How Much Does It Cost to Build an Outdoor Pizza Oven?
The average cost to build an outdoor brick pizza oven ranges from $2,000 to $8,000, with an average of $5,000. The size of the oven and building materials make up most of the cost.
A brick pizza oven serves up pizza with a smoky flavor and slightly charred crust, bringing restaurant-quality pies right to your backyard. You can expect to spend anywhere from $800 and $10,000 for an outdoor brick pizza oven, but the average is about $5,000.
When setting a budget for the centerpiece of your future pizza parties, remember that the cost of building an outdoor brick pizza oven depends on the grade, from entry-level basic to an authentic artisan replica. Curb your pizza cravings by learning the cost of an outdoor brick pizza oven so you can get started on your pepperoni-filled project.
Outdoor Pizza Oven Cost Breakdown
Let’s break down the costs associated with building an outdoor brick pizza oven, separated into material and labor categories.
Size
A standard brick pizza oven has an interior diameter of 36 inches. If you want more space for a larger pie or to cook multiple pies at once, you should opt for an oven with a 42-inch diameter. However, the larger the pizza oven, the more you will pay for materials and labor, increasing your overall project cost.
Materials
The materials needed to build a brick pizza oven usually cost between $800 and $4,000. Review the following list of materials and their prices to determine your supplies budget.
| Material | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bricks | $3 each |
| Mortar | $10 per bag |
| Insulation (fire blanket) | $60 |
| Hearth (countertop ledge) | $75 |
| Chimney (stainless steel, insulated pipe) | $150 – $500 |
Labor
Of course, the cost of labor is free if you build the pizza oven yourself. However, you can also hire a local bricklayer, an outdoor kitchen pro, or a qualified general contractor with the masonry skills to build a functional and safe brick pizza oven.
| Labor | Cost |
|---|---|
| Brick mason | $40 to $75 per hour |
| General contractor | $300 to $500 per day |
Prep
A brick pizza oven must be built on a completely flat surface to ensure that it stays level. Most choose to build the pizza oven on a concrete slab. The cost of a concrete slab typically ranges from $4 to $8 per square foot, but project minimum fees might increase the cost for such a small slab.
Permits
Building a pizza oven is a project that may require a permit in some locations and not in others. Check with your local building code department to determine if your project will require a building permit. The cost of a building permit for an outdoor project of this caliber is typically between $20 and $60.
Additional Outdoor Pizza Oven Costs to Consider
When making a pizza, you have to consider how every ingredient will impact the overall taste. The same goes for determining the cost of building an outdoor pizza oven. Whether you’re trying to decide if it’s worth it to add on an entire covered outdoor kitchen while you’re at it, or want to keep it as simple as possible, consider how the following additional costs will affect your final bill.
Additional Features
Like at a pizza shop, adding more toppings (or features) increases the total price. Some homeowners choose to install an entire outdoor kitchen to pair with their outdoor brick pizza oven. The cost for an outdoor kitchen can range from $6,500 to $27,000, depending on the size and customizations.
A budget-friendly outdoor kitchen would include a portable kitchen setup and a basic gas grill, while a high-end version would include outdoor kitchen cabinets, countertops, and a built-in grill.
Land Leveling and Clearing
Let's say you need to make room for your pizza oven in your uneven yard. The cost of leveling up to 1,000 square feet can start at around $1,000 and continue up to $2,000.
Keep in mind that this doesn't include the cost of clearing your outdoor space. Homeowners can expect to pay between $1,300 and $5,700 to clear rocks, boulders, trees, and other features. Also, remember that this type of work may involve permits in your area, adding $100 to $500 to your budget.
Maintenance
Brick is a material that requires routine maintenance, such as yearly cleanings. You should also check your brick structure for cracks larger than 1/4 of an inch or any damage to the mortar. After a few years, the mortar will wear away from the outside environment. Mortar repair usually costs $10 to $20 per square foot.
Operating Costs
Of course, a wood-fired pizza oven needs wood to operate. Hardwoods are the best option, so plan to purchase pieces of maple, oak, hickory, ash, or walnut to fire up your oven. You will also need a pizza oven peel to get pizzas in and out of the oven, plus other cooking supplies like an oven mitt, pizza cutters, and serveware.
Cost of Common Brick Pizza Oven Add-Ons
To make your brick pizza oven anything but basic, consider incorporating some of these add-ons into your project:
Outdoor kitchen cost: $6,500–$27,000
Outdoor fireplace cost: $1,500–$8,000
Cost to build a patio: $2,000–$6,000
Cost to install an outdoor outlet: $225 each
Tips to Reduce Costs While Building a Brick Pizza Oven
To make sure you don’t break the bank while building a brick pizza oven, incorporate these cost-saving tips:
Request multiple contractor bids: If you’re outsourcing your masonry work, be sure to solicit pricing from multiple sources. Three is usually a good amount to compare. That way, you can compare the cost of services and choose the best value option.
Complete prep work yourself: A brick pizza oven needs to be built on a clear, flat surface. To save money on the overall project, you can complete this site prep work by building a concrete slab yourself.
Condense the size: While a 36-inch pizza oven is the standard size, you can go smaller and still get the functionality needed from your oven. A 24-inch pizza oven can serve up 12-inch pizzas and reduce the cost of labor and materials.
Cost to Build an Outdoor Pizza Oven vs. Pizza Oven Kits
If you’re looking for ways to lower your project budget, you can cut back on the cost of an outdoor pizza oven by opting for a ready-to-install DIY pizza oven kit. These kits come with a pre-made oven (usually made from brick or clay) and everything you need to install it yourself in your outdoor space.
Kits cost between $700 and $6,000, depending on the size and specifics of the project. Most small backyard kits cost around $2,500 and provide all the durability and deliciousness of a custom-built outdoor pizza oven.
Costs to Build an Outdoor Brick Pizza Oven Yourself
If you have previous construction experience, you may have the chops to build a pizza oven with your own two hands. In this case, the cost to build a brick pizza oven comes down to the materials cost, which is usually between $800 and $4,000.
However, building a brick pizza oven requires specialty tools and equipment, plus the intensive labor of setting bricks. That’s why it’s important to read up on how to DIY a pizza oven before attempting to actually do it. If you don’t have a truck to haul the bricks from the store to your backyard, you will need to rent one for about $50 per day.
Cost to Install a Brick Pizza Oven Yourself vs. Hiring a Brick Mason
If you hire a professional to build your outdoor brick pizza oven, there will be a difference in cost, quality, and time. In most cases, you should hire a brick mason near you to construct the pizza oven structure.
Hiring a brick mason will cost between $40 and $75 per hour. Since building the pizza oven might not take too long for a skilled tradesperson, keep in mind most masons charge a project minimum fee ranging from $200 to $400 to cover the cost of travel and prep work.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether or not it’s cheaper to build a pizza oven depends largely on what style you opt for and which tools and materials you already have. For example, having a surplus of leftover fire bricks from another DIY project will reduce the amount you need to build a new pizza oven and cut costs to boot. On the flip side, if you don’t have any of the required materials, buying a pre-made option will be cheaper and require far less work to set up—between just $300 and $1,000 for the best versions.
Use fire bricks for a brick pizza oven. These bricks are typically used for fireplaces and chimneys as they can withstand high temperatures from heat sources. If you attempt to use any other kind of bricks, it’s likely that this material will crack from such high heat exposure in the best case—and potentially explode and cause serious harm in the worst case.
Older research tells us that adding an outdoor pizza oven is unlikely to increase ROI. But thanks to an uptick in interest in this feature, it’s becoming increasingly likely that installing one will boost your home’s value by a small amount.
The best height for a pizza oven is one that allows the user to easily see what’s going on inside and comfortably place pies without having to crouch over. In general, that means the opening should be between 36 and 48 inches off the ground. By contrast, the height of the dome is totally up to your preference, because different heights create different results. Shorter domes are better for creating Neapolitan-style pies, whereas taller domes are ideal for NY-style recipes.
