The 10 Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Kits for Authentic Italian Fare

The pizza oven market doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. According to recent projections, pizza oven sales will grow by 5% per year, becoming a $3 billion industry by the next decade. That’s a lot of backyard pizza ovens! A significant number of those sales will be outdoor pizza oven kits. Think of a pizza oven kit as a hybrid between building a permanently installed pizza oven from a pile of bricks and purchasing a ready-made portable pizza oven. The package you buy may not even be called a “kit.” It might just be marketed as a pizza oven or a modular pizza oven.

Whether it’s called a kit or not, it usually comes with the following components:

• The dome, in several pieces that fit together
• The cooking floor, in one or more pieces
• The oven mouth, in one or more pieces
• A steel or cast-iron door

It may also include:

• The chimney
• Hardware for bolting the pieces together
• Dome insulation
• Refractory cement
• Pizza-making accessories like a pizza peel, pizza wheel and thermometer

We’ve installed a few for friends and clients, as my Italian husband is a stonemason who knows his pizza. So we’ve learned about these kits, what they come with and how tricky they are to install. According to Paolo Marchetti, a stonemason, the trickiest part of building a pizza oven from scratch is constructing the dome. “Even for experienced masons,” says Marchetti, “building a dome or vault that’s airtight, stable and uniform in shape and curve is a big challenge.” By providing the ready-to-assemble dome, a kit solves that piece of the puzzle.

The Best Pizza Oven Kits

• Best Budget: Summerset Built-In Outdoor Oven
• Best Wood-Fired: Wppo LLC Cement Wood-Burning Pizza Oven
• Most Easy-to-Install: Authentic Pizza Ovens Lisboa
• Best Splurge: Wppo LLC Digitally Controlled Wood-Fired Oven
• Best with Fireplace: Scipio Pizza Oven
• Most Authentic: Authentic Pizza Ovens Ventura
• Best Overall: Chicago Brick Oven Wood-Fired Kit
• Best Duel-Fuel: Chicago Brick Oven Hybrid Pizza Oven Kit
• Best Gas: Alfresco Natural Gas Outdoor Pizza Oven
• Best Customizable: Toscana Wood-Fired Masonry Pizza Oven

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Best Budget Pizza Oven Kit

Summerset Built-In Outdoor Oven

One of the less pricey picks on our list, the Summerset outdoor oven requires very little setup and even less room. This heavy-duty 304 stainless steel pizza oven looks a lot like a gas grill and uses liquid propane in lieu of wood. While that eliminates any hope for wood-fired flavor, it’s better for those who prefer faster pizzas, since it takes less time to heat up.

Three interior racks provide ample space for non-pizza dishes, and a built-in temperature gauge adds extra convenience to cooking. While it only works as an outdoor counter built-in, it’s the ideal find for those on a limited budget.

Pros

• Wallet-friendly
• Three cooking racks
• Fits up to 16-inch pizzas
• Very little assembly required
• Storage drawer for pizza oven accessories
• 16,000-British thermal units (BTU) main burner

Cons

• No wood-fired flavor

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Best Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Kit

Wppo LLC Cement Wood-Burning Pizza Oven

Wppo LLC is a big name in pizza ovens, and its countertop cement wood-burning oven won’t disappoint even the most dedicated pizza fiends. Included are all materials, except the finish, making this outdoor project well worth the price tag. Opt for a layer of mosaic or stucco for a modern flair or brick for a more traditional look.

With a five-hour project length, it’s designed to set up in one afternoon. It’s also relatively compact at only 63.8 inches high by 38.2 inches wide, making it ideal for smaller yards. It sets up either on an outdoor countertop or sets up as a built-in option, depending on preference.

Pros

• True fire brick cooking deck
• Casted in refractory cement
• Requires only five hours to build
• Sits on a counter or sets up as a built-in
• 1100.4 square inches of cooking area

Cons

• Weighs 526 pounds

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Most Easy-to-Install Pizza Oven Kit

Authentic Pizza Ovens Lisboa

Enjoy authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas with the Lisboa pizza oven. This outdoor pizza oven arrives fully assembled, meaning zero complicated build instructions or tools required. It features a high opening for spit attachments and a cast-iron door with a viewing window for added ambiance. Sidle up with your Solo Stove chair for a relaxing evening of pizza and warmth.

The oven is triple-insulated with a thick layer of rockwool insulation, refractory cement and metal batting. Because of the high-heat conditions, it tackles up to 30 pizzas per hour, with each cooking in just 90 seconds.

Pros

• Arrives fully assembled
• Cooks up t0 30 pizzas per hour
• Triple-insulated
• Traditional brick facade
• Includes non-rust cast aluminum door and stainless steel chimney
• Handmade in Portugal

Cons

• Requires a five-day curing process

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Best Splurge Pizza Oven Kit

Wppo LLC Digitally Controlled Wood-Fired Oven

If wood-fired pizza ovens are appealing but tending a flame isn’t your cup of tea, the Wppo LLC wood-fired oven is for you. Like a traditional oven, it uses wooden pieces from your firewood rack and a simple flame to preheat. Once the fire gets going, the digital control panel makes it easy to control the flame with the built-in convection fan.

While not exactly a pizza oven kit, it’s the perfect choice for someone craving a more advanced wood-fired oven with simple controls and a kit-like look. The domed setup and mosaic tile exterior offers a similar style to wood-fired ovens without all the complicated setup and hidden costs. Add it to a countertop or customize a setup that mimics a built-in look for extra flair.

Pros

• Authentic lava rock cooking deck
• Electronically controlled convection fan
• Eye-catching mosaic outer shell
• Little assembly required
• Uses real wood for wood-fired flavor
• Includes a meat probe

Cons

• Not a true “kit”

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Best Pizza Oven Kit with Fireplace

Scipio Pizza Oven

In the market for a grill, pizza oven and outdoor fireplace? The Scipio Pizza Oven has you covered. This eye-catching cast-iron pizza oven and fireplace hybrid offers intricately molded details, making it a backyard centerpiece. Sit it on a brick foundation for extra height or opt to let it stand alone for a more minimalistic look. Remove the top pyramid to enjoy a mini barbecue surface for hot dogs or kabobs.

Although this pizza oven-fireplace-grill combo offers triple the fun, it won’t break the bank. At an affordable price, it’ll be no wonder why you’re proud to show it off in your backyard.

Pros

• Also acts as a built-in fireplace and grill
• Durable cast-iron construction
• Affordable
• Antique copper finish
• Includes a 12-inch pizza pan and rain cover

Cons

• Only offers 13.5 square inches of cooking surface

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Most Authentic Pizza Oven Kit

Authentic Pizza Ovens Ventura

Handmade in Portugal with an authentic Portuguese reddish sierra brick tone, the Ventura pizza oven looks lovely in any backyard entertaining space. Like pizza ovens of yore, each oven has an inner layer of brick and mortar that’s covered with refractory cement. Covering that is a rockwool insulation and additional refractory cement, which keeps the exterior of the oven cool to the touch.

A black non-rust cast aluminum door, chimney cavity and chimney channel smoke away from the chef. The peep-through door allows you to keep an eye on each pizza without losing any heat. Better still, there’s enough room inside for two 12-inch pizzas!

Pros

• Authentic Portuguese reddish sierra brick tone
• Cool-touch exterior with triple insulation
• Room for two 12-inch pizzas
• Rotisserie capable
• Includes Ultra Fire for superficial cracks and a ceramic Portuguese baking dish

Cons

• Weighs 1,250 pounds

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Best Overall Pizza Oven Kit

Chicago Brick Oven Wood-Fired Kit

The Chicago Brick Oven DIY kit is our top pick, thanks to its moderate cost and high-quality materials. All dome units are constructed with durable refractory cement and stainless steel fibers that won’t warp in the high temperatures required for pizzas, pies and breads. Like ancient Italian wood-fired ovens, the vent and domed design create a flame roll that cooks pizzas evenly across the top and bottom. Mamma mia!

Each kit comes with bonus pizza tools, including an infrared thermometer, a pizza peel and a cleaning brush. This kit offers custom choices like fuel type and hearth size, making it fully tailored to you. As a bonus, it cooks pizzas in just minutes after a 45-minute preheat time. Make sure to clean it out after cooking to ensure it stays pristine for years to come.

Pros

• Reaches up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit
• Crafted from refractory cement and stainless steel fibers
• Available in wood, natural gas and propane fuel types
• Available in three hearth sizes
• Includes an infrared thermometer, pizza peel and cleaning brush
• Certified to Underwriter Laboratories (UL) standards

Cons

• Vent stack flue is not included

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Best Duel-Fuel Pizza Oven Kit

Chicago Brick Oven Hybrid Pizza Oven Kit

The Chicago Brick Oven hybrid pizza oven kit includes everything necessary for a built-in dual fuel oven. The wood chute located at the back offers traditional wood-fired pies. Or opt for either natural or propane fuels for a quicker pie that requires zero flame tending. Thanks to a flue system, smoke doesn’t draft out the oven door. The instructions for assembly are also relatively simple as long as you know a few basic outdoor pizza oven techniques.

Pros

• Choose between natural and propane fuels
• Infrared burner under the hearth
• Ambient burner at the back of the hearth
• Wood chute for wood-fired flavor additions
• Certified to UL and National Science Foundation (NSF4) Standards
• Made in the U.S.

Cons

• Requires curing prior to first use

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Best Gas Pizza Oven Kit

Alfresco Natural Gas Outdoor Pizza Oven

Built-in gas pizza ovens are ideal for folks who don’t care for tending a flame. The Alfresco outdoor pizza oven uses your choice of either natural gas or propane, and heats up to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. A double-wall insulated top keeps heat trapped, cooking 14-inch pizzas in just a few minutes.

Inside the 304 stainless steel exterior is an inner ceramic hearth and ceiling that keeps temperatures consistent. It must be built into a non-combustible structure, but requires no lengthy curing. It’s a step up from our tested-reviewed Alfa Nano, thanks to the removable glass doors and a built-in temperature gauge.

Pros

• 40,000 BTUs of cooking power
• Double-walled insulated top
• 456 square inches of cooking surface
• Removable arch and glass doors for easy cleaning
• No curing process required
• Heats up in 15 minutes

Cons

• Expensive

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Best Customizable Pizza Oven Kit

Toscana Wood-Fired Masonry Pizza Oven

Unlike other pizza oven kits that require a specific setup, the Toscana wood-fired masonry pizza oven is wildly customizable. The lightweight, modular concrete construction makes it possible for a single individual to build, so it’s smart for the budding handyman. With proper care, the entire build takes only two hours! All that’s left is setting up a proper base.

The interlocking precast components offer nearly endless customization options. Finish it with nearly any heat-resistant material: stucco, rock, tile, brick or mosaic, to name a few. A 10-year warranty rounds out the purchase, making it well worth the mid-tier price tag.

Pros

• Eligible for finish in stucco, rock, tile, brick or mosaic
• Assembly can be done by one person
• Comes together in only two hours
• Lightweight, modular concrete construction
• Complies with UL standards

Cons

• Requires a non-combustible base
• Weighs 625 pounds

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What to Consider When Buying a Pizza Oven Kit

Even when you start with a kit, building an outdoor pizza oven is a major undertaking. Ask these questions before you start shopping:

• Do I have space for an outdoor pizza oven? The dimensions of the kit only tell half the story. You must allow for a poured concrete footing, a base and the mass of whatever materials you use for the oven’s face (stone, brick, stucco, etc.). For safety and practicality, the oven can’t be too close to the house.
• Do I have the DIY chops, plus helpers? Take it from someone who’s provided manual labor on a pizza oven kit installation: It’s a sizable job that’s nearly impossible to do alone, and a big challenge for a novice DIYer. Assembly must to be precise, as does masonry, chimney and flue installation.
• Will my local zoning allow it? Make sure it’s OK with your municipal authority or neighborhood homeowner’s association (HOA) before you do anything. There will likely be rules requiring how far the oven must be set from structures, fences, property lines, sidewalks and roads.

Types of Pizza Oven Kits

Pizza oven kits come in two shapes: domed (also called igloo) and barrel vaulted.

Domed pizza oven kits

These feature a hemispheric interior cooking area with a mouth or door. They come in two styles/forms:

Low-dome (or Neapolitan-style): These have a lower ceiling, allowing the oven to reach temperatures of 800 to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the optimal range for pizzas typical of Naples, Italy. Neapolitan pizzas are doughier and cook in 60 to 90 seconds. The downside? The smaller door and lower height may make it hard to insert roasting pans, whole turkeys or other items.

High-dome (or Tuscany-style): These come with a higher ceiling vault and a larger door. This makes them suitable for cooking roasts and other large items, but generally can’t reach as high a temperature. But the 550- to 800-degree Fahrenheit range is ideal for baking the thinner-crust pizzas typical of Tuscany and Rome.

Barrel-vaulted pizza oven kits

Picture an old-style airplane hanger—that’s the shape of this type. One end of the oven is closed, and the other end can be enclosed with a door or mouth that’s smaller than the dimensions of the barrel (some come with a metal door), or open, with the same dimensions as the barrel, but can be closed off with a metal door.

Barrel-vaulted pizza ovens take about the same time to heat up as dome ovens. Depending on their size, they may have a larger capacity for cooking bread, since all the rectangular floor space can be used. The choice between dome or barrel-vault style comes down to aesthetics—which you like better and how you envision facing the assembled kit.

There are also additional considerations, like fuel type. While most outdoor pizza oven kits have wood-fired pizzas in mind, gas pizza oven kits are becoming more common. They’re easier to install and offer faster heating times—something many home pizza chefs find appealing.

Why You Should Trust Us

I’m a travel, lifestyle and home improvement writer based in rural Umbria, Italy. My work also appears in The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, Reader’s Digest, TripSavvy and many other publications. Plus, I’m the author of several guidebooks. My husband is a stonemason and, together, we are passionate about the great outdoors, endless home improvement projects, our tween daughter and dogs. For this piece, I spoke to Paolo Marchetti, a stonemason.

How We Found the Best Pizza Oven Kits

Unlike finding a portable outdoor pizza oven, good quality outdoor pizza oven kits are a bit harder to come by. That’s why we spent hours combing through well-known brands, expert recommendations and our personal picks. To locate the very best outdoor pizza oven for every budget, we narrowed down our list to include a variety of price points, assembly difficulties and fuel types.

We then spoke to an expert, learning about exactly what makes a pizza oven kit worthwhile. That allowed us to whittle down the list further. After that, it came down to researching each pick independently. We read real reviews, viewed setup videos and learned the ins and outs of each pick on the list. The result? We’re confident that no matter which outdoor pizza oven on this list you settle for, you’ll be blown away by its performance. What can we say? We’re passionate about our pizza!

FAQ

Is it cheaper to build your own pizza oven?

Building a pizza oven is a big job that doesn’t come cheap. Most of the picks on this list are priced over $1,000, due to quality craftsmanship and materials—things you don’t want to skimp on. Then, consider extra materials, labor and any landscaping. Building a pizza oven quickly becomes a pretty pricey endeavor.

When it comes down to it, outdoor pizza oven kits aren’t for those looking to spend a few hundred dollars. However, they produce some of the best pizzas, especially authentic-style Neapolitan ‘zas. For pizza fiends, they’re an incredible investment that’ll last decades with proper care.