7 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens, Tested and Reviewed
After thoroughly testing almost a dozen top models, these are our favorites.
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If you're considering an outdoor pizza oven, you likely love making — or just eating! — great homemade pizza. While indoor options like pizza stones, steels or pizza ovens work well, outdoor pizza ovens reach much higher temperatures — up to 700ºF, compared to a typical oven's 500ºF. Powered by gas or wood flames, they cook quickly, delivering the charred, bubbly crusts of a brick-oven pizzeria. Outdoor pizza ovens are also versatile, cooking various types of foods and making fantastic entertainment pieces.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we’ve tested outdoor pizza ovens from brands like Ooni and Gozney, along with all types of pizza tools and appliances, like pizza peels. Here are our top picks after testing over 10 outdoor models in the past five years.
Pros
- Multi-fuel
- Large but portable if needed
- Includes easy-to-read thermometer
Cons
- Previous model's door became dirty easily, but upgraded model is designed to combat this
Fuel type: Wood, charcoal and gas | Approx. max. temp: 950ºF | Dimensions: 31.9" x 19.7" x 32.7" | Weight: 62.6 lbs
Ooni is one of the leading outdoor pizza oven brands. They make an assortment of pizza oven styles and sizes. This Karu 2 Pro is an upgraded version of our previous best overall pick, the Karu 16, which is no longer sold. It's larger and can accommodate large pizzas, but can still be carried by one person (even though it's cumbersome) if you're trying to move it around. It can be used with gas, wood or charcoal.
When testing the previous model, it was one of the easier outdoor pizza ovens to use. The door helps maintain the temperature and size of the flame, while the thermometer is front and center so you can keep track. Users can also download the Ooni app and check the internal temperature via Bluetooth — a feature that the Karu 16 didn't offer.
One caveat we observed during Lab tests was that the door on the Karu 16 became dirty easily. The Karu 2 Pro, however, is designed with ClearView technology to help prevent buildup on the glass door, according to Ooni. We look forward to confirming this new feature in the Lab.
Solo Stove Pi Prime
Pros
- Small and lightweight for an outdoor pizza oven
- Powerful
Cons
- Doesn't include a thermometer like some other pizza ovens
Fuel type: Gas | Approx. max. temp: 950ºF | Dimensions: 320.5" x 20.5" x 15.13" | Weight: 30 lbs
Solo Stove, the brand best known for their smokeless fire pits (that we put to the test and really liked!) released a couple of pizza ovens over the years that impressed us in our tests. This Pi Prime is their latest that's powered by gas. It's small and lightweight for an outdoor pizza oven (approximately 30 pounds) and at a lower price point. Its opening is 13 inches wide so even though it's quite compact, it can still handle 12-inch pies and pans.
It turns on by turning the temperature knob and gets hot quickly, though it doesn't include a built-in thermometer. Its size and powerful cooking ability make it great for occasional users.
Pros
- Stout with folding legs
- Comes with a carrying strap for portability
Cons
- Comes in one size and the interior is a little small
Fuel type: Wood or gas | Approx. max. temp: 950ºF | Dimensions: 20.91" x 16.26" x 18.62" | Weight: 63.6 lbs
The Roccbox by Gozney was one of the earlier pizza ovens to make its way onto the home pizza-making scene. It's stout with foldable legs and it comes with a carrying strap so you can move it around (even though it's a little heavy). It can be used with wood or gas when you connect the included attachment. The heat source is focused in the center back of the oven. The cavity is a bit small, but testers have noted that it helps with heat retention.
We've used the Roccbox primarily with wood. In our experience, it takes a little long to heat with the wood and you have to restock it often, but it cooks quickly and pizza gets nice and charred. It comes with a peel and you can buy an additional turning peel (that's smaller) to help you get a more even cook. I've seen many pros use it on the go at parties or in catering situations, and the pizza has always come out delicious.
Pros
- Large with a showstopping design
- Can be used with wood or gas
Cons
- Exterior can stain from smoke
Fuel type: Wood and gas | Approx. max. temp: 950ºF | Dimensions: 26" x 24.8" x 28.8" | Weight: 128 lbs
For the ultimate outdoor pizza oven experience, consider the Dome, Gozney's premium model. It's beautifully designed and comes in two colors, cream and olive green. It can be used with wood or gas, and has an area to store extra wood so it's always at the ready.
Unlike the Ooni, Solo Stove and Roccbox pizza ovens on this list, the Dome offers a more hands-on experience with the wood because you build the fire inside the oven (versus feeding it into a holder in the back of the oven) and you can move it around with a wood loader, which is sold separately. You can buy a wood rack for a more controlled experience.
We've used the Dome with both wood and gas and had good experiences with it. The digital thermometer offers a nice touch and it comes with two temperature probes that allow you to keep your eye on the internal temperature of food when they're in use. The large cooking area makes it ideal for cooking more than just pizza. It accommodates a wide variety of pan sizes. One downside to the oven: The exterior can stain from smoke.
Gozney recently came out with two smaller, gas-powered versions (that can fit a 16-inch pie or a 14-inch pie) and they did a collab with Hedley & Bennett, the popular apron and cooking tool company, that I can't keep my eyes off. In our tests, the linked pizza ovens, aka the Arc and the Arc XL, were super easy to use.
Pros
- Large with a premium design
- Thick stone is designed to retain heat well
Cons
- Very heavy
Fuel type: Wood and gas | Approx. max. temp: 900ºF | Dimensions: 33" x 31" x 24" (47" H with chimney) | Weight: 220 lbs
This steel pizza oven (that weighs over 300 pounds!) is made in Italy and offers a classic design. It features a thick, 1.25-inch stone that can handle temps up to 1,000ºF, according to the brand. It can be used with wood or gas, and won a Good Housekeeping Home Renovation Award for its premium design.
One analyst commented on the artfully-crafted design and attention to detail. Even the cover, he said, featured meticulously designed details like breather holes concealed by pockets that allowed moisture to evaporate without letting rain in.
He also said it stood "at the perfect height" when set up on the stand, though it is very heavy.
Our Chief Food Director Kate Merker noted that this model got very hot in her tests, maintained temperature and the outside of the oven stayed relatively cool. She used it to churn out dozens of pizzas for a kid's birthday party and was very impressed.
Ninja Woodfire Pizza Oven
Pros
- Electric but still reaches high temps and churns out wood-fired like pizza
- Can be used like a toaster oven
Cons
- Preheat time felt long for an electric appliance
Fuel type: Electric | Approx. max. temp: 700ºF | Dimensions: 21.5" x 18" x 15.1" | Weight: 32.4 lbs
This Ninja outdoor pizza oven is one of the more unique ones on our list — it's electric but still turns out pies that taste like they were cooked over a wood fire. In our tests, it proved to be among the easiest to use mostly because there's no exposed flame to worry about.
Like most other pizza ovens, it takes a while to heat up (a little more than 25 minutes) to 700ºF. It cooks pizza as quickly as competitors and our taste testers were pleased with the results. The oven is equipped with several other functions, including Roast, Broil, Bake, Smoke (with the use of wood pellets), Dehydrate and Keep Warm. It's the ideal oven for people looking to get their feet wet or are limited to an electric oven in their outdoor space.
The cavity is large and rectangular and resembles a toaster oven for added ease of use. The control panel is highly intuitive.
Pros
- Designed to be used over a fire pit
- Makes cooking over a fire easy since there's no exposed flame to burn your food on
Cons
- Pricey, especially since fire pit needs to be purchased as well
Fuel type: Wood | Approx. max. temp: 950ºF | Dimensions: 27.5" x 27.5" x 19" | Weight: 91 lbs
Standalone pizza ovens are versatile in terms of what they can cook. This pizza oven attachment adds another layer of versatility by fitting onto the Breeo fire pit (sold separately) that can be used not just around mealtime. It's made of heavy duty steel, similar to its fire pit counterpart that's designed to last a lifetime. While it comes with a steep price point, testers appreciated the dual value.
This attachment makes cooking over a live fire easier than you'd think. The stone gets nice and hot and it features a large clearance to feed the fire. The strong handles on either say make it easy for two people to carry.
In terms of performance, one tester said it was easy to use after making just one pizza, which she said cooked in about two minutes. She and her family used it to make other dishes as well, like veggies.
The oven didn't come with instructions, but testers noted they were able to find helpful information online.
Other outdoor pizza ovens we tested
Ooni makes a wide variety of pizza ovens. We've tested the Koda 12, the Karu 12 and the Volt 12.
- The Koda 12 runs on gas and has an L-shaped burner that takes up a large part of the oven. We think it requires a learning curve to master and not char your dough.
- The Karu 12 is similar to our best overall pick, but a little smaller. It comes in two finishes at two different price points.
- The Volt is Ooni's indoor pizza oven. It's large, quite bulky and electric.
- The Fyra is one of Ooni's smallest and lower-priced pizza ovens that uses wood pellets, which might feel limiting to some but is actually quite easy to manage and refill.
We also tested Solo Stove's Pi Dual, which seems to be just sold as a bundle right now on Solo Stove's website. The bundle includes a stand and shelter. It's like the Pi Prime but a little bigger and can be used with gas or wood.
How we test outdoor pizza ovens
We test outdoor pizza ovens by setting them up and following the instructions, using brand-recommended products to churn out pie after pie. We assess how long it takes for each pizza oven to heat and how quickly it takes to cook the pizza. We evaluate the crust as well as the cheese.
When we test the wood-fire capabilities, we pay extra attention to ease-of-use factors since there are so many variables in terms of getting the fire the same exact way each time.
We also have sent numerous pizza ovens to consumer product testers so we can get more opinions from home cooks.
What to look for when shopping for an outdoor pizza oven
✔️ Fuel type: Is gas or wood more important to you? Or do you want the capability of both? Electric pizza ovens are another option that are good for beginners or people who can't have an open flame in their yard or on their balcony.
✔️ Size: Most pizza ovens can accommodate a 12-inch pie, but bigger ones can fit more than one at a time and smaller ones make the pizza oven more portable.
✔️ Style: Many pizza ovens these days can fit on a tabletop or you can buy a stand for them to make them standalone units.
What can you cook in an outdoor pizza oven?
Of course you can cook Neapolitan-style pizza like this Spicy Soppressata Pie, but you can also adjust the temp to cook different styles of pizza. The possibilities are endless. We love a good dessert pizza with chocolate hazelnut spread or peanut butter and fruit...mmm!
You can also cook all sorts of dough in a pizza oven like pita straight on the stone.
Ten-inch to 12-inch fry pans fit in most pizza ovens so you can even cook a quick-cooking meat or fish. Roasted fruits and veggies are great, too.
Desserts other than sweet pizza are an option as well (think: a skillet brownie or cookie).
How to clean an outdoor pizza oven
Outdoor pizza ovens don't need much cleaning, but at the end of every cook, once it's cool, scrape out the wood or ash so the oven is ready to cook the next time. Scrape off any melted or burnt on cheese as well.
You might also want to wipe down the stone to dust off any cornmeal or flour that was left behind from your pizza crust.
You can remove the completely cooled pizza stone if you're looking to do a deep clean. That'll let you scrape off extra bits better and even fight some stains. (Our Cleaning Lab recommends a baking soda paste — no need for soap and water!)
The outside of outdoor pizza ovens can be wiped down when completely cool with a damp rag. Carolyn Forté, our Executive Cleaning Lab Director, gets soot marks off of her pizza oven with Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray — one of our Seal holders! — and a soft cloth. She says: "It dissolved the marks quickly and without scrubbing or damage and wiped away without any residue or extra buffing. I was very happy!"
If your pizza oven is made of stainless steel, you can shine it up with your favorite stainless steel cleaner or polish that you use on your indoor kitchen appliances.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Kitchen Appliances Lab at Good Housekeeping and has been testing all sorts of outdoor cooking gear for the past five years. She has too many pizza ovens to count in her backyard and has worked with them all. She's been product testing for over a decade and can understand the nuances between products even when they're slight.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
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