Under Cabinet Range Hoods

An under cabinet range hood is a kitchen ventilation system installed beneath upper cabinets directly above your cooktop or range. It helps remove smoke, grease, steam, heat, and cooking odors while maximizing cabinet space and maintaining a streamlined kitchen design. These are one of the most popular range hood styles because they work well in both small and large kitchens.

Under cabinet range hoods use internal blowers to capture airborne grease, smoke, and odors created during cooking. Depending on the model, the air is either vented outside through ductwork or filtered and recirculated back into your kitchen.

Ducted range hoods vent cooking contaminants outside your home and typically offer better performance for heavy cooking, frying, and gas ranges. Ductless range hoods use charcoal filters to clean the air before recirculating it back into your kitchen. Ductless models are easier to install but generally do not remove heat or moisture as effectively.

Under cabinet range hoods are complete, fully finished ventilation units that mount directly beneath your existing upper kitchen cabinets. Range hood inserts, on the other hand, are installed inside a custom-built cabinet or decorative hood cover. Inserts are often installed under cabinets for a customized look. For more information, read our article on range hood inserts.

Your range hood should be at least as wide as your cooktop for proper coverage. Common sizes include 30-inch, 36-inch, 42-inch, and 48-inch models. Many homeowners choose a hood that is slightly wider than their range for improved smoke and grease capture.

Choosing the right CFM is fairly simple, but it is based on the cooktop type.

• For Gas Cooktops: Calculate how many BTUs (British Thermal Units) the burners produce. You need 1 CFM for every 100 BTUs of your gas cooktop’s total output.
• For Electric or Induction Cooktops: You’ll need about 100 CFM for every linear foot of cooktop width.

For more information on CFM, read our guide to determining how much CFM you need.

Not always. Ducted models require outdoor venting, while ductless range hood models recirculate air through filters. If strong smoke, grease, and odor removal is your priority, venting outdoors is typically the better option.

Yes. Under cabinet range hoods are ideal for small kitchens because they maximize available space while providing effective ventilation without requiring the visual footprint of larger wall mount range hoods or island mount range hoods.