This is one of our most commonly asked questions, so let’s dive right in. In order to properly power your range hood, you will require at least 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTUs of the stovetop in question. Let’s say that we’re talking about a 100,000 BTU stove. A 1000-CFM range hood would be needed. Electric stove owners must multiply their stove’s width by 10. A 42" electric stove would require a range hood that offers at least 420 CFM. 600 CFM is recommended so that exhaust can be vented from the kitchen in an efficient manner. There is no ideal, one-size-fits-all answer here. The CFM that is chosen will depend on the client’s kitchen habits and cooking style.

At a bare minimum, the hood range should remain the exact same width as the cooking surface that is being used. Depending on your specific needs, you can also opt for a range hood that is 6 inches wider than the cooktop. In most instances, experts will recommend choosing a hood that is 3 inches wider on each side of the cooking surface. This allows for the capture of additional exhaust that is created while cooking.

If you want to know more about measurements, please see our measurement guide.

A vented range hood is the better choice, and this should not even be in question. This air should always be vented outdoors as opposed to being allowed to circulate within the kitchen. Without a vented hood, smoke and steam circulate, causing various particles of grease to attach themselves to the kitchen’s woodwork. An unvented hood can still remove some cooking odors and grease from the air, but it is not as effective. Heat and humidity also linger in the kitchen with unvented hoods, making cooking much less comfortable.

Venting outside is always going to be the best choice for any homeowner who is looking to keep the air healthy and clean. While there are certain design limitations that may be associated with the ductwork, it is important to make sure that you have room to vent from the range hood to the outside before installation.