The 6 Best Pizza Stones of 2023, According to Our Testing

The Bottom Line

Out of all the pizza stones we tested, we determined that the best overall was The Dough-Joe The Samurai 15-Inch Steel Baking Sheet. This steel baking sheet checked several boxes for us as far as durability, execution, pizza texture, and value. This pizza stone is the best pizza stone for those looking for a top-quality product that will produce a consistent and delicious pizza.

Another high contender was the Emile Henry Flame Top Pizza Stone. Its size and versatility ensure you can make a consistently delicious pizza from any oven space. It’s easy to use, clean, and to store which all ensure a long-lasting pizza stone that you’ll love using at pizza parties or for a regular weeknight dinner.

Our Testing Process 

For our pizza stone testing process, we tested 30 different models of various pizza stones ranging in size, material, shape, and weight. Our team cooked 31 frozen pizzas of the same brand and variety for consistency. Throughout the testing process, we baked one frozen pizza directly on each pizza stone and one pizza directly on the oven racks for comparison. 

Observing each test, we kept several factors in mind regarding design, characteristics of finished pizzas, and how easy the stones were to clean. 

Once we determined the “winners” in the first round of testing, we moved on to the winners-only segment of the testing process. This process had four separate tests, and the first three of those tests involved baking other bread products. During these three tests, we baked English muffins, a homemade flatbread, and a homemade New York-style pizza on the pizza stones. For the fourth test, we determined how easy or difficult it was to clean the stones.

What to Know About Pizza Stones Before Shopping

Material

The material of a pizza stone can make a difference in baking your pizza. The most popular and ideal materials are steel, ceramic, and stoneware. These three materials are ideal due to their durability and consistency in cooking. Mosier says of the three, he prefers enamel-coated ceramic.

While ceramic is more likely to break or chip due to its more fragile nature, having an enamel coating decreases those chances considerably. “In terms of ceramic, the quality will differ depending on price just because you’re spending more,” he says. “I like enamel-coated ceramic because in my experience it makes the pan more durable.”

Mosier adds that steel is ideal for storage space and can last a long time if taken care of properly. “Steel tends to be more compact because it’s a denser material so it does end up being thinner, so if you have less coverage space and less storage space, steel would be the better choice in that situation,” he says. “If you have the freedom and you could go for either one, I would personally go for ceramic.”

Dimensions

When purchasing a pizza stone, it’s important to consider dimensions as opposed to what you want to use your pizza stone for. Of the pizza stones we tested, we found the average size of a high-quality baking sheet averaged between 14 and 16 inches in length. If you’re wanting to make smaller, more individual-sized pizzas, the Outset Pizza Grill Stone Tiles (Set of 4) is the best option. 

Thickness is also an important factor since it can determine the quality of your crust. Thicker stones are better able to evenly distribute and retain heat. This allows pizza to have that classic texture with just the right amount of char on the bottom. 

It’s also important to consider the surface you’ll be cooking on. A larger pizza stone may not fit on your grill or in a smaller oven. Before you purchase a pizza stone, measure your cooking surface to make sure you are purchasing the right size.

Weight

The weight of a pizza stone is often related to the materials it’s made out of. Steel baking sheets, for example, tend to weigh more than ceramic or stoneware. The Dough Joe The Samurai 15-Inch Steel Baking Sheet and The Original Baking Steel both weigh 16 pounds due to their compact steel material, while the Rocksheat Pizza Stone and the Outset Pizza Grill Stone Tiles (Set of 4) both weigh less than 10 pounds. 

While it doesn’t directly impact the taste of the pizza, heavier stones can make it more difficult to maneuver and store the pizza stone. If you’re concerned about lifting a heavy pizza stone, opt for one made with lighter materials, like stoneware. If you’re going to purchase a heavier pizza stone, make sure you have the storage space in your kitchen to accommodate it.

Care

Some stones are dishwasher safe, but others may require handwashing, specific types of soap to keep clean, or no soap at all. Additionally, other pizza stones require seasoning after use, similar to caring for a cast iron skillet. Make sure to follow the specific cleaning instructions that come with your pizza stone. 

Mosier suggests a pizza stone that requires hand washing. “Hand washing your pans or stones takes more time, but if you’re taking that extra time you’ll have it for much longer,” he says.

Maximum Temperature

Different pizza stones are designed for different ovens, so maximum temperature is a major component to consider. If you’re working with a conventional oven, you don’t necessarily need to purchase a pizza stone that can endure 1,400°F flames—a maximum temperature of 500°F will suffice.

However, if you’re using a traditional, wood-burning pizza oven or an outdoor flame, make sure your pizza stone can endure temperatures over 800°F.

Most materials, like steel and ceramic, are designed to withstand the high temperatures of professional ovens. However, other materials with a maximum temperature of 500°F are more suitable for a conventional oven.

Other Pizza Stones We Tested 

Weber Gourmet BBQ System Pizza Stone with Carry Rack

When it came to performance rating, the Weber Gourmet BBQ System Pizza Stone with Carry Rack actually scored highly with a rating of 4.5, however there were other factors that contributed to it being left out of our list.

First, the manufacturer recommends using it on a grill set at 400° F preheating for 20 minutes, which isn’t accessible to everyone. Additionally, the flatbread came out unevenly cooked though both sides were crispy on the outsides and chewy on the inside.

The ease of cleanliness rating was underwhelming with a score of 2.5 out of 5, since you’re instructed not to soak in water or use any detergents. You must rinse with water and let air dry to clean, and they recommend using a spatula to clean off excess crust. 

King Arthur Baking Steel

The King Arthur Baking Steel was a top contender for the best splurge category. However, because it was high maintenance, we didn’t enjoy using it. Before using, we had to wash it in hot soapy water, season the surface with a thin coating of vegetable oil, then bake in a 375° or 400° oven all before the pizza was even placed on top. There were no cleaning instructions for after use. 

The baking sheet also failed to check off our boxes of withstanding high temperatures (its maximum temperature was just 400°F), although the stone retained heat nicely. However, despite its heat retention, the flatbread came out too puffy and unevenly cooked, and the pizza came out too crispy. It was also noted that while the product performed like a cast iron, the quality did not match its high price point. 

PizzaCraft All-Purpose Baking Stone

The PizzaCraft All-Purpose Baking Stone was left out of our list because it failed to receive exemplary marks in any of our rankings. The stone failed to deliver the ideal quality we were looking for in the flatbread testing—the flatbread was uneven on both sides. We determined most of the heat collected in the outside of the stone since the top of the flatbread was almost burned.

It performed better in the pizza testing process, though it failed to provide that specific crunch you look for in a pizza. While the pizza scored highly, the stone delivered one of the worse flatbreads in the testing process.

Your Questions, Answered

Does a pizza stone make a difference? 

As Mosier says, using a pizza stone ensures your pizza will have direct contact with heat which will create the ideal crust. A pizza stone also makes sure the pizza stays hot once removed from the oven. Using a pizza stone will also ensure that your pizza will cook evenly and consistently. 

Where can you buy a pizza stone?

Pizza stones can be bought through any online culinary distributor as well as through well-known retailers like Amazon and Target.

How thick should a pizza stone be?

The thickness of a pizza stone can influence a lot of different factors when you’re cooking pizza. During our testing, we looked at stones and pans of varying thickness and found the ideal size of thickness is between 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Anything less than 0.5 inches was not able to hold heat very well and did not deliver a quality pizza. 

Overall, consider purchasing a thicker pizza stone because it will evenly distribute heat. If you’re wanting a pizza crust to cook evenly while also giving it that classic char on the bottom, thicker is better. Thicker pizza stones are also considered more durable as thinner stones and pans have a higher chance of cracking or damaging.

Who We Are

Michelle Love is a freelance commerce writer for Better Homes & Gardens. She has an extensive background in the restaurant industry as well as catering and bartending. For this testing process, we put 30 pizza stones and baking sheets of various materials to the test to see how they held up baking pizzas, flatbreads, and English muffins. Each pan went through rigorous testing to make sure results were consistent, accurate, and thorough. We also consulted chef Tyler Mosier in Birmingham, Alabama, for his advice on the best pizza stones. 

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products..