How Much Gas Does a Pizza Oven Use Per Hour? Propane Burn Rates by Model
Affiliate Disclosure
This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Pizza Oven Zen may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Our reviews and recommendations are editorially independent.
Propane burn rate by oven (at full flame)
| Oven | Max BTU/hr | Propane per hour | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ooni Koda 12 | 13,500 | About 0.6 lb | BTU from the Ooni manual (North America); lb/hr calculated |
| Ooni Koda 2 (14-inch) | 15,000 | About 0.7 lb | BTU from TechGearLab spec table; lb/hr calculated |
| Ooni Koda 16 | 29,000 | About 1.3 lb | BTU from retailer spec copied from Ooni; 1.3 lb/hr is Ooni's own figure |
| Ooni Koda 2 Pro (18-inch) | 33,000 | About 1.5 lb | BTU from Pala Pizza review; 1.5 lb/hr from a retailer spec sheet |
| Ooni Koda 2 Max (24-inch) | 35,000 | About 1.6 lb | BTU from retailer spec; lb/hr calculated |
| Ooni Karu 16 / Karu 2 Pro gas burner | 25,000 | About 1.2–1.3 lb | Ooni product page lists 25,000 BTU and 0.58 kg/hr |
| Gozney Roccbox | About 14,300 | About 0.7 lb | Roccbox manual (15 MJ/hr) and TechGearLab (14,330 BTU); lb/hr calculated |
| Gozney Arc | About 15,350 (4.5 kW) | About 0.7 lb | Gozney manual lists kW; BTU and lb/hr calculated |
| Gozney Arc XL | About 17,500–18,800 (5.25–5.5 kW) | About 0.8–0.9 lb | Sources disagree between 5.25 and 5.5 kW; BTU and lb/hr calculated |
| Solo Stove Pi Prime | 15,000 | About 0.7 lb | BTU from Costco spec list; lb/hr calculated |
| Camp Chef Italia Artisan | 17,000 | About 0.8 lb | BTU from retailer copy; lb/hr calculated |
| Blackstone Pizza Oven (6825) | 54,000 | About 2.5 lb | BTU from retailer spec; model since discontinued; lb/hr calculated |
Pounds per hour are calculated as BTU per hour divided by about 21,500 BTU per pound of propane, assuming the burner runs at maximum the whole time. Most manufacturer pages do not publish BTU, so figures come from manuals, retailer spec tables, and reviews. Real use is usually lower because you turn the flame down once the stone is hot.
The Math Behind the Numbers
A gallon of propane holds about 91,500 BTU, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That works out to roughly 21,500 BTU per pound. Divide an oven's BTU rating by 21,500 and you get the pounds of propane it burns each hour at full flame. A 13,500 BTU oven burns about 0.6 pounds per hour; a 29,000 BTU oven burns about 1.3.
BTU just means British Thermal Unit, a tiny chunk of heat energy. Bigger BTU number, hungrier burner. No joke needed, though the Koda 16 does eat like it's training for something.
Why Your Real Usage Is Lower
Those figures assume the burner stays at maximum. In practice you run the flame high during preheat, then turn it down once the stone is hot, and a pizza only needs a couple of minutes in the oven. A typical evening is about 30 minutes of preheat plus the time you spend cooking, not a full hour of maximum burn.
Cold weather and wind raise usage because the burner works harder to hold temperature. Longer preheats on the thicker stones of the Koda 2 Pro and Max also cost more fuel than the smaller ovens.
Hoses, Regulators, and Tanks
Most of these ovens connect to a standard 20 pound propane tank, the kind used on a backyard grill. Ooni's Koda 2 Pro, Koda 2 Max, and Karu burner pages say a regulator and hose are included, and the Gozney Arc ships with them too. The Camp Chef Italia is designed around a 1 pound disposable canister and includes an adapter hose for a standard tank.
Always use the regulator and hose that came with your oven. The Ooni Koda manual says never to fill a propane cylinder beyond 80 percent.
