True Cost Guide Outdoor Living Build a Brick Oven

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Brick Pizza Oven?

Typical Range:

$2,000 - $8,000

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated October 26, 2022

Written by HomeAdvisor.

On average, building a brick pizza oven costs $3,500. On the extremes, you’ll spend $700 to $10,000 on the cost of a pizza oven. A commercial pizza oven price might hit $30,000 but are typically much larger. The typical cost varies because the project can range from a basic brick oven to an artisan re-creation of a Tuscan pizza oven.

The size of a brick oven can also sway project costs. While a typical residential brick oven has a 36-inch interior diameter, some people prefer extra-large ovens 42 inches or bigger. Outdoor brick ovens are generally less expensive to install than indoor brick ovens because they don't involve kitchen modifications.

Average Cost to Build a Pizza Oven

Average Cost	High Cost	Low Cost
$3,500	$30,000	$700

Brick Pizza Oven Materials Prices

Materials for a brick oven typically cost between $700 to $4,000. Your pile of fire-rated bricks will likely be the big-ticket item as far as materials. Around the country, fire bricks cost about $3 to $5 each. If you're having a contractor build a handcrafted brick oven, you'll need to account for material costs for fire bricks, insulation products, refractory mortar, and a stone countertop ledge.

Stainless-steel, insulated chimney pipe costs between $150 and $500. If your brick oven is for a kitchen, you'll need to build in the cost for a code-compliant chimney to redistribute vapors.

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Brick Pizza Oven Installation Cost

Brick pizza oven installation labor costs often account for about half of the total project fee. If you're hiring a local outdoor kitchen pro to create your brick pizza oven, such as a master brick mason, expect to pay between $40 to $75 per hour. Most masons charge a minimum fee between $200 to $400 for the first few hours of work to cover expenses related to travel, preparation, concept design, and gathering materials.

Adding an indoor brick oven is a much bigger project than building an outdoor kitchen. While brick ovens can easily fit into modern kitchens, the trick is to bump out a wall of your kitchen to allow for the large footprint of the stove. This is how you add a large, show-stopping brick oven without creating an obtrusive design.

If you need to do a kitchen bump-out addition to add a brick oven, you'll need a local general contractor. Bump outs cost an average of $190 per square foot, so some homeowners can build small alcoves with enough room to accommodate the oven for $2,000 to $8,000.

Cost to Build a Brick Pizza Oven Yourself

DIY brick pizza oven installations cost $700 to $6,000, depending on the size of the oven and if you’re installing anything else, such as a larger heath, storage, or a counter. If you decide to build a brick oven yourself, your project's price tag comes down to how much you pay for materials.

You’ll spend between $700–$2,000 for a stove with a 36-inch diameter.
Truck rentals cost $50–$200 per day to carry heavy brick loads.
A brick oven may require up to 200 bricks. With each fire brick weighing 8 pounds, the total haulage load for your bricks is potentially 1,600 pounds.
Building an outdoor brick oven as a DIY project is more realistic than building an indoor brick oven yourself. Adding an indoor brick oven ultimately becomes a minor construction project once you add extra space and piping.

DIY Brick Oven Kit Costs

A DIY brick pizza oven kit costs between $500 to $6,000, and you’ll often need to include other costs, like a truck rental, delivery, tools, and mortar, which brings the entire project price up $200 to $500. The size and style of your oven often determine the final price. Most small backyard kits cost $2,500 or less.

Brick Pizza Oven Cost Factors

Brick pizza oven cost factors include a few notable things, listed below in order of importance. You won’t find weatherproofing as a cost factor; a brick oven is naturally weatherproof. If you choose to go with another material, like clay, you may need to consider weatherproofing the exterior.

Size: The larger the oven, the more materials and time it’ll take to build.
Location: You’ll pay more for labor in areas with a higher cost of living.
Interior vs. Exterior: Exterior builds typically don’t need much in terms of modifications. Interior designs often require remodeling parts of your existing kitchen.
Design: A simple, functional design costs far less than something ornate with counters, sinks, or other built-in amenities.
Permits: Permit prices vary from place to place. In most areas, setback requirements will dictate that an outdoor brick oven needs to be at least 4 feet to 10 feet away from any structures. Check with your municipality before starting.

Brick Pizza Ovens vs. Portable Ovens

Buying a brick pizza oven costs at least twice as much as a portable oven. You’ll spend $300 to $2,500 for a portable, while a DIY brick oven starts at $700 and goes up to $10,000 or more for a professional installation.

Portable ovens are typically made from metal and sometimes with ceramic components. They’re great for the simple fact of portability. You can use them inside and outside, while a brick oven is stuck wherever you build it.

DIY vs. Hiring a Brick Oven Builder

While building your brick oven is certainly doable, it's important to remember that a beautiful brick oven is a centerpiece for entertaining. Hiring a local bricklayer ensures that your oven will be both beautiful and functional.

What's more, the weight of the bricks does create some safety concerns as far as your oven collapsing if it’s improperly constructed. If you need some help designing a safe and beautiful brick oven, find a local pro who specializes in outdoor kitchen builds to help get you started.

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FAQs

What kind of bricks do you need for a brick oven?

You should use fire bricks (refractory brick) to build a brick pizza oven. Commonly used for fireplaces and furnaces, these bricks can easily withstand high temperatures but cost a fair amount more than clay brick because they have a higher amount of silica content, making them both better insulators and able to withstand ongoing high temperatures found in ovens and fireplaces.

You technically can use traditional clay bricks, but don’t expect them to last nearly as long.
Do not use concrete bricks; they will break down and can explode.

Who can build a brick oven for me?

Typically, masonry experts are the only contractors that can build true brick ovens. You can also purchase kits with much of the oven complete, and you’ll only need a general contractor to put it in place. Some masons specialize in oven building using Old-World artisan techniques for creating the same type of brick ovens that have been in use for thousands of years.

How do you add a brick oven to your kitchen?

Adding a brick oven to your kitchen requires one of two methods: creating more space or losing some counter space. In most cases, you’ll need to create a bump out to accommodate the additional space the oven takes up, plus the chimney. Or, you can opt to lose some counter and cupboard space and install one there. Either way, you'll also need to install a chimney pipe for ventilation, create plans, get a permit, and hire a contractor to complete the work.

What kind of wood should you burn in a pizza oven?

You can burn any dry wood that creates little smoke in your pizza oven. However, hardwoods burn longer and create a more even coal bed that doesn’t burn out nearly as fast. But it’s simply not always an option. You can also opt to use coals or install a gas line and use gas instead of wood. Typically, you’ll want to use wood that you can source locally.

Is a wood or gas pizza oven better?

Traditionally, wood is the preferred choice for pizza-cooking purists. However, gas ovens are easier to heat, clean, and they maintain heat better than a wood oven. You’ll need to closely monitor your wood oven to get the perfect temperature. Wood ovens impart the wood’s flavor to your pizza crust as well, but it’s definitely not necessary. Talk to your professional to determine the best fit for your needs.