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When cooking pizza at home, outdoor pizza ovens can provide the high, consistent temperatures required to crisp the crust evenly and create a hot, gooey, delicious center. By taking the heat outside, these outdoor kitchen appliances allow home chefs to cook larger pizzas at hotter temperatures.
When hunting for a pizza oven that’s right for parties on your patio, shoppers can find models fueled by wood, gas, charcoal, and pellets. They’re made in different sizes, from grill-top and portable models to large professional-grade ovens on a wheeled cart. We selected the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven as our top pick as it works with charcoal, propane, or wood; reaches a top temperature of 950 degrees Fahrenheit; and cooks pizzas up to 16 inches in diameter. Plus, the portable design comes with a built-in thermometer.
This guide details the most important shopping considerations when buying an outdoor pizza oven. We also explore our home-tested top picks for some of the best outdoor pizza ovens on the market to serve up fresh, homemade pizza in your backyard.
- BEST OVERALL: Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: BakerStone Original Series Gas Pizza Oven/Griddle
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WOOD-FIRED: U-Max Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PROPANE: Halo Versa 16 Outdoor Pizza Oven
↓ Jump to Review - BEST MULTIFUEL: Bertello SimulFire Outdoor Pizza Oven Bundle
↓ Jump to Review - BEST GRILL-TOP: OnlyfirePizza Oven Kit for Most Gas Grills
↓ Jump to Review - ALSO TESTED: Solo Stove Pi Fire Pit System
↓ Jump to Review
How We Tested the Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens
First off, it’s important to note that pizza is basically a religion around where our main tester lives. He’s been perfecting the art of homemade Neapolitan-style pizzas for more than 10 years, making his own dough, own sauce, and buying only high-quality cheeses. Our other testers may not make quite as strong claims, but we all take it very seriously and wanted to make sure the top-rated outdoor pizza ovens we include truly have what it takes to earn our recommendations.
The first step for each oven was putting it together. Some were easier than others, but most were relatively straightforward. We then tested each with whatever fuel sources they could use, whether gas, charcoal, pellets, or wood. We checked to see how easily they lit (airflow matters!), how quickly they heated, how hot they could get, and how well they maintained temperature while cooking. Once the ovens reached the temperatures suggested by their individual instructions, we tested how long the ovens took to cook a pizza.
Finally, we had some “test subjects” (otherwise known as our families) taste the pizzas and rank them based on flavor and texture. Some ovens didn’t make the cut, but those that did were given awards based on their strengths or abilities.
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 10 |
| Time spent testing | 40 hours |
| Pizzas made | 30* |
| Price range | $170 to $800 |
*plus biscuits, cookies, naan, focaccia, tortillas, and more!
Our Top Picks
The outdoor pizza ovens on our list of top picks come from trusted brands with efficient oven designs. After hours of testing—and eating lots of delicious pizza—we chose models that stood out for their performance and consistent results. We included ovens with different fuel sources and varying sizes to accommodate specific cooking needs. Read on to discover some of the best outdoor pizza ovens on the market to create a homemade pizza worth craving, from crispy crust to gooey center.
Best Overall
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Performance 5/5; Heat Distribution 5/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Fuel source: Wood or charcoal, propane with additional purchase
- Type: Portable
- Maximum temperature: 950 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum pizza diameter: 16 inches
What We Like
- High-quality construction
- Built-in thermometer
- Lots of control of airflow
- Excellent temperature control
What We Don’t Like
- Priciest option on our list
- Weighs over 60 pounds
The Ooni Karu 16 multifuel outdoor pizza oven is a large and generally portable unit that most folks are sure to enjoy. The dimensions—32.9 inches high by 19.6 inches wide by 32 inches deep—and collapsible legs make this one of the largest ovens in the test, a true boon to family pizza-night productivity.
The oven reaches a maximum of 950 degrees Fahrenheit in just 15 minutes. It also comes with a digital thermometer that allows you to track temperatures while heating or cooking. The insulated steel body and stone baking board absorb and retain heat for more consistent cooking temperatures and fast results, cooking a Neapolitan-style pizza in just 60 seconds.
Out of the box, this model works with charcoal or wood, but a propane burner is available as a separate purchase. The hinged door and chimney make controlling internal temperatures a breeze, and there is even a set of dampers built in for adjusting airflow. Also, the door has a built-in glass window so chefs can watch their pizzas cook.
We fell in love with the Ooni Karu during testing, and despite its high price point, it’s worth the money. The construction is extremely high quality, and setting it up was relatively easy, even when attaching the gas burner. We really enjoyed the built-in digital thermometer as well. Also, being able to watch the pizza cook without opening the door is a big help, as are the double-insulated walls, since maintaining those temperatures can be important for cooking evenly.
If there is one complaint, it’s that this oven is quite heavy compared to the others (it’s over 60 pounds). However, it cooks pizzas in less than a minute, so we’ll gladly overlook the model’s heft. Also, it says it can handle a 16-inch pizza, but the interior is so large that it can handle rectangular pizzas that are even larger—just be sure to have a peel that can handle them.
Get the Ooni outdoor pizza oven at Amazon, Ace Hardware, Best Buy, or Ooni.
Best Bang for the Buck
BakerStone Original Series Gas Pizza Oven/Griddle
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Performance 4.5/5; Heat Distribution 4/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Fuel source: Propane
- Type: Portable
- Maximum temperature: 900 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum pizza diameter: 14 inches
What We Like
- Kit comes with peel, cutter, spatula, and griddle top
- Griddle top increases versatility
- Cooked evenly and maintained temperature during testing
What We Don’t Like
- Propane line is only 2 feet long
The BakerStone gas outdoor pizza oven comes at an affordable price and offers impressive portability. It’s made of two pieces: a bottom burner and a top oven. These parts separate, and the collapsible legs fold underneath the bottom piece, allowing for easier portability and storage. With the oven removed, it’s easier to clean as well. This BakerStone model measures 17.7 inches high by 21.7 inches wide by 22.2 inches deep when fully assembled.
The propane-fueled oven reaches a maximum temperature of 900 degrees Fahrenheit to bake pizza in less than 2 minutes. It includes a pizza peel, cutter, spatula, and griddle top. The oven’s 15-inch opening provides enough space for 12- to 14-inch pizzas.
The BakerStone was definitely the biggest surprise during testing. First, we found it easy to light, it heated up quickly, and it maintained temperature well. It cooked evenly, and there was almost no learning curve. The BakerStone is relatively lightweight at just under 50 pounds, though there were a few more steps to putting it together than we would’ve liked while our stomachs growled. For its price, it’s an unbelievable deal.
Get the BakerStone outdoor pizza oven at Amazon.
Best Wood-Fired
U-Max Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Kit
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4/5; Performance 4/5; Heat Distribution 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Fuel source: Wood
- Type: Freestanding
- Maximum temperature: 600 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum pizza diameter: 11 inches
What We Like
- Looks great on a deck or patio
- Built-in wood storage
- Easy to use once you get a bit of experience
What We Don’t Like
- Has an initial learning curve
The U-Max wood-fired pizza oven features a freestanding, wheeled design measuring 63 inches high by 22 inches wide by 18 inches deep. Its side handle makes it easy to maneuver through the yard for easier cooking and storage. The oven’s powder-coated stainless steel exterior resists rust and corrosion and is supported by high-density insulation to reach and maintain a consistent temperature of 600 degrees Fahrenheit in 20 to 30 minutes.
The construction of this outdoor pizza oven allows you to store firewood conveniently underneath the oven. Its interior pizza stone is large enough to hold an 11-inch pizza and absorbs heat to help maintain a consistent cooking surface. You can remove the stone if you want the enamel wires to contact foods like steak or bread directly.
This model from U-Max performed well during our tests. Though assembly was a bit involved, we enjoyed the unit’s aesthetics and built-in wood storage. Since we already had practice using wood-fired ovens, there wasn’t too much of a learning curve for us with this model. If you’re new to cooking with wood, however, you’ll want time to get used to how much wood to add. Getting the hang of it is worth it for delicious pizzas with a nice smoky flavor.
Get the U-Max outdoor pizza oven at Amazon or Wayfair.
Best Propane
Halo Versa 16 Outdoor Pizza Oven
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.8/5; Performance 4.5/5; Heat Distribution 5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Fuel source: Propane
- Type: Portable
- Maximum temperature: 950 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum pizza diameter: 16 inches
What We Like
- Hinged lid makes cleanup super easy
- Dual burners evenly cook crust and crisp toppings
- Can accommodate larger pizzas
What We Don’t Like
- Propane or natural gas-only option; gas kit is sold separately
We found the Halo pizza oven incredibly easy to set up and use, and we were shocked by how fantastic the pizza was. It easily accommodated our pizza peel with its 18-inch opening, whereas smaller ovens forced us to go out and buy a couple narrow peels. It also has a taller opening than other models, which made it much easier to get our pizzas in and out.
The Halo outdoor propane pizza oven is certainly not the most budget-conscious oven we tested, but we think it provides an excellent value for the features it includes. When we flubbed delivering a pizza to the included stone during testing, the hinged lid made it easy for us to pivot the pie into a calzone. Opening the lid also makes cleanup much easier, as you can easily access the entire interior once the oven has fully cooled. We also love the option to turn on automatic rotation for even cooking, as opposed to the manual rotation required by many other models.
We love the Halo pizza oven’s dual burner system, which combines infrared heat for an evenly cooked crust with an open flame for crispy toppings. If you’re OK with a propane or natural gas-only option, we think you’ll enjoy using the Versa 16 for every family pizza night.
Read our full review: Halo Versa 16 Outdoor Pizza Oven
Get the Halo outdoor pizza oven at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Halo.
Best Multifuel
Bertello SimulFire Outdoor Pizza Oven Bundle
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4/5; Performance 4/5; Heat Distribution 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Fuel source: Wood, charcoal, pellets, or propane
- Type: Portable
- Maximum temperature: 900 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum pizza diameter: 12 inches
What We Like
- Very easy to assemble
- Simple to maintain temperature despite not having a door or chimney
- Flexible fuel choices
What We Don’t Like
- Paint bubbled and peeled
- Adhesive holding rubber feet in place melted
The Bertello outdoor pizza oven bundle can accommodate an impressive array of fuel sources—wood, charcoal, pellets, and propane—right out of the box. This oven reaches a cooking temperature of 900 degrees Fahrenheit within 15 to 20 minutes and cooks up to 12-inch pizzas. The portable design measures 13.9 inches high by 14 inches wide by 30.6 inches deep and weighs just over 40 pounds. The bundle comes with a peel, baking stone, infrared thermometer, and cover.
For those who prefer a variety of fuel options, this model cooks equally well with each of its sources, holding cooking temperatures steady for consistent results. Since the fire is at the back of the oven, however, you’ll want to rotate the pizza during cooking. We stayed right by this oven while we used it anyway since it can cook pizzas in 5 minutes or less.
The Bertello makes delicious pizza and is easy to use, even when switching between the charcoal or wood tray and the propane burner in the back of the unit. Lighting is straightforward, and despite not having a chimney or door, there’s very little work involved in maintaining the temperature. We simply set the dial and cooked when using propane, or added wood and charcoal when needed. Our biggest complaints were that the paint on the top of the Bertello bubbled and peeled a bit, and the adhesive holding the rubber feet on the oven melted off.
Get the Bertello outdoor pizza oven at Amazon, Wayfair, Walmart, Target, or Bertello.
Best Grill-Top
Onlyfire Universal Grill Pizza Oven Kit
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4.5/5; Heat Distribution 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Fuel source: Any charcoal, natural gas, or propane grill
- Type: Portable
- Maximum temperature: Not listed, but gauge goes up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum pizza diameter: 14 inches
What We Like
- Simplest setup of all the ovens we tested
- Heat radiates from underneath to cook evenly
- Works with any grill type
What We Don’t Like
- There may be a bit of a learning curve
- Changed color after use
The Onlyfire pizza oven kit is a unique option that converts a grill into a pizza oven. Rather than including its own fuel source, you simply place it on the surface of a grill large enough to accommodate its base, which measures 17 inches wide by 17 inches deep. The oven includes a ceramic pizza stone that holds a 14-inch pizza, retains heat, and pulls excess moisture for crispy crusts.
The Onlyfire’s double-walled ceiling helps the oven retain heat, so it gets hot enough to cook pizza faster than a standard indoor oven. The lid locks in place for safe cooking but is removable for easier storage. In addition to the pizza stone, the kit includes an aluminum pizza peel and a food thermometer.
To be honest, we thought the Onlyfire outdoor pizza oven kit was going to be a gimmick, but we sort of fell in love with it. To test it, we got a charcoal grill that was nice and hot, then placed the oven on top to make calzones. Not only was the food delicious, but it also cooked quickly and evenly since the heat comes from underneath. We did let the stone heat up a bit longer than the directions suggested, however, so there may be a bit of a learning curve at first. Also, our oven changed color after use (it darkened and blued), so it may not match other stainless appliances perfectly.
Get the Only Fire outdoor pizza oven on Amazon or Only Fire.
Best Fire Pit
Solo Stove Pi Fire Pit System
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.8/5; Performance 5/5; Heat Distribution 5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Fuel source: Compatible smokeless fire pit
- Type: Portable
- Maximum temperature: Not listed, but Solo Stove recommends launching the pizza when the stone is between 500 and 650 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum pizza diameter: 13 inches
What We Like
- Easy to assemble and fun to use
- Lightweight and comes with a carrying case
- Makes a night around the fire pit much more delicious
What We Don’t Like
- Difficult to know when it’s ready without a laser thermometer
- Doesn’t come with a pizza peel
With the best smokeless fire pits showing up in more backyards, companies like Solo Stove are finding inventive ways to add accessories that make a night around the fire even more fun. We tested the Solo pizza oven sold as a kit to fit the original Bonfire and newer Bonfire 2.0, but Solo Stove also makes Ranger-, Yukon-, and Canyon-compatible (coming soon) Pi Fire versions.
The almost 20-pound unit stands on three legs above the fire pit with enough space to feed the fire throughout cooking. It’s engineered to balance top and bottom heat for an even cook and crispy crust. Unlike the other stainless steel options we tested, the Solo Stove Pi’s attractive and durable ceramic-coated stainless steel housing didn’t discolor after use. Plus, it comes with a zippered carrying case for convenient storage between cooks.
One note on using this Solo pizza oven: We got the best results by building a fire and then allowing it to die down enough for the baking stone to be just below 650 degrees Fahrenheit. This generally takes about an hour, so you’ll want to start your smokeless fire well before you want to eat. The kit doesn’t come with a laser thermometer, but we found one to be all but imperative to ensure we launched our pizzas at the right temp. Once we got the hang of letting the fire peak and start to fall, our pizzas came out perfect nearly every time.
Read our full review: Solo Stove Pi Fire Pit System
Get the Solo Stove outdoor pizza oven at Amazon or Solo Stove.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing an Outdoor Pizza Oven
Outdoor pizza ovens rely on various fuel types, come in a range of sizes, and offer differing levels of portability. Some models even boast extra features like built-in temperature gauges or automatically rotating stones. Read on for the most important features to keep in mind when choosing the best outdoor pizza oven for your preferred fuel, outdoor space, or family size.
Fuel Source
Outdoor pizza ovens require a fuel source to reach a minimum cooking temperature of up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit. Different fuel sources have their pros and cons, some offering more convenience and some that can affect the pizza’s taste.
- Wood: Wood gives pizza a slightly smoky flavor. It heats quickly but requires close attention to maintain the correct temperature. Wood-fired models offer the most flavor options by burning different types of woods, like cherry and maple. However, temperature adjustment isn’t as precise as it is with a gas, charcoal, or pellet oven.
- Propane/gas: Most outdoor gas pizza ovens use propane. Propane provides better control over the cooking temperature, allowing for precise adjustments. These models typically have an ignition knob with a dial to adjust the flame. They’re also more likely to include a built-in thermometer, though many outdoor-oven types may have this feature.
- Wood pellets: Wood pellets offer many of the same benefits as wood. For example, pellets are made with different woods that provide smoky flavors, like hickory, to the pizza. Some users find pellets easier to store and manage; instead of splitting wood, just pour the pellets into the oven.
- Charcoal: Like wood and pellets, charcoal gives the pizza a smoky flavor. It takes more time than the other fuel types to reach the necessary cooking temperature, but it can be easier to manage than wood. Charcoal doesn’t have to be split, and it comes in a convenient storage bag.
Many outdoor pizza ovens offer the versatility to accommodate two or three fuel types. For example, a wood-fired oven may also work with charcoal or pellets. Some models are even outfitted for use with wood, propane, and pellets.
When deciding on a fuel source, consider the fuel’s price, its availability, and the level of convenience for a given lifestyle. Propane tends to be the least expensive, but the other sources offer more control over the pizza’s final flavor.
Size
When evaluating the size of a pizza oven, consider both the size of the pizza it can hold and the size of the oven itself. Some outdoor ovens limit pizza size to 10 to 12 inches, while others are large enough to hold 16-inch pizzas. We ran into an issue with this during testing when our large pizza peel for one model wouldn’t fit into the opening of a smaller unit, so be aware of what size your accessories are as well!
If you have a big family or want to use your oven to entertain, you may want a larger oven to accommodate cooking for more people. However, some users may only need a small grill-top outdoor pizza oven that cooks a 10-inch pie.
Remember also that built-in and freestanding models generally take up more space in your yard or on your deck. Even portable pizza ovens can be surprisingly large, but since they’re not attached to a cart or meant to be built into a fixed setting, they’re generally relatively easy to set up and take down.
Design
Outdoor pizza ovens are available in several designs that affect ease of use and performance.
- Built-in: Outdoor kitchens are far more common now than in the past as many are looking for ways to cook outside. Outdoor kitchen pizza ovens considered built-in will fit into an existing, often brick, structure or require building a permanent, nonportable structure.
- Freestanding: Though these models are technically portable in that they typically have wheels, they tend to be quite large. Freestanding outdoor pizzas often have space underneath to store cooking utensils or fuel.
- Portable: A portable outdoor pizza oven will generally have short (potentially collapsible) legs to sit on a table in the backyard, truck bed, or campsite. Many do not have chimneys at all, but others will feature a removable stovepipe to increase portability.
- Grill-top or fire pit: All the outdoor pizza oven designs described above provide their own fuel source. Grill-top and fire pit pizza ovens do not. Instead, they sit atop a gas or charcoal-fueled outdoor grill or smokeless fire pit and use those tools’ fuel source to cook the pizza. Generally speaking, these designs are a bit less expensive since they are accessories rather than stand-alone units.
Within these designs, certain features will impact the quality of the cook and how easy the oven is to use. For example, wood, pellet, and charcoal-fueled outdoor pizza ovens perform better when the ventilation opening is near the front of the. This causes the heat and smoke to circulate over the entire pizza on its way toward the opening. Some models also feature built-in temperature gauges, and gas-powered ovens typically include dials for quick, precise heat adjustments.
Insulation
Outdoor pizza ovens need to reach around 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then maintain that temperature to cook the pizza safely and fully, though many manufacturers recommend a baking stone temp between 550 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Models with efficient insulation offer more consistent cooking temperatures and yield better results when cooking multiple pies. Lack of insulation renders the oven susceptible to outdoor temperatures and heat loss, resulting in extra fuel consumption and a potentially unevenly cooked pizza.
Though pizza ovens with double-wall insulation and doors generally hold heat in better, you can still get good results using options with less robust builds. We found we got the best results by ensuring the oven had time to get back up to its maximum temp between pizzas. This allows the pizza stone to heat back up, which is integral for pulling moisture away from the pizza for a crispier crust.
Maximum Temperature
Pizzas usually cook in a standard oven at 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they can cook at even higher temperatures in an outdoor pizza oven, with some models reaching up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit.
At the highest temperatures, some outdoor ovens can cook a pizza in just a few minutes. However, the thickness of the crust, the amount of sauce, and the number of toppings all factor into cooking time. During our tests, we enjoyed watching the pizzas cook so much we didn’t care much whether they took 2 minutes or 10.
FAQs
Cooking in an outdoor pizza oven takes practice. If your questions are still percolating, we have answers to a few of the most common ones.
One of the fun things about wood-fired outdoor pizza ovens is the variety of wood options you can use to create different smoky flavors. For example, food cooked with cherry wood doesn’t taste the same as food cooked with maple or hickory. Finding the wood that infuses the pizza with a flavor you like might take some trial and error, but we’ve found it’s fun to experiment.
-Set up the outdoor pizza oven in a well-ventilated area on a noncombustible surface like an outdoor pizza oven table. Because the pizza oven gets very hot, the area should also be surrounded by plenty of walking space.
-Preheat the oven. While some wood-burning ovens can reach the appropriate cooking temperature in as little as 5 to 10 minutes, you’ll get better results if the entire oven has maintained the temperature for 20 minutes or more.
-Slide in the pizza using a pizza peel. Some pizza ovens cook quickly (less than 5 minutes), while others take 10 to 15 minutes.
-Rotate the pizza while it cooks, if necessary.
-Remove the pizza with the pizza peel.
-Let the oven reach optimal temperature again before putting in another pizza.
If you’re leaving your pizza oven outside, enclosing it with a weather-resistant cover is best. Some outdoor pizza ovens include covers with purchase, but many manufacturers sell them separately. During testing, we opted to move our ovens indoors during storms or if we didn’t intend to use them for an extended period. For short periods in good weather, however, the durable construction of most outdoor pizza ovens allows for outside storage.
State, county, and city laws and regulations vary, but many do require a permit to install an outdoor pizza oven. It’s smart to check with your homeowners’ association as well, as they may also have guidelines.
Meet the Testers
Tom Scalisi has been perfecting the art of homemade pizza for more than 10 years. He makes his own dough and sauce, uses only the finest cheeses, and is always looking to share his knowledge.
Mark Wolfe is one of Bob Vila’s top writers in the world of outdoor-living goods. He’s tested just about every Solo Stove product, and his review of the Pi Fire Pit system is featured in this guide.
Michelle Larson joined the cult of sourdough starter in 2020 and hasn’t looked back. The one thing missing in her sourdough pizza making was a super-high cooking temp, but that’s no longer an issue after testing pizza ovens.
Additional research provided by Stacey L. Nash.
