Gas vs. Wood Fired Pizza Ovens: Which Is Best for You?

Last Updated: 7/6/2025

If you’re looking for an outdoor pizza oven, chances are you are debating between a wood fired or gas pizza oven.

Luckily many of our Fontana Forni ovens are hybrid, so you can have the best of both worlds, choosing to cook gas or wood whenever you fire up the oven.

But which pizza oven to choose? There are differences to consider when comparing gas vs wood fired ovens.

We break down the differences to help you decide which is right for you. 

What's the Difference Between Gas & Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens?

Wood Outdoor Pizzas Ovens

• Great flavor. The use of wood allows the smoke from burning hardwoods to become infused in your food, providing plenty of variety in flavor.
• Faster cooking times. The flame in this type of traditional pizza oven is not stationary. The heat of the open flame is intense and, when paired with the heat-holding interior of the wood oven, can mean faster cooking times, although these ovens may take longer overall to heat.
• Wood can be more complicated to set up. First, you must select a dry hardwood, cut it (pieces that are 2”-3: diameter max), and then place it in the oven before lighting. The wood you select matters; you will want to choose hardwoods like apple, cherry, oak, or maple.
• Longer clean-up times. Soot and ash will need to be cleaned up after each use with our wood-fired oven models. 

Outdoor Gas Oven

• Easy to use. Gas pizza ovens can be powered by either natural gas or propane.  A gas-fired pizza oven is very easy to use. Like a conventional oven, all you have to do is turn it on.
• Gas pizza ovens preheat quickly.The flame in these ovens is stationary, and the dome or top of the oven receives the heat first before making its way down the sides to the bottom. This allows  great heat retention in our pizza ovens.
• Gas ovens are easier to clean. They still allow you to cook at high temperatures without the byproduct of  ash and soot.
• Gas ovens require installation by a professional. We recommend consulting a plumber or other professional for installation. 

Which is Better Gas or Wood Pizza Ovens for Cooking Performance?

Both wood and gas fired outdoor ovens can reach temperatures of 900 degrees safely, there’s no major cooking temperature differences. You’ll get great heat retention in our  pizza ovens.

•  Outdoor wood fired pizza ovens ovens generally have a faster cook time, but gas ovens heat up more quickly.
• Our gas pizza ovens can usually reach 750 degrees within 30 minutes.
• Gas pizza ovens give you more control because it’s easier to keep the temperature consistent.
• Wood fired pizz ovens require you to feed the fire to keep the temperature consistent.
• Cooking performance on both is excellent.

For optimal pizza cooking, we recommend a temperature range of 700°F to 750°F when using the Standard stones. If your oven is equipped with the Saputo stone upgrade, the best cooking temperature is between 850°F and 900°F.

Which Pizza Oven is Better for Flavor: Gas or Wood?

We often talk about the taste of the wood-fired pizza but a lot of that has to do with the smell of the smoke (varying depending on the wood you choose) imparting that wood-fired aroma onto the pizza. Wood fired ovens give you that full sensory experience and often that “leopard spotted” char on the crust, whereas gas tends to cook more uniformly.

Wood-fired pizza oven taste

• More char flavor.
• Smokier aroma and taste profile depending on the type of wood you choose.
• More of a rustic feel  as each pizza comes out a little different.

Gas pizza oven taste

• A more uniform cook.
• Some say more of the ingredients shine through since it’s a neutral cook with no smoky flavor.

Which Fuel Type is Best for Pizza Ovens?

When it comes to fuel, it’s often a personal preference on whether to choose wood or gas.  If you live in a place where firewood is readily available, it becomes the cheapest option. We often recommend kiln-dried hardwood for best performance though, it burns hotter, cleaner, and more consistently because it’s fully dehydrated.

For a gas oven, propane is the most portable option with the easiest setup.

A 20 lb. propane tank lasts about 8 hours and can be refilled or swapped at most hardware stores. With the average U.S. propane price around $3.60/gallon, it should cost around $15–18 per tank.

Natural gas is the most cost-efficient long-term if you already have a hookup and purchase our natural gas conversion kit.

Once installed, it typically costs around $1 to $1.25 per hour to run the oven. It’s not portable, but if you’re building out an outdoor kitchen, it’s a great permanent option.

Which Outdoor Pizza Oven is Easiest to Clean? Gas or Wood-Fired?

Cleaning your oven is easy. The best way to do so is to turn up the heat of the oven to burn off any food residue. No cleaners or chemicals involved. With a wood-fired oven, you may have to clean out extra ash or soot following each cook. 

Which Outdoor Pizza Oven Oven Lasts the Longest?

If you are purchasing an outdoor pizza oven, you definitely want it to last. From a longevity standpoint, Fontana outdoor ovens are built to last. We’ve never had a dome warranty claim, and with normal use, you’ll get well over a decade out of it. 

Gas pizza oven models do have more components—valves, burners, regulators—that may burn out, so there’s a slightly higher chance of wear over time, but even then, maintenance is minimal.

How Do I Choose Between a Gas and Wood Pizza Oven?

An outdoor gas pizza oven is most ideal for those who want an oven that will preheat easily, cook fast and require minimal cleanup.  It’s great for busy families who want a delicious pizza but are short on time.

A wood-fired pizza oven also cooks pizza quickly but requires more of a set-up to build the fire and let the oven heat-up. The cleanup is slightly more with soot and ash. However, a wood-fired oven gives you that authentic Italian experience and an incredible cook. It’s perfect for someone who wants a full sensory experience while cooking. 

Luckily, many of our Fontana Forni are hybrid, allowing you to choose wood or gas at each cook.

Which Is Better: Propane or Wood Pizza Oven?

When deciding between a propane or wood pizza oven, it's not about which one is better overall, but which one aligns with your specific needs and preferences. Here’s a concise comparison to help you decide: