A pizza oven sitting in the garden looks like a luxury — and the initial cost often is — but the running costs are a different story. Whether you have picked up a gas-fired Ooni Koda 16 or a multi-fuel Ooni Karu 12G, the fuel bill per pizza is surprisingly small. This guide breaks down the real numbers for gas, wood, charcoal and electric pizza ovens at current UK prices, so you know exactly what each pizza night will cost.
The short answer
At current UK fuel prices, each pizza costs roughly:
- Gas (propane): 15–30p per pizza
- Wood pellets: 10–20p per pizza
- Kiln-dried hardwood: 20–40p per pizza
- Charcoal: 25–50p per pizza
- Electric: 15–25p per pizza
A typical pizza night of four to six pizzas will set you back between 60p and £2.50 in fuel, depending on the type. Compare that to a £12–£16 takeaway pizza and the payback period starts looking very attractive.
Gas pizza oven running costs
Gas-fired ovens like the Ooni Koda 16 and Ooni Koda 12 run on standard propane (patio gas) cylinders. Here is the maths:
- A 13kg Calor patio gas bottle costs around £35–£40 and lasts roughly 20–25 cooking sessions (each session being 1–2 hours of intermittent use).
- That works out to about £1.50–£2.00 per session, or roughly 25–30p per pizza if you cook six.
- The oven preheats in about 15 minutes, which is where much of the gas goes; once up to temperature, each pizza takes only 60–90 seconds and uses very little fuel.
Gas is the most convenient fuel: consistent heat, no ash to clear, and a single dial to control temperature. It is the middle-ground on cost — cheaper than charcoal and kiln-dried logs, a touch more than pellets.
Wood-fired pizza oven running costs
Wood-fired ovens — including multi-fuel models like the Ooni Karu 12G and the Ooni Fyra 12 (pellet-only) — offer authentic flavour but variable costs depending on the wood type:
| Fuel type | Typical UK price | Cost per session (1–2 hrs) | Cost per pizza (6 pizzas) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood pellets (10kg bag) | £5–£8 | £0.80–£1.20 | 13–20p |
| Kiln-dried hardwood (per session) | £6–£10 per bag | £1.50–£2.50 | 25–40p |
| Charcoal (restaurant-grade) | £8–£12 per bag | £2.00–£3.00 | 33–50p |
Wood pellets are the cheapest solid fuel option. The Ooni Fyra 12 is designed specifically for pellets and uses about 1–1.5kg per session. Kiln-dried hardwood gives the best flavour but costs roughly double. Charcoal runs hotter and longer, making it great for searing steaks after your pizzas, but it is the priciest per pizza.
Whichever wood fuel you use, you will also need to factor in a few minutes of fire management — adding fuel, adjusting airflow — and 20–25 minutes of preheating to reach 400°C+.
Electric pizza oven running costs
Electric pizza ovens like the Ooni Volt 2 plug straight into a standard UK socket and eliminate the need for any fuel at all. The running cost is simply electricity:
- The Ooni Volt draws about 1,700W at peak.
- At the current Ofgem price cap rate of around 25p per kWh, a 20-minute preheat followed by cooking six pizzas (roughly 45 minutes total) costs about £0.30–£0.35.
- That is approximately 5–6p per pizza in pure electricity, making electric the cheapest fuel type per pizza.
The trade-off is convenience versus flavour. An electric oven can be used indoors (with proper ventilation) and year-round, with zero smoke and no fuel storage. However, you do not get the wood-fired taste that many purists prefer. If running costs are your priority and you cook frequently, electric makes a compelling case.
Running costs compared: all fuel types
| Fuel type | Preheat time | Cost per pizza | Cost per session (6 pizzas) | Annual cost (weekly use) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 15–20 min | 5–6p | 30–35p | £16–£18 |
| Wood pellets | 20–25 min | 13–20p | 80p–£1.20 | £42–£62 |
| Gas (propane) | 15 min | 25–30p | £1.50–£2.00 | £78–£104 |
| Kiln-dried wood | 20–25 min | 25–40p | £1.50–£2.50 | £78–£130 |
| Charcoal | 20–30 min | 33–50p | £2.00–£3.00 | £104–£156 |
Over a year of weekly pizza nights, the difference between electric (around £17) and charcoal (up to £156) is substantial but still modest in absolute terms. Most UK households will spend more on the dough ingredients than the fuel. The real cost driver is not the running but the initial purchase price — which is why getting the right oven for your budget matters more than obsessing over fuel pence.
Tips to keep running costs down
- Preheat efficiently. Close the door during preheat to trap heat and reduce fuel consumption. A pizza stone that is properly heat-soaked means better pizzas and less fuel wasted on recovery between cooks.
- Cook in batches. Once the oven is at temperature, cook everything you can. Each additional pizza costs almost nothing in extra fuel — the preheat is where most energy goes.
- Use a turning peel. Rotating your pizza for even cooking means shorter cook times, which means less fuel.
- Buy fuel in bulk. Propane bottles are cheaper per unit when bought as refills rather than exchanges. Wood pellets drop significantly in price when ordered in 15kg+ bags.
- Cook other things too. After pizzas, use the residual heat for flatbreads, nachos, roasted vegetables or steak. This spreads the fuel cost across multiple dishes, bringing the effective per-dish cost down dramatically.
- Consider a cover. Storing your oven covered and dry means the stone does not absorb moisture, which would require extra energy to burn off during preheating.
Pizza oven vs takeaway: the real comparison
A Domino's or Papa John's pizza costs £12–£16 each before delivery. A homemade pizza in your garden oven costs roughly:
- Dough ingredients: 30–40p per pizza
- Toppings (mozzarella, sauce, veg): 50p–£1.50
- Fuel: 5–50p depending on type
- Total per pizza: roughly 85p to £2.40
Even at the most expensive fuel type, you are looking at a saving of £10+ per pizza compared to takeaway. A family of four eating pizza once a week saves £2,000–£3,000 a year — enough to pay for a premium oven like the Gozney Dome S1 within six months.
Which fuel type is right for you?
Choose gas if you want convenience, consistent results and moderate running costs. The Ooni Koda 16 is the go-to for families who want to light it and forget it.
Choose wood pellets if you want wood-fired flavour on a budget. The Ooni Fyra 12 is the entry point, and pellets are cheap and easy to store.
Choose electric if you cook year-round, want indoor use, or simply want the lowest running cost. The Ooni Volt 2 is the standout here.
Choose multi-fuel if you want flexibility. The Ooni Karu 12G does gas, wood and charcoal, so you can pick your fuel based on mood, budget or what is in the shed.
Not sure which oven to start with? Our gas vs wood-fired pizza oven comparison breaks down the pros and cons, and what size pizza oven do I need helps you match capacity to your household.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run a pizza oven per pizza?
Between 5p and 50p per pizza, depending on fuel type. Electric is the cheapest at around 5–6p, while charcoal is the most expensive at 33–50p. Gas sits in the middle at 25–30p per pizza.
Is it cheaper to make pizza at home or order a takeaway?
Significantly cheaper at home. A homemade pizza costs roughly 85p to £2.40 including dough, toppings and fuel, versus £12–£16 for a takeaway. A family cooking weekly saves upwards of £2,000 a year.
How long does a gas bottle last in a pizza oven?
A standard 13kg Calor patio gas bottle lasts approximately 20–25 cooking sessions in a portable pizza oven like the Ooni Koda, where each session is 1–2 hours of intermittent cooking.
Are electric pizza ovens expensive to run?
No — they are the cheapest fuel type. At current UK electricity rates (around 25p/kWh), a session cooking six pizzas costs about 30–35p total. The main cost is the higher purchase price of the oven itself.
Do pizza ovens use a lot of electricity or gas?
The absolute energy use is modest because cook times are so short — individual pizzas take just 60–90 seconds once the oven is hot. The preheat phase (15–25 minutes) uses the most fuel, which is why batch-cooking multiple pizzas in one session is much more economical than firing up the oven for a single pizza.
