The 22 Best Range Hoods - Top Consumers' Choices in 2021

Anyone that has been in the kitchen has experienced the smoke, the odors and the grease produced resulting in unpleasant smells and low air quality when you cook. With a range hood above your stove, the aforementioned problems can be solved. These mechanical fans absorb all the cooking grease, moisture and heat, then either filter or circulate these and direct them out of the house. The best range hoods would give a boost to the movement of the fresh air in your home, thus, keep the air clean.

If you wonder how many types of range hoods are there, and which one would be the most suitable for your kitchen, we are here to help. We have evaluated a wide range of range hoods to pick out the best range hoods for every kitchen. And you may want to take a look at our buying guide before making the decision.

Your kitchen layout determines in large part the type of kitchen hood you can use. To make sure that you choose the hood with the right size, take into account any model that is at least as wide as your cooking surface above. Here are the types of hoods you should consider.

There are three main types of hoods: ducted, ductless, and convertible. They are also classified by different types of mounting methods: under-cabinet, wall-mount, and island-mount.

1. Ducted 

Ducted hoods work by absorbing indoor air pollutants and exposing them to the outside. They need a ventilation system that connects the kitchen to the outside of the house, and drainage pipes typically run up through the ceiling or back wall.

Setting up the ducts requires money, effort, and possibly an extra space in your upper cabinet; the hood itself is also more expensive than a ductless hood. However, kitchen ventilation is the most effective way to remove harmful substances from the air.

Here are our picks for ducted range hoods: the Cosmo 668ICS900 Island Range Hood and the Cosmo 668WRCS75 Wall Mount Range Hood, all equipped with permanent filters.

Read more: The Best Electric Cooktops in 2021: Top-Rated & Reviews

2. Ductless

A ductless hood is a hood that works without ventilation, which means you won't have to ditch or sacrifice cabinet space. They focus on recirculating the air instead of drawing air from the kitchen. This type of installation directs the steam, heat and smoke away from the countertop and back into the kitchen. They can also be identified using a coal filter. Their main filters are able to prevent oil and grease droplets from spreading into the air by range, and in most cases optional carbon filters are available to reduce odors.

Ductless hoods absorb the smoke and run them through filters. The air is then brought back into the room, so it's a good idea to open as many doors and windows as possible to further improve the air quality in your kitchen. Non-ducted hoods are less efficient than ones with ducts, but having something is better than nothing at all.

Some of the best ductless range hoods that we (and a lot of customers) find reliable are: the Broan-NuTone 413004 with its compact case and the Cosmo 5MU30 with stainless steel construction.

3. Convertible

There are switchable hood types that allow both ducted and duct-free installation. They have exhaust outlets to the pipes (one goes up and one goes through the back wall) but can be easily configured to use a charcoal filter if your kitchen doesn't have vents.

The ability to switch from ducted to ductless can be helpful during cold seasons as running a ducted hood will replace the internal air with the outside air. However, a non-ducted hood keeps the warmth in the house.

The Broan-NuTone F403004 convertible range hood offers a dual-speed, as well as meets the ADA specifications. 

4. Wall Mount

Wall-mounted hoods are hoods with a chimney (adjustable) that make them quite large in size. These are great for separating contaminants and are preferred for large kitchens.

Installing an in-wall hood usually involves removing the cabinet’s compartment. If your kitchen is not designed taking a built-in hood into consideration, it can affect the look and the vibe of the room. However, you can use hood covers to hide the ducts and help the appliance blend into your kitchen better.

One of the popular wall mount range hoods that we think you should consider is Cavaliere SV218B2-30. This device has furios speed and has the ability to change the fundamentals in your kitchen when installing.

5. Island Mount

Island hood is mounted and ventilated through a duct system on the ceiling. They have no side walls or cabinets to help funnel smoke, so they should be wider than the cooking surface.

Island-mounted hoods work best in spacious kitchens with island counters. They are a built-in hood, but their ventilation is not as effective as wall-mounted ones. Smoke spreads more freely because there aren't any walls around the cooking area. The solution is to just have a larger hood.

Island mounts will put a lot of pressure on the ceiling, as the result of there is no wall to support them. This means that the bracing needs more attention and you must make sure that you did the installation in the right way.

The Golden Vantage, which is the ultimate island mount range hood, can fulfill all your homely needs. This is more suitable for personal use than commercial use.

6. Under-cabinet

Under-cabinet hoods are installed under the upper cabinet, just above the cooking range. They are more compact than wall-mounted and island-mounted hoods, so they are better suited for kitchens with limited space.

In addition, they often have a ductless design, so their installation is simple and often requires no expert help.

The duct system inside adjacent walls, partitions, air slots or ceilings can release smoke and fumes to the outside. In some models, a shallow hood can slide out of the top kitchen cabinet when you need it. Typical kitchen cabinets only span the top half of the stove, so this extension leads the steam and smoke out of the cabinet faces and back to the suction end of the hood. This design takes up cabinet space but may be the only choice for those who cannot reach the recommended stove-to-hood clearance with a standard under-hood hood design.

The Cosmo COS-QS75 is another model that was brought in mainly for two reasons: robust and noiseless. The device is small but hides many surprises inside it.

7. Downdraft

These try to reverse the direction of the smoke and the fumes coming up and release them through ducts that run below the floor. Our previous tests showed that they were among the least effective at removing smoke and steam. Although they can be used anywhere in the kitchen, their main application is in islands where it may not be possible to guide ductwork through the ceiling.

Each consumer would have different needs, choices and priorities that determine which is the best range hood for them. Here in our buying guides, we list out some important factors you may need to keep in mind when searching for your kitchen hood.

1. Cost

The simplest hood can cost you around $ 100 before installing, while the most complicated type costs a few thousand dollars before installing. These factors may have an impact on the price: larger hoods tend to cost more than smaller ones, and those with the added functions or specially designed style often will also cost more. Wall-mounted and island hoods are some of the most expensive types available, while under-cabinet vent hoods are often the most affordable options.

Many hoods have complicated installation procedures, especially those that have an outside air duct. Even so, higher installation costs in these cases result in more efficient ventilation, as ducts-free models can only recirculate the air and capture smoke and contaminants in filters instead of completely removing these.

2. Size 

For most hoods, the size should be directly related to the surface area of ​​your stove. It is not really a requirement that your hood should match the size of your cooktop, but in general it is best to do so so that all the smoke and flying food particles would be caught up in the hood before they have a chance to float to your other parts of the kitchen.

As you'd expect, larger hoods can be expensive, but if you're investing in a large stovetop then the additional money might be worth it. Under-cabinet hoods will need to match the space you have available under the counter, while the hoods which are wall mounted and the island only take up really limited size compared to how much space you have available. Make sure you measure the space where you plan to place the hood so you get the right dimensions.

3. Power

The stronger your range hood, the more efficient it will be. If you cook a lot or your cooking process includes deep frying, a hood that offers a great deal of power is the hood you are looking for. The manufacturer will give you a measure of the strength expected from their range hoods in CFM (cubic feet per minute).

You should think of ranges of at least 100 CFM per linear foot for wall-mounted hoods and 150 CFM for island hoods. In the latter case, the vent cap has to move the air further to bring it out, which explains why you need it to be more powerful.

The ductless models will not provide the same power as the models that exhaust the air out of the house, as they depend on the filters to clean the air instead of completely getting rid of it from the space. In general, smaller models can’t be as powerful as the larger models.

4. Noise

Most hoods will make loud noise, at least at the highest settings. When we look at reviews of different models, one of the most common complaints above all of them is the noise they make.

Some models at least aim to be quieter than usual - they still make some noise, but not that much. If you have a chance to visit a showroom, you can first feel how loud or quiet the model is. If that is beyond your means, customer reviews are probably your best bet for you to figure out what to expect from hood noise.

5. Ventilation Type

There are two types of ventilation for range hoods. The first ones include ducts that move air outside of the house and the second one without ducts that recirculates the air it takes in and removes the pollutants with the help of filters. Ducted hoods are much more efficient than non-ducted hoods, but their installation is more complicated and you'll have to pay more upfront.

Some people also live in buildings that have restrictions that do not allow them to build ducted hoods and only have the ductless style option. For whatever reason, you can choose to use a ductless hood, remember that you will always be up to date with replacing the filters and will need to clean the hood on a regular basis.

Ducted hoods usually come with aluminum filters to retain the grease that you may need to take out and clean usually.

6. Added Features

• Lights —  Most hoods you consider will come with lights, so consider which type and how bright they are.

• Heat Sensors — The temperature sensor will automatically turn on the vent whenever the hood senses a high amount of heat.

• Automatic Shut Off — Automatic shutdown will automatically turn off the ventilation after a specified period of time.

• Filter indicator light — For a range of hoods without a duct that include a filter, the filter indicator makes it easy to remember when to replace the filter.

1. How do I clean the filter of the range hood?

To keep the hood working properly, clean the mesh filter as often as directed in the instructions (or change the filter, if not washable). The less grease and dirt, the better and more efficient the airflow.

2. How often and how much to replace the filter of the range hood?

Kitchen hoods with carbon filters should be replaced regularly. The frequency depends on the time you spent on cooking and your cooking style. Manufacturers' recommendations vary from replacing it monthly to once a year, with every three to six months being the most common recommendation.

The cost to replace a filter ranges from $15 to $69. So the cost to run the periodic range efficiently can go up to over $100 a year, as you may need to replace the filter several times a year.

3. What is the best way to clean the surface of my hood?

You should wash your stainless steel hoods regularly along with a clean cloth. Wash them with warm water and mild soap or dirt detergent to have the best effect. Clean in the direction of the polishing lines. Rinse with clean water and dry immediately. You may want to apply light oils used to polish the furniture to increase the brightness of the hood’s final look.

Clean regularly with mild soap/detergent and warm water to protect painted hoods' surfaces. Be careful when using "New and Improved" cleaners. Your kitchen hood is installed on hot cooking equipment. Most of the chemicals found in these cleaners react with heat to loosen the paint

You may also like: 30 Best Microwave Ovens of February 2021

4. Why does the fan in my range hood turn on by itself?

Some hoods feature Heat Sentry ™. This feature will automatically turn on the fan speed to high when it detects that the temperature is too high. This prolongs the life of the hood by reducing the harmful effects of high temperatures. When the temperature drops, the hood will turn off or go to the last setting used.

5. Can I exhaust my hood into my attic instead of out the roof or wall?

No, you cannot. You should never release the fumes and smoke into spaces in walls, ceilings, attics, crawl spaces or garages. Moisture and grease would accumulate in these closed spaces.

After reading our buying guide, we believe that you may have a better understanding of range hoods. But are you still confused which one would be the best range hood for you?

Our top choices are: 

• Best ducted range hood: Cosmo 668ICS900 Island Range Hood. 

• Best ductless range hood: Broan-NuTone 413004. 

• Best convertible range hood: Broan-NuTone F403004.

• Best for personal use: Golden Vantage.

• Best quiet range hood: Cosmo COS-QS75.

Hopefully, you will be able to be able to choose the best range hood for your kitchen after reading this.

Read more: Best Non-stick Pans