The best pizza ovens for 2023, editor-tested and chef-approved

Size: 16.3 x 21 x 18.6 in. (12.4 x 13.4-in. cooking surface) | Weight: 44 lbs. | Fuel type: Wood and gas | Warranty: 1 year; 5 years with registration

First up: the Gozney Roccbox, a futuristic-looking pizza oven pod that, according to our experts, manages to strike the perfect balance between performance and convenience. “Its dual-fuel compatibility (gas and wood) offers flexibility, and the built-in thermometer ensures accurate temperature control. I use it both at home and during outdoor events like barbecues and picnics. The quick preheating and easy cleanup make it ideal for spontaneous pizza nights,” says Craig Agranoff, founder and editor-in-chief of WorstPizza.com, a pizza review and directory site that covers restaurants nationwide. “It’s a great option for people who don’t have the space for a larger oven like the Dome,” adds Mangieri (more on the Dome to come). “It’s also portable, which makes it incredibly versatile.” 

We tested the Roccbox and can attest to its convenience (it came fully assembled, was quick to start and fired up in about 15 minutes) and versatility (for a smaller oven, it still has enough room to cook a 12-inch pizza, as well as other food items, though we’d advise using a pan for messier sauces and meats). Retractable legs are convenient — and safe — for propping the oven on a table or taking it on the go.

The oven has a special coating, which keeps it from scorching (we were able to touch it lightly without burning our fingers, though as with any hot device you’ll want to heed caution) and it’s sold in four finishes — from bright Olive to bold Black, including a special-edition Ranger green shade. Each Roccbox comes with a detachable gas burner and a professional pizza peel (worth $85), adding to its overall value.

Size: 25 x 23.2 x 14.7 in. (16-in. cooking surface) | Weight: 39.2 lbs. | Fuel type: Gas | Warranty: 1 year; 5 years with registration

Ooni is another name that tends to permeate the pizza oven space, and popped up pretty consistently when consulting experts about their fave brands. “The Ooni Koda 16 is a personal favorite due to its quick setup and convenient, gas-fired operation,” says Agranoff. “The large cooking surface allows for perfectly crispy crusts and the advanced heat control ensures consistent results. I often use it at home for weekend pizza parties with friends — and its portability makes it a great option for outdoor gatherings and camping trips.”

“Ooni pizza ovens have been out for a couple of years and keep getting better. Pizza is the common denominator in large gatherings and now people can achieve that at home with restaurant-quality pizzas,” adds Michael Ayoub, executive chef and owner of Fornino, which serves up Neapolitan-style pizza at its three locations in Brooklyn, New York.

The oven comes fully assembled (just unfold the legs to place it on a table or the ground and attach a propane tank) and is lightweight and narrow enough for transporting with ease. I own the Ooni Koda 12 (cooks 12-in. pies), which is great for anyone who wants the convenience of a gas oven with even more portability (at 20.9 lbs., it’s the lightest on our list and takes up practically no room in a car; it’s even small enough to carry distances on foot need be). Especially great for beginners! 

Size: 12.5 x 13.5 in. (makes a 12-in. pie) | Weight: 32 lbs. | Fuel type: Charcoal and wood/pellets (gas burner attachment sold separately) | Warranty: Lifetime

A hard-working outdoor pizza oven that promises the wood-fired results of its pricey counterparts at a fraction of the cost? There was only one way to find out if it was worth it, and Yahoo commerce writer Britt Ross — who also happens to be a former professional baker — was up to the testing task.

“As someone who didn’t have prior experience using a pizza oven, I was impressed by how quickly I was able to get the Bertello Pizza Oven up and running,” explains Ross. “Aside from taking a while (about 10-15 minutes) for the wood to ignite (the directions say you can use a fire starter if that happens), the oven heat up quickly (in another 10 minutes or so) and did its job beautifully. The crust was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. The cheese was melty and the sauce was heated through.”

Ross adds that the included infrared thermometer is helpful and accurate, so you know exactly when to pop your pizza in (though because the dome is on the smaller size, you’ll have to remove the pizza to turn it on the peel, then slide it back in). “In addition to the infrared thermometer and pizza peel, the oven came with a coal/wood chip box, a propane hookup, a travel bag and tongs — pretty cool!” (Check out the Bertello Grande 16 for a bit more wiggle room.)

Size: 20.5-in. round (ideal for 12-14-in. pies) | Weight: 30.5 lbs. | Fuel type: Wood and gas | Warranty: Lifetime

Solo Stove has garnered a cult-like following (recommended by outdoor enthusiasts, professional smokers and Yahoo testers) for making fire pits more accessible — and attractive — to the masses (much thanks to their smokeless engineering and streamlined physiques). So when we learned the brand was also manufacturing outdoor pizza ovens — cut from the same durable stainless steel, designed by the same team — we were rightfully intrigued.

We tested the Solo Stove Pi Dual Fuel Pizza Oven, which is compatible with gas and wood (both burners are included for added value), heats up in a flash (around 20 minutes) and features a continuous rolling, surround-sound flame for cooking pizzas evenly and quickly (in 1-2 mins; you may still want to turn them occasionally) back-to-back. Part of what makes the Pi Dual so effective is that it retains the heat it pumps out, which results in the outer shell getting pretty hot.

Because of this — and the fact that the pizza oven doesn’t have legs — we paired it with the brand’s corresponding stand. While a bigger commitment upfront (setup took us about 25 minutes for the oven and an additional 45 for the stand), the stand adds another layer of safety, as well as visibility (bringing the oven mouth within arm’s reach) and convenience, with 360-degree wheels and two side panels for resting peels. The entire setup looks pretty snazzy on a deck or in the company of other Solo Stove products.

Size: 17.5 x 19 x 11 in. (12.5 in. cooking surface) | Weight: 25 lbs. | Fuel type: Electric | Warranty: 3 years (limited)

Want to take the party indoors? Look no further than this portable pizza oven from Cuisinart, among Amazon’s Choice (and tester recommendations) for 12-in., Neapolitan-style pizzas in a matter of (five or less) minutes without having to leave the house.

“You can easily adjust oven temperature and the built-in timer was super helpful, and loud — I could hear it in the next room!” recounts our Managing Editor Scott Simone. “The window lets you see how things are progressing, there’s enough room for turning and my pizza baked evenly (with crispy crust).”

The Cuisinart Indoor Pizza Oven includes a removable pizza stone for easy cleaning, an enameled deep dish pan and a foldable peel.

Size: 18.1 x 18.5 x 10.6 in. (makes a 12-in. pie) | Weight: 37.47 lbs. | Fuel type: Electric | Warranty: 2 years on limited products; additional plans available for purchase

For those in the market to spend, the Breville Pizzaiolo is about as sleek as indoor pizza ovens come, beloved by pie aficionados for a special system that can be customized to replicate brick oven pizza and other styles in as little as two minutes flat. “The oven uses a combination of radiant conduction and convection heat to produce temperatures around 750 degrees Fahrenheit, right on your countertop!,” exclaims John Gristina, a member of the World Pizza Champions and owner and operator at the Pizza Fenice restaurant in Pelham, New York. “The versatile controls allow you to choose a baking style and the oven will direct the power to different heating elements depending on the type of pizza you want — wood-fired, New York or Pan-style.”

Use the ‘Frozen Pizza’ setting when you’re not in the mood to get your hands dirty. Added Gristina: “As with any appliance, it does take time to learn and get used to, but with a little practice and the help of Breville’s downloadable apps, you’ll be serving up restaurant-quality pizzas in no time.”

Gristina notes that the compact size of the Pizzaiolo limits it to 12-in. pizzas, so it’s ideal for small spaces and kitchens. You can also choose between two finishes (Black Truffle and Brushed Stainless Steel), and each oven comes with a corresponding pizza pan and peel.

Size: 13-in. pizza stone, 233 sq.-in. griddle, 260 sq.-in. grill | Weight: 45 lbs. | Fuel type: Gas | Warranty: Up to 3 years on certain parts (see manual for details)

Cuisinart’s 3-in-1 Pizza Oven Plus caught our attention for its versatility (it’s a pizza oven, griddle and grill), compact design (sturdy legs mean you can sit it right on your outdoor table) and near-perfect rating (backed by positive customer reviews). Yahoo Executive Commerce Editor Nicole Sforza recently tapped the mult-tasking model for a gathering with her family and confirms it’s a durable pizza oven that serves up yummy pizzas (not to mention a good time).

“I really love this thing! More than I expected to, and it provided a great opportunity to cook with my kids and their cousin,” she says, explaining “The pizza oven needs to heat up for a half hour, but you may want to give it a bit more time. The third pizza was when the magic happened — the grill must have fully heated up and the crust had that slightly singed, yummy right-out-of-a-wood-burning-oven crispiness that had the whole family raving. Cleanup was easy — only the pizza stone itself had residue on it — and I liked how it was lightweight enough for me to move around the deck on my own.”

Sforza notes the oven took some putting together (about 45 minutes, as there were a good amount of parts to screw in place) but yielded delicious pies and was fairly straightforward to use. At only $250 for three functions, complete with several attachments, it’s pretty reasonable too.

Size: 21.5 x 18 x 15.1 in. (12 x 12.75 in. cooking surface) | Weight: 32.4 lbs. | Fuel type: Electric | Warranty: 1 year

I rely on several Ninja products — including the brand’s Professional Kitchen System and Non-stick Ceramic Cookware — for prepping and cooking from day to day, so I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on the multi-tasking Ninja Woodfire for a little while now. The miracle oven promises the convenience of an electric outdoor oven, with the customization of eight different cooking functions — plus additional settings for added ease (just throw in some wood chips and you have yourself a no-fuss smoker).

Once I got through assembly (one tool for about 12 screws; about 30 minutes total), I turned on the oven to initiate the preheat (it took about 20 minutes to get to the recommended temp), chose the Neapolitan-style pizza setting (there are five settings total) and popped my fresh, 12-in. masterpiece inside.

Because the temperature caps at 700 degrees, it took a little longer for my first pie, and subsequent pies, to cook (depending on the preference, I’d reserve 3-5 minutes) than some of the gas or wood-fueled models we tested, but I didn’t have to worry about turning the pizza and it came out chewy, bubbly and perfect (the most even, fluffiest crust of all). I’ve since used it to smoke chicken, a roast and other meats (you just add a cup of wood pellets).

Size: 52 x 32.75 x 26.75 in. (16 in. cooking surface) | Weight: 140 lbs. | Fuel type: Gas | Warranty: Various available for purchase

Blackstone — especially its flat-top grill — is an outdoor staple, beloved by shoppers and professional grill masters for its high heat outputs and sleek surfaces. So we weren’t too surprised to hear chefs recommending their pizza ovens as top-of-the-line; they especially love the rotating pizza deck that eliminates the need for manual turning and ensures an even bake.

“It makes launching pizza challenging at first but it’s such a relief to not have to turn pies once they’re in,” notes Gristina. “Because of the compact oven space (only one pie at a time) it is efficient, as a single standard tank of propane would be more than enough to run the oven for over 6 hours.”

Gristina recommends sticking to pizza sizes 15 inches and under, as the stone measures exactly 16 inches and pies can scorch if they bubble over. “The newer Blackstone Pizza Oven model is designed to be used both with a cart or standalone,” he adds. “It’s great for people with very limited space (this is no bigger than a standard BBQ) and, because of the speed and ease of portability, can be used for large parties at home and away (albeit with someone experienced at the helm).” According to the brand website, you can use the oven to cook up other dishes such as nachos, fish and steak.

Size: 26 x 24.8 x 28.8 in. (more than enough room for a 16-in. pie) | Weight: 128 lbs. | Fuel type: Wood and gas | Warranty: 5 years with registration

Last, but certainly not least, we have the Gozney Dome, beloved by our experts and other pizza enthusiasts for its top-notch engineering, professional results and attention-commanding shape. “The Gozney Dome has become my favorite pizza oven. It fires up hot enough — up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit — to cook our style of pizza and the dome is generous in size,” says Mangieri. “You can adjust the temp, and leverage the extra interior space to make a range of other dishes, such as fish or summer veggies in a cast iron skillet or pot. The multi-fuel version of the Dome can be used with wood or propane for even more versatility and convenience. And cleanup is really simple — you just brush the ashes into a hole inside of the oven which leads to a small drawer that you can pull out and empty.”

Ayoub is among other chefs known to fire up ‘the Dome’: “I get the same results with this as I do in my large 5,000-pound wood-burning oven. I use it to cook not only pizza, but vegetables, fish, chicken and more. Woodfire cooking with such high heat is very special for creating quality meals.”

We gave the Gozney Dome a whirl and, after proper heat-up (about 15-20 minutes), were able to yield restaurant-style pizzas in the flash of a pan. We’re including it in our standing category because, given its weight, we highly recommend pairing it with the corresponding stand. This thing is a real spectacle, sure to dazzle your guests (don’t be surprised if you notice an increase in people wanting to stop by).