What's a kitchen without an oven? A study by Statista found that 90% of households in the UK own an oven, which is unsurprising given they’re the appliance of choice for cakes, bakes and your Sunday roast.
So whether your oven needs replacing, you’re looking for an upgrade or you're after a new model to fit your kitchen redesign, it’s important to pick the right one for your family and budget.
We’ve found the best models for a range of price points – from basic but effective budget models to blowout high-tech ones. With rising costs and climate change in mind, energy efficiency has also become a crucial factor when deciding which oven to buy, so we also looked at how efficient each model is to run.
It can be hard to know where to start when you’re looking for a new oven. We’ve spoken to domestic white goods experts from AO, John Lewis & Partners and Currys, as well as advisors from UK Whitegoods, to bring you genuine and useful advice, plus all of the questions you need to ask yourself before you buy. You’ll find our expert-approved best oven suggestions below.
Best ovens at a glance
- Best built-in oven: NEFF Slide&Hide Electric Smart Oven, £999
- Best double oven: AEG CCX1530ACM Double Oven Electric Cooker with Ceramic Hob, £769
- Best electric oven: BOSCH Series 4 HQA574BB3B Electric Pyrolytic Steam Oven, £599
- Best built-in double oven: NEFF N50 U2ACH7AN7B Built In WiFi Connected Electric Double Oven with Pyrolytic Cleaning, £1299
- Best single oven: Smeg Classic SFP6301TVX Built In Electric Single Oven with Pyrolytic Cleaning, £699
- Best oven for versatility: HISENSE Hi6 BlackLine AirFry BSA66346PDBGUK Electric Pyrolytic Steam Smart Oven, £649
- Best budget oven: HOOVER Air Fry HO6 H3AT1ATB Electric Oven, £269
- Best oven under £300: Beko AeroPerfect RecycledNet BBIF22300B Electric Oven, £229
Jump to:
- Best ovens to buy in 2026
- Where to buy an oven
- Best oven brands
- How to choose an oven
- Which type of oven is the most energy efficient?
- How long should an oven last?
- How to clean an oven
How we chose the best ovens
Choosing the right oven for your kitchen and your family dinners might be a tricky task to do online. However, I’ve whittled it down and curated a list of what I deem to be the best ovens on the market for 2026, as per recommendations from leading appliance retailers. I reached out to AO, John Lewis & Partners and Currys, and talked with them about their top-recommended ovens, including those models that are super popular and those that are new to the market and offer the newest in cooking technology. These oven recommendations were extensively compared against one another to curate this list, while comparing things like specifications, price tags and more. I also spoke with industry experts about an oven's lifespan and whether there's anything you can do to extend the life of this all-important appliance.
The experts I spoke to were:
- Ian Palmer Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General
- AO’s appliance expert, Jade Golding-Gault
- Laura Comfort, head of category at Currys
- Matthew Bush, junior large electricals buyer, John Lewis & Partners
Best ovens to buy in 2026
NEFF N70 B54CR71G0B Slide & Hide Electric Smart Oven
Available from Currys (£999)
Best built-in oven
Top features:
- Capacity: 71L
- Energy rating: A+
- Key feature: slide & hide door and air fry function
Pros:
- Air fry function
- Great energy rating
- Two colourways – graphite or stainless steel
- Great capacity size for a single oven
Cons:
- Very high price tag – £999
Aptly named Slide & Hide, this Neff built-in oven oozes convenience for those whose kitchen space is precious. “Rather than opening out into the kitchen, the door disappears underneath the oven, making it easier to access dishes, particularly for those with mobility or dexterity challenges,” claims Laura Comfort, head of category at Currys. Better than that? “The N70 also features CircoTherm technology for cooking multiple dishes simultaneously and pyrolytic self-cleaning, which turns food residue into ash for easy cleaning,” she adds. Plus there’s a specialised air fryer function, to rid the need for an extra cooking appliance. All of this in a single yet spacious 71L cavity that comes in your choice of two colourways to fit with your kitchen style.
Its only downfall? The £999 price tag. Still, if budget allows, there are so many great features packed into this single oven, which, despite being smaller than a double oven, offers four shelf positions and includes four unique trays.
Available from:
AEG CCX1530ACM
Available from AO (£769), AEG (£769.99)
Best double oven
Top features:
- Capacity: 116L
- Energy rating: A
- Key feature: huge capacity
Pros:
- Affordable price tag – especially considering it’s a cooker too
- Huge capacity oven
- Self-cleaning function
- Three colour options
Cons:
- No defrost function
If you want a double oven that truly maximises the amount of cooking space on offer, then this AEG model is a game changer. “I'd recommend the AEG double oven for larger households or anyone who likes to cook a lot at once,” claims AO’s appliance expert, Jade Golding-Gault. “The 77-litre main oven gives you much more room to cook multiple dishes at once, making it easier to prepare family meals, host guests or get ahead with meal prep for the week,” she adds. Plus it has a smaller cavity that’s 39 litres – that’s a total capacity of 116 litres. Impressive! Also, since it’s a cooker, it also boasts a four-zone ceramic hob.
If we’re being picky, it’s a shame that it doesn’t offer a defrost setting, as most ovens do offer this handy setting.
Available from:
BOSCH Series 4 HQA574BB3B Electric Pyrolytic Steam Oven
Available from Currys (£599)
Best electric oven
Top features:
- Capacity: 71L
- Energy rating: A+
- Key feature: AutoPilot 10
Pros:
- Comes in your choice of black or stainless steel
- Reasonable price tag
- Special cleaning mode
Cons:
- No defrost function or air fryer mode
“The BOSCH Series 4 HQA574BB3B Electric Pyrolytic Steam Oven takes the guesswork out of everyday cooking with AutoPilot 10, which selects the cooking mode, temperature and time based on the dish and its weight,” raves Laura from Currys about this intelligent electric oven. “Its Hotair Steam function also combines heat with added humidity to help food stay juicy on the inside while achieving a crisp finish on the outside – particularly useful for everything from roasts to freshly baked bread,” she continues. Better yet, it can even heat to 480C, since its special pyrolytic self-cleaning system can blast away grease and grime so you needn’t get your hands dirty. Design-wise, its control knobs pop in and out for a seamless look.
The only feature we’d change? Its lack of defrost mode – this is admittedly handy when needed. Also it’d be useful to have an air fryer programme, to rid the need of yet another cooking appliance.
Available from:
NEFF N50 U2ACH7AN7B Built In WiFi Connected Electric Double Oven with Pyrolytic Cleaning
Available from AO (£1,299)
Best built-in double oven
Top features:
- Capacity: 105L
- Energy rating: A
- Key feature: Home Connect
Pros:
- App control and voice control from afar
- Defrost function
- Includes four cooking accessories
- Self-cleaning mode
Cons:
- Very large price tag
- No air fry mode
This is the double version of our best-rated built-in oven, which means that it boasts a generous 105 litre capacity over two cavities and four shelves. “What really changes how you use this oven day to day is Home Connect,” claims Jade from AO.com. “Being able to control and monitor the oven from your smartphone gives you much more flexibility around mealtimes, whether that's preheating the oven while you're busy elsewhere in the house or checking on dinner without needing to keep walking back to the kitchen,” she adds. You can even use this in conjunction with your Alexa or Google Home systems to control the oven by voice. Better yet, Matthew Bush, junior large electricals buyer at John Lewis, also raves about it: “The Neff N50 U2ACH7A is an excellent double oven, combining Neff’s CircoTherm multi-shelf cooking with pyrolytic self-cleaning and smart connectivity,” he claims.
Besides its hefty price tag, which is slightly excusable thanks to all the features it packs, we were a little disappointed about the lack of an air fryer mode. If you’re unbothered about this and would rather use a separate appliance, then it’s no issue.
Available from:
Smeg Classic SFP6301TVX
Available from AO (£699), Smeg (£699)
Best single oven
Top features:
- Capacity: 70L
- Energy rating: A+
- Key feature: rapid pre-heat
Pros:
- Self-cleaning mode
- 10 programmes
- Safety features
- Rapid pre-heat
Cons:
- Only one colour option
- No air fryer mode
“I'd recommend the Smeg for busy households looking to save both time and energy in the kitchen,” claims Jade from AO. “Its rapid pre-heating function reduces the time spent getting the oven up to temperature, meaning you can start cooking sooner without the appliance sitting there heating for longer than necessary,” she adds. As well as this, it boasts incredible safety features such as a special child lock and a cool-to-the-touch door. Plus it boasts 10 programmes – including a defrost function, a keep-warm mode and an eco setting.
Sitting at an extremely reasonable price tag, the only things we could possibly find to complain about are the fact it only comes in one colourway – stainless steel. Plus it doesn’t offer an air fryer mode.
Available from:
HISENSE Hi6 BlackLine AirFry BSA66346PDBGUK Electric Pyrolytic Steam Smart Oven
Available from AO (£599), Currys (£649)
Best oven for versatility
Top features:
- Capacity: 77L
- Energy rating: A+
- Key feature: temperature probe
Pros:
- Air Fry Plus mode
- Food probe for exact temperature cooking
- Great price tag
Cons:
- Only one colour option
- Single size
Want a new oven that packs all the added bells and whistles? “The HISENSE Hi6 BlackLine AirFry BSA66346PDBGUK Electric Pyrolytic Steam Smart Oven is a strong all-round electric oven, offering 19 cooking functions including Pizza Mode and Steam Add Plus,” claims Laura from Currys. “It also features a food probe to help cook dishes to the desired temperature and pyrolytic self-cleaning for easier cleaning,” she adds. There’s even more: “For added convenience, it connects to the ConnectLife app, allowing you to control the oven remotely from your smartphone,” she explains. Not only that but this single electric oven boasts a 77L capacity as well as five shelf positions and 19 cooking modes – one of which is for air frying.
The only drawback? It’s a single-size oven, so perhaps not the best choice for larger families or those who are often hosting. Also it only comes in a jet black colourway, there’s no stainless steel option.
Available from:
Hoover Air Fry HO6 H3AT1ATB
Available from Currys (£299), AO.com (£299)
Best budget oven
Top features:
- Capacity: 78L
- Energy rating: A+
- Key feature: air fry mode
Pros:
- Great capacity vs price tag
- Air fryer mode
- Very economical to run
Cons:
- Only one shelf included
- No child lock
“The HOOVER Air Fry HO6 H3AT1ATB Electric Oven is a great budget-friendly option without compromising on practical features,” claims Laura from Currys. “Its built-in air fry function lets you achieve crispy results using little to no oil, without needing a separate air fryer taking up space on the worktop,” she adds. Plus it has an A+ energy rating and a 10-year parts guarantee. “It also offers a generous 78-litre capacity and nine cooking functions,” Laura continues. Out of these cooking functions, six require no preheating so offer a speedy cooking experience.
Its only downfall? Though it is large, it only offers one shelf of space – but six positions to choose from. You can buy another shelf, if needed. For this price tag, it even still offers a self-clean mode. Impressive!
Available from:
Beko AeroPerfect RecycledNet BBIF22300B Electric Oven
Available from Currys (£229), AO (£229), Appliances Direct (£229)
Best oven under £300
Top features:
- Capacity: 72L
- Energy rating: A
- Key feature: AeroPerfect Air Circulation
Pros:
- Multi-shelf cooking
- Self-cleaning mode
- Two shelves – five positions
Cons:
- No air fry mode
“At £229, the Beko AeroPerfect RecycledNet BBIF22300B Electric Oven offers plenty of practical features at an affordable price,” claims Laura from Currys. “AeroPerfect Air Circulation helps hot air move evenly around the oven, delivering more consistent cooking results. For everyday meals, that means less worrying about one side of a dish cooking faster than the other, particularly useful when you're cooking across multiple shelves,” she continues. To put it simply, this single oven is proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune for some added features. It even offers 72L of cooking space over your choice of five levels, wrapped in an A-rated energy rating. At this price, it even still offers a cleaning mode to steam the oven until it’s grease-free.
As you’d expect for £229, it doesn’t offer any fancy presets like an air fryer mode but it does have a defrost setting.
Available from:
More ovens rated by experts
- Beko BBRIE22300XD AeroPerfect Built-In Electric Single Oven, £249
- Neff N50 U2ACM7HH0B built-in electric double oven, £1,099
Where to buy an oven
When it comes to choosing where to buy your new oven, whether that’s direct from the manufacturer or through an appliance store, it’s worth considering and comparing prices. Most likely there will be some sort of promotion via a third-party seller. This will also hugely depend on the time of year that you’re investing. It’d also be worth considering the added extras that people often forget: delivery fees, installation quotes, removal of your old appliance. All these factors can add a chunky amount on to your bill at the end. Some appliance brands do offer these services as an add-on but it’s still worth comparing prices between brands. “Ultimately the most important thing is finding the right product and level of service for your individual needs,” claims AO.com’s appliance expert, Jade Golding-Gault.
Best oven brands
There is no best oven brand out there as the best oven for your kitchen will hugely depend on your circumstances – especially when it comes to budget, space and household size. “Bosch is known for delivering reliable performance and practical features across a wide range of price points,” claims Jade from AO. “Whereas for customers looking for premium design and specialist cooking functions, Smeg is more favourable, while Beko is recognised for offering versatile cooking features that cater to a broad range of households,” she continues.
Thinking a bit more out of the box than specific oven brands, Ian Palmer from Domestic & General tells us to focus on oven maintenance also. “A tip is to check how easy the oven is to clean and maintain. Keeping the cavity, door seal and areas around the fan and elements free from grease and food build-up can make a real difference to performance and longevity,” he explains.
How to choose an oven
Single or double oven?
Before you even begin to think about nifty features and aesthetics, you need to consider what size oven is right for you and your family. In-built ovens are available in two sizes: single and double. Always check the dimensions before buying. Here are the differences:
Single ovens are around 60cm tall. They can go anywhere in the kitchen but most people choose to place them under the counter, beneath a built-in hob or at eye-level in a cabinet.
- Pros: single ovens have a larger single compartment compared to double ovens, making them ideal for big roasts and for fitting large casserole dishes
- Cons: you can only use one function at a time and only set the oven to a single temperature
Double ovens are around 90cm tall and they only fit into a cabinet at eye-level.
- Pros: ideal if you’re looking to cook lots of different dishes at different temperatures or looking to use two different functions, for example grill and fan oven at the same time
- Cons: take up more space, less oven space for larger dishes/pieces of kitchen kit
Gas or electric
Both gas and electric ovens have various pros and cons. We’ve laid them out below to help you make the right choice.
Electric
- Pros: More modern looking electric ovens available, easy to use, generally cheaper to buy than gas, more high-tech features
- Cons: Slower to heat up, slow to adjust temperature
Gas
- Pros: Can control oven temperatures easily, gas creates a more moist environment that's ideal for baking, quick to heat up and cool down
- Cons: Can cost more upfront than electric, food needs to be rotated to ensure it cooks evenly, moist environment makes these ovens less than ideal for food you want to crisp
Features to look out for
As with all white goods, there have been various advancements in the technology used and range of features found in ovens. We’ve detailed the features we think are worth looking out for and asked white goods experts about which features are nice to have but not essential.
- Self-cleaning: look for pyrolytic or catalytic self-cleaning ovens to keep the clean up simple and chemical-free
- Telescopic runners: these are rails that extend fully out of the oven that make removing trays, pots and dishes smoother, easier and safer
- Temperature/meat probes: if you’re not the most confident cook or you just like to ensure accuracy, meat probes are a great addition for precise cooking and to ensure food is cooked through
- Timers: set your oven to automatically cook and turn off without you having to do anything
- Digital controls: these are ideal for when you need an exact cooking temperature, for example for bakes. Five- or 10-degree manual dials are fine but they’re not particularly precise – one or two degree increments ensure accuracy
- Controls that sit flush: this is a real benefit of touchscreen digital controls as it makes the fascia easy to clean. Some manual dials can be pushed inwards so they sit flush, too
- A good selection of accessories: we favour ovens with a range of oven trays, wire racks and a decent number of shelves
- Steam cooking: if you love baking bread, this is the function for you. Some ovens have a water tank that sends plumes of steam into the oven cavity
- Automatic cooking settings: these allow you to choose the setting for exactly the food you’re cooking, such as roast chicken, cake, and more
- Lights/how easy to see inside: an oven cavity that illuminates allows you to peek through the glass without affecting the temperature inside the oven. This is ideal for those bakes where you shouldn’t open the oven halfway through
Additional oven features: are they worth it?
If you’re happy to spend a decent amount of money on a new oven, it's easy to be seduced by the wealth of additional features on offer. We spoke to buying experts from AO and Currys to find out what they think about the following features.
Split ovens
These ovens can be split in two, allowing you to cook at two different temperatures at the same time. A central panel splits the oven into two separate compartments, so you could cook sweet and savoury dishes without the flavours melding.
AO’s expert, Isabella Forgione, adds that split ovens are ideal for busy households and make a fantastic addition "if you’re short on space or for those who want the choice of more cooking options".
Slide-away doors
If you’re a fan of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll have spied these ovens in the tent. The slide-away door does exactly that: when the oven is opened, the door slides underneath, allowing you to get closer to the oven cavity.
All of the experts we asked agreed that these ovens make getting close to the oven safer, allowing you to remove heavy things with ease while also avoiding spills. They can be more expensive but Jonathan Marsh, senior buyer at Currys, says they can be "worth the investment – especially for those with disabilities, families with small children and small kitchens".
"For example, someone in a wheelchair is able to access the oven to put things in and take things out more easily compared to a normal oven." Appliance Direct's expert Matthew Bibbington also points out that they're useful for "removing large trays or pots, and the soft-close hinge is good for mitigating any impact on delicate bakes".
Smart ovens
It seems most kitchen appliances now have some kind of smart function: we’ve seen them on dishwashers and fridge-freezers, so it’s no surprise that ovens have been given the 'smart' treatment.
Jonathan says: "They're great for those with busy lifestyles or even those who have a keen interest in tech." While Isabella adds they're "particularly handy if you want your dinner ready when you get home from work".
The smart features on offer can vary but the majority allow you to control your oven from your phone via the brand’s app. This could be used to cut the time it takes to cook a meal or use the app to see more specific cooking options.
Self-cleaning ovens
Nobody enjoys cleaning their oven – we'd be willing to bet it's the one task you really put off doing. But this is where self-cleaning ovens come in. Designed to make the task easier, there are a few different types of self-cleaning ovens to look out for:
- Pyrolytic: this function heats the oven cavity to a super-high temperature, meaning any food, grease and dirt is carbonised (turned to dust) that can then be simply swept or vacuumed up
- Catalytic liner: these liners absorb fat and anything else that drips down to the base of the oven. The oven will come with a self-cleaning program that’ll need to be run once in a while to loosen all of the dirt, making it easy to wipe away with a damp cloth
- Easy clean enamel: As the name suggests, the enamel lining of the oven doesn’t absorb fat and dirt, making the surface wipe-clean. Be aware, these need to be cleaned regularly to avoid grease build-up baking on hard
- Steam cleaning: this natural cleaning method uses steam to loosen dirt and grime from the oven cavity. Simply pour water into the indent in the base of the oven, select the steam clean function and let the oven do the work. Once the cycle has ended and the oven has cooled slightly, you’ll be able to wipe it clean
Oven symbols: explained
Have you ever looked at your oven and wondered what on earth all of the symbols mean? If you’re a 'pop it on 180C and let it do its thing' type of person, you may not be making the most of your oven. Our graphic details what each symbol means – read on to find out more.
- Low heat element only: only the base of the oven is heated. Ideal for crisping up the base of dishes, like caramelised onion quiche with cheddar & bacon, custard tart or deep dish meatball marinara pizza
- Upper and lower heating elements: this heats both the top and bottom of the oven without the fan. Use this on foods you want to cook on the top and bottom, like classic cheese scones or these spiced 'chorizo' pastry slices
- Fan with lower heat: the heat in the oven comes from the base of the oven and is moved around the oven cavity by the fan. This setting is great for those dishes with a crisp base and gently cooked tops, such as this herby spring chicken pot pie: the base and filling cook while the delicate filo on top doesn’t burn
- Fan oven: heat comes from the element at the back of the oven and is circulated evenly by the fan. You may see a fan symbol with lines above and below – this means the heat comes from the top and bottom of the oven and is circulated by the fan. Fan cooking is great for a range of dishes but ideal for even bakes on cake, be it quick and easy cakes or decadent chocolate cake
- Full grill: heat is produced by the full grill element – great for grilling bacon or finishing off pasta bakes
- Part grill: for when you’re only grilling a small amount, like cheese on toast or a couple of rashers of bacon
- Grill and fan: this setting focusses the majority of the heat on the top of whatever you’re cooking, while the fan distributes the heat, allowing for gentle cooking. Great for fish
- Grill and lower: for browning the tops of dishes and also crisping up the underside. Use this setting on our sausage & leek mash pie or fish pie mac & cheese
- Defrost: this setting turns the fan on minus any heat, so that air circulates, defrosting your food faster than leaving it on the counter would
- Oven light: to turn on the light inside the oven
- Plate warming: gently warm your plates in the oven before serving
- Pyrolytic cleaning: high-heat cleaning function (see above)
- Alarm: so nothing burns!
- Minute minder: this setting automatically turns off the oven after cooking – great for meringues or baked cheesecake
- Child lock: this stops the oven settings from being fiddled with and changed while also keeping children safe
Which type of oven is the most energy efficient?
The energy efficiency of your oven can often come down to its size, age, how often you use it and what you use it for. However, the general consensus among our experts is that fan ovens are more efficient as they circulate hot air more quickly and evenly, which results in quicker cooking times and cuts down the need to preheat the oven.
Jonathan from Currys adds that fan ovens aren't always the most efficient though and instead you should look out for pyrolytic models that are rated A+. "They can keep heat in the oven more effectively while cooking. In addition to this, the pyrolytic cleaning eliminates [the need to use] harsh chemicals to clean," he says.
How long should an oven last?
This is an open-ended question that depends on a range of factors, such as how well you look after your oven, how often you use it and the kind of things you use it for. All of our experts agreed that a well-maintained oven should last more than 10 years.
When should you replace your oven?
In most cases, if something seems up with your oven, professional help should be your first port of call. But there are some tell-tale signs that indicate your oven may be on its last legs:
- Your much-loved recipes aren’t turning out as they normally would
- It’s making strange sounds
- It isn’t heating up
- Your bills are higher than usual
- Nearby cupboards or units are looking scorched
How to clean an oven
The best way to keep your oven in tip-top shape is to keep it clean – this means avoiding messy cooking, wiping away spills and messes as soon as you spot them, and cleaning the whole unit regularly. If your oven has an intense self-cleaning function, use this infrequently as it can be tough on your appliance.
To give your oven a more thorough clean, start by removing the oven door so you can better access the oven cavity. We recommend giving the inside of your oven a good wipe-down to remove surface-level grime, then remove all the racks and oven trays – wire wool and a bit of elbow grease should lift grease and grime from these.
Cleaning chemicals are effective but harmful to the environment and inhaling the fumes can be dangerous. For a chemical-free approach, we advise combining bicarbonate of soda (also known as baking soda) with water to combine a thick paste – aim for the same consistency as wet sand.
Spread the paste all over the inside of your oven, avoiding the heating elements, then let it side for 12 to 24 hours to loosen grime and grease. Finish by spraying a 50/50 water and vinegar solution to remove any residue and achieve a streak-free shine.
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Lead image credit: Brizmaker/Getty Images
source https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/best-ovens
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