Gozney Arc vs Arc XL

Same oven, two widths

Both ovens have a cordierite stone floor, an insulated dome, a front opening suited to a peel and a gas burner on the left side. Heat from the burner rolls across the dome and down onto the pizza. Because the flame sits at the side rather than the back, you turn the pizza so each edge passes near the flame in turn.

The XL is wider and deeper. Gozney sizes it for 16 inch pizzas against 14 inch for the standard Arc. That extra two inches sounds small, but area grows with the square of the diameter: a 16 inch pizza has about 30 % more surface than a 14 inch. Use our pizza size comparer to see the difference.

Side by side

General points from Gozney's descriptions. Weights and dimensions vary by version, so we have kept them as relative.

Space, weight and the table

Both are countertop ovens, so they need a sturdy, heat-tolerant surface. The XL's larger footprint means a bigger table or an outdoor kitchen worktop. It is also heavier, which matters if you plan to store it in a shed over winter and carry it out in spring. If your patio is small, the standard Arc is the easier fit.

Gozney sells stands for both. Whatever you use, keep the front clear, level the oven and check the table can take the weight and heat. Our article on pizza oven tables and stands explains what to look for.

Cooking and gas use

A bigger chamber takes a little longer to heat and burns a little more gas over a session, though both reach pizza heat in well under half an hour in normal UK weather. The extra space in the XL makes turning easier because there is more room between the pizza and the flame, and it fits a cast iron pan or a larger tray for roasting.

The smaller Arc recovers between pizzas a touch faster because there is less stone to reheat. If you bake two or three pizzas at a time, you will barely notice. If you feed eight people, the XL's bigger pizzas mean fewer launches overall. Check the stone with an infrared thermometer between bakes; see the pizza oven temperature guide.

Which to choose

Choose the Arc if you mostly make 12 to 14 inch pizzas for two to four people, you have limited space or you need to move the oven often. Choose the Arc XL if you want 16 inch pizzas, often cook for groups or want more room to turn and roast.

If you are still deciding on size more generally, read 12 inch vs 16 inch pizza oven, and compare other gas ovens in our best gas pizza ovens guide.

Note:Gas pizza ovens are for outdoor use only. Check hoses and regulator connections for leaks with soapy water before each season.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Gozney Arc XL worth the extra size? If you regularly cook for more than four people or want 16 inch pizzas, yes. For two to four people, the standard Arc does the job in less space.

Do the Arc and Arc XL use the same gas? Both run on propane in the UK with the correct regulator. Check the manual and our gas bottle guide.

Can you cook a 16 inch pizza in the standard Arc? Gozney sizes the Arc for about 14 inch pizzas. A bigger base would leave no room to turn it away from the flame.

Is the Arc better than the Roccbox? It is bigger and countertop based. See Gozney Roccbox vs Arc for that comparison.