your outdoor space.

Versatility: In addition to pizzas, you can use your outdoor pizza oven to cook a variety of other dishes, such as roasts, vegetables, and even desserts. Overall, an outdoor pizza oven can be a worthwhile investment if you enjoy entertaining, cooking outdoors, and trying new recipes.

What is best type of pizza oven?

There are three types of pizza ovens; wood-fired, gas-fried and electric ovens. The electric ovens are typically for indoor use while gas and wood ovens are typically purchased for backyard outdoor use. If you’re looking for a pizza oven for your outdoor kitchen, I’d recommend a wood-fired oven as you’ll yield a more iconic artisan pizza flavor. However, if you’re after portability then you’ll have endless choices of gas pizza ovens that can be easily placed on a tabletop or counter. Some of these portable style pizza ovens offer hybrid options of gas and wood. In the end, since pizza ovens range from as little as a few hundred dollars to thousands, the type of pizza oven you choose will likely depend on your budget.

How much does a pizza oven cost?

You can get an outdoor oven for as little as $300, but the sky is the limit as we’ve tested several ovens that cost $3,500+. The main factors that effect cost is size, insulation, and the ability to utilize wood or transfer heat.