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Whether or not it’s cheaper to build a pizza oven depends largely on what style you opt for and which tools and materials you already have. For example, having a surplus of leftover fire bricks from another DIY project will reduce the amount you need to build a new pizza oven and cut costs to boot. On the flip side, if you don’t have any of the required materials, buying a pre-made option will be cheaper and require far less work to set up—between just $300 and $1,000 for the best versions.

The decision to make or buy your outdoor pizza oven depends on your personal preferences, budget, and time. If you pay a professional to build a custom pizza oven, the cost will likely be higher than retail costs. If you purchase materials to create an oven, you can typically build an elaborate one for less money, but there’s a risk that you’ll injure yourself or make a costly building error.

The best height for a pizza oven is one that allows the user to easily see what’s going on inside and comfortably place pies without having to crouch over. In general, that means the opening should be between 36 and 48 inches off the ground. By contrast, the height of the dome is totally up to your preference, because different heights create different results. Shorter domes are better for creating Neapolitan-style pies, whereas taller domes are ideal for NY-style recipes.

Outdoor kitchens can quickly get expensive, but there are a few things you can do to help keep costs down, including the following:

• You can build on an existing patio to reduce the cost of a new foundation.

• Opt out of a sink and stick with a built-in propane or charcoal grill to save on utility line installation costs.

• You can tackle the parts of the project that are DIYable, like finishing cabinets, installing fixtures, and building seating.

• Keep your kitchen small and make a big impact with proper planning and upgrading the essential components instead.