Range Hood
Finder
Follow the steps below to choose a range hood that is just right for your kitchen. With our proprietary range hood calculator, you’ll find a hood that satisfies all of your needs.
Results
Indoor or Outdoor
One of the most crucial decisions you will make as you shop for a range hood is whether you want it indoors or outdoors.
The typical indoor range hood will not have enough power and durability to function efficiently in your outdoor kitchen.
Compared to indoor range hoods, outdoor range hoods have unique features that ensure you have an enjoyable cooking experience.
For an outdoor range hood, go with 1200+ CFM.
Outdoor range hoods require more power than an indoor range hood. Most outdoor range hoods are mounted over grills, which produce more intense heat, smoke, and cooking exhaust than your average kitchen range. You also might see a two grill setup, where a large outdoor range hood works wonders.
1200+ CFM will ensure that all the heavy grease, smoke, and strong cooking odors are vented out of your outdoor cooking space.
At Proline, we sell outdoor range hoods up to 2000 CFM, which is one of the highest CFM ratings on the market for residential range hoods. With a powerful hood over a BBQ grill, you can enjoy socials or large parties with your family and friends.
Outdoor range hoods require more durability than indoor range hoods.
At Proline Range Hoods, our outdoor range hoods are manufactured with a durable stain, scratch,
and weather-resistant 304 stainless steel finish.
Outdoor range hoods must not only
endure the heat from your grill but also the elements. So, a more durable stainless steel finish
is important to extend the lifespan of your vent hood.
Outdoor range hoods must be mounted further away than indoor range hoods.
Outdoor range hoods must be mounted further away from your cooktop so that the range hood can catch the heavy cooking exhaust coming from your grill. We recommend that you mount your outdoor range hood at least 36” inches away from your outdoor grill – and up to 42”.
Range Hood Style
Depending on your kitchen setup or your kitchen remodel layout, the type of range hood you need will vary.
If you want to mount your range hood on a wall, go with a wall mounted range hood.
Wall mounted range hoods come with chimneys that cover your ductwork. For a wall mounted range hood, you have two options to run your ductwork. You can run your ductwork vertically, through the ceiling and to the outside. Or, you can run ductwork horizontally to the outside of your home.
Or, mount your hood under cabinetry with an under cabinet range hood.
Unlike wall range hoods, most under cabinet hoods do not have chimneys. The ductwork can run horizontally through your cabinetry to the outside. Or, you can run it through your cabinetry to the ceiling.
If your range is on a kitchen island, then an island range hood is your best option.
Unlike wall mount range hoods and under cabinet range hoods, island range hoods vent through the ceiling.
If you have custom cabinetry or a custom hood, consider investing in a range hood insert.
A range hood insert slides into the bottom of your custom hood or cabinetry and sucks cooking exhaust from your kitchen to the outside of your home.
Range hood inserts are increasingly popular in today’s kitchens, as homeowners love the sleek, minimalist look. At the same time, you can make a strong statement with your custom hood as well. The design possibilities are endless with your range hood insert!
Wall mounted range hoods and island range hoods are the most common exhaust fans for your outdoor kitchen.
At Proline, they come in a wide range of sizes, from 24” to 60”. In addition, you can
find wall and island hoods between 600 CFM and 2000 CFM, so you certainly have several options
when it comes to the power of your outdoor grill.
Range hood inserts and under
cabinet range hoods, on the other hand, are best suited for your indoor kitchen. With the
cooking exhaust coming from your grill, you don’t want to get your cabinets and custom
hood dirty. They may become difficult to keep clean over time.
Ducted or Recirculate
This is a critical decision when choosing your range hood. Will it duct to the outside or recirculate your kitchen air?
What is a ducted range hood?
Ducted range hoods move air through a duct to the outside of your home.
What is a ductless range hood?
Ductless or recirculating range hoods move air through charcoal filters that trap contaminants and harsh odors, and then the hood recirculates the air back into your kitchen.
If possible, purchase a ducted range hood over a ductless range hood.
Ducted hoods are preferred over ductless hoods for your kitchen because they move the fumes produced from cooking to the outside. They are much more efficient at improving your indoor air quality and ensuring a comfortable and smooth experience in the kitchen.
If you live in an apartment or condo and you can’t install ductwork, a ductless hood is your best option.
A recirculating range hood can be useful in specific situations. Maybe you live in an apartment or condo. Or, maybe you cannot afford ductwork, but you want to improve your indoor air quality. Perhaps you don’t cook often and you want to save money on installation.
Proline’s ductless hoods are some of the most powerful on the market. Ranging from 600 CFM to 1000 CFM, they outshine the fans at big box stores that are 400 CFM and under. Typically, these hoods will not provide enough power to clean your kitchen air, so we recommend kitchen fans with at least 600 CFM.
Don’t install a recirculating range hood in your outdoor kitchen.
Recirculating range hoods may struggle to keep up with the heavy amount of fumes produced by your BBQ grill. Ducted range hoods, on the other hand, can be installed indoors or outdoors due to their sheer power.
How Many CFM
How to Choose the CFM for Your Range Hood
What is CFM?
CFM stands for cubic feet per minute, which represents the rate at which your range hood pulls air from your kitchen. The higher the CFM, the faster the fumes are evacuated from your kitchen.
Range Hood CFM for Gas Ranges
The easiest way to calculate CFM for your gas range is to take the total BTUs of your stove top and divide it by 100. BTUs, or British thermal units, are a measure of heat coming from your stove top.
Range Hood CFM for Electric Ranges
For electric stove tops, first, find the wattage of your stove. The higher the wattage, the more CFM you will need for your range hood.
Consider your cooking habits when choosing the CFM for your range hood.
When determining the CFM of your range hood, it’s also important to consider your cooking habits. How often do you cook? Do you like wok-style cooking, Indian food, greasy food, or fried food? Do you cook food that requires a high amount of heat or produces strong odors?
If you enjoy Asian cuisine or high-heat cooking, consider a 1200+ CFM range hood. This is more than enough for most homeowners, but for the most avid cooks, we have fans available up to 2000 CFM.
Range Hood Size
The last important factor to consider when choosing your range hood is the size.
Most indoor range hoods come in 24”, 30”, 36”, 42”, 48”, 54”, or 60” widths.
Indoor range hoods come in many different sizes – each size is six inches larger than the former. This is because most kitchen ranges are sized six inches apart as well, which makes finding the right range hood size simple and easy.
Outdoor range hoods should be 42” or larger.
Although you can find outdoor range hoods under 42”, we recommend 42” or larger for your outdoor hood to maximize the coverage of your cooktop. A larger hood will ensure that all of the cooking exhaust leaves your home quickly.
Range hood inserts are sized differently than range hoods.
Range hood inserts are typically two inches smaller than range hoods. To fit comfortably inside your custom hood, they need a little space to breathe so it is not so cramped. Most range hood inserts are available at 28”, 34”, 40”, 46”, 52”, and 58” widths.
If you know the size of your kitchen range, simply add 4” to the width to get the size of your insert. For example, if you have a 30” range, you’ll want a 34” insert.
Unlike with range hoods, you also need to consider the depth of your range hood insert. The three most common depths for inserts are 15”, 18”, and 21”. Your cabinet maker or contractor can help you measure out a hole deep enough for your range hood insert. Or, if you DIY'd your custom hood, be sure to cut a hole that is 15”, 18”, or 21” deep.
If you calculate the size of your range hood and it doesn’t match with our results, go with the next highest result. For example, if you have a 34” kitchen range, you need at least a 40” range hood. But since we don’t sell 40” range hoods, go with the next largest size, 42”.
