For most people, the best pizza oven is the Gozney Arc XL — a propane oven that hits 950°F, fits 16-inch pizzas, and suits first-timers and obsessives alike. On a budget, the Solo Stove Pi Prime delivers similar peak heat for far less. Wood-fire purists should look at the multi-fuel Ooni Karu 2, crowd-feeders at the huge dual-burner Ooni Koda 2 Max. The Blackstone Pizza Oven with its rotating stone is the cheapest path to 900°F, and apartment dwellers can make real high-heat pizza indoors with the electric Ooni Volt 12.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overall: Gozney Arc XL — 950°F propane oven for 16" pizzas, precise flame control
- Best budget: Solo Stove Pi Prime — 950°F gas oven for 12" pizzas, typically under $400
- Best multi-fuel: Ooni Karu 2 — wood, charcoal, or optional gas; 950°F; 12" pizzas
- Best for big groups: Ooni Koda 2 Max — 24" dual-burner cooking area, fits 20" pies
- Best big-box value: Blackstone Pizza Oven — 900°F with a motorized rotating stone
- Best indoor/electric: Ooni Volt 12 — 850°F from a standard outlet, no flame or smoke
Comparison
| Model | Fuel | Max temp | Max pizza size | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gozney Arc XL | Propane | 950°F | 16" | $800–$1,000 |
| Solo Stove Pi Prime | Propane | 950°F | 12" | $300–$400 |
| Ooni Karu 2 | Wood/charcoal (gas optional) | 950°F | 12" | $400–$500 |
| Ooni Koda 2 Max | Propane (dual burner) | 950°F | 20" (24" surface) | $1,000–$1,300 |
| Blackstone Pizza Oven | Propane | 900°F | 13"–16" (by model) | $150–$400 |
| Ooni Volt 12 | Electric (1,600W) | 850°F | 12" | $600–$900 |
Gozney Arc XL — best overall
Gozney's Arc XL is a propane oven built around a 16-inch, 20mm-thick stone floor with dense two-layer insulation. Per Gozney's specs it reaches and holds 950°F, and the lateral rolling flame plus a wide, low mouth make launching and turning easier than in narrow-mouthed competitors. Owners consistently report that the thick stone recovers heat quickly between back-to-back pizzas and that the flame dial makes it forgiving for beginners.
At roughly $800–$1,000 and close to 60 pounds, it's "portable" only in the sense that two people can move it. Who should skip it: anyone who mainly wants 10–12" pizzas for one or two people, or needs something light enough to take camping — the Pi Prime or Karu 2 makes more sense there.
Solo Stove Pi Prime — best budget
The Pi Prime is Solo Stove's propane-only oven, and it packs the essentials into a package that usually sells for $300–$400: a cordierite stone, 304 stainless construction, and a burner Solo Stove rates at over 950°F, with the stone reaching pizza temperatures in about 15 minutes. The 13-inch panoramic opening is unusually wide for this class, which owners consistently report makes launching and turning far less stressful than tunnel-style openings. At just over 30 pounds it's genuinely easy to move.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants wood-fired flavor or regularly makes larger pies for groups — it's a 12-inch, gas-only oven.
Ooni Karu 2 — best multi-fuel
The Karu 2 (also sold as the Karu 12G) is the pick if a live wood fire is half the point. It burns wood or charcoal natively and takes an optional gas burner (around $99) for weeknight convenience. Ooni rates it at 950°F with roughly a 15-minute heat-up, and the borosilicate glass "ClearView" door keeps the fire visible without soot buildup. Owners consistently report that real-wood flavor is noticeably different, but also that managing a tiny firebox takes a few sessions of practice.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants set-and-forget convenience. If you'd realistically use the gas burner 95% of the time, buy a dedicated gas oven instead.
Ooni Koda 2 Max — best for big groups
The Koda 2 Max is the largest oven here, with a 24-inch cooking area that fits a 20-inch New York-style pie or two 12-inch pizzas side by side. Two independently controlled burners create dual temperature zones — per Ooni's specs it runs from 210°F to 950°F — so you can bake pizza on one side while roasting on the other. Owners consistently report that the even side-to-side heat reduces the constant rotating smaller single-burner ovens demand.
It typically sells for $1,000–$1,300 and is heavy enough to deserve a permanent spot. Who should skip it: small households and anyone tight on patio space — most of that giant stone sits unused if you only bake 12-inch pizzas.
Blackstone Pizza Oven — best big-box value
Blackstone's propane pizza ovens, sold widely at Walmart and Lowe's, are the cheapest route to a legitimate 900°F stone bake — tabletop models with a 13-inch rotating stone often sell for $150–$250, with larger 15–16-inch and cart versions running up to about $400. The signature feature is the motorized rotating stone, which owners consistently report solves the biggest beginner problem: burnt-on-one-side pizzas from forgetting to turn the pie. The cart model's 54,000 BTU burner rating is among the highest here.
