A built-in outdoor pizza oven can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars for the oven kit itself to considerably more once you add the base, finishes, outdoor kitchen and professional installation. The biggest factors are the type of oven you choose, its size, how much of the build you complete yourself and how elaborate you want the finished outdoor area to be.
If you're planning an outdoor kitchen, the pizza oven is often one of the first things you need to choose.
That's because the size, weight and installation requirements of the oven can affect the layout of the entire space.
So before choosing benchtops, cabinetry or finishes, it helps to understand what a built-in outdoor pizza oven actually costs and where your budget is likely to go.
How Much Should You Budget for a Built-In Pizza Oven?
There isn't one fixed price for a built-in pizza oven because you're paying for two separate things:
1. The pizza oven itself
2. The structure and installation around it
For the oven alone, current Australian-made options from The Wood Fired Co range from around $2,399 for a Calabrese 800 Brick Front Kit, with larger and more premium options increasing from there.
For example, current prices include:
- Calabrese 800 Brick Front Kit: $2,399
- Calabrese 800 Neo Kit: $2,799
- Calabrese Entertainer Brick Front Kit: $2,799
- Calabrese Entertainer Neo Kit: $3,799
- Calabrese Grande Brick Front Kit: $3,999
- Calabrese Grande Neo Kit: $4,699
Prices can change, so always check the current product page before finalising your budget.
A modular brick oven can sit in a similar price bracket. Current examples include a 1050mm Brick Front Oven Kit at $3,499 and a 1300mm Neo Brick Oven Kit at $4,699.
The total project cost will then depend on how you build the oven into your outdoor area.
What Affects the Cost of a Built-In Outdoor Pizza Oven?
Oven Size
Bigger ovens generally cost more, but they also give you more cooking space.
For example, The Wood Fired Co's Calabrese range includes options designed to handle approximately:
- 2 pizzas
- 2 to 3 pizzas
- 5 pizzas
- 8 to 9 pizzas
If you're mainly cooking for your household, the biggest oven in the range may be unnecessary.
If you regularly entertain large groups, choosing a larger oven from the beginning may make more sense than wishing you had extra cooking space later.
Precast vs Brick Pizza Oven
Your choice between a precast and brick oven can also influence the overall project.
A precast pizza oven gives you a formed oven chamber that can be incorporated into your chosen outdoor kitchen design.
A brick pizza oven kit gives you a more traditional firebrick construction while still providing the components needed to complete the oven.
The Wood Fired Co's modular brick ovens are available in 85cm, 105cm and 130cm internal sizes, with the larger models designed for significantly greater cooking capacity.
Neither option is automatically better.
The right choice depends on the appearance you want, how much cooking space you need and how involved you want the build to be.
Precast vs Brick Pizza Oven: Which Costs More?
When comparing prices, look beyond the oven kit.
The finished cost can depend heavily on the surrounding construction.
A precast oven may appeal if you want a more straightforward chamber that can be incorporated into a rendered or tiled outdoor structure.
A brick oven may appeal if the traditional masonry appearance is part of the design.
The surrounding finish can sometimes make a bigger difference to the final budget than the oven itself.
A simple rendered enclosure and a fully customised outdoor kitchen with stone benchtops, cabinetry, BBQ, sink and refrigeration are obviously very different projects.
So rather than asking only:
"How much does the oven cost?"
A better question is:
"What do I want the finished outdoor cooking area to look like?"
Is It Cheaper to Build or Buy a Pizza Oven?
If you are comfortable completing some of the work yourself, a pizza oven kit can reduce labour costs.
The Wood Fired Co offers DIY options and installation instructions for its different oven ranges. Professional installation is also available for customers who would rather have the work completed for them.
DIY can make sense if you have experience with masonry or construction.
However, the finished oven still needs an appropriate base, correct clearances and an installation that follows the specifications for the model you've purchased.
Saving money on installation is only worthwhile if the oven is installed correctly.
What Other Costs Should You Allow For?
The oven itself is only one part of the budget.
Depending on your project, you may also need to allow for:
The Oven Base
A built-in pizza oven needs a suitable supporting structure.
The required structure will depend on the size and weight of your chosen oven.
Finishing Materials
This is where budgets can vary enormously.
Common finishes include:
- Render
- Brick
- Stone
- Tile
- Concrete
- Custom cladding
A relatively simple enclosure can keep the project affordable, while premium finishes can turn the oven into a major architectural feature.
Outdoor Kitchen Benchtops
If the oven is being incorporated into a larger outdoor kitchen, you may also be adding preparation areas, benchtops and storage.
Installation
Professional installation adds labour to the project but can also make the build much easier, particularly for larger ovens.
The Wood Fired Co provides both DIY options and professionally installed solutions.
Delivery
Pizza ovens are heavy.
Freight should therefore be considered when comparing your total cost.
The Wood Fired Co offers delivery across Australia, with delivery options varying according to product and location.
Accessories
You may also want to budget for pizza peels, fire tools, thermometers, cookware and other accessories.
Individually these may not be major expenses, but they should still be included when estimating the total project.
How Much Pizza Oven Do You Actually Need?
This is where it's easy to overspend.
The biggest pizza oven isn't necessarily the best pizza oven for your home.
Think about how you will actually use it.
Smaller Household or Occasional Entertaining
A smaller oven may be enough if you're usually cooking a few pizzas at a time.
The Calabrese 800, for example, is designed for approximately 2 to 3 pizzas.
Regular Entertaining
If your house tends to become the gathering point for family and friends, moving up to an oven with space for around five pizzas can make entertaining easier.
Large Gatherings or Serious Cooking
A larger oven gives you far more cooking floor space and opens up the possibility of cooking multiple dishes at once.
The Calabrese Grande is designed with a much larger cooking area and approximately 8 to 9 pizza capacity.
For most homes, though, capacity should be balanced against the amount of space the oven will occupy.
What Should You Spend More Money On?
If your budget is limited, spend money on the parts that affect the performance and longevity of the oven first.
A beautiful outdoor kitchen isn't particularly useful if the actual oven performs poorly.
Look closely at:
Heat retention
Good thermal performance means the oven stays hot longer and gives you more flexibility for cooking after the initial pizza session.
Cooking floor
The cooking floor needs to withstand the temperatures involved in proper wood-fired cooking.
Chamber construction
The materials and thickness of the chamber affect both durability and heat retention.
Correct sizing
Buy an oven that matches how you cook rather than simply choosing the cheapest or largest option available.
Installation
Whether you're completing the project yourself or using an installer, following the correct installation specifications matters.
The surrounding finishes can always be kept relatively simple.
The oven itself is much harder to replace once everything has been built around it.
Is a Built-In Pizza Oven Worth It?
That depends on what you want from your outdoor area.
If you only plan on cooking pizza a few times each year, a permanent installation may be more than you need.
But if outdoor cooking and entertaining are already a big part of how you use your home, a built-in oven can become much more than a pizza appliance.
A wood-fired oven can also be used for:
- Bread
- Roasts
- Vegetables
- Slow cooking
- Baking
- Desserts
The Wood Fired Co specifically designs its ovens for more than pizza, with models intended to retain useful heat long after the initial firing.
That versatility is one of the strongest arguments for investing in a permanent oven rather than thinking of it as something that only gets used on pizza night.
Should You Build the Outdoor Kitchen or Choose the Oven First?
Choose the oven first.
This can save you a lot of frustration.
Different ovens have different:
- External dimensions
- Weights
- Opening sizes
- Flue requirements
- Installation requirements
Once you know exactly which oven you're installing, your builder, landscaper or outdoor kitchen designer can plan around those specifications.
The Wood Fired Co provides installation information and specifications for its oven ranges, which makes it easier to design the surrounding structure correctly.
Building the kitchen first and trying to squeeze an oven into the remaining space is doing things backwards.
Built-In Pizza Oven or Freestanding Pizza Oven?
A freestanding oven is generally the simpler option.
A built-in oven makes more sense when you want the oven to become part of the overall outdoor entertaining area.
Choose a built-in design if you're:
- Constructing a new outdoor kitchen
- Renovating an existing entertaining area
- Creating a permanent BBQ and cooking zone
- Planning a masonry feature around the oven
- Looking for a more integrated outdoor design
If you're already spending money on a new alfresco or outdoor kitchen, planning the pizza oven at the same time is usually the easier approach.
How to Keep the Cost of a Built-In Pizza Oven Under Control
You don't need to turn the project into a full luxury outdoor kitchen.
A few decisions can make a significant difference.
Choose the Right Oven Size
Don't pay for cooking capacity you will rarely use.
Keep the Surround Simple
A clean rendered or masonry structure can look excellent without expensive finishes everywhere.
Consider a Kit
A pizza oven kit allows you to take on more of the project yourself if you have the skills.
Plan Everything Before Construction Starts
Changing the design halfway through the build is one of the easiest ways to increase costs.
Have your oven dimensions and installation specifications ready before the surrounding structure is constructed.
Spend on the Oven, Save on Decoration
Prioritise the part that actually cooks the food.
Decorative finishes can be kept simple or upgraded later.
Which Built-In Outdoor Pizza Oven Should You Choose?
There isn't one model that suits every home.
A useful starting point is to divide your options by how you expect to use the oven.
For Smaller Outdoor Areas
Look at compact precast options that still provide enough space for family pizza nights and everyday cooking.
For Regular Entertainers
A medium-sized precast or brick oven gives you extra cooking capacity without requiring the footprint of the largest models.
For Serious Wood-Fired Cooking
Larger modular brick and precast ovens provide substantially more cooking floor space for entertaining, roasting and baking.
For a Modern Outdoor Kitchen
A Neo-style front can work particularly well in contemporary outdoor kitchens where stainless steel, stone and clean finishes are already being used.
For a Traditional Outdoor Area
A brick-front oven creates the classic wood-fired oven appearance and works naturally with masonry, brick and rustic outdoor spaces.
Start With the Oven, Then Build Around It
The total cost of a built-in outdoor pizza oven depends on how far you want to take the project.
You can keep things relatively simple with an oven kit and straightforward enclosure, or turn the oven into the centrepiece of a complete outdoor kitchen.
The important part is choosing the right oven before the surrounding structure is built.
Explore The Wood Fired Co's built-in outdoor pizza ovens, Calabrese precast pizza ovens and brick pizza oven kits to compare sizes, styles and current pricing before planning the rest of your outdoor kitchen.
FAQs
How much does a built-in pizza oven cost in Australia?
The oven kit itself can start from a few thousand dollars, while the total project cost increases once the supporting base, finishes, installation, delivery and outdoor kitchen work are included.
Is a built-in pizza oven more expensive than a portable oven?
Usually, yes. A built-in oven becomes part of a permanent outdoor structure, so the surrounding construction and installation add to the overall cost.
Can I install a pizza oven myself?
Some pizza oven kits are designed for DIY installation, provided you follow the manufacturer's specifications and have the skills required for the build. The Wood Fired Co also provides installation instructions and professional installation options.
Should I choose a precast or brick pizza oven?
Choose based on your preferred appearance, available space, desired cooking capacity and how involved you want the installation to be. Both can work well as permanent built-in outdoor ovens.
What size pizza oven do I need?
For smaller households, an oven with capacity for a few pizzas may be enough. Larger families and regular entertainers may benefit from a larger cooking floor.
Can a built-in pizza oven be part of an outdoor kitchen?
Yes. Built-in pizza ovens can be incorporated into outdoor kitchens, masonry surrounds and custom entertaining areas, provided the structure is designed around the oven's installation requirements.