General contractor Karl Ulatowski says to consider the size and the CFM rating when picking a range hood that’s right for your space: “Range hoods are typically 30, 36, or 42 inches in width. Depending on how many CFMs it produces, it may require a 6, 8, or 10-inch round duct.” This is important because it affects placement, and Ulatowski suggests installing your cooktop or range on an exterior wall (if possible) so that the exhaust can release outside the home as quickly as possible. Our top pick, the XtremeAIR Ultra Series UL10-U30 30 in. Range Hood, has a relatively quiet motor, dishwasher-safe baffles, and a 10-year limited warranty. Here are the best range hoods available online. The XtremeAir Ultra Series Range Hood is unobtrusive, versatile, and extra powerful, which is why it’s our top pick. This range hood delivers air movement up to 900 CFM—giving you professional quality exhaust action in your kitchen. This impressive CFM is due to a pair of dual-fan blowers that draw cooking oils, odors, and heat into the unit, where it is vented through ductwork. (This top venting range hood cannot be converted for ductless operation.) On top of professional quality venting, this range hood has three fan speeds that you can control based on your needs. The top fan speed is great for high-heat cooking or smoky situations, and you can use the mechanical push-button controls to select a lower (and quieter) fan speed for light-duty cooking tasks. This XtremeAir range hood is designed to capture airborne grease and combustion products from your cooktop in permanent baffle filters. These baffle filters are dishwasher-safe, giving you an easy way to regularly clean them. It’s also worth pointing out that some compact or shallow range hoods fail to provide sufficient exhaust action for the front burners on a range, but this range hood is 22 inches deep and provides coverage for most cooktops. It’s only available in a stainless steel finish, so if you already have stainless steel appliances, that’s great news, but if you’re working with other finishes in your kitchen, it’s something to consider. Dimensions: 9.75 x 29.5 x 22 inches | Mount Type: Under cabinet | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 900 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 3 Many people choose this range hood because of its affordable price point. It’s worth noting that the manufacturer hasn’t rated it for airflow capacity. Based on its two-speed motor, its ability to move air is not going to be as significant as a high-end range hood with a five- or six-speed fan. However, it provides air recirculation above your cooktop and traps contaminants like smoke and grease in a replaceable charcoal filter. A 75-watt incandescent light bulb provides illumination for your kitchen. Both the fan and light functions are controlled by rocker switches, conveniently located along the front edge of the range hood. Dimensions: 6 x 29.8 x 17.5 inches | Mount Type: Under cabinet | Vent Type: Ductless | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: Not Applicable | Number of Fan Speeds: 2 The button-free design also makes it easy to keep this range hood clean from grease and grime. Wipe down the range hood and control panel with a cleaning cloth or sponge to keep it looking spot-free. The stainless steel baffles are dishwasher-safe, so regularly cleaning those won’t be a chore, either. It’s also worth mentioning that this under cabinet range hood is very quiet at low fan speeds—it has a minimum operating noise level of just 0.9 sones. Of course, if you take on kitchen activities like high-heat searing, you’ll need to increase the fan speed, which will increase the unit’s noise levels. This range hood has a maximum noise level of 13.9 sones when operating at its peak of 860 CFM. For reference, this is around the noise level of a quiet vacuum. Dimensions: 8 x 29.75. x 23 inches | Mount Type: Under cabinet | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 860 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 6 One of the most popular options for a wall-mounted range hood is the ZLINE KB-30 model. It’s constructed of 430 stainless steel to resist corrosion and provide a sleek, modern look for your kitchen. As great as it looks, the real star feature of this range hood is the four-speed motor that gives you maximum airflow of 400 CFM. At top speed, you can expect the fan to register at about 51 decibels (nearly as quiet as normal conversation), but at the lowest speed, noise levels drop to roughly 30 decibels (the volume of a whisper). Notably, the fan motor carries a lifetime warranty. Simple mechanical buttons control fan operation and are paired with a small digital display, indicating fan speed. LED lights illuminate your cooking surface. Keep in mind that regularly cleaning a kitchen range hood is a good practice, and this model has stainless steel baffle filters that can be removed and washed by hand or in the dishwasher. The ZLINE KB-30 is a top-vented range hood but also offers the option of being converted to a ductless unit. And while some wall-mounted range hoods are too tall or too short for various ceiling heights, this model is equipped with two telescoping chimney pieces that can be adjusted for ceilings 8 to 9 feet tall. If your ceilings are taller or shorter, short kits or extension pieces are sold separately. Dimensions: 26.5-42.5 x 30 x 18 inches | Mount Type: Wall-mounted | Vent Type: Convertible | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 400 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 4 This island range hood is constructed of 430 stainless steel for durability and easy maintenance. Permanent stainless steel filters are designed with special baffles to improve circulation. This is a significant feature because aluminum mesh filters typically only last for several washes before needing replacement. Good lighting and visibility are also important features of range hoods, and this Cosmo island range hood includes four 2-watt LED light bulbs to provide adequate lighting over your entire cooking surface. When it comes to using this island range hood, a digital control pad makes it simple to select fan speed, lighting options, or check the time. The three-speed motor is capable of producing air movement up to 380 CFM, which isn’t as powerful as under-cabinet units, but it will still help greatly improve the air circulation above your stovetop. Dimensions: 47 x 29.2 x 23.6 inches | Mount Type: Island | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 380 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 3 The Cosmo COS-5MU30 has a slim profile and is lightweight but is equipped with a three-speed fan motor to draw exhaust from your cooktop. The tradeoff for this compact range hood is more limited air movement of about 100 CFM per the manufacturer. Despite this, homeowners find it does a respectable job of trapping grease and steam, especially for its affordable price point. It also offers the advantage of being a convertible unit—it comes ready to install as a ducted range hood, but you can also order a kit to convert it for ductless operation. Take note that it has a power cord with a three-pronged plug; if your set-up requires hardwire installation, you’ll need to make some modifications to accommodate this range hood. Dimensions: 5.5 x 29.75 x 19.75 inches | Mount Type: Under cabinet | Vent Type: Convertible | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 100 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 3 If you’re doing light-duty cooking, you’ll find the low fan speed to be the quietest, operating at just 2.0 sones. This is about the noise level of a library or professional office environment—in other words, it won’t be a major hindrance to normal conversation or TV-watching. Maintenance of this range hood insert is super simple, as the baffles and aluminum mesh inserts are dishwasher-safe. Aside from clearing smoke and odors from your cooktop, this range hood insert from KOBE serves to illuminate your cooking surface. A pair of 3-watt LED lightbulbs provides a bright, white light that makes it easy to see what you’re preparing. If there’s any reason to find fault with the KOBE INX2930SQBF-500-1, it might be that the provided bulbs are too bright for the preference of some cooks. Dimensions: 11.5 x 27.75 x 14.75 inches | Mount Type: Insert | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 550 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 3 The 30-inch GE Convertible Under Cabinet Range Hood fits snugly above your range, in the perfect spot to capture cooking oil, smoke, and steam from the pans and pots below. A charcoal insert filters out kitchen contaminants and can be replaced as its effectiveness decreases. After filtration, the air is exhausted through vents on the underside of the range hood. A two-speed motor doesn’t give you as many options for fan settings, but the rocker switch makes it easy to toggle between high and low speeds. With air movement speeds of 200 CFM, it isn’t as powerful as ducted models, but it’s a viable option if you have no external vent available. Dimensions: 5.5 x 29.8 x 20 inches | Mount Type: Under cabinet | Vent Type: Convertible | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 200 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 2 The KitchenAid Specialty Series stands out as the go-to option for gourmet kitchens since it is capable of producing air movement up to 600 CFM. Even on low, this downdraft pushes air around at more than 100 CFM. You’ll need to keep the telescoping mechanism in good working order with regular maintenance, and when you do, you’ll have a downdraft on demand that doesn’t obstruct your view when not in use. The telescoping design allows this KitchenAid model to extend 14 inches above your cooktop—some downdraft systems only reach a height of 10 inches and are better suited for use with a skillet or sauté pan. The extra height will make it easier for the fan to exhaust cooking fumes and steam from pots. Dimensions: 28.5 x 36 x 12.5 inches | Mount Type: Downdraft | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 600 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 4
Mount Type
Also referred to as installation type, this relates to how the range hood fits into your kitchen and appliance layout. You’ll need to know if you’re shopping for an under cabinet, wall-mounted, or island range hood. Two other mount types include an insert, which fits inside of a larger decorative hood, or a downdraft system, which is most often installed in island ranges where an overhead kitchen range hood isn’t possible or would be considered an obstruction.
Vent Type
There are three vent types for kitchen ranges: ducted, ductless, or convertible. The most common and efficient type is a ducted range hood. This allows the fan to exhaust kitchen air outside. Usually, it will mean that the cooktop and range hood are located on an exterior wall. Ductless range hoods can still offer some benefit by filtering smoke, grease, oil, and cooking contaminants through a filter before recirculating the air. However, this vent type will have reduced air movement compared to ducted models. Convertible vent types can be used as recirculating range hoods or can be connected to an exhaust duct. Larry Campbell, The Spruce’s Home Improvement Review Board member, notes that some very high-end range hoods on the market have “a remote fan motor in the exhaust vent line. They are controlled from the hood located at the stove, but to cut sound, the actual fan motor is located outside or in the attic.” This is very convenient for those who don’t want their range hood to make much noise or cause a disturbance in their household during meal prep times.
Airflow Capacity
Cubic feet per minute, or CFM, is the common metric used to measure a range hood’s airflow capacity. If you have a large kitchen or cook with high heat frequently, a range hood with greater airflow capacity (600 CFM or greater) is your best option. Keep in mind that a higher CFM rating is also accompanied by an increase in fan noise.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Erica Puisis, content and home appliance writer for The Spruce. As a product researcher and tester, she focuses on features and usability when evaluating products. The featured range hoods in this roundup were evaluated based on their air movement, ease of cleaning, vent configuration, and mounting type of each model. She also took into account trends noted in customer reviews, especially in terms of installation and performance. How to clean the hood depends on the type of material. Most metal hoods can be cleaned with a degreaser. Use a clean cloth with warm water to rinse all surfaces after they have been cleaned. The exterior of the hood can also be cleaned with a degreaser and soft cloth, except in the case of decorative wooden hoods, which should be dusted on a weekly basis. The specific process will vary depending on your home’s layout and the type of range hood you choose. Generally, first, you must ensure that you have the proper ductwork for the exhaust fan. The duct should be the most direct route out of the house, either through an exterior wall or the roof. After the ductwork is in place, you’ll need to verify that you have access to the electrical wiring. Then you can proceed with the installation of the range hood according to mounting type. Under-cabinet range hoods will mount to cabinets over the stove, while wall-mounted range hoods will attach to the wall. Before fastening the range hood in place, connect the wiring in the hood’s electrical box and ensure that the duct connector is secure. Then, tighten the screws to fully secure the range hood. In addition, Erica consulted with general contractor Karl Ulatowski. As the owner of Hearthstone Home Remodeling, he provided expertise on why a range hood is important in every kitchen, along with what features to look for when comparing models.
