How to Choose a Range Hood: Five Checks Before You Buy

Knowing how to choose a range hood comes down to five checks, and only one of them is the airflow number. Check the width against the hob, the airflow in CFM, the duct size, the filter type and the mounting height. Get those five right and the finish and the controls become the easy part.

AurumDine builds wall mount, under cabinet and portable hoods on our own lines and supplies appliance retailers, importers and project buyers. The five checks below are the order we use when a buyer asks how to choose a range hood for a market.

How to Choose a Range Hood: Check the Width First

Width comes first, because a hood that is too narrow lets smoke escape at the sides. The working rule is simple: the hood should be at least as wide as the hob it serves, and slightly wider is better.

Therefore the 30 in / 76 cm hood is the size most kitchens land on. It covers a standard four or five burner hob, and it fits the cabinet run above it. If the hob sits on an island, step up a size.

For a buyer, width is also a stocking decision. One width covers most homes, so a distributor can hold a single size and still serve most orders. A range hood size that sits outside the common band needs a reason. A range hood size chart is only useful if it lists both the hood width and the duct outlet.

Check the Airflow in CFM, and Read It With Noise

Airflow is measured in CFM, and it has to match the hob. A four or five burner gas hob usually looks for a figure above 600 CFM, and a kitchen that uses a wok wants more. Our wall mount model carries 900 CFM, which leaves headroom for a wok burner.

Meanwhile read the noise figure with it. Our wall mount hood reaches up to 65 dB at its highest speed. That is why the sound rating belongs beside the airflow rating. A range hood cfm figure on its own tells you nothing about whether a customer will run the hood. A range hood cfm figure also travels with local building rules in some markets.

Check the Duct, Because It Sets the Real Performance

A hood cannot outperform the run it is connected to, so the duct decides what the CFM figure is worth. The wall mount model has a 6 in / 15.2 cm outlet, which matches the common residential duct in North America.

The slim under cabinet range hood takes a different approach. It ships in five duct sizes, and each size is matched to its own fan:

• 6 in: 150 mm duct, 190 x 190 mm fan, 34 W.

• 7 in: 180 mm duct, 230 x 230 mm fan, 45 W.

• 8 in: 200 mm duct, 250 x 250 mm fan, 80 W.

• 10 in: quoted against the drawing.

Mixed duct sizes ship in one container, so a distributor can stock a size ladder from one order.

Check the Filter, Because It Sets the Service Cost

In addition, filter choice decides what a hood costs to own. A permanent stainless baffle filter range hood has no consumable, because a dishwasher handles the filter. That removes one part from the spares list and one complaint from the counter.

A ducted vs ductless range hood decision changes this. The ducted vs ductless range hood question is really a building question, not a product one. A ducted hood vents air outside, and a ductless one recirculates through a filter. Our portable model recirculates, and it uses a replaceable round filter screen instead of a baffle. The screen is the one filter replacement item in the range, and each unit ships with ten of them.

In practice, a baffle filter range hood suits a ducted kitchen with a short spares list. A recirculating hood suits a room with no duct, and it carries a filter line instead.

Check the Mounting Height, Then Confirm It

Range hood mounting height is set by the hob type and by local rules, so it is the one figure to confirm rather than assume. Range hood mounting height also decides whether the tallest pot still fits. A gas hob needs more clearance than an electric one, because the flame needs room to burn cleanly.

What is more, keep the height in the same conversation as the duct. A hood set too low catches more smoke and blocks the tallest pot. A hood set too high leaves the plume to spread before it reaches the filter. Send the hob type and the cabinet height, and we confirm the clearance with the drawing.

Finally, match the type to the wall. A wall mount range hood suits a wall with a duct. An under cabinet range hood suits a run of wall cabinets, and it comes in four duct sizes. A portable hood suits a room with no duct at all.

Model, Minimum Order Quantity and OEM Terms

Three hood types, one spares list, and one answer to how to choose a range hood.

• Wall mount: 30 in / 76 cm, 900 CFM, 6 in / 15.2 cm outlet, brushed stainless with a black glass front.

• Filter: permanent stainless steel baffle, dishwasher safe.

• Controls: touch panel with display, gesture sensing, voice control, dimmable LED.

• Under cabinet: 600 x 400 mm body, two-speed mechanical control, five duct sizes.

• Portable: USB powered, three fan speeds, recirculating, tripod or lanyard mounting.

• MOQ: 1 unit for stock models; 50-100 units for a custom logo or packaging.

• Lead time: 7-15 days for stock; 20-30 days for bulk or custom orders.

• Spares: motors, baffle filters, light boards, control boards and filter screens held in stock.

Production follows CE and RoHS requirements, and third-party safety and EMC reports are arranged per market. Our note on 900 CFM hood sourcing covers the factory file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How wide should a range hood be?

At least as wide as the hob, and slightly wider where the room allows. A 30 in / 76 cm hood covers a standard four or five burner hob and the cabinet run above it.

What CFM does a kitchen need?

A four or five burner gas hob usually looks for above 600 CFM, and wok cooking wants more. Read the figure with the noise rating, because a loud hood gets switched off. Airflow is the second check in how to choose a range hood.

Is a ducted or ductless range hood better?

Ducted is more effective because it removes heat and moisture as well as grease. Ductless is the practical answer where no duct exists, and it needs a filter line instead.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to choose a range hood is mostly a matter of order: width, airflow, duct, filter, height. Get the sequence right and a hood stops being a specification argument. Then match the type to the wall, and the finish to the kitchen.

Browse the range hood range for all three models. The ducted flagship is listed as a 900 CFM wall mount range hood. The cabinet fit is listed as a slim under cabinet range hood.