This Gozney Arc review covers build quality, real-world performance, and whether it is worth the money.
The Gozney Arc is Gozney’s entry-level pizza oven — their answer to the Ooni Koda 12, with a distinctive design and some key differences in build and specification. After extended use across multiple sessions, here is an honest assessment of what it does well and where it falls short.
Verdict
The Gozney Arc is an excellent gas pizza oven with a premium feel and strong performance. It cooks up to 13-inch pizzas (slightly larger than the Koda 12’s 12-inch limit), includes a built-in dome thermometer, and has notably better insulation than comparable Ooni models at this price point. The main limitation is gas-only fuel. It’s slightly more expensive than the Koda 12 for broadly similar performance — but the build quality and larger cooking surface justify the premium for most buyers.
Key Specs
- Fuel: Gas only (propane or butane)
- Max pizza size: 13 inches
- Max temperature: 500°C
- Built-in thermometer: Yes (dome temperature)
- Weight: Around 18kg
- Preheat time: 20–25 minutes
Design and Build
The Arc has Gozney’s signature low-profile, rounded aesthetic in powder-coated steel. It’s available in several colours and looks noticeably more stylish than competing Ooni ovens at this price point. The build feels substantial — thicker materials and better insulation than the Koda 12, which directly affects heat retention between pizzas.
The built-in dome thermometer is a genuine convenience. It shows ambient dome temperature rather than stone surface temperature, so you still want an infrared thermometer for accurate stone readings — but having something to glance at while preheating is useful. At full preheat the dome reads around 450–480°C, which corresponds to a stone temperature of roughly 430–460°C.
The gas regulator connection is the standard UK/EU Clip-On type (for patio gas cylinders) or a separate hose for larger propane bottles. The gas control knob is smooth and gives good fine control over temperature — turning it down for longer-cook styles like New York pizza is more precise than on some competitor ovens.
Performance
At full temperature (around 480–500°C on the stone), the Arc cooks Neapolitan pizza in 60–90 seconds with proper blistering and char on the cornicione. The slightly larger 13-inch capacity over the Koda 12 is a meaningful difference in practice — a 13-inch pizza is noticeably bigger and feeds two people more comfortably.
Heat retention between pizzas is better than the Koda 12 due to the superior insulation. You can launch a second pizza sooner after the first without waiting as long for the stone temperature to recover — typically 2 minutes versus 3–4 minutes on the Koda 12 at the same pace of cooking.
At lower temperatures (300–350°C) the Arc handles longer-cook styles well — bread, focaccia, and vegetables roast evenly without burning. The gas control gives enough range to dial this in without difficulty.
Versus the Ooni Koda 12
The Arc beats the Koda 12 on cooking capacity (13 vs 12 inches), build quality, insulation, and the built-in thermometer. The Koda 12 is lighter (9.25kg vs 18kg) and usually cheaper. Portability matters if you’re taking the oven to different locations regularly — the Koda 12’s lighter weight makes it easier to transport. For a permanent or semi-permanent garden setup, the Arc is the better oven in almost every respect.
Versus the Gozney Arc XL
The Arc XL cooks 16-inch pizzas versus the standard Arc’s 13 inches. If you regularly cook for more than two people, or want to make larger pizzas, the XL is worth the additional cost. The cooking experience is otherwise very similar — same build quality, same gas system, same insulation approach. Choose the standard Arc for 1–2 people; the XL for families or groups.
Pros and Cons
- ✓ Larger 13-inch capacity than comparable entry-level ovens
- ✓ Better insulation and heat retention than the Koda 12
- ✓ Built-in dome thermometer
- ✓ Premium build quality and attractive design
- ✓ Good gas temperature control
- ✗ Gas only — no wood or charcoal option
- ✗ Heavier than the Koda 12 — less portable
- ✗ Slightly more expensive than the Koda 12 for broadly similar pizza results
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
A well-built, stylish gas pizza oven that performs at the level you’d expect from Gozney. The slightly larger cooking surface and better heat retention make it a genuine step up from the entry-level competition. Recommended for anyone who wants a quality gas oven in the 13-inch category and values build quality over minimum price.
Check the current price on Amazon. Also see our Gozney Arc vs Arc XL comparison and our Gozney Arc vs Ooni Koda 2 comparison to help narrow down your choice.
