Whether you're updating, upgrading, or remodeling your kitchen, a range hood is a necessary partner for your stove. Range hoods collect cooking smells, heat, condensation, and grease, preventing these undesirables from accumulating on your ceiling or elsewhere in your kitchen. In this guide, we'll walk you through choosing the best range hood for your kitchen from the many types of range hoods available.

In This Guide

Best Range Hood Types
Range Hood Airflow Capacity
Best Range Hood Sizes
Best Range Hood Exhaust Types
Best Range Hood Blower Types
Best Range Hood Features

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Best Range Hood Types

Wall-Mounted:

Attached to a wall rather than to a ceiling or cabinetry, this range hood type is optimal if there's a break in your kitchen's upper cabinetry above your stove top. Wall-mounted range hoods are some of the most traditional-looking types of range hoods.

Under-Cabinet:

The most commonly-used style of range hood, this slim option affixes to the bottom of your cabinetry over your range and can easily be integrated into your existing space.

Island:

Also known as chimney hoods, these range hoods hang from the ceiling above a kitchen island. If your stove top is housed on your kitchen island, this is your best range hood option.

Insert:

Essentially the guts of a hood without the housing, insert range hoods are designed to fit into a custom hood cover. These 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.

Down-Draft:

Many down-draft hoods aren't actually hoods at all; instead, they are flat panels that are installed beside or behind the stove top. These range hood models are most often used when a range is situated in an awkward area, like in front of a window. 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.

Range Hood Airflow Capacity

A range hood with the right airflow capacity will be able to absorb hot air rising up from the stove and remove it from the room, keeping your kitchen cool and free from excessive moisture. Therefore, picking out a range hood with the right airflow capacity for your kitchen range is essential.

Airflow capacity or range hood strength is the amount of air removed from the kitchen in the span of one minute — measured in cubic feet per minute, (CFM). The higher the CFM, the greater the airflow. A range hood's CFM should align with a range's total British thermal units (BTUs), which in this case represents the combined output of heat from stove burners.

You should plan for 100 CFM per 10,000 BTUs. A lot of times you can find the total BTU output for your kitchen range in the product manual, but on Wayfair's website, you can find it under the specifications tab on product pages. So, for example, if you know your kitchen range has a total output of 40,000 BTUs (say 10,000 per burner), then that means you should be looking at range hoods with 400 or more CFM.

With this in mind, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding on the minimum CFM required for your needs:

Electric or Gas Range:

An electric stove needs at least 300–450 CFMs, while a gas range will require 600–1,200 CFMs for optimum operation. For an exact measurement of a gas range's minimum fan strength, check with your range's manufacturer. Determine the amount of British thermal units (BTUs) your range has and divide that number by 100.

Range Size:

Ranges with more burners will need stronger range hood fans to ensure proper ventilation when most or all burners are in operation. When in doubt, add the total number of BTUs put off by each burner and divide by 100, so you know for sure how many CFM you'll need when all burners are turned on and in use.

Frequency of Use:

If you cook often or tend to use multiple burners at once, you will need a stronger fan to handle the increased heat, so keep that in mind when choosing the best range hood for your home.

Room Size:

Larger kitchens require a stronger hood fan to account for the increased air space. You can easily find the minimum CFM needed for your kitchen's square footage by multiplying your kitchen's total cubic feet by 15 and then dividing by 60 (the number of minutes in an hour).

Noise Levels:

A common complaint about range hoods is their noise output, which can be influenced by the range hood's airflow capacity. This noise is typically measured in units called sones, but some manufacturers may provide sound levels in decibels. The average range hood has between two and six speed settings. The low setting should reach about three sones (about 40 decibels), which is about the same sound level as a running refrigerator. The loudest hood ranges (due to their higher CFMs) will max out at seven or eight sones (about 56 to 57 decibels). This equates to roughly the same noise level as traffic. If you're concerned about noise level, shop for range hoods with a quiet mode.

Best Range Hood Sizes

Range hood size is the next most important consideration, once you've decided on which range hood type you need and its projected airflow capacity. The size you go with should be large enough to absorb heat and moisture as you cook but small enough to fit between or tuck under overhead cabinets.

Start by using a tape measure to record the width of your range or cooktop. The best rule of thumb is to choose a range hood that's at least as wide as the stovetop, preferably one that's three inches longer on both sides so that it extends outward from the sides of the stovetop. This ensures the range hood catches any steam or heat escaping out the side.

Also make sure you have the right amount of space between the stovetop and the bottom of the range hood, as range hoods need to be high enough to ventilate properly yet low enough to catch and absorb the steam. Typically electric ranges require a matching range hood to be about 20" to 24" inches above the stove, while gas ranges need a range hood placed 24" to 30" above the stove to accommodate burners with open flames. When in doubt, refer to the range hood product manual for specific placement instructions.

With these tips in mind, take a look at the different range hood sizes available to see which one will work best for your kitchen:

20" & 24":

20" & 24" range hoods are typically smaller and more narrow in size, making them the perfect counterpart for small apartment ranges. Pair a 20" range hood with a 20" range for small space cooking. Have some space to spare? Pair a 24" range hood with a 20" range for even more ventilation.

30" & 36":

Choose a 30" or 36" range hood for a more standard size option. 30" range hoods work best with an equivalent 30" range, while a 36" range hood can go with either a 30" range (if you have the room), or a 36" range for a well-balanced look.

42" & 48":

Slightly above average size, 42" and 48" range hoods are ideal for larger kitchens or for making a statement above a kitchen island cooktop.

54" & 60":

These range hood sizes pair well with large ranges that feature double ovens and stovetops. Pair a 54" range hood with a 48" or 50" range or a 60" range hood with a 54" range to catch the maximum amount of steam, heat, or odors from the stovetop below.

Best Range Hood Exhaust Types

Ducted:

Ducted range hoods vent air and irritants out of the house via a duct. Installing a ducted range hood is a complex process that 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 air.

Ductless:

Ductless range hoods, also called ventless range hoods, filter irritants out of the air and use internal fans to then recirculate the cleaned air back into your kitchen. Because they are ductless, these range hoods are easier to install than ducted range hoods.

Convertible:

Convertible range hoods are range hoods that 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. 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.

Best Range Hood Blower Types

A range hood blower is the mechanism that includes the fans and filters. In short, the blower does all the work. In this section, we explain the different blower types available and what impact each might have on the sound of your range hood. A range hood is different from a range hood exhaust in that a blower handles filtration and ventilation while the exhaust is where the filtered air or irritants are emitted.

Exterior Unit:

An exterior unit is located on the roof or exterior wall of the home. Although relatively large, these blowers are a somewhat quieter option since the fan is farther away from the kitchen.

Interior Unit:

Interior units are installed in the hood itself. While these blowers tend to be a bit noisier than exterior units, they are easier to install and service if needed.

In-Line Unit:

Placed in a range hood's duct, an in-line blower is mounted outside of the range hood but inside the home (often in either a basement or attic). Eliminating the need for a bulky blower on the exterior of the home, this option is both aesthetically pleasing and relatively quiet compared to interior units.

Best Range Hood Features

Ease-of-Installation Features:

If installation difficulty is a big concern of yours, shop for range hoods with ease-of-installation features. Easy-install range hoods are ductless range hoods designed to be installed with as little difficulty as possible. Other ducted range hoods come with chimney extensions included so you won't need to worry about constructing your own in order to properly vent air out of your home.

Wireless Capabilities:

Some range hoods are compatible with Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth, allowing you to take control from a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-connected device. Others come with a remote control so you don't have to reach too far to operate your range hood.

Heat-Sensing:

Heat-sensing range hoods automatically set their fans to higher speeds when they detect an increase in temperature. Some models even alert you when they detect dangerously high temperatures.

Night-Light:

No one likes cooking in the dark. Some range hoods have built-in night-lights, also called task lights, that illuminate the area beneath them. This handy feature can make a big difference in your ease of cooking after dark, especially during winter, when daylight hours are limited.

Digital Control:

Easy to read and easy to control, range hoods with digital displays are next-level. If you're a fan of all things sleek and high-tech, a digital-control range hood is the range hood for you.