A pizza screen is the humble cousin of the stone and the steel: a thin aluminum mesh disc that holds the dough and lets oven heat reach the underside. It won’t give you the blast of a preheated stone, but it needs no preheating, is simple to handle, and lets you top a pizza on the screen and slide the whole thing into the oven.
This guide is about mesh screens at home sizes. Solid and perforated pans are covered in our oven pizza pan guide, and none of these screens appear there. We looked first for single screens, because many listings are packs of 6 or 12 meant for restaurants.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and listing information, which we name where we use it.
Quick verdict: the best pizza screen to buy
For most home ovens, the best pizza screen is the Winco 12-inch Seamless Aluminum Pizza Screen: the right size, sold singly, with a seamless rim and a stated warranty. If you bake often, step up to the heavier 14-gauge American Metalcraft 18712. For a family-sized pizza, the OCS Parts 14-inch adds room.
The rest of the list covers personal sizes, a rectangular screen and a set that lets you compare a screen to two kinds of pan.
Five aluminum screens side by side
Five of the eight, one for each kind of baker, with what the maker or listing states. All eight are reviewed below.
| Screen | Best for | Size | Build | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Winco 12-inch Seamless Aluminum Pizza ScreenBest overall
|
Most home ovens | 12 inches | Seamless aluminum | View on Amazon |
American Metalcraft 18712 Heavy Pizza Screen, 12-inchBest heavy-duty
|
Frequent baking | 12 inches | 14-gauge aluminum | View on Amazon |
Update International PS-13 Pizza Screen, 13-inchBest in-between size
|
Slightly larger pizzas | 13 inches | 18-gauge aluminum | View on Amazon |
OCS Parts 14-inch Aluminum Pizza ScreenBest large size
|
Family-sized pizza | 14 inches | Aluminum, seamless rim | View on Amazon |
Thunder Group 10-inch Seamless-Rim Pizza ScreenBest personal size
|
Personal pizzas | 10 inches | Aluminum, seamless rim | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Specifications are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best pizza screen
All of these are aluminum, and most are plain mesh discs from foodservice suppliers. Where a listing leaves a detail out, the specifications say so.
1. Winco 12-inch Seamless Aluminum Pizza Screen – The Plain, Right-Sized Screen
For most home ovens, 12 inches is the sensible size, and this is a plain example from a maker that supplies restaurants. It is an aluminum mesh disc with a seamless rim. Winco says the seamless design gives more ventilation for a more evenly baked crust, and it backs the screen with a one-year warranty against defects.
It weighs under a quarter pound on the listing, so it heats up quickly but is also easy to bend if you’re rough with it. It is sold singly and shipped by Amazon, which is why it leads. Many listings in this category are packs of 6 or 12.
Why we like it
- Sold as a single screen
- Seamless aluminum
- 12 inches fits most home ovens
- One-year warranty against defects
Key specifications
| Model | APZS-12 |
|---|---|
| Size | 12 inches |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Rim | Seamless |
| Count | 1 |
| Care | Not stated; we would hand wash |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a home cook who wants to try a screen without a commitment, and who bakes one or two standard pizzas at a time.
Skip it if you want something thick that resists bending. The American Metalcraft below is the heavier choice.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Single screen from a known foodservice maker
- Warranty stated
- Sold by Amazon at last check
Cons
- Very light, so handle with care
- Care directions not stated
2. American Metalcraft 18712 Heavy Pizza Screen, 12-inch – Thicker Mesh That Holds Its Shape
American Metalcraft has supplied foodservice for over 70 years, by its own account, and this screen is sold on its weight. The listing calls it 14 gauge, 1.5 mm heavy-weight aluminum and says it resists warping and corrosion. Round mesh gives the airflow, with smooth, seamless edges for handling.
It says it also doubles as a cooling rack, which is handy if you don’t own a big enough one. The maker says hand wash only. The listing is a little untidy on size, with a 12-inch name and package dimensions of about 12.25 inches, but the listing’s title and text both say 12-inch.
Why we like it
- 14 gauge, 1.5 mm aluminum
- Resists warping and corrosion, per the listing
- Doubles as a cooling rack
- Sold by Amazon at last check
Key specifications
| Model | 18712 |
|---|---|
| Size | 12 inches |
| Material | 14-gauge aluminum |
| Rim | Seamless |
| Count | 1 |
| Care | Hand wash only |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Pick this if you bake pizza often and want one screen that will hold up to regular handling.
Skip it if you bake only a few times a year. The lighter Winco is enough for that.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Heaviest stated build in this guide
- Long-established maker
- Second use as a rack
Cons
- Hand wash only
- Listing dimensions are slightly confused
3. Update International PS-13 Pizza Screen, 13-inch – A Little More Room for a Fuller Pie
Thirteen inches is a less common size, and it helps if your dough tends to spread past a 12-inch rim. Update International lists fine-mesh 18-gauge aluminum with a seamless rim, and says the rim eliminates rough or bent edges and the screen helps pizza cook faster.
Measure your oven rack and any pan or stone you plan to set it on before ordering. The listing’s care directions are absent, and at last check the seller was The Chefs Collection, not Amazon.
Why we like it
- 13 inches for a slightly larger pizza
- Fine-mesh 18-gauge aluminum
- Seamless rim
Key specifications
| Model | PS-13 |
|---|---|
| Size | 13 inches |
| Material | 18-gauge aluminum |
| Rim | Seamless |
| Count | 1 |
| Care | Not stated; we would hand wash |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a home cook who stretches dough by hand and doesn’t always land on an exact 12 inches.
Skip it if you want heavier metal. This is 18 gauge against the American Metalcraft’s 14.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Useful in-between size
- Foodservice maker
- Sold singly
Cons
- Third-party seller at last check
- Thin listing
4. OCS Parts 14-inch Aluminum Pizza Screen – Room for a Family Pizza
A 14-inch screen gives you a family pizza, provided your oven rack has the room. OCS Parts sells commercial kitchen parts, and it names home kitchens as well as pizzerias in the title. The listing gives a mesh design for airflow and a seamless rim for strength and safer handling.
It also says screens stack easily and can be taken away partway through a bake to slow cooking, which is a useful trick for managing a bottom crust. It lists breadsticks, garlic knots and flatbreads too. The brand’s quality claims can’t be checked, so read them as marketing.
Why we like it
- 14-inch, sold singly
- Names home kitchens in the title
- Seamless rim
- Also named for breadsticks and flatbreads
Key specifications
| Model | 3MP0061 |
|---|---|
| Size | 14 inches |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Rim | Seamless |
| Count | 1 |
| Care | Not stated; we would hand wash |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose this if you regularly feed four or more from one pizza and your oven is wide enough.
Skip it if you have a small or apartment oven. Measure the rack first, since a 14-inch disc leaves little air gap in a narrow oven.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good size for a crowd
- Sold singly, not a case
- Clear about uses
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- Gauge not stated
5. Thunder Group 10-inch Seamless-Rim Pizza Screen – For Small Pies and Toaster Ovens
At 10 inches this suits a personal pizza. It may also fit a larger countertop oven, but measure yours first because the listing doesn’t mention those. Thunder Group is a foodservice supplier and describes the screen as durable aluminum with a stable seamless rim, made to let air circulate under the crust.
The listing is candid that it is aimed at restaurants and pizza parlors, and it gives the thickness as 1/10 inch. The Genero Group was the seller at last check. Several of this maker’s other sizes showed low stock when we checked, which is why the 10-inch is the one listed here.
Why we like it
- 10-inch personal size
- Seamless rim
- Sold singly
Key specifications
| Model | ALPZ10 |
|---|---|
| Size | 10 inches |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Rim | Seamless |
| Count | 1 |
| Care | Not stated; we would hand wash |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This suits a cook who makes individual pizzas, or wants a few screens so everyone can top their own.
Skip it if you make one big pizza for the table. It is a personal size.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Personal size
- Foodservice maker
- Compact to store
Cons
- Third-party seller at last check
- Aimed at commercial use
6. New Star Foodservice 10-inch Pizza Baking Screen – A Single Screen, Not a Case
New Star sells most of its screens in packs of six, and that’s too many for a home cook. This 10-inch listing is the single. It describes seamless aluminum with an open mesh, and names pizzerias, catering operations and home kitchens as uses, along with reheating slices and staging prepared dough.
Reheating is an underrated use for a screen, since it stops the bottom of a slice from steaming on a pan. The listing’s weight figure looks wrong, so don’t rely on it. New Star Foodservice was also the seller at last check.
Why we like it
- Sold as a single, unlike the maker’s six-packs
- Names home kitchens directly
- Named for reheating slices
Key specifications
| Model | 50660 |
|---|---|
| Size | 10 inches |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Rim | Seamless |
| Count | 1 |
| Care | Not stated; we would hand wash |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Pick this for small pizzas and reheating, particularly if you like buying from the maker’s own storefront.
Skip it if you want a bigger size from New Star. At last check most of its larger in-stock screens were sold as packs of six, which are more than a home kitchen needs.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sold by the maker
- Named for home kitchens
- Open mesh
Cons
- 10 inches only at this single-count listing
- Gauge not stated
7. American Metalcraft 18731 Rectangular Pizza Screen, 11 x 16-inch – Fits a Half-Size Bun Pan
Not every pizza is round, and not every oven handles a large circle well. This rectangular screen measures 11 by 16 inches, is made in the USA, and fits half-size bun pans, says the listing, so it also works for bread, pastries and desserts. That gives it more uses than a round screen.
A rectangle fits a home oven rack and a half-sheet pan neatly, which also makes it useful for a sheet-pan pizza you want crisp on the bottom. It is hand wash only, and Hour Loop was the seller at last check.
Why we like it
- 11 by 16 inches
- Fits half-size bun pans
- Made in USA
- Also for bread, pastries and desserts
Key specifications
| Model | 18731 |
|---|---|
| Size | 11 x 16 inches |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Rim | Not stated |
| Count | 1 |
| Care | Hand wash only |
| Made in | USA |
Why we recommend it
This suits a cook who makes rectangular or Roman-style pizza, or who wants a screen that doubles for other baking.
Skip it if you always bake round. A round screen is simpler to turn and to slide off a peel.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stated US-made
- Uses beyond pizza
- Fits a standard half-size pan
Cons
- Third-party seller at last check
- Not for a round pie
8. Norjac 14-inch Pizza Pan Set of 3 – Screen, Perforated and Solid
If you aren’t sure a screen is what you want, this set lets you find out. It has three 14-inch aluminum pans: a mesh screen, a perforated pan and a solid pan. Bake the same dough on all three and you’ll learn more about your oven than from any review.
Norjac is an Amazon-first brand, and the listing’s quality claims are its own. It recommends hand washing and says not to cut directly in the pan or use the dishwasher. Be sure your oven takes a 14-inch pan before you buy.
Why we like it
- One screen plus two other pan types
- All aluminum
- 14-inch size
- Clear care directions
Key specifications
| Model | 14in – 3pk |
|---|---|
| Size | 14 inches |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Rim | Not stated |
| Count | 3 (1 screen) |
| Care | Hand wash; do not cut in the pan |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This is a good starter for someone building a home pizza setup who hasn’t settled on a crust style.
Skip it if you only want a screen. You would be buying two pans you may not use.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Three ways to bake in one purchase
- Care directions given
- Sold by the brand
Cons
- Only one of the three is a screen
- Amazon-first brand
How to choose a screen for a home oven
Screens are simple, so the choice comes down to a few practical points.
Size against your oven
Measure the rack before anything else, and remember that air needs to move around the disc. A 12-inch screen suits most ovens and makes a standard pizza. Go to 14 inches only if the rack leaves room on all sides. Our toaster oven pizza guide is a better starting point for very small ovens.
Thickness
Gauge numbers run backward: lower means thicker. American Metalcraft lists 14 gauge, Update lists 18 gauge, and most listings don’t say. A thicker screen is harder to bend, and a thinner one is lighter. Neither is a stone, so don’t expect the same bottom heat.
Seamless rim
Almost every screen here advertises one, and it’s worth having. A rim without a seam or a rough edge is easier on your hands and less likely to snag a peel or a towel.
Case packs and the count
Check the count before you buy. Pack sizes are often hidden far along in a listing title, and restaurant packs of 6 or 12 are the most common thing you will see. Everything here except the Norjac set is a single piece.
Screen, pan or stone
Mesh leaves the underside open to the oven’s heat, so a screen sits between a solid pan and a preheated stone or steel. Choose a screen for convenience, a stone or steel for a harder bottom crust. Some home bakers begin on a screen and finish directly on a hot stone. Our pizza stone and pizza steel guides cover those.
Care
Bare aluminum dislikes the dishwasher, and American Metalcraft and Norjac both call for hand washing. Don’t cut pizza on the screen. Slide it to a board first. None of the listings here mention seasoning, so we wouldn’t count on one being required, and none gives an oven temperature limit.
How we picked these eight pizza screens
We searched Amazon for pizza screens sold new and in stock from identifiable makers, with two Amazon-first brands on this page. We looked for home sizes and single pieces first and removed case packs, along with non-stick “screens” that are really perforated pans. Many Update International, Browne and American Metalcraft sizes showed low stock, which is why some makers appear at less common sizes. We compared size, gauge, rim and care as the listings state them.
We have not baked on these screens, and we don’t claim to have. These picks rest on maker and listing details. We also looked up each brand in the CPSC recall database and found no recall of any pizza screen on this page.
Pizza screen questions, answered
Is a pizza screen better than a pizza stone?
It is easier but not hotter. A stone stores heat and gives a stronger bottom crust once it’s preheated. A screen needs no preheating and is much lighter to handle.
Do I need a peel with a screen?
Not to get a pizza into the oven. You can top it on the screen and carry it in with oven mitts. A metal peel makes it easier to turn the pizza or take it out.
What size aluminum pizza screen should I buy?
Twelve inches is the safe choice. Choose 10 inches for individual pizzas, and 14 inches for a big family pizza if your rack has room.
Will dough stick to a screen?
It can, particularly a wet dough on bare mesh. Stretch the dough, place it on the screen, and top it quickly. A light oiling can help, though none of the listings here give instructions on it.
Can I use a pizza screen on a grill?
The listings here describe oven use and don’t state grill use, so we wouldn’t assume it. Our pizza stone for the grill guide covers that setup.
Our final pick for an easy crisp crust
Start with the Winco 12-inch and a simple dough. If you end up baking every week, the heavier American Metalcraft is worth the upgrade, or look at a stone or steel. A good pizza cutter finishes the kit.
And on the nights when pizza dough isn’t happening, see the menu at Julia’s or call to order.