Quick Answer: Outdoor pizza oven footprints range from about 15.5 x 24.4 inches for a compact gas model like the Ooni Koda 12 up to 19.7 x 32.7 inches for a larger multi-fuel oven like the Ooni Karu 16 — but the oven’s footprint is only half the space you actually need. Manufacturers require real clearance to combustible surfaces on top of that footprint: Ooni specifies 915mm (36 inches) behind a Koda oven, while Gozney specifies 1,000mm (40 inches) in front of an Arc or Arc XL. Measure your patio, deck rail, or table against the full clearance zone in the specific model’s manual, not just the box dimensions on the spec sheet.
Most people size a pizza oven purchase around the price tag and never check whether it physically fits where they plan to put it — until it arrives and the “compact portable oven” turns out to need three feet of open air behind it that a deck railing doesn’t allow. Here are the real numbers, sourced straight from manufacturer spec sheets and manuals, for the ovens people search for most.
Pizza oven sizing, by the numbers
- 36 inches: the rear clearance-to-combustibles distance Ooni’s own manual requires behind a Koda 12 or Koda 16, measured from the back of the unit to any combustible wall or structure.
- 40 inches: the front clearance Gozney’s Arc and Arc XL manual requires — more than triple the 12-inch minimum it specifies for the sides and back of the same oven, because that’s the direction the flame and heat actually project.
- 20 lbs: the approximate weight of the smallest oven in this guide, the Ooni Koda 12, versus 62.6 lbs for the much larger Ooni Karu 16 — a difference that matters as much for stand/table weight rating as it does for storage.
- 12.4 x 13.4 inches: the actual cooking-floor size inside a Gozney Roccbox, versus an external footprint of 16.3 x 21 inches — a reminder that a lot of an oven’s footprint is insulation and housing, not usable stone.
Oven dimensions, compared
| Oven | Width | Depth | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ooni Koda 12 | 15.5" | 24.4" | 11.75" | ~20 lbs |
| Gozney Roccbox | 16.3" | 21" | 18.6" | ~44 lbs |
| Gozney Arc XL | 20.9" | 24.8" | 13.5" | ~58.5 lbs |
| Ooni Koda 16 | 23.2" | 25" | 14.7" | ~40 lbs |
| Ooni Karu 16 | 19.7" | 32.7" | 31.9" | ~62.6 lbs |
Dimensions are the manufacturer-published external box size (legs down, chimney/hopper included where fitted) — not the packaging size. If you’re deciding between a countertop and a full-size outdoor setup, our best countertop pizza oven and best outdoor pizza oven roundups break the full lineup down by use case, and Ooni Koda 12 vs 16 and our Gozney Arc vs Arc XL comparisons go deeper on the two size tiers within each brand.
Clearance to combustibles: the number the footprint doesn’t tell you
The box dimensions only describe the oven itself. Every gas and wood-fired pizza oven manual also specifies a clearance-to-combustibles distance — the minimum gap required between the oven and any combustible material (wood decking, a wall, a fence, an overhanging eave) — and that number is often bigger than the oven itself.
| Oven | Side clearance | Back clearance | Front clearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ooni Koda 12 | Not specified separately | 36" (915mm) | Keep open/unobstructed |
| Ooni Koda 16 | 24" (610mm) | 36" (915mm) | Keep open/unobstructed |
| Gozney Arc / Arc XL | 12" (300mm) | 12" (300mm) | 40" (1,000mm) |
Notice the two brands measure it differently — Ooni’s published minimums concentrate on the back and sides, while Gozney’s manual calls for its biggest clearance number at the front, where the door opening throws the most radiant heat. Neither company’s number is transferable to the other’s oven, and neither is a suggestion: placing an oven closer than its rated clearance is both a manufacturer-warranty issue and a real fire-safety risk on a wood deck or near siding. Our outdoor pizza oven stand guide covers stands and bases sized to keep an oven’s exhaust and sides clear of a house wall, and our how much does a pizza oven cost guide covers what a compliant stand or fireproof surface typically adds to the total budget.
Fire-Resistant Grill & Deck Mat
- Sits under the oven and stand to protect a wood deck, patio paver, or grass from ember and heat damage — a standard add-on even when the clearance distance itself is satisfied.
- Look for one rated to at least 1,000°F if your oven runs wood or a multi-fuel setup at full Neapolitan heat.
- Doesn't replace the clearance-to-combustibles distance in your oven's manual — it's a backup layer, not a substitute for it.
If you’re also ordering a stand, a stone, and a fireproof mat in the same cart to get your setup clearance-compliant, it’s worth checking whether that basket clears free-shipping thresholds on its own — an Amazon Fresh membership is the faster route if you’re also restocking flour, mozzarella, or toppings the same week, since Fresh bundles same-day grocery-style delivery that standard shipping doesn’t cover.
Measuring your own space before you buy
- Measure the clearance zone, not just the tabletop. A 24-inch-wide oven doesn’t need a 24-inch table — it needs a table plus the manufacturer’s full side and back clearance beyond the oven’s edges.
- Check your stand or table’s weight rating separately from its size. A table can be physically big enough to hold a 62.6-lb Ooni Karu 16 and still be rated for far less weight — see our outdoor pizza oven stand guide for stands rated by both footprint and load.
- Account for the chimney or hopper on wood and multi-fuel ovens. The Karu 16’s 31.9-inch height includes its chimney; a wood-pellet hopper or chimney can also add overhead clearance requirements most people don’t think to measure until the oven is already unboxed.
- Don’t forget storage between bakes. A portable pizza oven that’s small on the patio still needs a dry spot to live the rest of the week — factor that into which size actually works for your space.
FAQ
See the frequently asked questions below for the specific clearance and dimension numbers for the most-searched models.
Bottom line: check the clearance-to-combustibles distance in your specific oven’s manual before you buy, not just the box dimensions on the spec sheet — it’s usually the bigger number, and it’s the one that determines whether an oven actually fits where you want to put it. For footprint-first shopping, start with our best countertop pizza oven or best portable pizza oven picks; for the widest range of tested full-size ovens, see our best outdoor pizza oven roundup.