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The quick answer
- Best for most people: Ooni Koda 12 (gas). Simple, quick and light.
- Best for wood-fired flavour: Ooni Karu 2 (wood or charcoal, gas optional).
- Best premium portable: Gozney Tread (gas), right at the top of the budget.
- Best for small spaces: Ninja Woodfire (electric).
- Worth stretching for: Gozney Arc XL, if you want 16-inch pizzas.
Under £500 is the sweet spot for home pizza ovens. You get proper high-heat cooking, a stone floor and 60 to 90-second pizzas without paying for a built-in brick oven. This shortlist is based on comparing specs, UK prices and owner feedback, not on hands-on testing, so use it as a starting point and check the latest reviews before you buy.
New to pizza ovens? Read how to choose a pizza oven and wood vs gas vs pellet first. They'll help you narrow down the fuel before you look at models.
The shortlist at a glance
| Oven | Fuel | Weight (approx.) | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ooni Koda 12 | Gas | 9kg | ~£299 | Easiest everyday pizza |
| Ooni Karu 2 | Wood/charcoal (gas option) | – | ~£349 | Wood-fired flavour |
| Gozney Tread | Gas | 13.5kg | ~£499.99 | Premium portable |
| Ninja Woodfire | Electric | 18kg | ~£349 | Small spaces, no gas |
Prices are approximate RRPs at the time of writing and change often, especially around sales. Always check the retailer for the current price.
Our four picks
Ooni Koda 12
Fuel: Gas (propane) · Typical UK price: around £299 · Best for: Easiest everyday pizza
Why it makes the list
- Light it, wait about 15 minutes, cook: the simplest route to great pizza at home
- Light at around 9kg, so it's easy to move and store
- No ash or logs to deal with
Worth knowing
- 12-inch pizzas only, and the open front means you turn the pizza often
- Gas only: no wood-fired flavour
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Ooni Karu 2
Fuel: Multi-fuel: wood or charcoal (gas burner sold separately) · Typical UK price: around £349 · Best for: Real wood-fired flavour, with gas as an option
Why it makes the list
- Burns wood or charcoal for proper live-fire flavour and theatre
- Add Ooni's gas burner later for easy weeknight pizzas
- Built-in digital thermometer, and it can reach around 500°C
Worth knowing
- Wood and charcoal take practice to keep at a steady temperature
- The gas burner is an extra cost, so budget for it if you want both
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Gozney Tread
Fuel: Gas (propane) · Typical UK price: around £499.99 · Best for: A premium portable gas oven, right at the top of the budget
Why it makes the list
- Strong build quality and a 12-inch cooking floor
- At about 13.5kg it's light enough to take camping or move around the garden
- Side burner gives a clear view of the crust as it cooks
Worth knowing
- The thinner stone cools faster between pizzas than heavier ovens
- Accessories (stand, cover, peel) push the total well over £500
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Ninja Woodfire Pizza Oven
Fuel: Electric (with wood-pellet smoke option) · Typical UK price: around £349 · Best for: Small gardens and balconies
Why it makes the list
- Plugs into a normal outdoor socket: no gas bottle, no fire
- Several cooking settings, so it does more than pizza
- Pellet box adds a hint of smoky flavour
Worth knowing
- Doesn't reach the same peak heat as the best gas and wood ovens
- Needs a safe outdoor power supply
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Check Arc XL price on Amazon
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How to choose between them
- Pick the fuel first. Gas for convenience, wood or pellet for flavour and theatre, electric if you can't have a flame or a gas bottle.
- Think about where it lives. A light oven can go back in the shed after each use. A 29kg oven really wants a permanent spot on a sturdy table.
- Check the size. 12-inch ovens suit most families. If you want 16-inch pizzas, expect to pay more, often over £500.
- Budget for the extras. A peel, an infrared thermometer and a cover add roughly £50–£100. Check what's included first.
- Look at the warranty and UK support. Spare parts and easy returns matter more than a few pounds off.
Accessories worth buying
- Pizza peel: a perforated metal peel shakes off excess flour and launches cleanly.
- Infrared thermometer: the only reliable way to know your stone is hot enough (aim for around 400°C+ for Neapolitan style).
- Turning peel: a small round peel for rotating the pizza mid-cook.
- Waterproof cover: essential in a British garden.
- Gas bottle and regulator: check which fit your oven, as these are often sold separately.
Browse pizza peels on Amazon Browse IR thermometers
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Not ready to buy? Try your BBQ first
If you already own a kettle BBQ, a pizza stone or a pizza attachment is a cheap way to see whether you'll use a dedicated oven. It won't get as hot, but it's a good test. I cook on a Weber Master-Touch, and kettles like this make a solid starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Is a £300 pizza oven good enough?
Yes. Ovens around the £250–£400 mark cook excellent pizza. Spending more mostly gets you bigger pizzas, more insulation or multi-fuel options, not dramatically better results.
Gas or wood for a first pizza oven?
Gas for most people. It's easier to control and quicker for weeknights. Choose wood or pellet if the fire is part of the fun for you.
Can I use a pizza oven on a wooden deck?
Check the manufacturer's guidance. Many recommend a stable, non-combustible surface, and a heat-resistant mat or stone slab under the stand is a sensible extra precaution.
When are pizza ovens cheapest in the UK?
Prices often drop in Black Friday and January sales, and end-of-season deals in late summer are common. Prices change often, so check a few retailers.
Home cook, keen DIYer and long-time website builder, writing practical outdoor cooking guides for UK gardens. More about me.