Best Pizza Steels: 8 Baking Steels for Crispier Home-Oven Pizza
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A pizza steel is a slab of carbon steel that replaces a pizza stone in your oven. Steel conducts heat many times faster than ceramic, so it pushes heat into the dough quickly. You get a crisp, browned base in a 500°F home oven, much closer to what a pizza oven does. Steels also can’t crack. Here are the best pizza steels, from the original Baking Steel to budget plates.
- Baking Steel Original 14 x 16 – best pizza steel overall
- ThermiChef 16 x 16 Pizza Steel (1/4-inch) – best large steel for the money
- ThermiChef 16 x 16 Pizza Steel (3/8-inch) – best for back-to-back pizzas
- NerdChef Steel Stone (1/4-inch) – best made-in-USA steel with a lifetime guarantee
- Hans Grill Pizza Steel PRO with Peel – best steel and peel set
- Chef Pomodoro 16-Inch Pizza Steel – best value 16-inch steel
- VEVOR Pizza Steel 16 x 14.5 – best budget pizza steel
- Primica Pizza Steel XL 16 x 13.4 – best for oven and grill
The Best Pizza Steels
1. Baking Steel Original 14 x 16 – best pizza steel overall
The Baking Steel company invented the home pizza steel in 2012, and the Original is still the benchmark. It ships pre-seasoned and holds a 13-inch pizza or two loaves of bread.
Steel moves heat into the dough far faster than ceramic, so you get a browned, crisp base in about 8 minutes at 500°F after a 60-minute preheat.
Key specs:
- Size: 14 x 16 inches
- Material: pre-seasoned carbon steel
- Holds a 13-inch pizza
PROS:
- The original, proven design
- Ships pre-seasoned
- Great for bread too
CONS:
- Pricier than generic steels
- Heavy; hand wash only
2. ThermiChef 16 x 16 Pizza Steel (1/4-inch) – best large steel for the money
ThermiChef’s 1/4-inch steel is made in the USA, measures 16 x 16 inches and takes pizzas up to 15 inches. It weighs 17.6 lbs, a good balance of heat storage and handling.
It also works on the grill, over two stovetop burners as a griddle, or on a campfire.
Key specs:
- Size: 16 x 16 x 1/4 inches
- Weight: 17.6 lbs
- Fits pizzas up to 15 inches
- Made in the USA
PROS:
- Big surface
- Versatile: oven, grill, stovetop
- Good price for the size
CONS:
- Check your oven depth first
- Heavy to lift in and out
3. ThermiChef 16 x 16 Pizza Steel (3/8-inch) – best for back-to-back pizzas
The 3/8-inch version of the ThermiChef stores more heat and recovers faster between pizzas, which helps when you’re hosting or batch cooking.
At 27.5 lbs it’s a steel you’ll want to leave in the oven.
Key specs:
- Size: 16 x 16 x 3/8 inches
- Weight: 27.5 lbs
- Made in the USA
PROS:
- Best heat recovery here
- Large surface
- Lifetime-durable steel
CONS:
- Very heavy
- Longer preheat
4. NerdChef Steel Stone (1/4-inch) – best made-in-USA steel with a lifetime guarantee
NerdChef’s 14.5 x 16-inch steel is sanded smooth and seasoned with flaxseed oil for a low-friction surface that’s easy to launch onto. It’s guaranteed for life.
NerdChef says it has about 20x the conductivity of ceramic and twice the heat capacity.
Key specs:
- Size: 14.5 x 16 x 1/4 inches
- Seasoned with flaxseed oil
- Made in the USA
PROS:
- Smooth, easy-launch surface
- Lifetime guarantee
- Fits most ovens
CONS:
- Expensive
- Heavy
5. Hans Grill Pizza Steel PRO with Peel – best steel and peel set
Hans Grill pairs a 13 x 13 x 1/4-inch steel with a beechwood-handled peel. The smaller square heats faster than big steels and suits smaller ovens and grills.
Hans Grill settled on 1/4 inch as the balance between heat-up time and heat storage.
Key specs:
- Size: 13 x 13 x 1/4 inches
- Peel included
- Oven and BBQ use
PROS:
- Peel included
- Faster heat-up than big steels
- Fits small ovens
CONS:
- Smaller pizzas only
- Premium price for the size
6. Chef Pomodoro 16-Inch Pizza Steel – best value 16-inch steel
Chef Pomodoro’s 16-inch steel arrives pre-seasoned and ready to use, giving you room for larger pizzas at a mid-range price.
Like all steels, it won’t crack the way ceramic stones can.
Key specs:
- Size: 16 inches
- Pre-seasoned
PROS:
- Large surface
- Ready to use
- Good price
CONS:
- Check thickness and weight on the listing
- Hand wash and oil to prevent rust
7. VEVOR Pizza Steel 16 x 14.5 – best budget pizza steel
VEVOR’s 1/4-inch carbon steel is pre-seasoned, has laser-cut polished edges, and has a thumb hole for hanging. It’s one of the cheapest ways into steel.
Key specs:
- Size: 16 x 14.5 x 1/4 inches
- Pre-seasoned
- Thumb hole for hanging
PROS:
- Low price
- Large surface
- Easy to hang and store
CONS:
- Less refined finish than premium steels
- Needs regular oiling
8. Primica Pizza Steel XL 16 x 13.4 – best for oven and grill
Primica’s carbon-steel plate measures 16 x 13.4 inches and is marketed for both oven and grill use, delivering high, even heat for faster cooks.
Key specs:
- Size: 16 x 13.4 inches
- Material: carbon steel
- Oven and grill
PROS:
- Mid-range price
- Large enough for 12–14-inch pizzas
- Oven or grill
CONS:
- Season before first use if needed
- Heavy
Pizza Steel vs Pizza Stone
Steel transfers heat faster and won’t crack, so it’s the better choice for home ovens that top out around 500–550°F. A pizza stone is lighter and cheaper, and it’s the better choice in very hot pizza ovens and grills, where steel can burn the base before the top cooks.
Which Thickness?
- 1/4 inch: The best all-rounder. Heats in about 45–60 minutes and handles a few pizzas in a row.
- 3/8 inch or more: Stores more heat for back-to-back pizzas, but is much heavier and slower to preheat.
Care Tips
Hand wash, dry immediately and wipe on a thin coat of oil to prevent rust, just like cast iron. Dark patina is normal and helps release.
FAQ
Where should I put a pizza steel in the oven?
Usually the top third, so the broiler’s heat reaches the top of the pizza while the steel cooks the base. Preheat for at least 45–60 minutes at your oven’s highest setting.
Can you use a pizza steel on a grill?
Yes, most can go on a gas or charcoal grill. Watch the base, though, because steel on a hot grill can burn it quickly.
Our Pick
The Baking Steel Original is the one to beat. For more surface at a lower price, choose the ThermiChef 1/4-inch, and on a tight budget the VEVOR works well.
