Start with your kitchen, not the range hood.
Similar-looking range hoods can need very different installations. Start with the kitchen you have and the way you cook. Appearance and the largest airflow number come after fit.
Is the cooking surface against a wall, beneath a cabinet, on an island, or under a custom enclosure that needs an insert? If you are replacing a hood, check the existing opening, mounting points, electrical connection and duct route. A familiar width alone does not establish compatibility.
Ducted, recirculating or convertible: know the difference.
A ducted hood sends cooking air outdoors through ductwork. A recirculating hood filters air and returns it to the kitchen. It does not remove cooking heat and moisture outdoors in the same way.
A convertible model supports more than one setup, often with specific filters or kits. Confirm the exact configuration and required accessories. Check building or landlord restrictions before planning a new duct route.
| Choice | Useful when | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted | An outside exhaust path is available | Duct dimensions, route and installation requirements |
| Recirculating | An outside route is not available | Explicit model support and required filter kit |
| Convertible | You need the option of either mode | What is included and what must be bought separately |
Measure the opening and check the installation instructions
Measure the space from side to side, front to back and above the cooking surface. Check the hood’s actual dimensions, required mounting height and room for any chimney section. Compare the hood and cooking-appliance instructions together.
For a ducted installation, confirm duct size, direction and the route outdoors. Bends, restrictions and duct length can affect airflow and noise. Missing dimensions or duct information are reasons to check with an installer, not proof that a model fits.
Understand airflow and everyday noise
CFM: Cubic feet per minute: how much air moves in one minute. It does not by itself establish how well a hood captures cooking emissions. describes how much air moves in a minute. More CFM: Cubic feet per minute: how much air moves in one minute. It does not by itself establish how well a hood captures cooking emissions. does not automatically make a hood the best choice. Hood shape, coverage, position and ductwork affect how well it captures the air from your cooking.
Sones: A measure of perceived loudness. Compare the speed and test conditions as well as the number. and dB: Decibels: a sound-level measurement. Distance, fan speed and test conditions affect comparisons. describe sound in different ways. Check the fan speed and measurement conditions behind a sound claim. Numbers measured at different speeds or under different conditions may not be directly comparable. Look for useful ventilation at a noise level you will actually tolerate.
Make-up air: Replacement outdoor air supplied as a ventilation system exhausts air from the home. is replacement air brought into the home as air is exhausted. A powerful exhaust system may need a planned supply. Ask your installer about the home, other fuel-burning equipment and local requirements; a single nationwide airflow threshold is not a complete answer.
Choose for how you cook and what you will maintain
Frequent frying, high-heat cooking and larger cooking surfaces can place different demands on capture and ventilation. Electric and induction cooking still produce cooking emissions from food and oils, so ventilation still matters.
Check access to grease filters, cleaning instructions, recirculating-filter replacements, lighting and controls. Include required kits, installation and replacement filters in the cost. Controls you can reach and fan settings you will use matter every day.
Build your shortlist in the right order
First confirm the kitchen and installation fit. Then consider how the hood handles your cooking. Next check noise, maintenance and everyday operation. Compare features and prices among the options that meet those needs.
Keep unresolved installation details on your checklist. Published airflow and sound measurements should influence performance ordering only when their measurement conditions support a fair comparison.
Common questions
Does a gas cooktop always need a particular CFM?
There is no single number that establishes fit for every installation. Check the cooking-appliance and hood instructions, duct design and applicable installation requirements.
Can a ductless hood work in my apartment?
Only if the model supports recirculation and the installation is permitted. Confirm required filters and landlord or building requirements; recirculation does not exhaust air outdoors.
What should I check before replacing my range hood?
Check the new hood’s mounting, dimensions, electrical connection and duct requirements alongside the cooking-appliance instructions. Existing ductwork or a matching advertised width does not establish that the replacement fits.
What if I do not know my duct size?
You can learn and browse now. Measure it or ask your installer before treating any model as a confirmed installation match.
Continue your shopping research
How we prepared this guide
Gold Tarpon writes original guidance using manufacturer instructions, technical references and other research. We keep an internal source ledger. Check the exact product’s instructions for installation, compatibility and care; general guidance does not confirm a particular model fits.