Best range hoods 2021: Ductless and vented range hoods

With the best range hoods you can banish bad cooking smells for good, and enjoy cooking in your kitchen without worrying about excess steam or smoke. We’ve gathered together all the best under cabinet, ductless, and vented range hoods from top brands such as ZLine, AKDY, and more, so you can find all the options you need in one convenient place. 

The best range hoods are designed to work over the best gas ranges or the best electric cooktops to deal with any rising odors or steam and make your cooking process easier. A traditional vented range hood should suit most households, but if you don’t have external ventilation, then one of the best ductless range hoods will be a perfect alternative.

One way to distinguish between the best range hoods is by taking a look at how much power each model offers you. The higher the fan speed on each range hood, the more powerful it will be within your home. This is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), with the options in this round-up ranging anywhere between 250 CFM to 600 CFM. Other excellent built-in features to look out for include LED lights to illuminate your food as you cook, as well as easy-cleaning filters that are dishwasher friendly. 

1.  ADKY RH0342 Range Hood: Best overall range hood  

The ADKY RH0342 Range Hood is sleek and stylish and features three fan speeds and can reach up to 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM). This wall-mounted range hood is great at getting rid of cooking fumes and odors and does this pretty quietly too. 

The filters on this range hood can easily be removed and placed in the dishwasher so you can keep on top of the hygiene levels. The ADKY RH0342 Range Hood is fitted with two lights, one either side of the filters which gives even brightness over your cooktop. One downside to this range hood, however, is that it is not Energy Star certified. 

• Read our ADKY RH0342 Range Hood review 

2. ZLine KL2-36 Range Hood: Best wall-mounted range hood 

The ZLine KL2-36 Range Hood is one of the best wall-mounted range hoods. It provides ample power for removing cooking smoke and steam, and its fan can reach 400 cubic feet per minute. 

This range hood has four fan speeds and comes with two 16-inch telescoping chimney pieces. The standout feature for this wall-mounted range hood, though, is that its motor has a lifetime warranty. The lights included with this range hood are also LED and are great for lighting up the area beneath them. 

One thing that is worth considering, however, is that the ZLine KL2-36 Range Hood isn’t coated in an anti-fingerprint finish so it is prone to showing marks and can be challenging to keep clean. 

• Read our ZLine KL2-36 Range Hood review  

3. Broan CLSC130SS Undercabinet Range Hood: Best under-cabinet range hood 

The Broan CLSC130SS Undercabinet Range Hood measures 30 inches and reaches 250 cubic feet per minute. While this certainly isn’t the most powerful range hood we reviewed, it is the most affordable option, and for the price you pay, you get a quality range hood. 

The other benefit of this model is that it doesn’t take up as much space as a wall-mounted range hood and as the leading range hoods have, the filters can easily be removed so that you can give them a good clean in the dishwasher. 

The switches on the Broan CLSC130SS Undercabinet Range Hood are positioned on the underside of the unit, rather than on the front, which might be frustrating for some users. 

• Read our Broan CLSC130SS Undercabinet Range Hood review  

4. Frigidaire FHPC4260LS Range Hood: Best large range hood  

The Frigidaire FHPC4260LS Range Hood is the largest model in our round up. It stretches 42 inches, making it a great choice for cooktops that have six burners. 

The fan has three speed settings and it reaches 400 cubic feet per minute, but what’s really great about this range hood is that it has four lights to make your cooking area as bright as possible. 

There’s also the flexibility with the Frigidaire FHPC4260LS Range Hood to install it over a kitchen island in either a vented or ductless way. Noise levels for this range hood are also typical for what you’d expect from a three-speed range hood. 

• Read our Frigidaire FHPC4260LS Range Hood review  

5. Maytag UXD8630DYS Downdraft Hood: Best downdraft hood 

The Maytag UXD8630DYS Downdraft Hood doesn’t need to be mounted on the wall or under a cabinet but instead is a fantastic space saving device that can slide up and down behind your cooktop. 

This downdraft hood is the most powerful out of all the models we reviewed reaching 600 cubic feet per minute. The Maytag UXD8630DYS Downdraft Hood can rise to 14 inches high to remove smoke and odors when you’re preparing a meal and its fan has four speeds. 

This clever technology doesn’t come cheap though, and the price will be a drawback for many. 

• Read our Maytag UXD8630DYS Downdraft Hood review 

Are range hoods necessary?

There are plenty of reasons why range hoods are a handy thing to have in your kitchen, such as preventing bad smells from circulating the rest of your house, to saving the day when you burn something. So though they may not be required, you might find they make your life a whole lot easier. They can also accent whatever decor you have going on, as they’re available in a range of finishes and sizes. There’s also the benefit of extra lighting that comes with a range hood, that can illuminate a part of your kitchen that might not have it otherwise.  

How do range hoods work?

Range hoods work to enclose over the area where you’re cooking to collect fumes and odors generated in the process. You usually turn on a mechanical fan within your range hood, which will then suck up the smoke from below. Beyond just freeing your kitchen of cooking smells, range hoods also help to stop particles collecting on any walls or surfaces. That means you will spend less time wiping down any grimy surfaces thanks to your range hood too. 

Ducted range hoods will suck any odors or smoke out of your kitchen entirely and to the outside of your house. But if you don’t have access to external ventilation, then they won’t be the appliance for you, as they require a duct system to transport the excess smoke to the exterior of your house. Instead, you’ll want to bag yourself a ductless range hood, which can be installed anywhere you please. As you might have guessed, however, these hoods are a little less efficient than ducted models and may make your kitchen more humid as they recirculate air rather than get rid of it.