Few things bring people to the table quite like a pizza, so make this the year you add a pizza oven to your outdoor space. Whether you're cooking for two or feeding a crowd, stone-baked pizza at high heat produces results that are hard to match any other way. We've selected our top picks across fuel types and budgets to help you find the best pizza oven for your garden.
How to Choose a Pizza Oven
Pizza ovens come in all shapes, sizes and fuel types, and the best one for you depends on how you cook, where you'll use it and how much you want to spend. Here's what to think about before you buy.
- Fuel type: Wood gives authentic smoky flavour but needs more attention. Gas heats up faster and is easier to control. Electric is the most convenient, with no fuel management at all, and works indoors as well as out.
- Size and capacity: Most outdoor ovens cook 12 to 16-inch pizzas. If you regularly cook for larger groups, look for a model with a bigger cooking area or the ability to cook multiple pizzas at once.
- Portability: Some ovens are compact and easy to store, others are heavy and better suited to a fixed outdoor kitchen. Check the weight before you buy.
- Heat-up time and temperature: The best pizza ovens reach 450 to 500°C. Faster heat-up times mean less waiting and more cooking.
- Budget: Entry-level gas and wood-fired ovens start from around £300. Premium models with larger capacity and advanced features range up to £800 and beyond.
- Accessories and maintenance: A pizza peel, thermometer and cover are all worth having. Some ovens include these, others don't.
Our Top Pizza Oven Recommendations
Here are our top picks with options to suit most garden setups, from compact balcony cooking to outdoor entertaining.
1. Best Wood-Fired Pizza Oven: Ooni Karu 2 12G
Wood-fired cooking is how pizza was meant to be made. The high heat and live flame produce a charred, blistered crust that's hard to replicate any other way, and there's something genuinely satisfying about cooking over a real fire.
The Ooni Karu 2 12G is our pick for anyone who wants the real wood-fired experience without the complexity of a larger built-in oven. It performs brilliantly and is compact enough to store easily.
Specifications
- Price: £329
- Pizza size: 12"
- Fuel type: Wood or charcoal
- Heat-up time: 15 minutes
- Max temperature: 500°C
- Cook time: 60 seconds
- Stone thickness: 15mm
- Weight: 15.3kg
Runs on wood or charcoal and reaches 500°C for authentic stone-baked pizza in as little as 60 seconds. The borosilicate glass door with ClearView technology lets you monitor the cook without losing heat, and the integrated thermometer takes the guesswork out of temperature management. A compatible gas burner can be attached if you want the option of gas cooking, though this is sold separately.
2. Best Gas Pizza Oven: Gozney Arc XL
Gas pizza ovens heat up quickly, hold temperature consistently, and give you precise control with minimal effort. For anyone who wants reliable performance without managing a fire, gas is the straightforward choice.
The Gozney Arc XL is the oven we'd choose for anyone who takes their outdoor cooking seriously and wants a gas oven that matches wood-fired cooking for heat and flavour. Big cooking area, serious heat retention, and a stylish design that will look great in any garden.
Specifications
- Price: £799
- Pizza size: 16"
- Fuel type: Gas
- Heat-up time: 20-30 minutes
- Max temperature: 500°C
- Cook time: 60 seconds
- Stone thickness: 20mm
- Weight: 27kg
A lateral rolling flame replicates the heat pattern of a wood-fired oven, distributing heat evenly across the cooking chamber so you spend less time turning and more time eating. It cooks 16-inch pizzas in 60 seconds, and the 20mm stone floor and double-layer insulation means it holds temperature well pizza after pizza. A precision temperature gauge and intuitive flame control make it easy to dial in exactly what you need.
3. Best Electric Pizza Oven: Ninja Artisan
Electric pizza ovens are a great accessible choice for budding pizza chefs. There's no fuel to manage, no open flame, and precise digital controls make for consistent, reliable cooking from the first use.
If you want great pizza without the learning curve of gas or wood, the Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven is the one. Five pizza settings, an air fryer function, and results in three minutes.
Specifications
- Price: £299.99
- Pizza size: 12"
- Fuel type: Electric
- Heat-up time: 15-20 minutes
- Max temperature: 370°C
- Cook time: 3 minutes or less
- Stone thickness: 10mm
- Weight: 11.9kg
The Ninja Artisan offers five pizza settings covering artisan, thin crust, New York, pan and custom, plus air fry, bake and prove functions. It cooks a 12-inch pizza in three minutes or less with no turning required, thanks to its no-turn cooking system. The Chef's View window with interior light lets you monitor progress without opening the oven, and the weather-resistant design means it can live outside. Includes a 12" pizza stone, bake tray, perforated pizza peel and air fry basket.
4. Best Indoor Pizza Oven: Ooni Volt 12
For anyone without outdoor space, or those who want to cook pizza year-round whatever the weather, an electric indoor oven is the practical answer.
The Ooni Volt 12 is the oven that removes all the usual obstacles. No garden needed, no fuel to manage, and no compromise on temperature. It sits on a kitchen worktop and produces stone-baked pizza that holds its own against outdoor alternatives.
Specifications
- Price: £799
- Pizza size: 13"
- Fuel type: Electric
- Heat-up time: 20 minutes
- Max temperature: 450°C
- Cook time: 90 seconds
- Stone thickness: 10mm
- Weight: 17.6kg
Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, fitting on a standard kitchen worktop and reaching 450°C in around 20 minutes. Independent controls for the top and bottom heating elements give you precise control over browning and base crispness, and the built-in Boost mode pushes temperatures higher for a faster cook. The triple-paned borosilicate glass door retains heat effectively, and the compact build and integrated handles make it easy to store when not in use.
5. Best for Large Gatherings: Ooni Koda 2 Max
If you're regularly cooking for a crowd, a standard 12-inch oven quickly becomes a bottleneck. A larger cooking area and dual-zone control make a significant difference when you're serving multiple people.
At 24 inches wide, the Koda 2 Max is in a different league to the other ovens on this list. If you host regularly and want to keep the pizzas coming, this is the one to get.
Specifications
- Price: £799
- Pizza size: 24"
- Fuel type: Gas
- Heat-up time: 30 minutes
- Max temperature: 500°C
- Cook time: 60 seconds
- Stone thickness: 20mm
- Weight: 43kg
At 24-inches, the stone is large enough to cook two pizzas at once. Dual independently controlled heat zones let you manage different areas of the stone separately, which is particularly useful when cooking multiple items at different stages. The digital temperature hub and included food probes add precision, and the Ooni G2 Gas Technology ensures even heat distribution across the large cooking surface.
Still not sure which pizza oven is right for you? Visit us in store and our team can help you find the right fit for your garden and budget. You'll find our full pizza oven range online too, and if you're thinking about building a wider outdoor cooking setup, our outdoor kitchen ideas guide is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a pizza oven in all weather?
Most outdoor pizza ovens are weather-resistant and can be used in most weather conditions, but wind and cold temperatures will affect heat-up times and fuel consumption. In windy conditions, position the oven in a sheltered spot where possible. When not in use, store your oven under cover or use a purpose-made cover to protect it from rain and frost.
What else can I cook in a pizza oven?
Pizza ovens are well suited to far more than pizza. Bread and flatbreads benefit from the high heat and stone floor, and roasted vegetables, meat, fish and even desserts all cook well at the temperatures these ovens reach.
How do I maintain my pizza oven?
Maintain your pizza oven by keeping it clean and storing with a cover to protect against weather damage when not in use. Where available, use the self-clean function to burn off food residue at high heat, then allow the oven to cool fully before cleaning. Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth and bleach-free cleaner, and avoid abrasive products like Bar Keepers Friend which can damage the finish.
What accessories do you need for a pizza oven?
The most useful accessories for a pizza oven are a pizza peel for launching and retrieving pizzas, an infrared thermometer for checking the stone temperature before cooking, and a cover for storage. For larger ovens, a turning peel makes rotating pizzas mid-cook easier.