If you've been wondering how to build a brick pizza oven for your garden, you're not alone. A DIY pizza oven has become one of the UK's most popular outdoor projects, whether it's the centrepiece of an outdoor kitchen or simply a great excuse to get friends and family round.
Not only does a brick pizza oven look fantastic, it also delivers authentic wood-fired cooking that simply can't be replicated in a conventional oven. The good news? An outdoor pizza oven build is far more achievable than many people think.
In this guide, we'll walk you through every step, from choosing the right bricks and laying strong foundations to building the dome and curing your oven, plus the key mistakes to avoid.
Quick answer: what bricks should I use for a pizza oven?
Use fire bricks for the cooking floor and dome, as they're made to withstand the extreme, repeated heat of a wood fire. Solid clay bricks will work for an oven you only use a few times a year, but they'll wear out sooner. For the stand and exterior, standard clay, engineering or reclaimed bricks are all fine. Never use concrete bricks or blocks inside the cooking chamber.
Step 1: Choose the best location for your brick pizza oven
Before you start, decide where the oven will sit in your garden.
A good location should:
⦿ Be level and stable
⦿ Allow plenty of ventilation
⦿ Sit safely away from fences and buildings
⦿ Be protected from strong winds where possible
⦿ Leave enough room for seating and food preparation
Many homeowners build their pizza oven alongside a patio or outdoor kitchen to create a central entertaining space. Plan carefully from the start, as a finished brick pizza oven is extremely heavy and won't be moving anywhere.
Step 2: Choose the right bricks
Choosing the correct bricks is one of the most important decisions you'll make. The question most people ask is: can I use normal clay bricks, or do I need a special kind of brick? Here's how the options compare.
Fire bricks: the best choice for the cooking chamber
Fire bricks get their name because they're made to withstand high levels of heat. They're used in fireplaces, industrial furnaces and any brick structure that comes into regular contact with fire.
What makes them different is their composition. Fire bricks are made from refractory clays with a higher alumina content than ordinary bricks, and they're typically a dense, pale brick once fired.
Can they stand the heat? Yes. Fire bricks are solid with low porosity, so they can handle temperatures well beyond anything a wood-fired oven will reach without their surface or structure being affected.
Are they efficient? Yes. They absorb and hold heat well, helping your oven reach cooking temperature and stay there.
The downside? They cost more than standard bricks. For a relatively small pizza oven, though, they're well worth the investment.
Clay bricks: a budget-friendly option for occasional use
If you've got spare bricks lying around or you're working to a tight budget, clay bricks can do the job, especially if you'll only use your oven a few times a year.
Can they stand the heat? Clay bricks will cope with the heat, but it's the repeated heating and cooling that wears them down. As the bricks absorb heat and cool slowly, cracking and flaking (known as spalling) can develop over time.
Top tip: If you use clay bricks, choose solid bricks rather than perforated or hollow ones, which are far more vulnerable to heat damage.
Reclaimed bricks
You could also use reclaimed bricks or bricks salvaged from a structure you're demolishing. They're a great way to give old materials a new lease of life and add character, particularly for the stand and exterior. As with clay bricks, make sure they're solid and in good condition.
Why you should never use concrete bricks or blocks
Concrete bricks and blocks aren't fired, so they haven't been hardened in the same way as clay or fire bricks. Under intense heat they can become brittle and crack, and there's even a risk they could burst. Keep them well away from the cooking chamber (and we can't imagine concrete makes a great pizza topping).
Which bricks for each part of the oven?
Cooking floor and dome: fire bricks (or solid clay bricks for occasional use)
Stand: engineering bricks, clay bricks, reclaimed bricks or concrete blocks
Exterior, arch and surround: any facing brick that suits your garden
Not sure which bricks are right for your build? Our free Brick Selection service can help.
Step 3: Build strong foundations
A brick pizza oven is incredibly heavy, so strong foundations are essential.
Most outdoor pizza oven build projects begin with a reinforced concrete slab between 100mm and 150mm thick.
To create the foundation:
1. Mark out the footprint of the oven
2. Dig down to stable ground
3. Add and compact a sub-base
4. Install timber shuttering
5. Pour and level the concrete
Allow the concrete to cure properly before continuing with the build.
Step 4: Construct the pizza oven stand
The stand supports the oven and raises the cooking area to a comfortable working height. Popular materials include engineering bricks, clay bricks, reclaimed bricks and concrete blocks.
If space allows, you can build handy wood storage into the space beneath the oven. Once the stand is complete, a reinforced slab is usually added on top to support the cooking floor.
Step 5: Lay the cooking floor
The cooking floor plays a major role in how your oven performs. Fire bricks are the go-to choice here because they absorb and retain heat so well, helping pizzas cook evenly at high temperatures.
Lay the bricks tightly together to create a smooth, level cooking surface. Mortar is traditionally left out between floor bricks, so your pizzas slide easily and nothing contaminates the cooking surface. Taking your time here will make cooking much easier later on.
Step 6: Build the brick pizza oven dome
The dome gives a brick pizza oven its distinctive look, and it's ideal for pizza because it retains heat well and lets the flames circulate evenly around the cooking surface. You can also build a more traditional oven with a flat or slightly arched roof, which still promotes good airflow.
There are several ways to build a dome, including:
⦿ Sand mould methods
⦿ Timber support frames
⦿ Freehand construction
Bricks are laid in angled rings, bonded with a heat-resistant refractory mortar, until the dome closes at the top. Whichever shape you choose, remember to leave space for the oven opening and the chimney flue.
Step 7: Add a chimney and ventilation
A well-placed chimney directs smoke away from you and your guests and stops your garden getting too smoky. It also helps regulate the oven's temperature, which is key to pizza-making success. Keep the oven opening in proportion too: an oversized opening lets heat escape quickly.
Step 8: Add insulation
Good insulation is essential for any pizza oven. Without it, heat escapes quickly, you'll use more fuel and you'll be stoking the fire far more often. Popular insulation materials include:
⦿ Ceramic fibre blankets
⦿ Vermiculite
⦿ Perlite render
⦿ Insulation boards
A well-insulated oven holds its cooking temperature for longer, whatever fuel you use.
Step 9: Finish the exterior
Once the structure is complete, finish the outside to suit your garden. Popular options include:
⦿ Exposed brickwork
⦿ Rendered domes
⦿ Stone cladding
⦿ Decorative brick arches
⦿ Outdoor kitchen surrounds
A finished brick pizza oven can become a real focal point in your outdoor space.
Step 10: Cure the oven slowly
One of the most common mistakes is heating a new oven too quickly. Your brick pizza oven needs to dry out gradually before it reaches full cooking temperature.
Start with a series of small fires over several days to slowly draw moisture out of the bricks and mortar. Rushing this stage can lead to cracking.
Step 11: Start cooking
Once cured, your oven is ready to use. A properly built brick pizza oven can reach temperatures above 400°C, cooking pizzas in just a couple of minutes. It's also brilliant for:
⦿ Flatbreads
⦿ Roasted vegetables
⦿ Meat and fish
⦿ Slow-cooked meals
Building a stand for a gas or portable pizza oven
If you've got a gas, electric or multi-fuel pizza oven, you don't need to build a full wood-fired oven to get the look. A brick plinth or stand gives your oven a permanent home at the right working height. Standard clay, engineering or reclaimed bricks are ideal here, since the bricks won't be in direct contact with the fire. Follow Steps 1, 3, 4 and 9 above.
Common DIY pizza oven mistakes to avoid
⦿ Using unsuitable bricks, especially concrete
⦿ Using hollow or perforated bricks in the cooking chamber
⦿ Weak or uneven foundations
⦿ Skipping insulation
⦿ Poor ventilation or no chimney
⦿ Building an oversized oven opening
⦿ Rushing the curing process
Pizza oven FAQs
Can I use normal bricks to build a pizza oven?
Yes. Solid clay bricks will work for an oven you use occasionally, but they'll crack and flake over time. For an oven you'll use all year round, fire bricks will last far longer.
Can I use reclaimed bricks for a pizza oven?
Yes, as long as they're solid and in good condition. They're ideal for the stand and exterior, and can be used for the cooking chamber on a lightly used oven.
What mortar should I use for a pizza oven?
Use a heat-resistant refractory mortar (sometimes called fire cement) for the dome. Standard mortar is fine for the stand.
How many bricks do I need for a pizza oven?
It depends on the size of your oven and stand. Our guide on how many bricks you need and our free Brick Calculator will help you work it out.
Get the right bricks for your pizza oven
Building a brick pizza oven is a rewarding project that can transform your outdoor space. Whatever you're building, choosing the right bricks is the key to long-lasting results.
At Brickhunter, we help homeowners, builders and DIY enthusiasts source the right materials for projects of every size. Can't decide which bricks to use? Try our free Brick Selection service.
Want your oven to blend in with your home? Our Brick Matching service can help. Or browse more than 3,600 products in our Brick Library, including great-value clearance bricks.
