Starting a home bakery can feel overwhelming when you look at all the equipment options available. But the good news is that you do not need everything at once.
## Start with the Essentials
Before spending money on specialty equipment, make sure you have the basics covered:
**A reliable scale** — Weight-based baking is more accurate than volume measurements. A simple digital scale is one of the best investments you can make.
**A Dutch oven or combo cooker** — This is your steam chamber for sourdough. The Lodge Combo Cooker or a good Dutch oven produces excellent results in a standard home oven.
**A bench scraper** — An inexpensive tool that improves your workflow dramatically.
**Bannetons (proofing baskets)** — Round and oval bannetons give your dough structure during the final proof. Start with one or two and expand from there.
## Your Oven is the Biggest Decision
If you are baking more than 2–3 times per week or thinking about selling bread, your oven becomes the most important piece of equipment. See our [Best Home Bakery Ovens guide](/buying-guides/best-home-bakery-ovens/) for our full breakdown.
## Build in Stages
You do not need to buy everything at once. A reasonable starting setup costs $100–$300. A more serious home bakery setup runs $1,000–$3,000+ depending on your oven choice.
Start simple. Learn your process. Then upgrade the equipment that is limiting you.