Get into the summer mood with one of the best pizza ovens on the market, which we've tested and reviewed at home to make choosing one to spruce up your garden a little more straightforward. These ovens are a fantastic way to make your outdoor space more sociable, and can spark outdoor gatherings and alfresco family meal times.
We know that creating authentic chargrilled pizza at home doesn’t come cheap, with quality pizza ovens ranging anywhere from £150 to £1500+. So how do you decide how much cash to splash, and how do you choose between all of those different fuel types?
That’s where we step in to help, with the lowdown on all of the most popular pizza oven models that we've actually tried– whether you’re looking for the authenticity of a wood-fired pizza oven, the ease and convenience of a gas-fired pizza oven, or the best of both worlds in a multi-fuel option. Other considerations include heat-up speed, cooking times and important extras, like in-built temperature gauges and included pizza peels.
If you're still pondering the value for money aspect of a pizza oven, bear in mind that certain pizza ovens can often double up as a best BBQ alternative, enabling you to grill fish or meat, and even bake bread, cookies or cakes outdoors too. If you have an outdoor space, then we don’t think you’ll regret creating an outdoor kitchen around one of these garden must-haves.
The Ideal Home team has tried and tested bestselling pizza ovens from market leaders Ooni, Gozney, DeliVita, Woody and more. Keep reading for our verdict on which to shop and which to avoid.
Best pizza ovens
Why you can trust Ideal Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The Ooni Fyra is a five-star buy for many reasons, and an easy winner of the title of the best pizza oven. The first is that a wood-fired pizza oven is generally going to be the most affordable option in terms of initial outlay, and, as a rule, wood is a cheaper – and potentially more environmentally friendly – fuel type when compared to gas.
This budget-friendly oven earned a perfect score from our most discerning reviewer, Helen McCue, a feat that is not easy to do. She thinks that this pizza oven is 'great if you enjoy wood-fired pizza as well as the challenge of mastering the techniques of pizza making, you’ll have an absolute blast creating pizzas for everyone who comes to visit.'
It managed a flawless performance in testing thanks to its low maintenance set-up and cooking process, with the flames it creates achieving that authentic, smoky wood-fired flavour (without burning)
Of course, the Fyra is more effort than a gas-fired alternative, and it will need one person’s (almost) undivided attention for the best results, especially if you want to cook multiple pizzas for a large group when you’ll need to get the oven back up to temperature between bakes.
Affordability-wise, the Ooni Fyra only comes in a 12-inch option, and at £249 it does work out a little more expensive than its closest competitor – the Woody pizza oven – mainly because it doesn’t come with the added accessories that the Woody includes in its £249.99 price tag, like the all-important pizza peel (you’ll struggle to cook a pizza without one) or the in-built thermometer the Woody offers (not essential, but it does help with getting that crispy base without burning).
However, in terms of build quality and professional looks, for us, the Ooni Fyra just steals the show. As long as you have the time and patience to invest in the authentic wood-fired pizza-making experience, this option could be the fit for you. If you're still undecided on which oven to buy from the brand, we've covered the subject in more depth in our rundown of which Ooni pizza oven to buy.
Read our full Ooni Fyra 12 Pizza Oven review for more information.
The 12-inch pizza-making Gozney Roccbox comes in two options, the gas-fuelled model, which currently has an RRP of £399, and the multi-fuel option with an RRP of £499. This makes it significantly more expensive than Ooni's comparably sized multi-fuel option, the Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven, with an RRP of £299.
So, what does the Gozney Roccbox have that the Ooni Karu 12 doesn't? Well, first up are its stylish good looks. The Roccbox features a smart stainless steel cylinder chamber wrapped in eye-catching silicone that also helps to make the oven's outer safe to the touch.
Unlike the Ooni Karu 12, it also features an in-built thermometer at the side of the oven that makes keeping track of temperature (and so getting a consistent bake) a far easier affair. It also comes ready-equipped with a pizza peel – an essential tool for turning your pizza to prevent burning. One of our biggest bugbears with the Ooni pizza ovens is that this essential tool must be purchased separately.
Technically, the Gozney Roccbox is also more portable, coming equipped with a strap to help you transport it with ease. With its compact size and easily retractable legs, it might make a good option for the beach as long as you can drive it there, as at 29kg, it's probably a little heavy to carry.
Performance-wise, our reviewer loved the Roccbox and all of its charms, finding the entire pizza-making process straightforward. She also found wood-fired cooking was a lot more high-maintenance than gas. Overall, this meant longer cooking times on both fuel types, but, on the flip side, less risk of burning your Hawaiian or Margherita.
Read our full Gozney Roccbox Dual-Fuel Pizza Oven review for more information.
The largest of Ooni's multi-fuel pizza ovens, the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven is an investment, but as long as your budget will stretch, we think it's worth it.
Firstly, this multi-fuel option means you don't have to make the difficult decision between wood-fired or gas-fired cooking. You can opt to heat the oven using wood or charcoal for that authentic chargrilled taste, or you can enjoy the even consistency of gas cooking. However, the gas burner doesn't come included, which is a bit of a disappointment considering the price.
That said, our reviewer loved the performance of this oven, which is why it's taken the top spot in our round-up. On testing we found this oven heated up the fastest of most models we've trialled, and even better it features an in-built temperature gauge so you know exactly when to add your dough – something lacking in many comparable models.
That spacious interior also makes for ease of use, with plenty of space to spin your pizza for even cooking (although you'll need to buy a pizza peel separately as one isn't included). The hinged oven door with viewing panel also makes checking on the pizza's progress far easier than closed-door models, helping to eliminate the risk of pizza burning – although the even heat the pizza oven delivered meant there was little risk of that.
It's an investment, and you will need to buy additional accessories separately – like a pizza peel and that gas burner – but if you want to cook pizza alfresco like a pro, then the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven gets full marks from us.
Read our full Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven review for information.
If you're looking for one of the most affordable pizza ovens you can buy, then we think the Woody Pizza Oven is a great balance of price and performance.
This is a 12-inch wood-fired pizza oven first and foremost, but it also offers the flexibility of converting to gas with the addition of a gas burner. The solely wood-powered Woody oven is £249.99, and we've covered its pros and cons as compared to Ooni's wood-fired Fyra pizza oven at £249 above. The main benefits of opting for the Woody being the lower initial investment, as with this oven you get the (essential) pizza peel, an in-built thermometer, and a carry cover included in the price.
In addition, the Woody also offers the flexibility of transforming into a gas-fired oven with the additional purchase of a gas burner. This brings the total cost to £309.98. You’ll need to invest in Ooni’s Karu 12 for similar multi-fuel functionality, which will set you back £378.99 in total (£299 for the oven, and £79.99 for the gas burner), and again, that's without some of the accessories Woody provides as standard.
Our reviewers were impressed by the Woody's performance, both in the more labour-intensive wood-fired mode and the comparatively quick and easy gas-fired mode. They also noted the arched roof of the Woody Pizza Oven made cooking a range of dishes a little easier than with the Ooni Fyra's more shallow opening.
The only downsides were a little lack of finesse to some of the build quality. Our reviewer noted the pizza oven is a little rough around the edges in some places and found the door a tight fit, which made prompt pizza removal a little tricky on occasion. However, for the price point, it does everything you need for delicious pizza and offers an affordable way to get your hands on the versatility of a multi-fuel pizza oven, so we think it's definitely an option worth considering.
Read our full Woody Pizza Oven and Kit review for more information.
The Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is a seriously smart indoor pizza oven. It can heat up to 400 degrees and cook authentic Neopolitan-style pizzas as well as deep dish and even frozen pizzas.
When we put this pizza oven to the test and were seriously impressed by how fast it cooked our pizzas, as well as the evenness of the cooking. Although it's electric, the Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo gives you the experience of authentic wood-fired pizza but without the stress of firing up an outdoor oven. The immediate advantage of this is that you can enjoy fresh cooked pizza all year around, and no weather can rain on your pizza party. This oven also comes with a pizza peel, stone, and deep dish included, which earnt another tick from us.
The obvious downside of the Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is the high price, but when you consider that it plugs right in, comes with a pizza peel, and doesn't need a thermometer to tell if it's hot enough to cook your pizza perfectly, it's an unmissable option. If you want the best pizza oven to take the stress out of judging the heat and timing of your cooking, this five-star option is the one for you.
Read our full Sage Smart Oven Pizzaiolo review for more information.
Enjoy pizza anywhere and any way you want it with this transportable oven. Handmade in Yorkshire, it’s one of the most beautiful ovens out there. When we put this pizza oven to the test it impressed us with its beautiful exterior and sturdy design. Heating the oven was easy, we just made a jenga-style tower of wood and lit it before leaving it for about half an hour to come to the desired temperature of 450°C.
The DeliVita comes in a gorgeous range of colours and can make 12-inch pizzas in just a minute. Its exterior is waterproof and it also comes with a cover, meaning you can leave it outside after use if you wish. It is a little on the heavy side at 30kg, so not the best for travelling, but there's no denying the authentic feel of that crackling wood and our finished pizza was restaurant-quality.
Read our full DeliVita pizza oven review for more information.
The Gozney Dome is the sellout, big spend pizza oven from Gozney, a brand that makes a range of professional ovens, alongside their classic Roccbox, which is one of Ideal Home's favourite picks. The Dome sits somewhere in between, with a modern look that's unlike many of the pizza ovens on the market, and a large enough internal capacity to keep the pizzas flowing.
It's a seriously expensive choice, but you can make the most of it with extras such as a steam injector or oven door to offer more cooking options. They cost extra but could be with it given the price of the oven, we think.
Cost aside, we loved using this oven to cook pizzas in our at-home, each of which came out perfectly. Other foods that went down a storm included steaks and roasted vegetables such as sweetcorn. It's a pricey buy, but if you're looking for an upgrade on your existing oven, the Gozney Dome is the oven you'll want.
Read our full Gozney Dome outdoor oven review for more information.
The Ooni Koda is a gas-fired pizza oven available in either 12-inch or 16-inch sizes, so there's an option for those with more space and one for a more portable option. The legs fold away for easy storage and there's a dial to control the temperature. Our reviewer Helen found this oven got up to heat very quickly, and within 15 to 20 minutes, she could start cooking.
From there, Helen found in her tests it really couldn't be easier to speedily serve up pizzas, meaning that your next garden party undoubtedly be your best yet. Despite the lack of wood-fired flavour, this gas oven was a powerhouse for cooking up crisp, perfectly done pizzas in about two minutes.
Helen also tried her hand at a range of other foods in the Koda, finding fajita mix, chicken, and assorted greens came out perfectly when cooked in a cast iron skillet in the oven.
The Koda is a star buy for those who want to create authentic pizzas without the faff of keeping a fire going, as you would need to in the Fyra. If you love the ease of gas BBQs, the convenience of the Ooni Koda will probably be right up your street.
Read our full Ooni Koda pizza oven review for more information.
How we chose the Ideal Home team's best pizza ovens
We've extensively reviewed every single one of the pizza ovens in this guide, as part of our commitment to how we test products at Ideal Home. And when we say we've tested them, we don't mean we've just tried them out once - we have these ovens at home for a timescale of two weeks to two months before we come to a verdict.
Some of these ovens cook on gas and some on wood, so we make sure to try out both to see if there's a cooking mode we would recommend over the other. We also like to cook a selection of meals from garlic bread and pizza to grilled veggies and steak, because, with the best pizza oven, you'll never be limited to a simple margherita.
Below we've included more information on exactly who from the Ideal Home team has tested these ovens and included more detail on the conditions these ovens were tried in.
As our former Small Appliance and Cookware Editor and now our expert on everything relating to reviews, Millie knows her way around a kitchen appliance, and she was happy to bring her testing know-how to several of the bestselling pizza ovens, giving this popular product a run for its money, both indoors and out.
Home product expert and pizza connoisseur Lindsey spends most of her day thinking about her next meal. When she isn't, she is busy testing and writing about the best buys for your home. She often makes pizza in her oven with a stone, so was eager to test out the Woody Pizza Oven Kit to compare. She's now tucked into several pizza creations using both the gas and wood-fired fuel options.
After completing a Home Economics degree, Helen went on to work for the Good Housekeeping Institute and has been reviewing home appliances ever since. She lives in a small village in Buckinghamshire in the UK and reviewed the Ooni Koda at the same time as the Ooni Fyra, which helped her to determine the differences between the gas and the wood fired models.
Molly is the Ecommerce Editor for Ideal Home, covering appliances including air fryers, vacuums and more. She tested the Gozney Roccbox at home for two weeks, using both gas and wood to compare the experience. As she was testing in the winter, the conditions for her pizza oven making were less than ideal, but the tests did prove the Roccbox can prevail through wind and rain.
Before this review, she was a pizza oven novice. Now she's tried her hand at it, and found it to be a great experience, she's planning on cooking up pizzas and all other sorts of dinners in her Gozney all summer long.
How to choose a pizza oven
Check the weight of your pizza oven
Pizza ovens – particularly clay or brick ovens – can be VERY heavy and tricky to manoeuvre without equipment or a team of helpers. It’s always worth looking at the weight before you order, and check that if it is a beast, that the supplier will move it into position for you. Alternatively, pick a design on wheels that you can move around the garden.
Know your fuels
Pizza is traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven for that signature smoky flavour. However, some pizza ovens have gas burners that will get your oven cavity up to temperature much quicker. Charcoal and pellet burners are other options.
The temperature of your oven will peak somewhere between 400 and 500 degrees C, and the better your oven maintains its temperature, the more pizzas you can produce from one ‘firing’.
Note the cooking times
A small oven will take anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes to heat up (around 10 if you’re using gas, and closer to 20 if you’re opting for pellets or charcoal. Larger ovens can take anything up to an hour. You’re typical pizza will take around six minutes to cook, though remember to turn it for an even bake.
The smallest gas-powered ovens, however, can do the job in as little as 60 seconds. Every oven is different, but it won’t take long to ‘learn’ its optimal cooking time.
Treasure those little extras
A temperature gauge is handy, as you’ll always know when you’re ready to cook. A few ovens come with a pizza paddle designed to fit the cavity perfectly, though this is the exception rather than the rule.
Look out for models with griddles, as then you’ll be able to use your oven as a barbecue and not have to own two separate outdoor cookers.
Get an authentic base
'For a 10-inch pizza with an authentic thin base, roll out a piece of dough just larger than a golf ball, certainly no bigger,' says Digital Editor (and pizza aficionado) Amy Cutmore. 'Also, don’t go too crazy with your toppings – overloading can cause your pizza not to cook properly.'
Don't overlook quality
Before you decide on your oven for good, the last thing to consider is if the one you're picking up is built to last. 'Whichever you decide works for you, the ability to reach high temperatures and retain heat is important for amazing pizzas, and always look for good quality materials in the build', says Patrick Carney, Head of Customer Support at Ooni (opens in new tab).
Related: Best fire pits - from fire bowls to chimineas, here are our top picks
How can you care for a pizza oven in winter?
Though you can use a pizza oven all year around, maintenance does admittedly get a little trickier in winter. Patrick Carney, Head of Customer Support at Ooni, recommends opting to store your oven inside in the event of a storm or freezing temperatures, in order to keep your investment protected. He says that this 'will keep it safe from taking on too much moisture or getting battered by heavy hail.'
Carney also advises protecting ovens with a cover - the brand manufactures a range (opens in new tab) specifically for its ovens. It also advises leaving a longer preheating window if using in winter, and the use of a thermometer to check that your oven is fully ready to go.
How far should a pizza oven be from the house?
It can be difficult to gauge exactly how much space you need to set up a pizza oven, especially if you're new to this type of outdoor cooking.
Patrick Carney, Head of Customer Support at Ooni (opens in new tab) says that 'it is important to leave a 1 metre (3 feet) clearance from any structures or plants and to leave at least 1 metre clearance from the top of the chimney to the top of any structures' He adds that 'All ovens should also be placed on a stable, level surface.'
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