What is a good height (above floor) for mouth of oven?

[wayno1]

I am new to wood-fired oven cooking. Have been baking PIZZAS for 10 years with my home oven cranked to 550 degrees F for several years now and am really tired of bending way over to insert PIZZAS at that low height.

What is a really good height for the bottom of oven opening to floor?? My oven is 38 inches. I was thinking of building it up maybe 10 or 12 more inches higher to 48 or 50 inches above floor to make it easier to insert PIZZAS and bread.

When I was in Phoenix, I watched Chris Bianco work his PIZZA oven and his opening was mid chest high.

Any advice on how high I should build mine?

Thanks! Wayno1

[pizzaziggy]

Re: What is a good height (above floor) for mouth of oven?

Mid chest high

[Neil2]

Re: What is a good height (above floor) for mouth of oven?

I am 6'0",have a 5 ' 4" wife and built my oven with the hearth 43 inches above ground. She says this is just right, she has cooked on other wood fired ovens and is of the opinion they are too low.

Take your time deciding on the height you want (hard to change afterward ).

[wayno1]

Re: What is a good height (above floor) for mouth of oven?

Neil,

Thanks for the good info - I am 5" 10" tall and think I will go with 48" oven floor height. Mid-chest for me. Wayno1

[nissanneill]

Re: What is a good height (above floor) for mouth of oven?

Wayno1,
the best height is usually that to suit the owner/builder.
The hearth floor should be at the height where you can see the whole of the Pompeii floor without bending or standing on step toes. I am also 5'10" and my oven floor is 44" and for me ideal.

Neill

[PizzaPolice]

Re: What is a good height (above floor) for mouth of oven?

Elbow highth. Your back will thank you.

[lwood]

Re: What is a good height (above floor) for mouth of oven?

IMO
Oven floor - Breast height
hearth/staging area - elbow height