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Tandoor Buying Guide Before You Choose A Tandoor

Sizing, fuel type, materials, and certifications — everything to compare before choosing a tandoor oven for your home, catering business, or restaurant.

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Tandoor buying guide: three Tandoor Morni tandoor ovens in home, catering and restaurant sizes side by side NSF, CSA & ETL Certified
Tandoor Ovens

Buying guide

Tandoor Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Tandoor Oven

Buying a tandoor is a big decision, whether it is a home tandoor oven for the backyard or a commercial tandoor oven for a busy restaurant line. This tandoor oven buying guide walks you through every choice in order: home or commercial, fuel, size, clay quality, certification and budget.

Think of it as our complete tandoor oven buyer's guide, and a practical tandoor buyer's guide you can come back to at any stage. By the end you will know exactly how to buy a tandoor that suits your kitchen, and which tandoor oven for sale on our site matches your needs.

Jump to

The 60-second answerHow to choose in 6 stepsHome vs commercialGas, charcoal or electricSize guideBest for homeClay oven guideBefore you buyModel finderHow to buyFAQ

The short answer

Tandoori Oven Buyer's Guide in 60 Seconds

If you only read one part of this tandoori oven buyer's guide, read this.

Cooking at home?Choose a compact outdoor model such as the Mini Clay Tandoor Oven Home R26 or Large Outdoor Tandoor Oven R32. Home tandoors are outdoor equipment.
Running a restaurant?Choose a CSA and NSF certified gas tandoor sized to your busiest service, such as the Restaurant Tandoor Oven CH02 or Natural Gas Tandoor Oven CH04.
Catering or a food truck?Choose a compact, transportable model such as the Food Truck Tandoor Oven CS02 (propane-ready) or the Portable Charcoal Catering Tandoor CS03.
Not sure?Call +1 (727) 251-6924 or visit one of our 9 showrooms and compare in person.

All Buying Guide posts

18 articles
Stainless steel tandoor seller Washington: Authentic Clay & Steel Ovens for Every Kitchen
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Stainless steel tandoor seller Washington: Authentic Clay & Steel Ovens for Every Kitchen
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Best Tandoor Seller USA: Authentic Clay Tandoor Ovens Shipped Nationwide
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Best Tandoor Seller USA: Authentic Clay Tandoor Ovens Shipped Nationwide
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Commercial Tandoor for Restaurant Kitchens: The Complete Buying Guide
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Commercial Tandoor for Restaurant Kitchens: The Complete Buying Guide
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Commercial vs Residential Tandoor: Which One Actually Fits Your Kitchen
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Commercial vs Residential Tandoor: Which One Actually Fits Your Kitchen
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Tandoor Models CS01, CS03 and CS04 with Tandoor Morni and NSF/ANSI 4 logo and the text heading How to choose the right catering tandoor for weddings and Outdoor Functions.
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Catering Tandoor for Weddings: How to Choose the Right Outdoor Event Oven
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How to Choose a Tandoor: The Complete Buying Guide for Home Cooks
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How to Choose a Tandoor: The Complete Buying Guide for Home Cooks
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How to Choose a Tandoor: A Portable Tandoor for Home Buying Guide
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Tandoor oven guide: cross-section view of a clay tandoor oven showing the interior chamber and radiant heat cooking method
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Tandoor Ovens: Everything You Should Know
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Tandoor vs conventional grill: a charcoal tandoor oven and a traditional BBQ grill set up side by side outdoors
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Tandoor vs Conventional Grill: What's Right for You?
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What Is a Tandoor: Which Tandoor Is Best for Commercial and Residential Use?
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Where to find a tandoor: a showroom display of clay and stainless steel tandoor ovens for home and restaurant kitchens
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Where Can You Find a Tandoor for Your Kitchen?
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Propane vs charcoal vs clay tandoor: fresh naan bread baked side by side in a gas tandoor oven and a charcoal tandoor oven
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Propane vs Charcoal vs Clay Tandoor: How Naan Bread Actually Compares
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Restaurant and home tandoor ovens side by side: a commercial clay tandoor in a professional kitchen and a mini clay tandoor on a home patio
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Restaurant and Home Tandoor Ovens: Choosing the Right Clay Oven for Restaurant or Home
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Square vs Round Clay Tandoor: Which One Is Right for You?
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Stainless steel tandoor for chefs: a modern stainless steel tandoor oven in a professional open kitchen with a chef working nearby
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From Tradition to Innovation: Exploring Stainless Steel Tandoors for Today's Chefs
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Copper tandoor luxury trend: a polished copper tandoor oven as the centerpiece of a modern upscale Indian kitchen
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How to Cure a New Clay Tandoor Before First Use
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Safety & Operations, Buying Guide
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Step by step

How to Choose a Tandoor Oven in 6 Steps

The same six steps apply if you are working out how to choose a tandoori oven for a home, a restaurant or a catering business.

  1. Decide: home or commercial

    Home tandoors are built for backyards and family cooking; commercial tandoors are built for long service hours and health inspections.

  2. Choose your fuel

    Gas gives steady, controllable heat. Charcoal and wood give extra smoke. Electric suits small indoor spaces but runs cooler.

  3. Pick the right size

    Size the clay pot for your busiest hour of naan and skewers, not your average one.

  4. Check certification

    Restaurants need equipment inspectors recognise. Look for CSA and NSF certification.

  5. Plan the space

    Home tandoors are outdoor equipment. Commercial tandoors need a code-compliant hood and fire suppression, and a licensed gas professional for the connection.

  6. Set your budget

    Compare the full cost, including delivery (in-transit insurance is available at extra cost), and spread it with tandoor oven financing.

Home or commercial

Tandoor Buying Guide: Home vs. Commercial

Our home tandoor buying guide and our commercial advice start from the same question: where will the oven live, and how hard will it work?

FeatureHome tandoor ovenCommercial tandoor oven
Where it goesBackyard, patio or outdoor kitchen (outdoor use only)Restaurant line under a hood with fire suppression
FuelDepends on the model, such as charcoal or wood. See each product page.Natural gas or propane
Typical sizes20x26 to 20x32 inches24x24 to 36x36x37 inches
CertificationNot usually required for home useCSA and NSF certified for health inspections
Built forWeekend cookouts and family gatheringsLong, hot service hours every day
Example modelsMini Clay Tandoor Oven Home R26, Wood Fired Tandoor Oven R28, Large Outdoor Tandoor Oven R32Restaurant Tandoor Oven CH02, Natural Gas Tandoor Oven CH04, Middle Eastern Tandoor Oven CH06
PriceSee each model on our home tandoor ovens pageFeatured commercial models run from $1,799 to $2,199, plus shipping

Fuel

Tandoor Oven Buying Guide: Gas, Charcoal or Electric

An electric tandoor, a gas tandoor and a charcoal tandoor all bake naan, but they suit very different kitchens. For more detail, read our guide to propane vs charcoal vs clay tandoors.

Gas

Natural gas or propane

  • Steady, controllable heat
  • Fast, predictable heat-up
  • The standard for restaurants
  • Needs a licensed gas connection

Examples: Natural Gas Tandoor Oven CH04, CSA ETL NSF Tandoor Oven T04, Propane Gas Tandoor Oven A02

Charcoal & wood

The traditional way

  • Extra smoky flavour
  • Slower to light and settle
  • Best outdoors
  • Great for backyards and events

Examples: Large Outdoor Tandoor Oven R32, Wood Fired Tandoor Oven R28, Charcoal Tandoor Oven CU02, Portable Charcoal Catering Tandoor CS03

Electric

Compact and indoor

  • Plugs in, no gas line
  • Runs cooler than a clay tandoor
  • Less char on naan
  • Suits small indoor kitchens

Examples: Our current range focuses on gas, charcoal and wood-fired clay tandoors.

Size

Choosing the Right Size of Tandoor

Size the clay pot for your busiest hour. Capacities below come from our featured commercial models.

SizeBest forModels
20x26 to 20x32 inchesHome backyards and patiosMini Clay Tandoor Oven Home R26, Wood Fired Tandoor Oven R28, Large Outdoor Tandoor Oven R32
24x24 inchesCatering, events and food trucksRound Catering Clay Tandoor CS01, Food Truck Tandoor Oven CS02, Portable Charcoal Catering Tandoor CS03, Square Catering Charcoal Tandoor CS04
32x32 inchesSmaller restaurants: the Restaurant Tandoor Oven CH02 holds 16 naans for about 40–80 covers per serviceRestaurant Tandoor Oven CH02, Indian Tandoor Oven T02, Propane Gas Tandoor Oven A02, Charcoal Tandoor Oven CU02
34x34 inchesMid-size restaurants: the Natural Gas Tandoor Oven CH04 holds 18 naans for about 80–150 coversNatural Gas Tandoor Oven CH04, CSA ETL NSF Tandoor Oven T04, Stainless Steel Tandoor Oven A04, Clay Tandoor Oven CU04
36x36 inchesLarge restaurants, hotels and banquet halls: the Middle Eastern Tandoor Oven CH06 holds 20 naansMiddle Eastern Tandoor Oven CH06, Punjabi Tandoor Oven T06, Large Indoor Tandoor Oven A06, Traditional Tandoor Oven CU06

Tandoori Oven for Home: Buying Guide

Best Tandoor Oven for Home: Buying Guide

A tandoor oven for home use should fit your outdoor space, your fuel preference and how many people you cook for. These are the three home tandoor ovens buyers ask about most.

Compact

Mini Clay Tandoor Oven Home R26

The smallest home model, at 20x26 inches, for patios and small backyards.

Wood fired

Wood Fired Tandoor Oven R28

A 20x28 inches clay tandoor for cooks who want real wood-fired flavour.

Charcoal

Large Outdoor Tandoor Oven R32

The largest home model, at 20x32 inches, for bigger families and gatherings.

Home tandoor tips

The clay pot

Clay Oven Buying Guide: What Makes a Good Clay Tandoor

Whether you think of this as an Indian clay oven buying guide or a clay tandoor oven buying guide, the clay pot is what you are really paying for. An Indian clay oven lives or dies by its clay.

Tandoori Clay Oven Buyer's Guide: How to Choose a Clay Oven

01

Thick, hand-finished clay

A thicker clay pot holds heat longer and cooks more evenly. Ask how the clay is made and finished.

02

Insulation and body

The clay sits inside an insulated body. Choose a stainless steel body for easy cleaning, or copper for a traditional look.

03

Hairline cracks are normal

Fine surface cracks are normal in a working clay tandoor. Keep the Tandoor Clay Pot Repair Kit AS08 on hand for maintenance.

04

Proper curing

A new clay pot must be cured slowly before its first high-heat cook, using Tandoor Oven Curing Paste AS05.

05

Parts you can replace

A good clay tandoor is a long-term buy. Make sure parts like the Tandoor Oven Burner – AS06 and Tandoor Oven Thermocouple AS12 are available.

Checklist

Tandoori Oven for Sale: What to Know Before You Buy

Before you choose any tandoori oven for sale, or any tandoor oven for sale from any seller, work through these eight points.

Model finder

Which Tandoor Should You Buy? A Quick Model Finder

This part of our tandoori oven buying guide matches common situations to a starting model. Call us to confirm the right fit.

If you have…Start with
A backyard or patio at homeLarge Outdoor Tandoor Oven R32Charcoal, 20x32 inches
A small home with limited spaceMini Clay Tandoor Oven Home R26Compact, 20x26 inches
A food truck or street cartFood Truck Tandoor Oven CS02Propane-ready, 24x24x37 inches
Catering and outdoor eventsPortable Charcoal Catering Tandoor CS03Charcoal, 24x24 inches
A restaurant serving 40–80 coversRestaurant Tandoor Oven CH0216 naans, 32x32x37 inches
A restaurant serving 80–150 coversNatural Gas Tandoor Oven CH0418 naans, 34x34x37 inches
A large restaurant or banquet hallMiddle Eastern Tandoor Oven CH0620 naans, 36x36x37 inches
A city that requires NSF and CSA togetherCSA ETL NSF Tandoor Oven T04Dual-certified T-Series

Ready to buy

How to Buy a Tandoor: Online or in a Showroom

Order online or by phone

Choose your model, call +1 (727) 251-6924 or email info@tandoormorni.com with any questions, and we deliver to your door. Commercial ovens ship by freight; home ovens ship by standard carrier. In-transit insurance is available at extra cost.

Visit one of 9 showrooms

Compare ovens side by side and take one home the same day. Showrooms are open Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM, by appointment.

Edison, NJHouston, TXElk Grove Village, ILTampa, FLWashington, DCAlgona, WAManteca, CABoulder, COMississauga, ON

See all showroom addresses

Keep reading

More Tandoor Buying Guides and Resources

Continue our tandoor buyer's guide with these in-depth reads and resources.

Propane vs charcoal vs clay tandoorsHow the main tandoor types compare.Stainless steel tandoorsWhy chefs choose stainless steel bodies.Copper tandoor ovensTraditional looks with a clay heart.Commercial tandoor ovensCertified ovens for restaurants.Home tandoor ovensBackyard and patio models.Catering tandoor ovensPortable ovens for events.Tandoor oven accessoriesTools, spares and care products.Winter setup tipsCuring and covering in cold weather.Tandoor oven financingSpread the cost of your oven.CSA and NSF certificationWhat certification means for you.Tandoori recipesRecipes tested on our ovens.Showrooms near you9 showrooms in the USA and Canada.

Questions

Tandoor Buying Guide: Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when buying a tandoor oven?
Start with where it will be used (home or commercial), then choose the fuel, size and certification, and check that spare parts are available. Our tandoor buying guide walks through each step, and our team can help on +1 (727) 251-6924.
Is a gas or charcoal tandoor better?
Gas gives steady, controllable heat and is the standard for restaurants. Charcoal and wood give extra smoky flavour and suit backyards and outdoor events. Many home cooks choose charcoal; most restaurants choose gas.
Is an electric tandoor as good as a clay tandoor?
An electric tandoor is compact and works indoors, but it usually runs cooler and gives less char than a clay tandoor. Our current range focuses on gas, charcoal and wood-fired clay tandoors.
Can I use a home tandoor indoors?
No. Home tandoors are outdoor equipment for backyards, patios and outdoor kitchens. Never use one in an apartment, garage or other enclosed space.
What size tandoor do I need for a restaurant?
As a guide, the Restaurant Tandoor Oven CH02 (32x32x37 inches) holds 16 naans for about 40–80 covers, the Natural Gas Tandoor Oven CH04 (34x34x37 inches) holds 18 naans for about 80–150 covers, and the Middle Eastern Tandoor Oven CH06 (36x36x37 inches) holds 20 naans for larger kitchens.
Does a restaurant tandoor need certification?
Health inspectors look for commercial cooking equipment that meets recognised standards. Our commercial ovens are CSA and NSF certified. Confirm local requirements with your health department.
What comes with a Tandoor Morni oven?
Every model ships with an accessories kit including Tandoor Skewers & Shish Kebab Skewers For Sale — Flat Metal Grilling Rods AS04, the Tandoori Naan Rod Pair AS03, the Tandoor Oven Naan Gaddi AS09 and Tandoor Oven Curing Paste AS05. Commercial models also include the Tandoor Clay Pot Repair Kit AS08.
How much does a tandoor oven cost?
Featured commercial models run from $1,799 to $2,199 plus shipping, and each home model is priced on its product page. You can spread the cost with tandoor oven financing.
Can I see a tandoor before I buy?
Yes. We have 9 showrooms across the USA and Canada, open Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM, by appointment.
Keep Exploring

Other topics on the blog

Safety & Operations

Lighting, curing, temperature control, and maintenance tips for running a tandoor safely.

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Health, Culture & Informational

The history of tandoori cooking, regional traditions, and the health side of clay-oven grilling.

Explore
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Talk Equipment With Our Team — 9 USA & Canada Showrooms

Planning A Commercial Kitchen Or Catering Fleet? Nine Showrooms Across the USA and Canada.

Equipping a restaurant, ghost kitchen, or catering business is easier with a walkthrough. Visit a Tandoor Morni showroom and our team can help you plan kitchen layout, compare commercial models, and talk through financing in person. Showrooms are located in Edison NJ, Houston, Chicago, Tampa, Washington D.C., Manteca CA, Algona WA, Boulder CO, and Mississauga ON. Call ahead to book your visit • Mon to Fri, 10AM to 4PM.

View All Showroom Locations & Addresses