The Ooni Karu range is Ooni’s multi-fuel line, meaning you can run both ovens on wood, charcoal, or gas (with the optional gas burner attachment). Both can reach 500 degrees Celsius and cook a pizza in around 60 seconds. But they are very different ovens in terms of size, weight, and the kind of cook they produce. This comparison breaks down what actually differs between them.
Quick comparison: Ooni Karu 2 vs Karu 12
| Ooni Karu 2 | Ooni Karu 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking floor | 14 inches (36cm) | 13 inches (33cm) |
| Max temperature | 500C | 500C |
| Weight | 12.2kg | 12.7kg |
| Fuel | Wood, charcoal, gas (with burner) | Wood, charcoal, gas (with burner) |
| Chimney | Adjustable baffle | Standard |
| Door | Hinged glass door | Hinged glass door |
| Price (approx) | ~£349 | ~£299 |
What is the Ooni Karu 2?
The Karu 2 is Ooni’s current flagship multi-fuel oven, released in 2023. It updated the original Karu 12 with a larger cooking floor (14 inches vs 13 inches), an improved chimney baffle system for better airflow control, a more robust hinge on the glass door, and revised interior design for more even heat distribution. The gas burner attachment is sold separately for around £60 to £70.
The Karu 2 also has a built-in thermometer on the door and improved insulation. These are small details but they matter in practice. You can glance at the door thermometer to get a sense of the oven temperature without opening it and losing heat.
What is the Ooni Karu 12?
The Karu 12 is the original version, launched in 2020. It was a significant product for Ooni: the first truly compact multi-fuel oven that could do 500C and had a glass door for viewing the cook. It remains on sale and has been a popular choice, particularly at its reduced price point now that the Karu 2 has launched.
The Karu 12 takes the same gas burner attachment as the Karu 2 (they use the same fitting) and reaches the same maximum temperature. The main differences are the slightly smaller cooking floor, the older chimney design, and the absence of the door thermometer.
Cooking floor: does 1 inch matter?
The Karu 2 has a 14 inch (36cm) cooking floor versus the Karu 12’s 13 inch (33cm) floor. In practice, both ovens are designed for roughly 12 inch pizzas, with some margin around the edge. The extra inch on the Karu 2 gives you a little more flexibility and is particularly useful when launching the pizza, as there is slightly more room for error. If you are consistently making 12 inch pizzas, both ovens work without issue.
Airflow and heat management
The Karu 2 improved on the Karu 12 most noticeably in the chimney design. The adjustable baffle lets you control how much heat is retained versus vented, which gives you finer control over the oven temperature. On the Karu 12, airflow control is more limited and some users found it harder to maintain a steady temperature over a longer session without the fire dying down or spiking.
For occasional use (cooking 2 to 4 pizzas), the difference is minor. For longer sessions or for users who want more control over the fire, the Karu 2’s baffle is a genuine improvement.
Which should you buy?
If you can get the Karu 12 at a significantly reduced price (£50 or more cheaper than the Karu 2), it is a good value option. The core cooking performance is very similar. You get a 13 inch floor, 500C, a glass door, and multi-fuel capability. The improvements in the Karu 2 are real but not transformative for most home users.
If you are choosing between the Karu 2 and Karu 12 at similar price points, the Karu 2 is the better oven. The larger floor, better airflow control, and door thermometer make it more pleasant to use, particularly as your skills develop and you start making adjustments to temperature and fire management.
If you are not planning to use wood or charcoal and only want to run on gas, consider whether the Karu range is the right choice at all. The Ooni Koda 2 and Gozney Arc are both gas-only ovens designed from the ground up for gas, and they may offer a better gas cooking experience at a similar price.
The gas burner attachment
Neither oven comes with the gas burner in the box. It is sold separately by Ooni for around £60 to £70. If you plan to use gas regularly, factor this into the total cost. With the gas burner, both ovens perform similarly on gas. The advantage of the multi-fuel design is flexibility: you can use wood for the flavour and theatre when you have time, and gas when you just want to cook quickly.
Weight and portability
Both ovens are similar in weight: the Karu 2 at 12.2kg and the Karu 12 at 12.7kg. Neither is particularly light compared to a gas-only oven like the Ooni Koda 2 (around 9.4kg), but both are manageable for moving between storage and a table. The Karu range is not designed for camping or events. It is more of a permanent or semi-permanent garden setup that you take in and out as needed.
Verdict
The Karu 2 is the better oven with more control and a slightly larger floor. The Karu 12 is a proven design that delivers the same core result at a lower price if you can find it discounted. Both are excellent multi-fuel ovens and the right choice for anyone who wants the option to cook with wood, charcoal, or gas.
For more on the Ooni range, see our Ooni Karu 2 review and our comparison of the Ooni Koda 2 vs Koda 16. If you are still deciding between brands, our Ooni vs Gozney comparison covers the broader picture.
