Best Range Hood Types

Wall-Mounted: Attached to a wall rather than to a ceiling or cabinetry, this range hood type is optimal if there's a break in your kitchen's upper cabinetry above your stove top. Wall-mounted range hoods are some of the most traditional-looking types of range hoods.

Under-Cabinet: The most commonly-used style of range hood, this slim option affixes to the bottom of your cabinetry over your range and can easily be integrated into your existing space.

Island: Also known as chimney hoods, these range hoods hang from the ceiling above a kitchen island. If your stove top is housed on your kitchen island, this is your best range hood option.

Insert: Essentially the guts of a hood without the housing, insert range hoods are designed to fit into a custom hood cover. These range hoods are optimal if you have an unconventionally-shaped kitchen or if you want to ensure that your range hood fits in with your kitchen's unique style. Many insert range hoods are ducted, but some super subtle models are ductless. Ductless insert range hoods aren't as powerful as ducted models, but they can be placed right up against the bottom of a cabinet and tend to be easier to install.

Down-Draft: Many down-draft hoods aren't actually hoods at all; instead, they are flat panels that are installed beside or behind the stove top. These range hood models are most often used when a range is situated in an awkward area, like in front of a window. Down-draft range hoods are less visually intrusive than traditional range hoods. Some high-tech models are even designed to descend into the countertop when not in use. 

Different Types Of Range Hoods

There are many different designs and styles of kitchen range hoods, but they all fall into five main types or categories. These include wall mounted hoods, island hoods, range hood inserts, under cabinet hoods, and professional-grade hoods. Although all range hoods are made with the same important purpose of ridding smoke, grease, and other toxins in the air that come from cooking and cleaning, some are more effective than others.

Under-Cabinet Range Hoods: One of the more common and compact options for range ventilation is the under-cabinet hood. This sort of range hood is mounted underneath of the cabinets that are positioned directly above your stove. The design of the required venting system is simple for the most part and versatile enough to be able to go with any kitchen style.In order to provide ventilation, the duct work for the hood is either placed behind the hood out of an exterior wall or up through the cabinet above the hood. This can take away any storage you may want to utilize in your cabinet, but for the most part this type of hood does end up saving a little bit of wall space.

Wall-Mounted Range Hoods: Another range hood that helps preserve space in your kitchen is a wall-mounted hood. This choice in range hoods is attached to the wall above your range. In many new kitchen designs, instead of having a cabinet in the space over the stove, the hood is typically installed. For installations with existing cabinetry, one cabinet piece may need to be removed in order to make way for the hood. These hoods sometimes come with a chimney that helps with the ventilation, and they typically vent out through the an exterior wall behind them. Unlike under-cabinet hoods, a wall-mounted hood can serve as a design element in your kitchen, adding a distinctive look to your cook space depending on the product style you choose. For this reason, you may end up paying a little bit more for this piece, as it adds so much more than just function to your cooking space.

Island or Ceiling Mounted Range Hoods: Kitchens that have a range located on an island or not against a wall may need to be paired with an island or ceiling mounted hood. For larger, professional style cooktops, a ceiling mounted hood can handle the extra output that may come along with additional cooking burners and tools.Like a wall-mounted hood, this type of venting device can add a unique look to your space. Some designs come in a selection of modern materials such as copper, glass or even ceramic–all beautiful options for different kitchen design themes. In order to keep the sight line through the kitchen from being blocked by the range hood, some contractors may choose to install this variety of hood a bit higher than other types. To keep up with the demands of your stove’s exhaust, you may need to purchase a larger capacity island range hood.

Wall Ventilation Fans: Some homeowners opt to install a wall ventilation fan in their kitchen instead of a range hood. While a fan system can be helpful in situations where the ventilation is poor, it may not work as well when odors or fumes need to be cleared out quickly from your kitchen. Only a powerful range hood can handle keeping your kitchen free from noxious smoke and smells that may come from cooking with various powerful ingredients.Keep in mind that if you skip the step of teaming up your stove with the right size and style of exhaust hood, you may find small bits of grease building up along the walls of your kitchen. This doesn’t just create a messy look, but it can also increase the chances of a dangerous grease fire spreading throughout your kitchen.