What is the Best Pizza Stone?

You are an experienced cook who takes pride in your work. Or maybe you are an amateur who is just learning the ropes. Either way, you want to be able to make a great tasting pizza from home. You want a pie that has a crispy crust but is not overly done. Obviously, using a stone is the best option to give you the perfection that you crave. However, finding the best pizza stone can be difficult so we’ve put together this chart – a one-stop, all-inclusive guide to help you choose the stone that will help you cook the best tasting pizza right from own home.

Ultimate Pizza Stone Guide

PictureStoneTypeSizeThickness
PictureStoneTypeSizeThickness
Cook N Home Pizza StoneCordierite14"3/5"
Emile Henry Rectangular Baking StoneClay18" by 14"1"
Old Stone Oven Round Pizza StoneClay16"3 1/3"
Rocksheat Pizza StoneClay12.6"3/5"
Old Stone Oven Baking StoneClay14"7/8"

Types of Pizza Stones


Example of a clay pizza stone.

There are four different materials used to make pizza stones: clay, ceramic, steel or cast iron. We aren’t going to get into a debate about which material is better for making pizza, they all work just fine so it really just boils down to personal choice.

The most common type of materials is clay or ceramic. There are not very many steel or cast iron stones on the market. This is because clay and ceramic are better at absorbing moisture as the pizza bakes which creates a crispy, well-baked crust. The downside with these types of stones is that they have to preheat for at least 30 minutes in the oven and they are prone to breaking.

Cast iron stones can heat up quickly and rarely break, however, most of these types of stones have a heat limit of 400 degrees – well below the recommended temperature for pizza. Steel is another option for pizza stones. They cook the pizza more evenly than clay, ceramic or cast iron and they won’t break or crack, however, they can be very heavy and can’t be moved when they are hot.

Advantages of Pizza Stones

Crispier Crust. When you use a pizza stone to cook a pizza, it will cook the pizza more evenly and will draw moisture from the crust leaving you with a perfectly baked, crispy crust.

Easier cleanup. If you have ever tried to cook a pizza without a pan, you know how messy it can be. Crumbs and melted cheese is difficult to clean out from the bottom of your oven. Most pizza use a pan to cook their pizza but this can also be difficult to clean. The cheese will get stuck on the bottom of the pan and will not come off no matter how much scrubbing you do. Nothing will stick to the stone so you can just wipe it clean. If something does happen to stick on, it will burn off over time.

Better tasting pizza. There is nothing better than a traditional, wood-fire oven pizza. A baking stone can replicate this taste by infusing the pizza crust with seasonings over time. The more you use your stone, the better your pie will taste.

Top 5 Best Pizza Stones Reviews

Old Stone Oven Pizza Stone – Round

Homemade pizza never quite has the same taste as the pie you get from a pizzeria. However, the Old Stone Oven Pizza Stone can fix that. This stone is made out of a firebrick clay material that replicates the pizza ovens so you can get that traditional pizzeria taste right from home.

The Old Stone heats evenly and retains heat so your pizza will come out with a crispy, well baked crust. The clay is very durable and is resistant to thermal shock and cracking.

It is 16-inches in diameter which is large enough to make a family-size pizza and can also be used for breads, biscuits or rolls. The flat surface allows you to serve your guests directly from the baking stone.

Cook N Home Pizza Stone

If you are looking for ceramic, consider the Cook N Home Pizza Stone. This baking stoneware is manufactured from a high quality ceramic called Cordierite stones that will retain heat and give you perfect results every time. It is 14-inches round and will heat quickly and evenly with no hot spots.

The ceramic will absorb moisture from the crust leaving you with a crispier product. This baking stone is heat safe up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and has thermal shock resistance. A limited one-year warranty is included with the Cook N Home Pizza Stone.

Old Stone Oven 14-Inch by 16-Inch Baking Stone

For hundreds of years, pizza was made in a traditional brick lined oven. This was due to the fact that brick stored heat and redistributed it evenly. The Old Stone Oven 14-Inch by 16-Inch Baking Stone replicates these ovens and will give pizza and bread a crispy, chewy crust. You can use this stoneware to make much more than just pizza. Gallettes, biscuits, breads and rolls can all be baked on top of the Old Stone Oven. It is made from a high-quality fireplace brick that can handle high temperatures.

When cleaning this stone, wait until it is entirely cool before wiping it down with hot soapy water. Let it dry completely before storing it or using it. The water can get into the stone and will expand when heated and can cause it to crack. Over time, discoloration will occur but this will not affect baking. High fat items such as cookies or cakes should not be baked on the stone as it will absorb the fat and cause bad odors. The Old Stone Oven 14-Inch by 16-Inch Baking Stone comes with an instruction brochure, recipe guide and detailed cleaning instructions.

Hans Grill Baking Stone

The Hans Grill Baking Stone is one of the few baking stones made in the USA. They are dense, thick clay stones that can contain an enormous amount of heat. They are heat shock resistant and will not crack.

The four piece set allows you to cook small items on the individual stones or you can combine all four stones to cook larger items. There are dozens of ways to use these stones. This rectangular stone is heavy duty, yet lightweight so it isn’t too heavy for your oven. The Hans Grill Pizza and Baking Stone is perfect for the grill or the oven.

Emile Henry Flame Top Pizza Stone

Emile Henry has been manufacturing baking stoneware for the past five generations. All pieces are carefully made from Burgundy clay which is combined with 100-percent natural ingredients. The Emile Henry Flame Top Pizza Stone is lightweight, versatile and contains even heat distribution.

The heat properties of the clay will easily turn any grill or oven into a pizza stove. It is resistant to cracking and heats quickly. The unique micro-glazing helps bake the crust until it is perfectly crispy. The Emile Henry Flame Top Pizza Stone can be cleaned easily and comes with a 2 year warranty.