# Gozney Dome vs Arc XL Source: https://peelandflame.co.uk/blog/gozney-dome-vs-arc-xl Published: 2026-10-12 Publisher: Peel and Flame **In short:** The Dome is Gozney's large, heavy dual-fuel oven: it burns wood and can run on gas, holds heat for roasting and baking, and is meant to stay put. The Arc XL is a gas-only countertop oven for 16 inch pizzas that is lighter and simpler. Choose the Dome for wood fire and all-day cooking, the Arc XL for easy gas pizza. Both ovens bake pizzas of around 16 inches, and both carry Gozney's thick insulation. That is where the overlap ends. The Dome is a semi-permanent outdoor oven with a big chamber, a chimney and a wood fire option, built to roast, bake and smoke as well as make pizza. The Arc XL is a gas oven designed to sit on a worktop or stand and get to pizza heat with the turn of a dial. This comparison sets out the trade-offs. Weights and specs change between generations, so check gozney.com for current figures. ## Fuel: dual-fuel against gas only The Dome is sold to burn wood, and Gozney offers it with a gas burner too, so you can light it on gas on a weeknight and use logs at the weekend. Wood gives real smoke and flame flavour and lets you cook with embers after the pizza is done. It also means more work: lighting, feeding, managing airflow and clearing ash. See [how to light a wood-fired oven](https://peelandflame.co.uk/blog/how-to-light-a-wood-fired-pizza-oven). The Arc XL runs on propane only. You connect a bottle, light it and wait for the stone to come up to heat. There is no ash and no wood store to keep dry. For many people, that simplicity is the reason to buy. ## Side by side General points only, because weights and figures vary by version, generation and market. | Point | Dome | Arc XL | | --- | --- | --- | | Fuel | Wood, with gas option | Gas | | Pizza size | Around 16 inch | Around 16 inch | | Chimney | Yes | No | | Weight | Very heavy, well over Arc XL | Lighter, still a two person lift | | Placement | Semi-permanent, stand or outdoor kitchen | Worktop or stand | | Best for | Wood fire, roasting, baking, hosting | Easy gas pizza nights | Gozney Dome vs Arc XL in general terms ## Thermal mass and cooking beyond pizza The Dome's thick floor and dome store a lot of heat. Once it is fully hot, it stays hot for a long time, so you can bake bread as the temperature falls, slow roast a joint with the door on, or keep a tray of vegetables going after the pizzas. That makes it closer to a traditional brick oven than any portable model. The Arc XL heats quickly and is great at what it is built for: pizza after pizza at high heat. You can cook in a cast iron pan, but its lighter build does not hold heat in the same way once the burner is off. ## Space, installation and cost of ownership The Dome is a big, heavy oven. Plan its spot before delivery: a strong stand or a masonry base, clear space around the chimney and shelter from the worst weather. It is not something you carry back to the shed each autumn. A fitted cover is a good idea; see [storing a pizza oven over winter](https://peelandflame.co.uk/blog/storing-a-pizza-oven-in-winter). The Arc XL needs a sturdy table and room for a gas bottle. It is easier to move, store and set up. If you rent, or your garden is small, that may decide it. Our article on [pizza oven tables and stands](https://peelandflame.co.uk/blog/pizza-oven-tables-and-stands) covers safe surfaces. ## Living with each oven A wood-fired Dome session starts 45 minutes to an hour before you want to eat, because the floor needs time to soak up heat. You build a fire, push it to one side, add a split log every few minutes and read the stone before each launch. When the pizzas are done, you can close the door and use the falling heat for bread or a slow roast. It is a full evening's cooking, and many owners enjoy that as much as the food. An Arc XL session is shorter. Light the burner, wait for the stone to reach pizza heat, bake, turn off the gas and let it cool. Cleaning is a brush of the stone and a wipe of the outside. If you want pizza on a Tuesday after work, that is the oven that will get used. Think honestly about which routine you will keep up in a British summer, and buy for that. ## Which to choose Choose the Dome if you want a real wood-fired oven, plan to cook more than pizza and have a permanent spot for it. Choose the Arc XL if pizza is the main event, you want gas convenience and you value a lighter oven. For other wood-burning options see [best wood-fired pizza ovens](https://peelandflame.co.uk/best/best-wood-fired-pizza-oven) and [best multi-fuel pizza ovens](https://peelandflame.co.uk/best/best-multi-fuel-pizza-oven). Note: Burn only dry, untreated hardwood. Keep a wood-fired oven well clear of fences, sheds and overhanging branches, and never leave a lit fire unattended. ## Frequently asked questions **Is the Gozney Dome worth it over the Arc XL?** If you will use wood and cook beyond pizza, yes. If you only want pizza on gas, the Arc XL is simpler. **Can the Gozney Dome run on gas only?** Gozney sells a gas option for the Dome. Check which version you are buying, as burners are model specific. **Does the Dome need a chimney extension?** Not usually. Gozney sells a flue extension for sites where smoke drifts into seating or neighbours' gardens. See [pizza oven doors and chimneys](https://peelandflame.co.uk/blog/pizza-oven-doors-and-chimneys). **Which heats up faster?** The Arc XL, because it is lighter and gas fired. The Dome's thermal mass takes longer to soak but holds heat longer. ## Buying guides on this topic - https://peelandflame.co.uk/best/best-wood-fired-pizza-oven - https://peelandflame.co.uk/best/best-multi-fuel-pizza-oven - https://peelandflame.co.uk/best/best-gas-pizza-oven ## Sources - [Gozney ovens](https://www.gozney.com/)