Best Range Hood
Range hoods can add a stylish look to your kitchen, but they also serve a very important purpose.
Range hoods are responsible for removing smells, smoke particles, and heat from the air in your kitchen as you cook.
They also help remove tough grease, which helps to keep your kitchen clean.
Picking the right range hood, however, can be a difficult task.
There are so many good options to choose from that it’s hard to know which one is the best one for your kitchen.
You have to take functionality, style, and size into consideration. You also have to decide if you want a duct or ductless hood.
If you need help finding the best range hood for your kitchen, offering the most suitable cubic feet per minute (CFM) ratio, in a stylish unit, you’re in the right place.
To help you find a range hood, we’ve compiled a list of the best hoods on the market right now. We’ve even included a useful buyer’s guide that will help you make the best possible decision.
Let’s jump straight into the list, shall we!
Cosmo 668ICS750 30-Inch Island Mount Range Hood
We kick this list off with a solid choice for anybody who has a kitchen island.
Your kitchen island is the centerpiece of your kitchen, so it’s only right that it has a modern, stylish range hood to match, while still offering more than enough power to deal with any lingering aromas.
The Cosmo island mount range hood fits these requirements perfectly.
With an attractive glass visor and a powerful fan with three-speed settings, this hood will add more style to your kitchen and keep your kitchen fresh.
In terms of the power of this hood, it can reach 380 CFM. This means it can deal with the times you burn your toast or the largest of meal preparations.
To ensure the hood always performs at the top of its game, Cosmo has made the hoods extremely durable, stainless steel permanent filters dishwasher safe.
This makes it super easy for you to clean the filters when they get grimy.
When we reviewed this range hood, we were impressed by a number of things, but we must say the neat LED lights and LED panel took the crown.
The bright LED lights are energy-efficient, providing us with more light as we cook.
The LED panel makes it so easy to change settings while also adding to the super stylish appearance of the hood.
Overall, this is an excellent choice.
Pros
- Great design - The Cosmo 668ICS750 looks modern and stylish.
- Good ductless option - If you’re looking for a ductless range hood, this one is a good option.
- Easy to control - The LED panel makes life a lot easier when it comes to changing settings.
Cons
- Carbon filters not included - You will have to buy the carbon filters separately.
Also available at: Homedepot.com
ZLINE 36” Wall Mount Range Hood
Available in a huge variety of sizes and styles, the ZLINE wall mount range hood is a great choice if you have a gas stove.
Aside from looking absolutely fantastic, this ZLINE range hood is lovely and quiet, even on the highest of the 4-speed settings.
Depending on the style of hood you choose, you can expect your hood to operate as high as 1,200 CFM.
Having said that, the 36” model has a CFM of 400. This gives you the chance to crank the range hood up to deal with all the heat, aromas, and grease that come from your gas stove.
This convertible vent, with a wall-chimney mount, also comes with some great features.
Included in the design of the hood is a timer feature that will automatically turn the hood off once you’ve finished cooking.
The baffle filters can be washed occasionally in the dishwasher, and finally, the clean LED lights help illuminate the stove as you cook.
If you wish to go ductless when using this hood, you’ll be pleased to know that it is compatible with charcoal filters too.
Overall, we firmly believe this hood is the best option for gas stoves.
Pros
- Quiet but powerful - This range hood offers the best of both worlds. It's nice and quiet but offers plenty of power.
- Useful features - This ZLINE range hood comes packed with useful kitchen features.
- Range of styles and sizes available - The large choice of styles and sizes gives you more chances to find a range hood that suits your needs.
Cons
- Pricey - This range hood is quite expensive.
Also available at: Therangehoodstore.com. Learn more about the Best ZLine Range Hoods in our blog!
Fotile JQG9001 36-inch Range Hood
If you’re happy to spend more on a range hood that gives you more versatility and power, the next range hood on our list could be the one for you.
The Fotile JQG9001 range hood is available in sizes ranging from 30” to 60”, offering a CFM of 1,000.
A ducted hood, this range hood has a fairly unique side-draft design, equipped with a 90° baffle plate that will open automatically when the hood is turned on.
The way this unit is angled helps it better remove smoke and fumes from your kitchen by channeling them into the vent.
A lot of people love the Fotile JQG9001 range hood because of its versatility when it comes to fitting in the kitchen.
This hood can be conveniently mounted underneath your cabinets or on the wall. With three different finishes, you can also find the style that suits your kitchen.
Despite having 1,000 CFM, we found that this range hood performed perfectly without making too much noise.
We also found that the sleek and stylish LED touchscreen allows you to easily switch between the three-speed settings.
Pros
- Powerful - With 1,000 CFM you can expect this range hood to clean the air efficiently and effectively.
- Unique design - The unique baffle plate design makes this hood even more efficient.
- Modern appearance - This range hood will look great in most kitchens.
Cons
- Expensive - This is another fairly expensive range hood.
Also available at: Us.fotileglobal.com
Broan NuTone BCSQ130SS Under Cabinet Range Hood
Broan is known for manufacturing high-quality range hoods that perform exceptionally well. Their NuTone BCSQ130SS under cabinet range hood is no different.
This 30-inch stainless steel range is easily fitted to the underside of your kitchen cabinets and offers a complete solution to kitchen ventilation.
This model is most loved for its powerful exhaust fan and bright overhead light, so you can cook in low light conditions.
The hood’s Captur system is capable of reaching 375 CRM. This may not be as high as other range hoods on this list, but we found that it still performs brilliantly.
With 3-speed settings, research has shown that this range hood can successfully remove 97.4% of cooking odors and smoke from the kitchen.
Thanks to the simple push-button controls, you can quickly adjust the speed of the hood depending on how much you are cooking.
The LED module is also easily controlled with push buttons.
It is also worth noting that the mesh grease filters are very easy to maintain.
Dishwasher-safe, you can easily clean your filters to ensure long-lasting performance.
Pros
- Easy to use - You won’t find a range hood easier to use than the Broan NuTone BCSQ130SS.
- Quiet - This range hood has special features that guarantee a quiet performance.
- Compact - Broan has put everything you need in one compact unit.
Cons
- Not as powerful - This range hood still offers plenty of power but unfortunately doesn’t have a CRM as high as other models on this list.
Also available at: Broad-nutone.com
Broan NuTone 403004
If you have a smaller kitchen and only require a simple, yet effective range hood, you can’t go wrong with the Broan NuTone 403004.
This 3-inch under cabinet range hood offers solid performance in a compact, stylish unit.
Providing a max 210 CRM and 6.5 sones performance, this hood will quickly remove any nasty cooking aromas and smoke as you cook.
You have two fan speeds to choose from and thanks to the permanently lubricated filter you can expect effective performance from either setting for years to come.
Like the Broan NuTone BCSQ130SS, the durable filters in this model are also dishwasher safe, helping you maintain your range hoods' performance capabilities.
When we took a closer look at the NuTone 403004, we were pleased with how easy the hood was to use and how quietly it operated.
Push buttons are used to control the lighting system in the hood as well as the exhaust fan.
To change settings or add more light to your cooking area, simply press the required button and the unit will turn the setting on immediately.
This comes in particularly useful when you’re in a rush trying to prepare food for your family. Not having to mess around with an LED screen makes life a lot easier.
Pros
- Ideal for smaller kitchens - This compact hood is perfect if you only have a smaller kitchen.
- Ridiculously affordable - You’ll struggle to find a range hood as cheap as the Broan NuTone 403004.
- Versatile installation - There are a number of ways this unit can be installed making it a lot easier to fit in your kitchen.
Cons
- Not suitable for bigger kitchens - If you have a larger kitchen you’ll want to look at another range hood from our list.
Also available at: Broan-nutone.com
Buyer’s Guide
Before making your final decision regarding which range hood you want to buy, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.
Here are some of those things.
Convertible, Duct, Or Ductless
Before making your final decision, it is important to know what type of range hood you need. There are three main types of range hood. They are convertible, duct, and ductless.
Convertible range hoods can be used with or without ducts. They do occasionally require you to buy filters separately.
Ducted range hoods pull particles in using ductwork before then pushing them out of your home.
These are usually the most effective type of range hood, but it is worth noting that they are also the most expensive.
Ductless range hoods recirculate the air in your kitchen through the use of filters. Generally speaking, they are a lot more affordable than ducted hoods.
However, they do require more maintenance due to the filters. This can normally be done by placing the filters in the dishwasher.
Which type of range hood you choose ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Style Of Range Hood
One of, if not the most important things you need to consider when buying a range hood is how it is mounted.
Range hoods are available in a range of different mounting styles, so it is essential to find the right one.
Some range hoods are under-cabinet, which is where they are literally mounted under your kitchen cabinets. These range hoods are typically smaller than other hoods.
If you don’t have any kitchen cabinets above your cooker, you will need a wall-mounted range hood.
Most range hoods that are wall-mounted have a well-recognized chimney design.
With these range hoods, the air and any particles get dragged in and channeled up the shaft until they are released outside.
If you prefer a sleek kitchen, a downdraft range hood could suit you more. A downdraft range hood is integrated into your kitchen range.
You can purchase telescopic models that stand just a few inches above the range.
These range hoods are often considered inferior as they don’t effectively clean the air. They are also quite expensive.
Ratio Of CRM
CRM stands for cubic feet per minute. The CRM of a range hood is a measurement used to show how powerful the hood is.
The higher the range hoods CRM the more powerful it is.
You need to take CRM into consideration because you could easily end up with a range hood that doesn’t have the power to clean the air in your kitchen.
On the other hand, you could waste money buying a range hood that is too powerful for your kitchen.
You can figure out the CRM ratio you need using your stove’s BTU. By finding your stove’s BTU before dividing it by 100, you can see exactly how much CRM you need.
For example, if your stove has a BTU rating of 25,000, you’ll need a range hood with a minimum CRM of 250.
Budget
No matter what you're purchasing, budget is always important. Things are no different when looking for the perfect range hood for your kitchen.
Range hoods vary massively in price. Some cost as little as $80, while others cost more than $1,000.
By not taking your budget into account you can spend way too much time looking for a range hood that you might not even be able to afford.
You could even end up spending more money than you need to.
Just because a range hood is expensive doesn’t mean it suits your needs. You might find that an $80 range hood does everything you require.
If that is the case, there’s no need to waste more money on a more expensive model.
Calculating your budget first will help you avoid any errors, while also saving you time and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Are Non-Dishwashable Filters Cleaned?
Luckily for us, most range hood filters are dishwasher safe. However, if they aren’t, you will have to clean them yourself.
The best way to clean your range hood filters is to use water and baking soda. Scrub the filters clean in this solution with a soft brush.
Once you’ve done that you MUST leave them to dry. Only when they are totally dry can you put them back into your range hood.
Are Range Hoods Worth It?
Yes, range hoods are totally worth your money. Range hoods play an essential role in our kitchens.
Without them, your kitchen would be hot, smelly, and will also fill with smoke if you burn something.
A good range hood will easily keep the air in your kitchen clean whilst also removing any smoke and grease.
Most range hoods are also fitted with lights so you can see what you're doing in the kitchen.
What Size Range Hood Do I Need?
Deciding which size range hood you need isn’t too complicated. First of all, you need to start by measuring your range. We suggest getting a hood that is bigger than your range.
For example, if you measure your range, and it measures 30”, you should look for a range hood that is 36”.
You will also need to measure the space above your range and up to the ceiling.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our article looking at the best range hoods on the market right now.
While range hoods may vary massively in terms of shape, size, and style, high-quality units all share one thing in common.
That is their ability to effectively clean the air in our kitchens.
Range hoods with a CRM rating of 210 or higher are effective in removing odors, smoke, heat, and grease from the kitchen.
They help keep our kitchen clean while also making the cooking experience much more enjoyable.
As you can see from our list there are plenty of high-quality range hoods to choose from.
While we have barely scratched the surface with our list, we have provided you with some of the very best options available.
Now you have our list and buyer’s guide at your disposal, take some time to think about what you need from a range hood.
Once you’ve identified what you need, you can start narrowing down the list before making a good final decision. Good luck!