10 Types of Range Hoods for Every Kitchen
There's a 'range' of possibilities!
A safe and fully-equipped kitchen is essential, whether you cook multiple dishes at a time or boil the occasional store-bought pasta to balance out your take-out regime. Your kitchen range (stove-oven combo) or designated cooktop needs a ventilation source to help redirect steam and smoke from boiling, sauteing, or frying activities. Range hoods are kitchen appliances that fulfill this requirement – and look great too! Read further to learn about all the types of range hoods you have to choose from.
Tip!
Get more in-depth information about range hood types, size considerations, and features in our guide on
How to Choose the Best Range Hood For Your Kitchen.
What Is a Range Hood?
A range hood is a kitchen appliance that helps clean the air and prevent moisture build-up as you cook food on a kitchen range. Its vents help trap and remove strong odors, smoke, steam, or oils from the air. Not only does this keep your kitchen’s air clean and smelling fresh, it also helps prevent moisture-related damage to surrounding surfaces like wood kitchen cabinets, wall paint, and kitchen appliances that are repeatedly exposed to moisture. As an added bonus, range hoods come in a variety of styles, from practical to decorative, so you can determine the best one for your kitchen aesthetic.
Range Hood Venting & Placement Types
Range hoods are classified by their ventilation type (duct, ductless, or convertible) or their suitability for outdoor conditions. Review these types of range hoods to determine the most practical options to look for when browsing for design options and configurations.
Ducted
Ducted range hoods vent air and irritants out of the house via a duct. Installing a ducted range hood involves drilling vent holes into your wall that lead to the outside of your home. Ducted range hoods are typically the best range hoods for effectively removing irritants and cleaning the air because they actually remove the steam, smoke, and irritants from the kitchen and filter them outside. Ducted range hoods are commonly paired with wall-mounted, insert, or island hood designs.
Ductless
Ductless range hoods, also called ventless range hoods, use internal fans and filtration mechanisms to draw air into the range hood, trap odors and other particles, and push recycled, clean air back out into your kitchen. Because they are ductless, these range hoods are easier to install than ducted range hoods, but they don't have the same ventilation quality. Ductless range hoods are common in under-cabinet, downdraft, and over-the-range microwave range hood styles. However, insert and wall-mounted range hoods can also have a ductless design.
Convertible
Convertible range hoods can function as ductless units but are also compatible with ducts if necessary. To use a convertible range hood as a ductless range hood, you must install special charcoal filters. You might want to purchase a convertible range hood in place of a ducted or ductless range hood if you know you want a range hood but aren't quite sure which type you'd like, since a convertible range hood would allow you the option to test out a ductless range hood. Then, if you so desire, you can convert it to a ducted range hood at a much lower price than what you'd pay to replace a ductless range hood with an all-new ducted range hood.
Outdoor-Suitable
Outdoor-suitable range hoods are weather-resistant and durable, which allows them to maintain their efficiency while handling higher temperatures produced by the grill and the surrounding climate. Ultimately, outdoor-suitable range hoods help prevent oil, grease, and smoke from getting on existing outdoor surfaces like your patio furniture, garden plants, and the exterior walls of your home, keeping the space clean and free of potential contaminants. Outdoor-suitable range hoods commonly come in the form of a wall-mounted or under-cabinet type of hood configuration.
Types of Range Hoods
When it comes to range hoods, there are so many options to choose from to accommodate your kitchen layout, size, and venting options. Review the types of range hoods below to learn more about the selection available.
Under-Cabinet
The most commonly-used range hood, this slim option affixes to the bottom of your cabinetry over the range and can easily be integrated into your existing space. Under-cabinet range hoods usually have a ductless design that traps and recycles air to remove odors/steam from the range below. However, there are convertible under-cabinet range hoods that come with duct-friendly components if you do decide you want to hook-up your range hood to exterior ventilation.
As implied by the name, wall-mounted range hoods are installed directly into the wall above the stove top. This range hood is optimal if there's a break in your kitchen's upper cabinets over your stove top. Wall-mounted range hoods can have either duct, ductless, or convertible ventilation systems so you won't have any trouble finding one that matches up with your needs. These are some of the most traditional-looking types of range hoods, and they come in a variety of striking designs and finishes.
Also known as chimney hoods, these range hoods hang from the ceiling above a kitchen island. Island range hoods create a striking look in your space! If your stove top is housed on your kitchen island, this is your best range hood option. These also come in duct-friendly or ductless models to suit the layout of your kitchen.
Essentially the guts of a hood without the housing, insert range hoods are designed to fit into a custom hood cover. These types of range hoods are optimal if you have an unconventionally-shaped kitchen or if you want to ensure that your range hood fits in with your kitchen's unique style. Many insert range hoods are ducted, but some super subtle models are ductless. Ductless insert range hoods aren't as powerful as ducted models, but they can be placed right up against the bottom of a cabinet and tend to be easier to install.
Most down-draft hoods aren't actually hoods at all; instead, they come as flat panels that are installed beside or behind the stove top. These are commonly used when a range is situated in an awkward area, like in front of a window. Down-draft varieties typically utilize ductless range hood ventilation options to be even more flexible and space-friendly. Down-draft range hoods are less visually intrusive than traditional range hoods. Some high-tech models are even designed to descend into the countertop when not in use.
Over-the-range-microwave and range hood combos consist of a microwave with an integrated range hood located on the underside of the microwave. This two-in-one design is super convenient for small-space kitchens. With this range hood, you can fit a microwave and a range hood in your kitchen without taking up any extra space. You can activate the vent function using controls on the microwave itself. Most microwave-range hood combos have a ductless design for basic air cleaning and odor removal.
Browse your way to a well-functioning kitchen, now!
