The 8 Best Range Hoods to Keep Your Kitchen Air Flowing
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From design to noise level, here’s what to look for in a range hood.
Food & Wine / Brian Kopinski
If you cook often, you’re likely familiar with the issue of lingering smells and oily surfaces that can result from not having enough ventilation in the kitchen. The best solution to this is a range hood, an important appliance that can make all the difference in the cleanliness of your kitchen.
“Kitchen hoods should remove heat, grease, cooking odors, and smoke from the kitchen,” says Sharon L. Sherman, certified kitchen designer and owner of Thyme & Place Design. When selecting a range hood, one of the first things to look for is maximum airflow capacity, often denoted by CFMs — the number of cubic feet of air the hood can move in a minute. Not only that, the appliance should “provide adequate ‘capture area’ above the cooking surface to allow the blower to capture these things and move it through filters and out of the home,” Sherman says.
A range hood can also add a point of focus to the kitchen, so aesthetics can play a big part in selecting one. Other considerations include noise, mount type, and what type of vent system is required. We researched the best kitchen range hoods and compared their features, construction, and performance to determine their placement on this list.
Hauslane UC-PS38SS 30-Inch Ducted Stainless Steel Under Cabinet Range Hood
Best Overall
Pros: Designed for heavy-duty cooking, this hood has six speed settings and comes equipped with a steam clean function that dissolves grease.
Cons: It can only be installed as a ducted hood. Casual home cooks might find it excessive.
This under-cabinet hood from Hauslane boasts powerful dual motors that offer excellent suction to pull fumes, smoke, and steam out of the air while you cook. Equipped with six speed settings, you’ll be able to easily control the fans with the touch of a button. The feature that made this hood stand out from the rest is the steam clean function, which allows you to dissolve even the toughest, caked-on grease with just water; after running the steam function, the unit’s body, screen, and panel should only require a thorough wipe down. This range hood features LED lights that can be changed to match your preferred kitchen lighting, and its clean, contemporary look will blend in seamlessly with many modern home designs. It comes backed with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty that guards against defects in workmanship and material.
Price at time of publish: $550
Mount Type: Under cabinet
Vent Type: Ducted
Dimensions: 8.25 x 29.75 x 23 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Maximum Airflow Capacity: 950 CFM
Cosmo 63175S 30-Inch Ducted Wall Mount Range Hood
Best wall Mounted
Pros: The permanent grease filters on this hood are dishwasher safe. It comes backed with a three-year warranty.
Cons: You’ll have to buy a kit for ductless conversion.
Help keep your walls and backsplash clean with this sleek, wall mount-style hood from Cosmo, equipped with three fan speeds and controlled by backlit touch controls. This unit keeps air flowing with 380 CFM of suction, capturing smoke, odors, and grease even when you’re doing a lot of cooking at once. The permanent grease filters are dishwasher safe, so you can pop them right into the machine when they need to be refreshed. Though this particular model arrives ducted, it can be converted to a ductless unit if you purchase a separate carbon filter kit. The brushed stainless steel exterior gives this range hood an upscale look – a great choice for new builds or an upcoming kitchen makeover.
Price at time of publish: $225
Mount Type: Wall mount
Vent Type: Ducted (can be converted to ductless with kit sold separately)
Dimensions: 19.75 x 30 x 39.4 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Maximum Airflow Capacity: 380 CFM
Related:The 8 Best Ductless Range Hoods of 2023
Hauslane Chef Series PS18 Under Cabinet Range Hood
Best Under Cabinet
Pros: This range hood comes in three finishes. The baffle filters are dishwasher safe.
Cons: It cannot be installed as a ductless unit.
Just like our Best Overall pick, this range hood by Hauslane offers six fan speeds and powerful dual motors to draw grease, smoke, odors, and other pollutants out of the air. There are permanent baffle filters that can go in the dishwasher, making cleanup truly hassle-free. It comes in three finishes: stainless steel, matte black, and matte white, so you can find one that best matches your decor. Meant for households that cook often (and perhaps in large quantities), this nearly-pro level hood offers a whopping 860 CFM of suction — if you only cook occasionally, you may find this to be more than you need. It’s equipped with LED lights, touchscreen controls, and a delayed shut-off feature. The only drawback to this range hood is that it is strictly for ducted installations only.
Price at time of publish: $449
Mount Type: Undercabinet
Vent Type: Ducted only
Dimensions: 8.1 x 30 x 22 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Maximum Airflow Capacity: 860 CFM
IKTCH 30 inch Built-in/Insert Range Hood
Best Insert
Pros: This range hood is equipped with motion-activated lights and touchless control. The filters can go right into the dishwasher.
Cons: The installation may be challenging.
If you’re searching for an insert-type range hood, this affordable model from IKTCH is a fantastic pick. This stainless steel unit comes equipped with a remote that controls the four-speed motor, timer, and LED lights. It has a maximum of 900 CFM of suction, making it one of the most powerful units on this list, but has a 65 dB maximum noise level — quieter than most dishwashers. The stainless steel permanent filters are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. While it arrives as ducted, it can be converted to a ductless vent with the included carbon filters. This particular model is 30 inches, but it is also available in a 36-inch version for those who need to cover a larger stovetop.
Price at time of publish: $299
Mount Type: Insert/built-in
Vent Type: Convertible
Dimensions: 27.75 x 11.8 x 11.4 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Maximum Airflow Capacity: 900 CFM
CAVALIERE 30" Range Hood Wall Mounted Brushed Stainless Steel Kitchen Vent
Best Convertible
Pros: This range hood has a programmable delayed shut-off. It’s great for high ceilings.
Cons: It can only be used as a wall mount hood, and you need a minimum of eight feet for installation.
This convertible range hood by Cavaliere is ideal for kitchens with ceilings that range from eight to eleven feet. Made of heavy-duty stainless steel, this powerful system has six speed settings and delivers up to 900 CFM of airflow to keep steam, smoke, and smells at bay. The stainless steel baffle filters are dishwasher safe for low-maintenance cleaning. Other features include LED lighting, a touch electric control panel, and a programmable delayed shutoff. If you’re looking for a ductless model, you’ll be able to easily convert this unit with an optional carbon filter kit. This range hood is backed by a five-year limited warranty against defects in workmanship and materials.
Price at time of publish: $415
Mount Type: Wall mount
Vent Type: Convertible
Dimensions: 19.7 x 29.5 x 43.4 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Maximum Airflow Capacity: 900 CFM
Broan-NuTone 413004 30 in. Under Cabinet Range Hood
Best Value
Pros: This range hood is fairly easy to install and comes in a couple of different finishes.
Cons: The manufacturer doesn’t provide a CFM rating.
This no-frills range hood is great for those who don’t want to spend too much money but still want an effective solution to clearing out steam, oil, and smoke from the kitchen. This ductless under-cabinet unit comes in several finishes and uses replaceable charcoal filters that are easy to remove and install. It has a two-speed motor that works to pull air into the filter — not quite as powerful as more expensive models — but effective enough to make a difference in air quality and odors from cooking. It features incandescent lighting and separate switches to control the lights and fans, and it comes in a few finishes to go with an array of decor styles.
Price at time of publish: $103
Mount Type: Under-cabinet
Vent Type: Ductless
Dimensions: 6 x 17.5 x 30 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Maximum Airflow Capacity: None specified
Fotile JQG7501 Side Draft Range Hood
Best Splurge
Pros: This powerful range hood operates fairly quietly and comes in a couple of finishes.
Cons: It’s heavy and can only be installed as a ducted unit.
This luxurious range hood by Fotile uses a unique side-draft design to pull cooking fumes into its filter, eliminating the need for the hood to sit directly over the stovetop. It has three speed settings, providing up to 850 CFM of suction thanks to WhisPower motors and Capture-Shield extraction technology. This model features touchscreen controls, a delay shut-off function, and LED lighting to help you monitor whatever you’ve got cooking. The filters and grease tray are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, and the unit's sleek surface is easy to wipe down between uses. It’s a splurge, but it also comes backed with a two-year full warranty and a three-year limited warranty (plus a limited lifetime warranty on its motor).
Price at time of publish: $1,100
Mount Type: Wall mount
Vent Type: Ducted
Dimensions: 29.9 x 18.25 x 17.4 inches
Material: Stainless steel, tempered glass
Maximum Airflow Capacity: 850 CFM
Cosmo 668ICS750 30-Inch Island Mount Range Hood
Best for Kitchen Island
Pros: This range hood is a great combination of performance and value, and can be converted for ductless ventilation. You can buy a chimney extension to accommodate up to an 11-foot ceiling.
Cons: It won’t work with slanted ceilings and requires at least two people to install it.
If your cooktop lives on a kitchen island, this range hood from Cosmo is a stylish solution to smoke, steam, and cooking smells. It works for ceilings up to 11 feet (with a separate chimney extension) and has a three-speed motor that produces air movement up to 380 CFM. Though that’s less powerful than some other range hood models, it’s still effective enough to provide noticeable air circulation over the stove. The hood is constructed of stainless steel and glass and comes equipped with permanent stainless steel filters that can be cleaned in the dishwasher. This unit also features a digital clock, LCD touchscreen controls, and LED lights to provide lots of illumination to see what you’re cooking.
Price at time of publish: $382
Mount Type: Wall
Vent Type: Convertible
Dimensions: 47 x 29.2 x 23.6 inches
Material: Stainless steel and glass
Maximum Airflow Capacity: 380 CFM
Our Favorite
In our review of range hoods, the Hauslane 30-Inch Ducted Stainless Steel Under Cabinet Range Hood won our vote for Best Overall for how well it does its job of removing smoke, heat, odors, and even grease from the area around the stove. Between six speed settings and an airflow capacity of 950 CFM, it's a powerful appliance. Those looking for an under-cabinet hood will find it well worth their investment. For those looking for a wall-mounted model, we recommend the Cosmo 30-Inch Ducted Wall Mount Range Hood; we recommend the Cosmo 30-Inch Island Mount Range Hood for those with stoves built into kitchen islands.
Factors to Consider
Wall Mount, Under-Cabinet, or Insert
When picking out a range hood, your kitchen configuration will help you decide what type of mount you need. If you want to preserve existing cabinetry, an under-cabinet or insert type of hood can be used. For spaces that have no existing fixtures above the stove, a wall-mount unit can easily be installed.
Ducted vs. Ductless
“Ducted range hoods are typically louder and require more maintenance than ductless models, but they offer superior venting performance,” says Aaron Jerez, founder of Home Bar Select. “On the other hand, ductless range hoods are typically more energy-efficient and require less maintenance.” Ducted units require some sort of existing ventilation system to expel air out of the home, whereas ductless units use charcoal filters.
Fan Speeds
“Different fan speeds allow you to better control the airflow in your kitchen and help keep it free from smoke, grease, and other pollutants,” says Jerez. “It's important to look for a range hood with multiple fan speed settings, as this will allow you to adjust the airflow according to your needs.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a convertible range hood?
Convertible range hoods are models that can be used as ducted or ductless units. Some may require you to purchase an additional kit to make the conversion.
How high should a range hood be?
“The height of the hood above the cooktop is determined by the type of cooking appliance located below it,” says Sherman. “Generally, the hood is placed between 30 and 36 inches above the burners. This is also often regulated by state and local building codes.”
How do you install a range hood?
“Installing a range hood is usually a straightforward process, although it does require some basic knowledge of electrical wiring and ventilation systems,” says Jerez. “Most range hoods require that you attach it to your wall or ceiling, connect the wiring, secure the range hood to the cabinet above it, and then connect the ductwork. Depending on your specific model, additional steps may be required. If you're unsure of how to install a range hood, it's best to consult a professional.” It's also always a good idea to refer to the manufacturer's instructions when considering installing a range hood.
Our Expertise
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. After a two-year stint at the Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.
