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The quick answer
- Gas is usually the cheapest and easiest per pizza: tens of pence, not pounds.
- Pellets and wood typically work out somewhere around 50p–£1 per pizza, depending on the oven and fuel.
- The preheat is a big part of the cost. Cooking several pizzas in one session spreads it out.
- Your kitchen oven costs whatever an hour or so of electricity or gas costs on your tariff.
The price of the oven is the big decision, but it's worth knowing what it'll cost to run before you choose a fuel. These figures are rough guides. Fuel prices change, and how much you use depends on the oven, the weather and how long you cook for. Where I've used published figures, I've said where they come from.
Rough cost per pizza by fuel
| Fuel | Rough cost per pizza | Preheat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas (propane) | Around 15p–30p | About 15–25 mins | Cheapest and easiest to control |
| Wood pellets | Around 50p–70p | About 15–20 mins | Roughly 300g of pellets per pizza |
| Kiln-dried wood | Around 60p–£1 | About 20–40 mins | Best flavour and flames; needs tending |
| Charcoal + wood | Around 50p–£1 | About 20–30 mins | Common in multi-fuel ovens |
Based on figures published by Gardeningetc (2022), which quoted Ooni's estimates of about 17p per pizza for the Koda 12 and 27p for the Koda 16 on gas, about 300g of pellets per pizza, and about £5.50 of logs for six pizzas, alongside current UK fuel prices such as 10kg pellet bags at around £20. Fuel prices have changed since 2022, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Gas pizza ovens
Gas ovens use propane from a standard bottle. A full bottle lasts many sessions in a typical 12-inch oven. Gas is efficient because you only burn what you need, and you can turn it off the moment you've finished.
- Pros: cheapest per pizza, fastest to heat, no ash.
- Cons: no wood-smoke flavour; you need to manage gas bottles.
Wood, pellet and charcoal ovens
Solid fuel ovens cost a bit more per pizza, because you have to keep feeding the fire to hold the heat, and some heat is wasted between pizzas. Pellets are the cheapest solid fuel per pizza, as they burn efficiently. Kiln-dried logs or pizza oven sticks give the most flavour and the most theatre.
- Use dry fuel. Damp wood or pellets burn poorly and waste fuel.
- Buy pellets and logs in larger bags when they're on offer, and store them somewhere dry.
- Have your dough balls and toppings ready before the oven is hot, so you're not burning fuel while you prep.
How does that compare with a kitchen oven?
An electric kitchen oven uses roughly 2–3kW while it's heating, and less once it's up to temperature. For a rough idea of a pizza night, multiply your tariff's price per kWh by about 2–3 for an hour of use, including the preheat. A tray pizza that feeds a family in one go makes that cost go a long way. For a full comparison, see pizza oven vs kitchen oven.
How to keep running costs down
- Cook in batches. The preheat costs the same whether you cook one pizza or ten.
- Use the residual heat. After the pizzas, cook garlic bread, roast veg or flatbreads as the oven cools.
- Shelter it from the wind. Wind pulls heat out of the oven, so you burn more fuel. Position it out of the breeze.
- Turn it down between pizzas on a gas oven, then turn it back up before the next launch.
- Keep the lid or door on when the oven has one, to hold the heat in.
Pizza ovens and fuel at The Range
Gas, wood-fired and pellet pizza ovens, plus wood pellets, kindling and hardwood pizza oven sticks.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gas pizza oven cheaper to run than wood?
Usually, yes. Gas is efficient and you can turn it off instantly, so the cost per pizza is typically lower than wood or pellets.
How long does a bottle of gas last in a pizza oven?
It depends on the bottle size and the oven, but a standard propane bottle lasts many sessions in a typical 12-inch oven. Keep a spare so you don't run out mid-cook.
How many pellets does a pizza oven use?
Published estimates suggest around 300g of pellets per pizza, so a 10kg bag makes roughly 30 or more pizzas, depending on the oven and how long it runs between pizzas.
Is it cheaper to make pizza in a kitchen oven?
If you already own the oven, a tray pizza that feeds the whole family can work out cheaper than heating a pizza oven for one or two pizzas. A pizza oven makes more sense when you're cooking several pizzas in one go.
Home cook, keen DIYer and long-time website builder, writing practical outdoor cooking guides for UK gardens. More about me.