The Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens for a Backyard Feast

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Best Overall Outdoor Pizza Oven

The Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven

We’ve tested the Ooni Fyra, and it ranks as our favorite for a truly portable outdoor pizza oven. The Fyra is fueled by wood pellets, weighs in at just over 20 pounds and reaches up to 950°F. We found that it a little took more than 15 minutes to come to temperature, as Ooni claims, but it still tops our list thanks to its quality (hello, Cordierite pizza stone) and portability. With its foldable legs and optional carrying case, the Frya can come with you to a picnic or campsite—just don’t forget the pellets.

Pros

• Relatively lightweight and completely portable
• Easy to assemble
• Heats fast and evenly

Cons

• Can only be used with food-grade wood pellets
• Oven needs a few minutes to reheat between pizzas

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Most Affordable Outdoor Pizza Oven

Courant Pizza Maker

We know it’s a stretch to call the Courant Pizza Maker an outdoor pizza oven since it’s technically an electric countertop appliance. But, because it weighs just 5.5 pounds, it’s highly portable: Just bring it to your outdoor kitchen or another suitable space, plug it in and start making pies. The Courant is also a versatile little tool—its nonstick surface is good for making omelets, pancakes, burgers and more. We consider it one of the best outdoor pizza oven options for novice chefs who aren’t sure they want to invest in something bigger.

Pros

• Affordable and portable
• Versatility to make lots of other foods
• No wood or propane tank taking up space

Cons

• Users report that the exterior gets very hot to the touch
• Some users complained that there’s no way to adjust temperature

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Best Gas-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven

Alfa Nano Pizza Oven

We’ve tested the Alfa Nano gas-fired pizza oven and, well, we’re sold. This is a high-end home pizza oven made in Italy, where rumor has it they know a thing or two about pizza. The Nano is available in gas or wood-burning models—we appreciate the ease of cooking with gas, with no fire to get started or stoke. The oven floor is made from firebrick, which absorbs heat quickly, retains it and heats evenly. At 110 pounds, this is a hefty addition to any patio—if you don’t order the optional cart, you’ll need a sturdy surface to park it on.

Pros

• No fire needed, and oven heats quickly
• Attractive design
• Large enough for roasting meat and cooking bread

Cons

• High price point
• Only portable with optional cart

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Best Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

Solo Stove Pi

We love the look of the Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven, which is available in either a wood-fueled or wood and gas model. The wood-only model is less expensive, and is an ideal choice for pizza aficionados looking to graduate to a “real” pizza oven with a Cordierite pizza stone. A big plus: The oven weighs just 30.5 pounds and is lightweight enough to be moved around the backyard. It heats to 750ºF, though some users report that it takes a long time for temperatures to climb to this level when they use wood fuel.

Pros

• Wide opening makes it easy to add wood and monitor cooking
• Appealing round design
• Comes with a long-lasting Cordierite pizza stone

Cons

• Wood fuel-only model may take longer to heat to high temps

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Best Duel-Fuel Pizza Oven

Gozney Roccbox

You don’t have to choose between wood or gas with the Gozney Roccbox, a portable pizza oven that runs on either wood or propane. Its compact style looks a little like something out of Star Wars, but the airplane-hanger design makes for even heat and a rolling flame over your pizza, meats or roast vegetables. We also appreciate the silicone coating that keeps the exterior of the oven cooler than many other outdoor pizza ovens. Weighing 44 pounds and reaching temperatures up to 950ºF, this mid-range, multi-function model is a solid investment.

Pros

• Dual-fuel function gives you more options
• Portable, and includes a detachable propane gas burner
• Available in gray or a funky green shade

Cons

• Medium-priced relative to other models, but still an investment

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Most Splurge-Worthy Outdoor Pizza Oven

Summerset Built-In Outdoor Oven

If you’re serious about upgrading your outdoor kitchen, make a statement with The Oven from Summerset. You can mount this substantial stainless steel oven on an outdoor counter or build a masonry structure around it to make it the focal point of your outdoor cooking area.

Choose a model powered by propane or natural gas, depending on your setup. A built-in smoker box burns wood chips in case you want to add deeper flavor to pizzas, bread or roasts.

Pros

• Sleek, stainless steel oven can be mounted on masonry for a stylish aesthetic
• Natural gas and propane models available
• Built-in smoker box enhances the depth of flavor

Cons

• More expensive than most options
• Time-consuming to install

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What to Look for When Buying an Outdoor Pizza Oven

If your family has grown to appreciate the joys of cooking, dining and relaxing in the comfort of your yard or patio, it might be time to add an outdoor pizza oven. Pizza is a nearly universal crowd-pleaser, and it’s easy and fun to make too.

When considering the best outdoor pizza oven for you, keep the following points in mind:

• Budget: You can spend as little as $50 for a starter model or thousands for a statement pizza oven. If you’re not sure you’ll take to this new hobby, start with something modest. You can always upgrade.
• Frequency of use: If pizza-making is more of a curiosity than a passion, it makes sense to go with something smaller and less expensive. But if pizza runs through your veins, consider an oven that can crank out a lot of pizzas in a short period of time.
• Space: If you’ve got a huge backyard, a big oven will look right at home. Conversely, something large might seem oversized in a small space. Consider proportions, location and the outdoor lighting you have available.
• Installation: Does the oven require a masonry base and facing? Do you want to mount it on a countertop? If it runs on natural gas, can you do the hookup? If you need to call a pro, factor that expense into your budget.

Types of Outdoor Pizza Ovens

If you’re adding pizza-making to your backyard cooking plans, the first decision to make is whether or not you want a portable or a stationary oven. Fortunately, the exploding popularity of pizza ovens means that you have a lot of versions to choose from. Here are the most common styles.

Wood-fired pizza ovens: Just like the real thing, these pizza ovens require you to build a fire in the oven on top, or to the rear of the cooking surface. Wood-fired ovens may be fueled by pellets or kiln-dried wood, either of which give your pizza a nice smoky taste. They’re the most traditional method of cooking pizza, but those fires do need tending. You also need someplace to store firewood or pellets.

Gas and propane pizza ovens: If you have a natural gas connection at your house, you can hook a gas-fueled pizza oven up to it and start cooking. Otherwise, gas pizza ovens require propane tanks, which take up a lot of space—and may run dry when hungry guests want their pizza. However, it’s usually easy to regulate the heat on gas ovens, which is why they appeal to a lot of home pizza chefs.

Charcoal/grill pizza ovens: Less popular, charcoal or grill pizza ovens sit on top of a traditional grill and use the grill’s heat source. For many novice pizza chefs, they’re a good entry-level option. But they can be more difficult to get hot and keep hot for consistent cooking.

Electric pizza ovens: Electric pizza ovens are typically designed for inside use, but there’s no reason that you can’t move them outdoors for pizza-making. The downside is usually their small size, the amount of time it takes them to heat up and the evenness of cooking. But there’s a big upside too: They’re generally portable and inexpensive.