Best Pizza Steels for Grills: High-Heat Outdoor Baking
Updated How we research
Pizza Steel Hack with Handles and Pizza Peel, Pizza Stone Made from Steel for Oven and Grill, 16" x 16" Baking Surface, 3/8" Thick
Pizza Steel Hack's 16" x 16" 3/8" thick steel with handles and a pizza peel, a heavy baking surface for oven or grill.
ThermiChef 16x16 Pizza Steel, 3/8" Thick, 27.5 lbs - Cooking Steel for Oven & Grill - Made in USA
ThermiChef's 16x16 3/8" thick pizza steel, weighing 27.5 lbs and made in USA for oven and grill baking.
Putting a pizza steel on your grill combines steel's unmatched heat conductivity with the high ambient temperatures only outdoor cooking provides. The result is a scorching baking surface that crisps crusts in minutes, and unlike stones, steel will never crack from flare-ups or sudden temperature swings. This setup suits home pizza makers who own a capable gas or charcoal grill and want pizzeria-style bottom char without buying a dedicated oven. The main considerations are thickness, since three-eighths inch and up holds heat through multiple pies, dimensions that fit your grate with room for airflow, a properly seasoned surface, and honest rust-prevention expectations, because outdoor storage and humidity are hard on bare carbon steel.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:Pizza Steel Hack with Handles and Pizza Peel, Pizza Stone Made from Steel for Oven and Grill, 16" x 16" Baking Surface, 3/8" Thick. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:Pizza Steel PRO by Hans Grill - XL 1/4" Thick Square Conductive Metal Baking Steel for Oven and BBQ, 13 x 13 Inches, Includes Beechwood Handle Metal Pizza Peel. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Solid build:ThermiChef 16x16 Pizza Steel, 3/8" Thick, 27.5 lbs - Cooking Steel for Oven & Grill - Made in USA. Build and materials score of 10/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Feature-rich:NerdChef Speed Steel - High Performance Pizza Baking Stone with Integrated Backstop, Handles and Heating Fins (13.5" x 14.5" x .90" Thick). Features score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Pizza Steel Hack with Handles and Pizza Peel, Pizza Stone Made from Steel for Oven and Grill, 16" x 16" Baking Surface, 3/8" Thick8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.ThermiChef 16x16 Pizza Steel, 3/8" Thick, 27.5 lbs - Cooking Steel for Oven & Grill - Made in USA8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.NerdChef Speed Steel - High Performance Pizza Baking Stone with Integrated Backstop, Handles and Heating Fins (13.5" x 14.5" x .90" Thick)8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Pizza Steel PRO by Hans Grill - XL 1/4" Thick Square Conductive Metal Baking Steel for Oven and BBQ, 13 x 13 Inches, Includes Beechwood Handle Metal Pizza Peel8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Primica Pizza Steel XL for Oven & Grill, 16" x 13.4", Perfect for Oven Baked Pizza with Higher Conductivity, Premium Baking Alternative to Pan and Stone8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Chef Pomodoro Pizza Steel for Oven 16"x16", 1/4" Thick, With Lifting Holes7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Baking Steel for Oven & Grill, Pizza Steel, 13x13” Pizza Baking Pan for Artisan Pizza, Multi-Purpose Baking Tool for Home Cooks & Pizza Lovers, Fast Heating(.25" Thick)7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Pizza Steel Hack's 16" x 16" 3/8" thick steel with handles and a pizza peel, a heavy baking surface for oven or grill.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + 3/8" thick steel stores lots of heat for fast, crisp bottoms
- + Handles make a heavy steel easier to move in and out of the grill
- + Pizza peel included, so the kit covers launching as well
- - Thick steel is very heavy, so check your oven rack can take the load
- - Bare steel needs seasoning and drying to prevent rust
#2ThermiChef's 16x16 3/8" thick pizza steel, weighing 27.5 lbs and made in USA for oven and grill baking.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 10/10 · Value 8/10
- + 27.5 lbs of steel holds heat for many pizzas in a row
- + Made in USA with a thick 3/8" profile for serious crust results
- + 16x16 surface fits large pizzas and doubles as a griddle
- - 27.5 lbs is a lot to lift onto a hot grill safely
- - Needs regular oiling to keep the surface seasoned and rust-free
#3NerdChef Speed Steel, a 13.5" x 14.5" x .90" thick baking steel with integrated backstop, handles and heating fins.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Heating fins increase surface area so the steel heats and recovers faster
- + Integrated backstop stops pizzas sliding off the back of the steel
- + Built-in handles make a heavy steel easier to move
- - Fins and backstop make it bulkier to store than a flat plate
- - Premium price compared with standard flat pizza steels
#4Hans Grill Pizza Steel PRO, an XL 1/4" thick 13 x 13 inch conductive steel with a beechwood handle metal pizza peel.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 1/4" thick conductive steel crisps crusts well in home ovens
- + Includes metal peel with beechwood handle for launching pizzas
- + 13 x 13 inch square fits compact ovens and many grills
- - XL label is optimistic, as 13 x 13 inches suits medium pizzas
- - Steel needs regular oiling and dry storage to avoid rust
#5Primica's Pizza Steel XL, a 16" x 13.4" high-conductivity steel for oven baked pizza as an alternative to pans and stones.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Higher conductivity steel sears pizza bottoms faster than stone
- + 16" x 13.4" XL size fits most home ovens edge to edge
- + Durable steel will not crack from thermal shock
- - Needs seasoning care to prevent rust spots
- - Weight and size make it awkward to store in small kitchens
#6Chef Pomodoro's 16 x 16 inch pizza steel, 1/4 inch thick with built-in lifting holes, listed for oven or grill. A large square surface for big pies and flatbreads on the grill.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Large 16 x 16 inch surface that the listing says holds four sourdough loaves or a massive flatbread
- + 1/4 inch thick steel, listed as a high-conductivity replacement for a pizza stone in the oven or on a grill
- + Integrated lifting holes are designed for safe, steady movement of a large steel plate
- - The title is oven-first, so measure your grill: a 16 inch square needs a wide grate and a lid that closes over it
- - The listing says it builds a seasoned surface over time and gives no weight in its highlights
#7A 13 x 13 inch carbon steel baking plate, 0.25 inch thick, listed for grills, stovetops and ovens. A lower-priced square steel for crisp-bottomed pizza outdoors.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 0.25 inch carbon steel plate that the listing says retains heat and distributes it evenly
- + Listed for use on grills and stovetops as well as in the oven, including searing steaks and roasting vegetables
- + Square 13 x 13 inch surface for one pizza or several smaller items at a time
- - Little-known brand, and the listing highlights do not say whether the steel arrives pre-seasoned
- - Listing notes that high heat may discolor the surface, and 13 inches caps the size of your pie
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Thick steel is very heavy, so check your oven rack can take the load (Pizza Steel Hack with Handles and Pizza Peel,...)
- 27.5 lbs is a lot to lift onto a hot grill safely (ThermiChef 16x16 Pizza Steel, 3/8" Thick,...)
- Fins and backstop make it bulkier to store than a flat plate (NerdChef Speed Steel - High Performance Pizza...)
- XL label is optimistic, as 13 x 13 inches suits medium pizzas (Pizza Steel PRO by Hans Grill - XL 1/4" Thick...)
- Needs seasoning care to prevent rust spots (Primica Pizza Steel XL for Oven & Grill, 16"...)
- The title is oven-first, so measure your grill: a 16 inch square needs a wide grate and a lid that closes over it (Chef Pomodoro Pizza Steel for Oven 16"x16",...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among pizza steels for grills: high-heat outdoor baking?
Pizza Steel Hack with Handles and Pizza Peel, Pizza Stone Made from Steel for Oven and Grill, 16" x 16" Baking Surface, 3/8" Thick is our top overall pick. Pizza Steel Hack's 16" x 16" 3/8" thick steel with handles and a pizza peel, a heavy baking surface for oven or grill. It earns our score of 8.8/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
ThermiChef 16x16 Pizza Steel, 3/8" Thick, 27.5 lbs - Cooking Steel for Oven & Grill - Made in USA is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. ThermiChef's 16x16 3/8" thick pizza steel, weighing 27.5 lbs and made in USA for oven and grill baking.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Pizza Oven Craft independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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