Lush Food & Drink

Buying Guide ·Baking

Best Pizza Stones for Oven and Grill Baking

The deciding specification is the published heat tolerance, which ranges from 1450°F to 1800°F across these five.

By the Lush Editorial Team·Researched & Compared

  • Researched & ComparedSpecs pulled from the manufacturer listing
  • Like-for-LikeSame measures across every model
  • No Paid PlacementsNobody pays to appear here

Compared five pizza stones and baking steels using only manufacturer-published dimensions, weights, and heat ratings from the fact sheet.

Our shortlist

Five products, one set of published numbers.
  1. Gyreuni 13 Pizza Stone for Oven and Grill with Pizza...
    Best complete set

    Gyreuni 13 Pizza Stone for Oven and Grill with Pizza...

    Includes stone, oak peel, serving rack, cutter, and parchment.

    • Gyreuni
    • 13 inch
    • 6.46 lb
  2. Old Stone Pizza Kitchen Rectangular Pizza Stone for ...
    Best large cordierite stone

    Old Stone Pizza Kitchen Rectangular Pizza Stone for ...

    14x16 inch cordierite stone rated to 1450°F.

    • Old Stone
    • 14x16 inch
    • 10 lb
  3. Loftern 14" x 16" Pizza Steel - Heavy-Duty Carbon St...
    Best lightweight steel

    Loftern 14" x 16" Pizza Steel - Heavy-Duty Carbon St...

    14x16 inch carbon steel plate at 13.6 pounds.

    • Loftern
    • 16"L x 14"W
    • 13.6 lb
  4. Pizza Baking Stone
    Lightest stone

    Pizza Baking Stone

    13 inch ceramic stone at 2.7 pounds, dishwasher safe.

    • American Metalcraft
    • ['13 Inches']
    • 2.7 lb
  5. 16-Inch Pizza Stone Set for Oven and Grill with Peel
    Highest heat tolerance

    16-Inch Pizza Stone Set for Oven and Grill with Peel

    16 inch stone set rated to 1800°F.

    • KitchenStar
    • 16 Inch
    • 13.7 lb

Side by side

Blank means the maker does not publish it.
ModelBrandSize (capacity)WeightBest for
Gyreuni 13 Pizza Stone for Oven and Grill with Pizza... Gyreuni 13 inch 6.46 lb Best complete set
Old Stone Pizza Kitchen Rectangular Pizza Stone for ... Old Stone 14x16 inch 10 lb Best large cordierite stone
Loftern 14" x 16" Pizza Steel - Heavy-Duty Carbon St... Loftern 16"L x 14"W 13.6 lb Best lightweight steel
Pizza Baking Stone American Metalcraft ['13 Inches'] 2.7 lb Lightest stone
16-Inch Pizza Stone Set for Oven and Grill with Peel KitchenStar 16 Inch 13.7 lb Highest heat tolerance

Each pick in detail

What the listing says for it, and against it.
1 Best complete set

Gyreuni 13 Pizza Stone for Oven and Grill with Pizza...

Includes stone, oak peel, serving rack, cutter, and parchment.

  • For it
  • Includes a 12x17 inch oak pizza paddle
  • Comes with a serving rack, cutter, and 10 sheets of parchment
  • Stone rated heat-safe up to 1472°F
  • 13 inch round stone fits most ovens
  • Against it
  • Manufacturer does not publish the height of the full set
  • Stone is smaller than the 14x16 and 16x16 options
2 Best large cordierite stone

Old Stone Pizza Kitchen Rectangular Pizza Stone for ...

14x16 inch cordierite stone rated to 1450°F.

  • For it
  • 14x16 inch cordierite stone
  • Rated to withstand heat up to 1450°F
  • Naturally seasons over time
  • Cleans with a rinse and air dry
  • Against it
  • 10 pound weight is heavier than the ceramic stone
  • Manufacturer does not publish a thickness figure
3 Best lightweight steel

Loftern 14" x 16" Pizza Steel - Heavy-Duty Carbon St...

14x16 inch carbon steel plate at 13.6 pounds.

  • For it
  • 14x16 inch carbon steel plate
  • Pre-seasoned and ready to use
  • Rated for oven, grill, and pizza oven
  • 13.6 pound weight is lighter than the other steels
  • Against it
  • Manufacturer does not publish a maximum temperature
  • Steel requires seasoning maintenance over time
4 Lightest stone

Pizza Baking Stone

13 inch ceramic stone at 2.7 pounds, dishwasher safe.

  • For it
  • 2.7 pound ceramic stone is the lightest here
  • 13 inch round fits most ovens
  • Dishwasher safe per the manufacturer
  • Designed for pizza, flatbread, and calzones
  • Against it
  • Manufacturer does not publish a heat tolerance
  • Smaller surface than the 14x16 and 16x16 options
5 Highest heat tolerance

16-Inch Pizza Stone Set for Oven and Grill with Peel

16 inch stone set rated to 1800°F.

  • For it
  • Rated to 1800°F, the highest figure here
  • 16 inch stone with acacia wood peel
  • Includes a rocker cutter and an oven brush
  • Porous structure described as keeping pizza soft and crunchy
  • Against it
  • Manufacturer does not publish the height
  • 13.7 pound weight is heavier than the ceramic stone

Our verdict

The Gyreuni 13 inch set is the most complete package, bundling a stone, oak peel, serving rack, cutter, and parchment. The Old Stone 14x16 is the largest cordierite stone here, rated to 1450°F. The Loftern 14x16 steel weighs 13.6 pounds, the lowest figure among the steels here. The American Metalcraft STONE13 is the lightest overall at 2.7 pounds and the only one described as dishwasher safe. The KitchenStar 16 inch set has the highest published heat tolerance at 1800°F.

“Heat tolerance and material decide the bake.”

Lush Editorial Team

What separates these five

Heat tolerance The KitchenStar set is rated to 1800°F, the Gyreuni to 1472°F, and the Old Stone to 1450°F. The Loftern, American Metalcraft, and Chef Pomodoro publish no heat figure.
Weight The American Metalcraft stone is the lightest at 2.7 pounds. The Gyreuni is 6.46 pounds, the Old Stone 10 pounds, the Loftern 13.6 pounds, and the KitchenStar 13.7 pounds.
Surface size The Old Stone and Loftern are 14x16 inches. The KitchenStar is 16 inches wide. The Gyreuni and American Metalcraft are 13 inch rounds.
Material The Gyreuni and Old Stone are cordierite. The American Metalcraft is ceramic. The Loftern is carbon steel. The KitchenStar material is not published.
Included tools The Gyreuni and KitchenStar sets include a peel and cutter. The Old Stone, Loftern, and American Metalcraft are sold as the stone or steel alone.

How we chose

Priorities, not a computed score. The inputs are published specifications, so we rank by what matters most and say how much.

  1. 30% Heat toleranceIt is the only published performance figure and the main safety limit.
  2. 25% Surface sizeA stone must fit the oven and the pizza being baked.
  3. 20% WeightA heavy stone is harder to move in and out of a hot oven.
  4. 15% MaterialCordierite, ceramic, and steel behave differently and are maintained differently.
  5. 10% Included accessoriesA peel and cutter change what else a buyer must purchase.

How the Five Compare on the Numbers

The five shortlisted products split into two groups by material. The Gyreuni and Old Stone are cordierite, the American Metalcraft is ceramic, and the Loftern is carbon steel. The KitchenStar does not publish its stone material. Heat tolerance is published for only three of the five: 1800°F for the KitchenStar, 1472°F for the Gyreuni, and 1450°F for the Old Stone. The other two state no maximum temperature.

Weight separates them just as sharply. The American Metalcraft stone is 2.7 pounds, the Gyreuni set is 6.46 pounds, the Old Stone is 10 pounds, and the Loftern and KitchenStar are 13.6 and 13.7 pounds. Surface size ranges from a 13 inch round to a 16 inch square. The table below sets out every figure the makers publish, and marks the rest as not published.

Specification Gyreuni Loftern Old Stone American Metalcraft KitchenStar
Width 13 in 14 in 14 in 13 in 4.18 in
Depth 13 in 16 in 16 in 13 in 16 in
Height 0.6 in 0.25 in 0.75 in 0.375 in not published
Weight 6.46 lb 13.6 lb 10 lb 2.7 lb 13.7 lb
Material Cordierite Carbon steel Cordierite Ceramic not published
Heat tolerance 1472°F not published 1450°F not published 1800°F
Included peel Oak, 12×17 in No No No Acacia wood
Dishwasher safe not published not published not published Yes not published

The table does not tell you how any of these bake. No maker publishes a recovery time, a preheat duration, or a thermal conductivity figure that can be compared across all five. It also cannot tell you whether a stone will fit your specific oven rack or whether the weight is manageable for you. Those are physical checks only you can make.

Material and Heat Tolerance

Cordierite and ceramic stones

The Gyreuni stone is cordierite and rated heat-safe up to 1472°F. The Old Stone is also cordierite and rated to withstand heat up to 1450°F. That is a 22 degree difference between the two, which is small. Both makers describe even heat transfer. The American Metalcraft stone is ceramic, and its maker states it is designed to withstand high oven temperatures without cracking or warping, but publishes no figure.

Ceramic and cordierite are both porous materials. The Old Stone listing states the stone naturally seasons over time, and the maker advises a rinse and air dry. The American Metalcraft listing advises allowing the stone to cool completely before wiping it with a damp cloth, and warns against soap or submerging it in water. The Gyreuni listing states the stone has no smell and excellent thermal shock resistance.

Carbon steel plates

The Loftern is a 14×16 inch carbon steel plate at 13.6 pounds and 0.25 inch thick. The maker states it is pre-seasoned and ready to use, and that it withstands high temperatures without warping or cracking. No maximum temperature is published. The maker also states the steel is easy to clean with a quick wipe and does not flake, crack, or need soaking.

Steel and stone are maintained differently. The Loftern arrives pre-seasoned. The Chef Pomodoro steel, which is not on the shortlist, ships shot-blasted and requires seasoning before first use. The Loftern listing does not describe a seasoning routine beyond stating it is pre-seasoned. Neither steel maker publishes a heat tolerance figure, so a buyer comparing on that number alone has nothing to compare.

Size, Weight, and What Comes in the Box

Surface area and oven fit

The Old Stone and Loftern are both 14×16 inches, giving the same rectangular footprint. The KitchenStar is 16 inches wide and 16 inches deep, the largest square surface here, though its published width of 4.18 inches appears to describe a packaged dimension rather than the stone. The Gyreuni and American Metalcraft are both 13 inch rounds. A 16 inch square needs a deeper oven than a 13 inch round.

Height varies more than expected. The Old Stone is 0.75 inch thick, the Gyreuni is 0.6 inch, the American Metalcraft is 0.375 inch, and the Loftern is 0.25 inch. The KitchenStar publishes no height. A thicker stone takes longer to heat through, though no maker publishes a preheat time that would let you compare that directly.

Accessories and maintenance

The Gyreuni set is the most complete. It includes the 13 inch stone, a 12×17 inch oak paddle, a 13 inch serving rack, a steel cutter, and 10 sheets of parchment. The KitchenStar set includes a 16 inch stone, an acacia wood peel, a rocker cutter with a safety cover, and an oven brush with a stainless steel scraper. The Old Stone, Loftern, and American Metalcraft are sold as the stone or steel alone.

The American Metalcraft is the only product here described as dishwasher safe, though the same listing also advises against submerging the stone in water. That is a contradiction in the published material, and it is worth checking the maker’s current care instructions. The Old Stone cleans with a rinse and air dry. The Loftern cleans with a quick wipe. The Gyreuni and KitchenStar publish no cleaning method.

Which One Fits Your Kitchen

Buyer who wants everything in one box. The Gyreuni set includes the stone, an oak peel, a serving rack, a cutter, and parchment. If you own none of those tools, this is the shortest path to a full setup, and the stone is rated to 1472°F.

Buyer who bakes large pizzas or loaves. The Old Stone at 14×16 inches gives more usable surface than a 13 inch round, and it is rated to 1450°F. It weighs 10 pounds, so it is movable but not light. It is sold as the stone alone.

Buyer who wants a steel rather than a stone. The Loftern is a 14×16 inch carbon steel plate at 13.6 pounds, pre-seasoned and ready to use. It is the lighter of the two steels on the sheet. No maximum temperature is published, so check the maker’s guidance before high-heat use.

Buyer with limited strength or storage. The American Metalcraft stone is 2.7 pounds and 13 inches round. It is the lightest product here and the only one described as dishwasher safe. It is ceramic and publishes no heat tolerance, so confirm the limit before use.

Buyer who wants the highest published heat figure. The KitchenStar set is rated to 1800°F, the highest on the sheet, and includes a peel, cutter, and brush. It weighs 13.7 pounds and publishes no height or material, so the heat rating is the figure to weigh.

What We Could Not Verify

Several figures that would decide a purchase are simply not published by the makers. We list them here rather than estimate.

  • Maximum temperature for the Loftern carbon steel plate.
  • Maximum temperature for the American Metalcraft ceramic stone.
  • Maximum temperature for the Chef Pomodoro steel.
  • Height of the KitchenStar set.
  • Material of the KitchenStar stone.
  • Preheat time or heat recovery time for any of the eight products.

Frequently asked questions

What heat tolerance do these pizza stones publish?+

The KitchenStar set is rated to 1800°F, the Gyreuni stone to 1472°F, and the Old Stone to 1450°F. The Loftern, American Metalcraft, and Chef Pomodoro do not publish a maximum temperature. If a heat figure matters to you, only three of the eight products on the sheet state one.

Which pizza stone is the lightest?+

The American Metalcraft STONE13 is the lightest at 2.7 pounds. The Gyreuni set is 6.46 pounds, the Old Stone is 10 pounds, the Loftern is 13.6 pounds, and the KitchenStar is 13.7 pounds. The Chef Pomodoro steel is the heaviest at 32.5 pounds.

Do any of these sets include a pizza peel?+

Yes. The Gyreuni set includes a 12x17 inch oak paddle, and the KitchenStar set includes an acacia wood peel. The Old Stone, Loftern, American Metalcraft, and Chef Pomodoro are sold as the stone or steel alone, so a peel would be a separate purchase.

What is the difference between a pizza stone and a pizza steel?+

A stone is made of cordierite or ceramic and is generally lighter. A steel is a solid carbon steel plate, such as the Loftern at 13.6 pounds or the Chef Pomodoro at 32.5 pounds. The makers of the steels state they conduct heat more efficiently than ceramic, but no independent figure is published here.

Which stone fits a standard home oven?+

All five shortlisted products fit a standard home oven on published dimensions. The Old Stone and Loftern are 14x16 inches, the KitchenStar is 16 inches wide, and the Gyreuni and American Metalcraft are 13 inch rounds. Check your oven's interior depth before ordering a 16 inch model.

Can these stones be used on a grill?+

The Gyreuni, Old Stone, Loftern, and Duvecfoi are all described as suitable for oven and grill use. The American Metalcraft listing describes oven use. The KitchenStar listing does not specify grill compatibility. Always confirm the maker's current guidance for your specific grill before use.

Specifications come from the manufacturers' own published listings. Lush Food & Drink may earn a commission if you buy through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we research.