Wood: yes
Burning wood makes smoke. The chimney takes it away from the pizza and from you.
Gas: no
Gas burns clean. The little smoke from baking leaves through the front opening.
Why do pizza ovens have chimneys?
Pizza ovens come in all shapes and sizes, but wood-fired ovens have one thing in common: a chimney. It lets the smoke escape, so it does not build up in the oven and make the pizza taste bad. It also helps to keep the oven temperature steady, which matters for a good pizza.
That is why you rarely see a chimney on a gas pizza oven.
Does my wood-fired pizza oven need a chimney?
Yes. Burning wood produces smoke, and your pizza tastes better when that smoke does not linger in the oven. It is also better for your health: without a chimney, the smoke comes out of the front of the oven, right where you stand.
Some ovens have a short chimney and others a tall one; that is mostly a design choice of the manufacturer. We recommend a chimney of at least half the height of the oven.
Does my gas pizza oven need a chimney?
No. Burning gas makes no smoke of its own; it is a relatively clean burn. The little smoke that comes from the pizza while it bakes leaves easily through the front opening of the oven.
Does my hybrid pizza oven need a chimney?
We would say yes, although some hybrid ovens have none. Those are usually designed as gas ovens first, and they work better on gas than on wood.
Most hybrids do have a chimney. If you buy one, choose a model with a chimney: baking with wood is a better experience.
Is a pizza oven a fire hazard?
Not if you use it with care. A pizza oven works with an open flame, so there is always some risk. Set the oven up properly, following the instructions of the manufacturer, keep an eye on it while it burns, and know how to put out a fire safely.
Should my next pizza oven have a chimney?
That depends on the fuel you will use most. Mostly gas: an oven without a chimney is fine. Mostly wood: choose one with a chimney. For a hybrid oven, choose by the fuel you expect to use most often.
Still choosing? Read Which pizza oven should a beginner buy?