The Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

Let’s be real, everybody loves pizza! The smell of a cheesy, homemade pizza baking in the oven is hard to resist. And now, with outdoor pizza ovens, you can enjoy wood-fired pizza from the comfort of your own backyard!

Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

Have you always dreamed of making delicious pizzas while enjoying an evening outdoors? We sure have. Building your own pizzas sparks creativity. Plus, it means that everyone can add their favorite toppings!

Outdoor pizza ovens will take your pizza parties to the next level. You’ll be making yummy pizza in minutes and they’ll be the highlight of any gathering.

Outdoor pizza ovens are fun to use, need short prep time, and produce an unbeatable flavor. Wood-fired pizzas ovens also add a unique smoky flavor to your pizza. You can alter this smoky flavor with different types of wood too!

This versatile piece of equipment can cook and bake many more items as well. You can bake bread, roast chicken, and even grill vegetables!

In this guide, we will review the best outdoor pizza ovens on the market. You’ll be well on your way to making mouth-watering pizzas for you and your friends. All our recommendations reach high optimal temperatures for making the best homemade pizzas.

Our Picks: The Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

1. Editors Pick: Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven
2. Best Overall: Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven
3. Runner Up: ROCCBOX Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven
4. Best Luxury: Ooni Karu 16 Multi Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven
5. Best Small Budget: Big Horn Outdoor Pizza Oven
6. Best for Beginners: Ooni Koda 16 Gas-Powered Pizza Oven

Editors Pick

Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven

The Ooni Fyra Wood Pellet Pizza Oven is a portable, hardwood pellet-fueled pizza oven that makes delicious, wood-fired pizzas anywhere. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a no-nonsense live-fire experience and intense flavors of wood-fired cooking.

One of the standout features of the Ooni Fyra is its gravity-fed pellet hopper. This system automatically feeds through hardwood pellets for effortless cooking. It’s easy to get consistent, reliable heat every time, making the cooking process easy as pie. So easy in fact, that you’ll have a perfect pizza in just 60 seconds!

At just 22 lbs (10kg), the Ooni Fyra is ultra-portable and easy to take with you anywhere. So whether you’re heading to the park for a picnic, or taking a camping trip, you can easily pack up the Ooni Fyra and enjoy delicious, homemade pizza on the go.

We love that the Ooni Fyra uses wood pellets as fuel because they’re easy to light, they burn super clean, and they leave little ash behind. Cleanup is a breeze, and you’ll have that delicious smoky flavor without tending to a fire.

What We Liked:

• Produces wood-fired flavors with less hassle and mess than traditional wood-fired ovens
• Pellets light up easily, burn cleanly, and leave little ash behind
• Automatically feeds pellets for effortless cooking
• Ultra-portable and lightweight design allows for easy transport and storage
• 5-year warranty when registered

What We Didn’t Like:

• Limited to wood pellets as the fuel source
• May not be suitable for large groups or parties due to its 13-inch cooking area

Best Overall

Bertello Wood Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven

The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven is a versatile and portable traditional pizza oven that also works with charcoal, pellets, or gas. With the ability to reach temperatures of over 930 degrees Fahrenheit, this oven is ideal for making Neapolitan-style pizzas in the comfort of your own backyard.

We were impressed by the wood-fired oven features, its performance, and its versatility. The assembly process was straightforward, and we appreciated the inclusion of the cordierite stone, pizza peel, thermometer, and cover.

The option to use a variety of fuels, including wood, charcoal, pellets, or gas, is a huge advantage of the Bertello Pizza Oven. And, we were happy to see that it could achieve high temperatures with any of these fuel types.

Speaking of fuel types, the Bertello Pizza Oven might be one of the only pizza ovens that allow you to use gas and wood at the same time! Customers love preheating the pizza oven with gas, then turning it into a wood-fired oven by adding wood to the wood tray.

Compared to other portable wood-fired pizza ovens, the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven stands out for its versatility in fuel options and high-temperature capabilities. While some larger pizza ovens may have a larger cooking surface, the portability and versatility of the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven make it a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts, pizza lovers, and those looking for a portable and versatile pizza oven.

What we liked:

• The ability to use wood, charcoal, pellets, or gas gives users the ability to cook in a variety of ways
• Reaches temperatures of over 930 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lightweight and can be easily transported for outdoor events or camping trips

What we didn’t like:

• The cooking surface can only handle 12″ pizzas which may be too small for large gatherings

Runner-Up

ROCCBOX Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven

The ROCCBOX Pizza Oven is the perfect addition to your outdoor cooking setup. This gas-fired oven is compact and easy to transport, making it perfect for taking on outdoor adventures. The retractable legs and detachable burner make it easy to set up and get started, so you can enjoy delicious pizza almost anywhere.

One of the best things about the ROCCBOX is its quality. With a thick stone floor and dense insulation, this oven reaches temperatures up to 950°F and can cook a pizza in just 60 seconds. The result is a perfectly cooked pizza with a leopard-spotted crispy crust, something you just can’t achieve in a conventional oven. What’s more, the patented Gozney technology recreates the traditional yellow rolling flames seen in wood-fired cooking, giving your pizzas an authentic wood-fired taste without the messy ashes.

But the ROCCBOX isn’t just for pizza. You can use it to cook dinner of all kinds of dishes, from steak to fish to vegetables. With this oven, the sky’s the limit when it comes to outdoor cooking. Plus, it comes with a professional-grade pizza peel worth $85 on its own, so you can get started right away. Overall, if you’re looking for a high-quality, portable outdoor pizza oven that delivers delicious results, the ROCCBOX by Gozney is definitely worth considering.

What We Liked:

• The folding legs and detachable burner make it easy to take on outdoor adventures
• Maximum temperature of 950°F with the ability to cook pizzas in just 60 seconds
• Includes a professional-grade pizza peel worth $85 on its own

What We Didn’t Like:

• While the ROCCBOX is portable, it is also quite heavy, weighing 44 pounds. This may make it difficult for some users to transport.
• The cooking area is 12 inches in diameter, which may be too small for larger pizzas or for cooking multiple dishes at once.

Best Luxury

Ooni Karu 16 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven

The Ooni Karu Pizza Oven is a versatile pizza oven that can cook up a storm. With the ability to cook with wood, charcoal, or gas, the Ooni Karu gives you the most flexibility in how you prepare your favorite dishes.

Whether you prefer the classic flame-cooked pizza taste of wood, the longer, lower-temperature cooking of charcoal for meats and veggies, or the consistency and convenience of gas, the Ooni Karu has you covered.

One of the standout features of the Ooni Karu 16 is its extra-large cooking area on a cordierite pizza stone, perfect for feeding a crowd. The 15mm-thick cordierite baking stone can handle 16-inch pizzas, meats, veggies, and more. And with a temperature range of up to 950°F, you can get your dishes cooked to perfection quickly.

The Ooni Karu is also designed for convenience. The extra-large fuel hatch makes topping up your fuel of choice easy. And, the mounted digital thermometer gives you a quick view of the inside temperature.

One thing to note is that the gas burner is sold separately. For hooking up to a propane tank, you’ll need the Gas Burner attachment. Or, if you want to hook it up to a natural gas line, pick up the Natural Gas Burner attachment.

What we liked:

• Large cooking area for cooking 16-inch pizzas in just 60 seconds
• Wood, charcoal, or gas can be used to cook a variety of foods
• Can be used to cook a variety of foods including pizzas, roasted meats, and vegetables.
• 5-year warranty when registered

What we didn’t like:

• If you want to use gas, you will need to purchase the gas burner attachments separately
• Gas attachments and fuel could make this model more pricey than others
• Heavy unit, weighing over 60 lbs

Best Small Budget

Big Horn Wood Pellet Outdoor Pizza Oven

The Big Horn Outdoor Pizza Oven is a great budget-friendly option for an outdoor pizza oven. It’s made of high-quality stainless steel and reaches temperatures of 860°F. The construction is durable. And because of its small size and minimal assembly requirements, is completely portable. With small foldable legs, this is a great tabletop oven.

Cooking the best pizza has never been easier. Add your wood pellets to the top pellet hopper, ignite, let sit for 15-20 minutes, and slide your new pizza in! Be sure to keep a watchful eye on your pizza, as it only takes about 90 seconds to achieve the perfect pie.

One downside is that the opening is quite small. Figuring out the best way to rotate the pizza may take a learning curve. Furthermore, users have noticed that the flames do escape from the oven’s top. It’s important to set up away from trees, tents, or flammable objects.

What we liked:

• Ready to cook in just 18 minutes, reaching temperatures up to 860°F
• Uses wood pellets as fuel, which is convenient for pellet grill owners
• With folding legs and a lightweight design, this pizza oven is easy to transport to outdoor events and gatherings

What we didn’t like:

• While this is sufficient for making small pizzas, it may not be suitable for larger groups or events.
• While wood pellet fuel is efficient and easy to use, it may be a pain to make sure you’re always stocked up

Best For Beginners

Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven

The Ooni Koda Pizza Oven is a compact and powerful gas pizza oven that’s easy to use and makes delicious, stone-baked pizza in as little as 60 seconds. Gas-powered and hassle-free, this pizza oven gets straight to the point.

With its sleek and stylish Scandinavian design, the Ooni Koda also features an innovative L-shaped burner for one-turn cooking. Plus, the extra-large cooking area for cooking 16″ pizzas, meats, baking bread, and more is a nice touch.

What sets the Ooni Koda apart is its one-touch gas ignition and temperature control. You can choose to run it on your choice of propane or natural gas for ultimate ease and control. Plus, with its flame safety device, you can rest easy knowing you’re cooking safely.

Best of all, there’s no need to clean up any fuel residue after cooking! Simply turn the heat up or down with the heat control dial and get cooking!

What we liked:

• Large cooking area for making 12″ or 16″ pizzas, meats, bread, and more
• L-shaped burner allows for one-turn cooking and even heat distribution
• One-touch gas ignition and temperature control for ease of use
• No need to clean up fuel residue after cooking
• 5-year warranty when registered

What we didn’t like:

• Requires a gas hookup or propane tank
• May not provide the same smoky flavor as traditional wood-fired pizza ovens

The Verdict

Well, there you have it! These are our top picks for the best outdoor pizza ovens for your backyard or camping trips. Here’s a recap:

• Editors Pick: Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven
  “gravity-fed pellet hopper automatically feeds through hardwood pellets for effortless cooking”
• Best Overall: Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven
  ” preheat with gas, then turn it into a wood-fired oven by adding wood to the wood tray”
• Runner Up: ROCCBOX Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven
  “gas-fired pizza oven that is compact and easy to transport”
• Best Luxury: Ooni Karu 16 Multi Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven
  “extra-large cooking area on a cordierite pizza stone, perfect for feeding a crowd”
• Best Small Budget: Big Horn Outdoor Pizza Oven
  “budget-friendly option for an outdoor pizza oven, fueled by wood pellets”
• Best for Beginners: Ooni Koda 16 Gas-Powered Pizza Oven
  “innovative L-shaped burner for one-turn cooking on an extra-large cooking area”

Things to consider when buying an Outdoor Pizza Oven

Here are a few important factors to consider before you decide on the best outdoor pizza oven for your backyard.

Stationary vs. Portable

Lucky for you, there are both stationary and portable outdoor pizza ovens available. Each unit does a great job of preparing a homemade pizza for small to large gatherings. But how do you know which type of outdoor oven is best for you?

Stationary pizza ovens, like brick ovens, are large, heavy, and designed to stay in place. But, with larger ovens, you get the option of cooking large pizzas or many small pizzas at once. This is great for large gatherings and pizza parties. Stationary pizza ovens are usually built into a backyard outdoor kitchen and are designed to last a very long time.

Small and portable pizza ovens are great for on-the-go activities. They’re perfect for camping, tailgating events, or bringing to a friend’s house. Though the cooking surface is small, they still produce excellent radiant heat so you can still make some of the best pizzas in a few minutes. Portable pizza ovens are small, lightweight, and easy to store.

Fuel Source

When it comes to deciding on a fuel source for your pizza oven, it ultimately depends on your personal preferences and needs. If convenience and ease of use are your top priority, then a gas pizza oven may be the best option for you.

For those who prioritize authentic wood-fired flavors and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve, a wood-fired pizza oven may be the way to go. While wood pellet ovens are a more affordable option than traditional wood-burning ovens, they still require the purchase of fuel pellets.

Keep in mind that wood-fired ovens may require more maintenance and cleaning due to the ash and soot produced by the wood or charcoal.

Ultimately, the fuel source you choose for your pizza oven will depend on your personal preferences, budget, and cooking needs. Consider factors such as convenience, flavor, and ease of use when making your decision.

Design

The design of the pizza oven will affect how the pizza cooks. For example, the presence of air vents will ensure the most air circulation. More air circulation means greater temperature control and distribution.

Another great design feature would be removable parts for easy cleaning at the end of the night. By disassembling your pizza oven, you can ensure a deep clean every time. Remove the build-up of ash or burnt pizza spillage after every use.

Maintenance

Caring for your pizza oven ensures years and years of use. To maintain your pizza oven, it’s important to clean it after every use. By cleaning it often, you can avoid build-up and keep it looking brand new for years.

Make sure to brush away the ashes after every use to avoid ashy pizza. Even if you choose wood fired pizza oven with a chimney, make sure to clean any built-up ashe at least once a year. Every unit, big or small demands maintenance, so pick one that will be easy to manage.

Pizza Accessories

Some outdoor pizza ovens come with free pizza accessories which is always an added bonus! Having accessories included can justify the price you’re paying. Otherwise, you would have to spend a lot of extra money to get the full setup.

A great accessory to look for is a pizza peel. A pizza peel is a tool that sort of looks like a pizza shovel and helps to insert, rotate, and remove your pizza with ease. For the best wood-fired pizza oven experience, you need a pizza peel! Look for a unit that already comes with one! Ps. The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven comes with a pizza peel!

Pizza stones are also great accessories to look for. They can be made of metal, stone, or ceramic (cordierite). Pizza stones absorb heat and distribute it throughout their entire surface area. This gives you an evenly cooked pizza every time.

It is possible that your pizza oven already comes with a built-in pizza stone! All Ooni Pizza Ovens have a built-in high-quality cordierite pizza stone that helps create that perfect crispy crust.

Other important accessories to look for include barbecue gloves and a fire starter to light your fuel of choice. A built-in thermometer like the one found on the Ooni Karu 16 is a beautiful touch.

Other essential accessories include barbecue gloves to keep you safe from any burns. A fire starter, (preferably electric) is also necessary to light your wood or charcoal.

Brand and Price

Finally, while selecting the best outdoor pizza ovens, you should always look at the brand. Choose a reliable brand that has years of experience making successful pizza ovens. Look at reviews, return policies, warranties, and customer support before investing in such a product.

It’s also worth considering your budget before making an investment like this one. Our list ranges from small-budget pizza ovens like the Big Horn Outdoor Pizza Oven to luxury, high-end models like the Ooni Karu 16 Multi Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven. Both perform well, the only difference being added bonus features.

BBQ Hero Cooking Tips: Always keep a watchful eye on your pizza while it’s in the pizza oven. Since we’re cooking at such high temperatures, it only takes 60-90 seconds for your pizza to be cooked perfectly. Any longer, and you risk a severely burnt crust.

Features to consider when choosing an Outdoor Pizza Oven

There are a few more features to consider while searching for the best pizza oven for you.

Construction Material

An outdoor pizza oven should have quality insulation. Since a wood-fired pizza needs high temperatures, ensure your oven can hold these high temperatures well. Your chosen unit should have a well-insulated dome and hearth.

If you’re searching for a stationary pizza oven, there are more materials to consider. Specifically, brick or steel. A brick pizza oven will absorb heat throughout the entire dome. It will then evenly distribute that heat throughout the interior.

One downside of a brick pizza oven is that it takes a lot longer to preheat. Moreover, they must be “cured” almost the same way you season a cast iron skillet. You must season and cure the entire structure of the pizza oven before use.

Steel pizza ovens heat up much quicker and cool quickly as well. Furthermore, steel pizza ovens will be a lot easier to move from place to place. As opposed to brick ovens, which are more than likely to remain in one location forever.

Dimensions

The size of your pizza oven will determine the size of the pizza you’re making. If you choose a small and portable pizza oven, it’s likely that the size of your pizzas will be small. This forces the grillmaster to spend a lot of time in front of the oven on pizza nights. Leading to a lengthy cooking process.

If you have a large family (or a large appetite) it might be worth investing in a larger oven to feed more people at once.

If you have limited space or you’re looking for a pizza oven to bring camping, smaller is better! A small pizza oven will be easy to pack up and bring along wherever the adventure takes you. Small pizza ovens also demand less fuel and heat up more quickly than large ones.

Warranty

When you make a big purchase like this one, it’s important to consider what kind of warranty you’re protected by. Even when properly maintained, things can go wrong and you might have no control over the outcome. There may be faulty parts, or you might not be happy with your decision. This is where a warranty comes in handy.

Also, when a company offers a free lifetime warranty you know it’s a good product. The company trusts will do its job.

Tips For Maintaining An Outdoor Pizza Oven

Here’s a bonus How-To Guide for the best way to get the most out of your outdoor pizza oven. Follow these steps to ensure your pizza oven lasts for years to come.

• Read the manual. Every oven is different. Make sure you read the user’s manual carefully before using starting it up for the first time.
• Initial Burn. Before using your pizza oven for the first time, perform an extra-long pre-heat. Letting your pizza oven run for at least 30 minutes will eliminate any impurities from the factory. This will ensure a nice clean cooking environment.
• Clean often. The manual’s instructions will guide you on your oven’s regular maintenance. Make sure you follow all these steps to prevent any damage to your unit.
• Use warm water. Clean your pizza stone by using a brush and hot water. Avoid chemicals at every cost. Chemicals might get absorbed in the stone and alter the flavour of your pizza.
• Protect from the elements. Consider investing in a weatherproof cover to protect your pizza oven against harsh weather climates.

Safety Tips for Outdoor Pizza Ovens

It’s important to handle ovens of any kind with care and caution. This is especially true for pizza ovens because they reach such high temperatures. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when handling your new outdoor pizza oven.

Use Oven Mitts

Pizza ovens reach very high temperatures. Quickly. Cooking pizza needs constant attention and occasional rotations. Expect to be up close and personal with your oven quite frequently. It’s important to protect your hands while reaching in to adjust your pizza, even if you’re using a pizza peel!

Sturdy Surface

Many pizza ovens are portable and can be transported from place to place. If you have a portable pizza oven, it’s important to test the surface you’re placing it on. Ensure that it’s sturdy enough to handle the weight of the unit, and won’t be at risk of falling over if bumped. Check the sturdiness of the surface before you ignite your oven.

Clean Once Cooled

Pizza ovens reach very high temperatures. It might take them a while to cool completely once finished. Wait until your pizza oven has cooled before disassembling and cleaning it.

BBQ Hero Tip: Don’t skip the preheat! The best wood-fired pizzas need to be cooked at very high temperatures. This is how you get that beautifully charred crust. Don’t place your pizza inside the oven until you’re sure it has reached its maximum temperature.

Outdoor Pizza Oven FAQs