The 5 Best Range Hoods 2023 Review

Best For Island Cooktops: COSMO Island-Mount Range Hood

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a decorative look✔ Uses dishwasher-safe filters✔ Includes a digital display with power, fan, light, and time buttons ✘ Meant for only island cooktops✘ Circulates 380 cubic feet of air per minute, which is fairly slow ventilation

What Customers Are Saying

Although this range hood was difficult for many customers to install, they appreciated the sleek aesthetic of the shiny stainless steel vent and curved tempered glass visor. While the fan was powerful, customers didn’t like how loud it was. Other users had complaints about the lack of responsiveness from the touch controls.

Best Entry-Level Hood: Broan-NuTone Ductless Range Hood

Pros and Cons

✔ Offers foolproof control switches✔ Uses a permanently lubricated motor✔ Offered at a competitive price ✘ Offers only two fan speeds ✘ Doesn’t comes with the bulb for the light

What Customers Are Saying

Many customers were pleased with the overall value of this range hood. They thought that, for the price, its features and performance either met or exceeded their expectations. While unhappy customers still enjoyed the look of this range hood, they were underwhelmed with its suction power.

Most Fan Speeds: COSMO Under-Cabinet Range Hood

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a backlit display with the time✔ Can make it ductless with a kit✔ Comes with a remote to control the fan and light ✘ Makes a lot of noise, as it operates at 65 decibels✘ Requires a separate purchase to convert it

What Customers Are Saying

Many positive customer reviews highlighted this range hood’s quiet operation, strong performance, and ease of use. Satisfied customers appreciated the practicality of this range hood, but they also shared that it looked beautiful in their kitchen. Negative reviews mentioned that the lights weren’t bright enough. Other customers said the hood blew air around rather than sucking it in.

Best Draft Design: FOTILE Side-Draft Range Hood

Pros and Cons

✔ Can lock the screen when you want to clean it without turning it on✔ Has a delay function that keeps the fan on for two minutes after you’re done cooking✔ Has a powerful dual-motor fan system ✘ Has a price tag that’s on the higher end for range hoods✘ Installation can be tricky

What Customers Are Saying

Positively, customers liked the suction power, noise level, ease of maintenance, and smell removal of this range hood. Customers who cooked Asian dishes, including curry and pan-fried meat, thought that this range hood met their needs nicely. Negatively, some customers struggled with installation.

Best Ventilation: Vesta Under-Cabinet Range Hood

Pros and Cons

✔ Weighs less than 40 pounds, which is on the lighter side for range hoods✔ Has a long and deep tray to capture the oil and grease that the filters don’t✔ Has a six-inch round vent to fit most kitchen pipes ✘ Has small graphics on the touchscreen that may be difficult for some to read✘ Has a short one-year warranty for most of the components

What Customers Are Saying

Overall, customers had positive feedback about this range hood, sharing that it filtered smells and dissipated fumes. Though the three fan settings were all fairly quiet, some users said that there wasn’t a discernible difference in their speed.

Buyer’s Guide

If you’re upgrading your cooking surface from a small electric stovetop to a multi-burner gas one, it’s also worth investing in a range hood. From size to airflow, here are some range hood features that will help you choose the right product for you.

Mounting

Under-cabinet range hoods mount under the cabinetry and above the stovetop. The other type of range hood is an island range hood, which are wall-mounted range hoods that mount above your island. Both of these designs function similarly, so it’s just a matter of choosing the one that matches the placement of your cooktop.

Ductwork

In addition to the mounting method, you can also separate range hoods into ducted and ductless buckets. If you are on a budget or don’t want to spend a lot of time on installation, a ductless range hood is the way to go. It draws air in and pushes it through a filter that removes some fumes, increasing air quality. On the other hand, if performance is your priority, opt for a ducted range hood. This type of hood connects to a duct to push smoke out of your house. Another benefit of a ducted hood is that it doesn’t make as much noise because the fan is positioned within the duct as opposed to over the stove.

Airflow

The airflow of a range hood is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the CFM rating, the faster and more powerful the ventilation. Entry-level range hoods start at around 300 CFM, with high-end models exceeding 800 CFM.

Size

Choose a range hood that’s at least as big as the range in question. Ideally, the hood should be slightly wider than the cooking surface to be able to capture fumes from all of the burners and any smoke along the sides that tries to escape. Most consumer-grade range hoods measure 30 or 36 inches.

Fan

Basic range hoods typically have two fan speeds—low and high. More expensive models may have three or more settings. While two fan speeds is plenty for most homeowners, you may want more settings if you cook particularly smoky dishes, such as stir fry in a wok.

Light

Most range hoods also have built-in LED lighting to illuminate your stove as you cook. Like with the fan speed, price point determines the number of brightness settings that the light has.

Control

Most affordable range hoods use toggle switches to adjust their fans and lights. As you go up in price, you start to see touchscreens with backlit displays, push-button controls and digital clocks on the items’ control panel.

Style

A range hood’s material plays a large role in its aesthetic. Stainless steel gives a sleek and modern appearance that matches nearly any kitchen design. High-end range hoods are made from tempered glass, making any space look like a professional kitchen.

Cooking Safety Tips

A range hood doesn’t just circulate steam and smoke away from your cooktop—it can also help prevent cooking fires. In addition to installing a range hood, follow these steps to ensure that you don’t start a fire in your kitchen and spread it to the rest of your home:

Have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Make sure that it’s rated for Class A, B, and C household fires. When you’re cooking, don’t leave the kitchen. Whether you’re boiling, frying, toasting, roasting, or grilling food, glance at it every minute or two. Don’t wear loose, dangling clothing when you’re cooking on a stovetop. Clean your cooking surface after each meal, especially if any sauce splatters or crumbs fly. These small chunks can catch on fire the next time you turn on the burner. If you start a grease fire, don’t pour water on it, as this fuels it. Instead, turn off the heat, and smother the fire with a pan, baking soda, or a wet chemical extinguisher. When you’re cooking, use your range hood’s built-in lighting as well as any other light sources in your kitchen to ensure that you can see what you’re doing.

Can I install a range hood on my own?

If you’re an inexperienced DIYer, we recommend consulting a professional, especially for a ducted range hood. If you’re pretty handy, you should be able to install a ductless hood with the help of a friend or family member.

Is my microwave’s built-in ventilation system as good as a range hood?

No. A dedicated range hood offers far superior ventilation than the fan on the bottom of your microwave. However, if the layout of your kitchen doesn’t allow for a range hood, the microwave’s system should suffice.

How do I maintain my range hood?

As long as your range hood is installed correctly, you only have to worry about filter maintenance. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the filters every 30 hours of use, which is usually around two months.

How much space does my range hood need?

You usually need 18–30 inches between the top of the stove and the bottom of the range hood to fit oversized pots and pans. For specific information on your model, consult the instruction manual.

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