7 Must-Have Range Hoods to Give Your Kitchen a Big Upgrade

Best Range Hoods — The Spruce / David Hattan

Whether simmering a delicate sauce or deep-frying some wings, you need a range hood that moves enough air out of your kitchen to keep you from inhaling fumes.

A new range hood can really set the tone of your kitchen, which is why we vetted options from Hauslane, GE, Iktch, Broan-NuTone, and other top brands to find the models that look and perform the best.

We found that the most important feature of any range hood is its airflow capacity (or CFM, the measurement of a range hood’s power). If you love experimenting in the kitchen, or you favor frying and grilling inside, you’ll need a powerful range hood. A less powerful model will do if you use your cooktop infrequently or stick to simmering and boiling.

The mounting method is also key (the hood needs to fit in your kitchen, after all) so we researched a variety of under-cabinet, wall-mounted, island, and inserts to find the best of each.

Meet the Expert

Jessica Randhawa is a chef, food blogger, and founder of The Forked Spoon.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

GE JVW5301SJSS 30 in. Wall-Mount Range Hood at Wayfair $581

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Best Value:

Broan-NuTone 403023 30 in. Under-Cabinet Range Hood at Amazon

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Best Upgrade:

Hauslane Pro Series Pro500 Ducted Range Hood at Amazon $990

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Best Wall-Mounted:

SALE

Zline KB-30 Wall Mounted Range Hood at Amazon ~~$400~~ $320

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Best Island:

SALE

Cosmo 30-Inch Island Mount Range Hood at Amazon ~~$390~~ $330

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Best Insert:

Kobe INX2930SQBF-500-1 Insert Range Hood at Amazon $429

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Best Controls:

Iktch Under Cabinet Range Hood at Amazon $329

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Best Overall

GE JVW5301SJSS 30 in. Wall-Mount Range Hood

PHOTO: Home Depot

$581 at Wayfair $498 at Home Depot $499 at Lowes

What We Like

Available in multiple, easy-to-clean finishes
Operates quietly, even on highest setting
Powerful temporary boost mode

What We Don't Like

Carbon filters not included for ductless operation
Remote sold separately

This wall-mounted range hood from GE earns high marks for functionality, style, and chef-friendly features. We love the quiet operation (even on high), attractive finish options, and that it's so easy to clean. It's even convertible for use in ductless installations if you pick up the optional carbon filter kit. It works with a remote too, but you need to purchase that separately.

To suit the style of your kitchen and match the size of your cooktop, you can shop for 30- and 36-inch versions of this range hood in several modern finishes—stainless, black stainless, slate, and black slate. For cooks who want an easy-to-clean option, we recommend the fingerprint-resistant slate options.

One of the most useful features of this range hood is a boost option you can use when the exhaust fan is on high. This is especially helpful during high-heat cooking tasks or for clearing smoke from charred food, and it makes this range hood a good fit for cooking styles like frying and grilling.

_{Dimensions: 9.875 x 30 x 18.5 inches | Mount Type: Wall-mounted | Vent Type: Convertible | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 350 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 4}

What Is Airflow Capacity?

This measurement refers to how much air a range hood can move—measured in cubic feet per minute, also known as CFM. The higher the CFM, the more air a range hood can move and the more effective it is. Wondering how much airflow you need? We break that down in our What to Look for in a Range Hood section below.

Best Value

Broan-NuTone 403023 30 in. Under-Cabinet Range Hood

PHOTO: Amazon

View on Amazon $84 at Wayfair $99 at Home Depot

What We Like

Available in multiple finishes
Great basic or "starter" option for kitchen ventilation
Top- and rear-venting options

What We Don't Like

Light bulb not included
Noisier than other options

This under-cabinet range hood from Broan-NuTone has a simple, easy-to-install design and gets the job done with a two-speed exhaust fan—all for less than $100. We like that it’s available in various finishes, including black, white, and stainless steel, so you can pick the option that best matches your range.

Underneath this range hood, you’ll find incandescent lighting to illuminate your cooktop (the hood doesn't come with a bulb, so you can choose whatever brightness and color temperature you want). A pair of rocker switches control the light and fan operation.

This hood includes two fan speeds, which are both on the loud side. It isn't the quietest or most powerful on our list, but we think it’s a good choice if you need a basic range hood for light cooking tasks like simmering and boiling that don't produce a lot of smoke or oily fumes.

_{Dimensions: 6 x 30 x 17.5 inches | Mount Type: Under-cabinet | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 230 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 2}

Best Upgrade

Hauslane Pro Series Pro500 Ducted Range Hood

PHOTO: Amazon

$990 at Amazon $1,100 at Walmart $990 at Wayfair

What We Like

Stylish, geometric design
Most powerful airflow out of all our recommendations
Smart home connectivity

What We Don't Like

Tall and takes up cabinet space

If you’re looking for a serious upgrade to your old under-cabinet range hood, we think this Hauslane Pro Series is the best option available. It features an attractive geometric design that’s a step above the rest, four fan speeds, smart home connectivity, and the most powerful airflow capacity of any hood range we recommend.

The main reason we think this range hood is worth the upgrade is the powerful airflow, which maxes out at 1,000 CFM—the highest of any range we recommend (and significantly higher than the 230 CFM provided by our best value pick). If you do a lot of deep-frying, stir-frying, or grilling, this is a great choice.

We also like that this range hood includes smart home connectivity. You don’t need to touch this feature if you don’t want to, but it lets you monitor the range hood from your phone and turn it on or off, even if you aren’t in the kitchen.

_{Dimensions: 25 x 29.75 x 18 inches | Mount Type: Under-cabinet, wall-mounted | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 1,000 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 4}

Best Wall-Mounted

Zline KB-30 Wall Mounted Range Hood

ZLINE KB-30 30 in. Wall-Mounted Range Hood

PHOTO: Amazon

$400 $320 at Amazon $320 at Wayfair $400 $320 at Lowes

What We Like

Adjusts to a variety of ceiling heights
Corrosion-resistant stainless steel finish

What We Don't Like

Extension pieces for tall ceilings sold separately

A wall-mounted range hood makes a statement in the kitchen, and we love the clean, angular look of this Zlone model. This adjustable range hood includes telescoping chimney pieces to accommodate 8- to 9-foot ceilings or taller (if you purchase additional extension segments), and it features a convertible design to accommodate ductless installation.

Constructed of 430-grade stainless steel, this range hood is sleek, simple, and resistant to corrosion. It has a pyramid-style hood that tapers to a more narrow chimney and mounts on the wall over your range. We love the chunky mechanical buttons that help it stand out from competitors while remaining very easy to use.

While this wall-mounted range hood will grab your attention visually, it won’t disrupt your day with excessive noise levels. On the highest fan speed, it registers about 51 decibels. On the lowest fan speed, the noise level is about 30 decibels—as quiet as a whisper.

_{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}

Best Island

Cosmo 30-Inch Island Mount Range Hood

Cosmo 668ICS750 30-Inch Island Mount Range Hood

PHOTO: Amazon

$390 $330 at Amazon $370 at Wayfair $354 at Home Depot

What We Like

Four overhead lights
Tempered glass visor for contemporary look
Permanent, dishwasher-safe filters

What We Don't Like

Doesn't come in multiple finish options

The contemporary glass-and-metal look of this model from Cosmo is a big reason why it's our favorite island range hood. We love the stainless steel exhaust chimney and and tempered glass visor, and digital controls contribute to the streamlined appearance.

With its three-speed fan motor, this hood excels at capturing cooking odors so they don’t linger in your kitchen. Permanent filters offer long-lasting value and easy cleaning and maintenance; they’re dishwasher-safe, so you can clean them to remove odors and cooking grease.

This island range hood is equipped for ducted installation, but you can convert it to ductless with the addition of a carbon filter kit. While the contemporary look may not work with every kitchen design style, the versatility and value of this range hood make it a popular pick worth considering.

_{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}

Best Insert

Kobe INX2930SQBF-500-1 Insert Range Hood

PHOTO: Amazon

$429 $379 at Amazon

What We Like

Available in 30- and 36-inch widths
Dishwasher-safe baffles
Out-of-sight operating buttons

What We Don't Like

LED bulbs too bright for some

If you need a functional exhaust system to pair with your decorative range hood, then consider this model from Kobe. It’s available in 30- and 36-inch widths, and is equipped with three fan speeds. The highest setting provides substantial airflow of 550 CFM, which is enough to handle cooking on a gas stove.

One thing we love about this insert is that the push-button controls are easily accessible, but hidden from view since they're on the bottom face of the insert. With that clean design, it works just as well if inserted flush into the bottom of a cabinet as it does when hidden from sight by a decorative custom hood.

This insert features durable stainless steel construction, two layers of filtration, dishwasher-safe baffles, and an aluminum mesh insert for trapping cooking grease and odors. It also features two bright LED lights to illuminate your cooktop. The cool-tone lighting is too bright for some, but you can purchase warm-toned bulbs if you prefer a softer look.

_{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}

Best Controls

Iktch Under Cabinet Range Hood

PHOTO: Amazon

$329 $280 at Amazon $290 $275 at Walmart

What We Like

Gesture controls and wireless remote
Powerful airflow; second-best out of our recommendations

What We Don't Like

Easy to accidentally activate the fan

Turning your range hood fan on or adjusting the speed can be a hassle when your hands are really wet or contaminated with cooking ingredients, which is why we think this Iktch under-cabinet range hood has the best controls around. With touchscreen controls, gesture controls, and a wireless remote, it features more control options than any other hood range we recommend.

The touchscreen control panel is easy to read and operate when your hands are dry, but you can also turn the fan on or off, adjust the speed, and operate the built-in lighting with a wave of your hand. The fan can activate accidentally if you move the wrong way too quickly, but we think the convenience is worth it. We love the remote too, which is rarely seen feature (our best overall pick also comes with one, but no gesture controls.)

In addition to all the great control options, this range hood also includes all the other features we look for—a powerful top airflow of 900 CFM (second only to our best upgrade pick), adjustable LED lighting, dishwasher-safe baffles, and durable, stainless steel construction.

_{Dimensions: 19.68 x 29.5 x 5.9 inches | Mount Type: Under-cabinet | Vent Type: Ducted | Maximum Air Flow Capacity: 900 CFM | Number of Fan Speeds: 4}

Final Verdict

Our overall best pick for a kitchen range hood is the GE Wall-Mounted Range Hood because it has plenty of airflow, dishwasher-safe baffles, and integrated LED lighting. For less intense use, like simmering veggies and heating soup, the Broan-NuTone Under-Cabinet Range Hood (our best value pick) is a lower-cost under-cabinet option.

How We Chose the Range Hoods

We know every kitchen is different, which is why we set out to provide recommendations that cover every layout and cooking style. With that goal, we researched range hoods from top manufacturers like GE, Hauslane, and Iktch, evaluating each for airflow capacity (i.e. CFM ratings), design and style, ease of use, and other factors.

Our top picks cost between $100 and $1,200, with the average cost being around $400.
We provided a range of mounting styles, since that is the most important factor when selecting a range hood, followed by ventilation type and airflow capacity.
We made sure to identify under-cabinet, island, wall, and insert options, with a focus on vented hoods (with some convertible options for those who don't have ductwork in their kitchens).
Since the whole point of a range hood is to move smoke and odors out of your kitchen, we also looked for hoods with powerful fans. Our picks feature powerful airflow between 230 and 1,000 CFM to accommodate a variety of cooking styles.

What to Consider When Shopping for a Range Hood

The Right Size and Type for Your Kitchen Layout

Your new range hood needs to either match or exceed the width of your cooktop, so measure your cooktop before you get started (if you don't already know how wide it is).

“The goal is to effectively capture and vent the heat, steam, and cooking particulates,” says Jessica Randhawa, a chef and food blogger of The Forked Spoon.

Cooktops are anywhere from 24- to 42-inches wide, so you’ll find options to match. Since 30- and 36-inch widths are the most common sizes for stoves and range hoods, that's where you'll find the most variety and the widest selection of styles and options.

Once you know what size range hood you need, there are several mount types to pick from that work with different kitchen layouts.

Wall-mounted: This type of range hood mounts directly to the wall of your kitchen, rather than underneath your existing cabinetry. They can double as decor, really become a focal point of your kitchen, and provide comprehensive coverage for large ranges according to Randhawa. Because of their larger sizes, expect a higher cost for a wall-mounted range hood.
Under-cabinet: This common style mounts underneath your cabinets, so you don’t have to lose storage space. If you have cabinets over your cooktop and don't want to remove them, this is the type of range hood you need.
Island: If your cooktop sits on a kitchen island, then you need a range hood that hangs from the ceiling. According to Randhawa, they require high CFM rating and need to extend about six inches beyond the cooktop on each side. Due to specialized installation requirements, you might need to hire someone to install this type of range hood for you.
Insert: If you already have a decorative, custom hood over your range that lacks ventilation, you need an insert. Inserts are just the ventilation part of a range hood, so they install flush into the bottom of a cabinet or inside a custom decorative hood.

Vented, Ventless, and Convertible Designs

Range hoods capture cooking odors and smoke, so most options send the exhaust through ductwork leading to the exterior of your home. This type of ducted or vented range hood is the most effective way to ventilate your kitchen.

If your kitchen doesn't have ductwork in place, then you can either have ductwork installed or use a ventless range hood. This style can still improve the quality of the air in your kitchen (especially if it has baffles to collect grease and a carbon filter system to sequester smoke and other particles), but they're never as effective as actually removing the smelly, smoky air from your home.

Convertible range hoods can be installed in both ductless and ducted configurations, like the GE Wall-Mounted Range Hood (our overall best pick). To use this a convertible range hood in a ductless, or ventless, installation, you typically need to purchase and install carbon filters.

Airflow Capacity for Your Kitchen and Cooking Style

The ventilation power of a range hood is determined by its airflow capacity, which is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). For example, a 100 CFM range hood can move 100 cubic feet of air every minute when on the highest setting. The higher the CFM rating, the more powerful the hood.

The more grease and smoke that you anticipate, the higher the CFM you should look for. You'll also want a more powerful range hood if you have a large kitchen, since the hood needs to effectively exchange the air in your kitchen to avoid lingering odors.

Most residential range hoods offer between 200 and 850 CFM, although options with more or less airflow capacity exist. The Hauslane Pro500 (our best upgrade pick) has a remarkably strong airflow capacity at 1,000 CFM, so it's particularly suitable for powerful gas cooktops, fume-heavy cooking styles like deep-frying, and big, open concept kitchens.

Available Finishes to Match Your Kitchen's Decor

The finish options for range hoods generally correspond to popular appliance finish options—stainless steel, black, and white finishes are the most common, but you'll find others as well in more limited styles. Some hoods also come in fingerprint-resistant finishes that don't collect marks and smudges easily.

Basic range hoods like the Broan-NuTone Under-Cabinet Range Hood (our best value pick) are boxy and utilitarian, but you’ll also find options that are sleek and modern if that's your style.

You can also shop for more contemporary glass-and-metal range hoods like the Cosmo 30-Inch Island Mount Range Hood (our best island pick), or pair a range hood insert with your decorative range hood cover.

Before You Install a Range Hood

Replacing a range hood is fairly straightforward—and it isn't much more complicated than replacing a ceiling light fixture. However, installing a range hood from scratch, or changing to a different style, is more likely to require professional assistance from an electrician or a duct installer.

Vented range hoods are typically hardwired to your home’s electrical system, which calls for professional installation if the wiring isn't already in place.
Ductless range hoods can be more straightforward to install since they don’t involve venting— some even use a power cord instead of a hardwired electrical connection. Installing a ductless range hood as a DIY project is easier, as long as you have a power outlet available.
If your new range hood has a power cord, and you don't have a power outlet available, then you will need to hire an electrician to install one.

Tip

It can be helpful to have a second pair of hands when replacing a range hood since they are usually quite heavy.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Erica Puisis, a freelance writer for The Spruce with a focus in large home appliances like washers and dryers, water heaters, and range hoods. She evaluated the range hoods in this roundup on their air movement, ease of cleaning, vent configuration, and mounting type.

She also took into account trends noted in customer reviews, especially in terms of installation and the range hood's overall performance. As a product researcher and tester, she focuses on features and usability when evaluating products.

Our Experts: