A beautiful new kitchen can lose its polish quickly when steam settles on cabinetry, cooking odours linger, and grease finds its way onto every nearby surface. Knowing how to choose range hood size gives your kitchen the clean, composed finish it deserves - while making everyday cooking more comfortable.
The right hood is not simply the widest model that fits the wall. It needs to suit the width and power of your cooktop, the way you cook, the room’s layout, and whether you can vent air outdoors. Get those details right and your range hood becomes a quiet, refined part of a sophisticated kitchen rather than an afterthought above the hob.
Start with the cooktop width
For most kitchens, the simplest rule is this: your range hood should be at least as wide as the cooktop beneath it. A 76 cm cooktop calls for a 76 cm hood as a minimum. This creates a direct capture zone for steam, smoke and airborne grease.
Where space allows, choosing a hood slightly wider than the cooking surface is often the more elevated choice. For example, pair a 76 cm cooktop with a 91 cm hood. The extra overhang improves capture at the front burners and along the outer edges, where steam is most likely to escape into the room. It also gives a larger kitchen a more intentional, balanced visual line.
A hood narrower than the cooktop is rarely a good trade-off. It may look compact, but it will miss vapour from the outer burners and work harder to clear the air. That can mean higher fan speeds, more noise, and less of the serene cooking environment you are renovating for.
Island cooktops need more coverage
An island hood has no rear wall to help contain rising vapour. Air currents from open-plan living spaces, doors and people moving through the kitchen can also pull steam away from the intake. For that reason, an island range hood should generally extend 15 to 30 cm beyond the cooktop width where the design permits.
A 91 cm island hood over a 76 cm cooktop is a popular, practical proportion. It offers stronger capture without overwhelming the island. In a larger statement kitchen, a wider hood can also anchor the room with a sculptural, architectural presence.
How to choose range hood size beyond width
Width is the first measurement, but it is not the whole answer. Depth, mounting height and airflow capacity decide whether a hood merely looks right or performs beautifully.
Check the hood depth
A range hood should cover as much of the cooktop from front to back as possible. Many standard hoods are shallower than a deep professional-style range, leaving the front burners exposed. If your household regularly uses the front burners for frying pans, stockpots or a wok, look for a hood with a deeper canopy.
As a guide, aim for a hood that reaches at least halfway over the front burners, with better coverage whenever cabinetry and headroom allow. A chimney-style wall hood with a generous canopy often captures cooking vapour more effectively than a slim, shallow design, even when both have similar fan ratings.
Respect the mounting height
The distance between the hob and the hood affects safety, comfort and extraction. Mount a hood too high and steam has more time to spread before it reaches the filters. Mount it too low and it can obstruct sightlines, feel intrusive, or sit outside the manufacturer’s safe clearance requirements.
Always follow the installation instructions for the exact model and appliance below it. Gas cooktops commonly require greater clearance than induction or electric models because of heat and flame. Your kitchen installer should also confirm the local requirements for your home and the selected appliances before cabinetry is finalised.
This is worth deciding early in a renovation. A hood may have the perfect width but still feel awkward if the flue, ceiling height and upper cabinets have not been planned together.
Match airflow to the way you cook
A larger hood is only effective when it has enough extraction power. In Canada, range hood performance is often described in CFM, or cubic feet per minute. Higher CFM can move more air, but it should be matched to your cooking habits and ventilation setup rather than chosen on headline numbers alone.
For light daily cooking on an electric or induction cooktop, a model in the 300 to 400 CFM range may be suitable. If you frequently sear, stir-fry, grill indoors or cook with a gas range, consider around 500 CFM or more. High-output gas cooktops and serious home cooking may require greater capacity, particularly in an open-plan kitchen where odours travel beyond the cooking zone.
The strongest fan setting should not be your everyday setting. A well-sized range hood should clear normal steam and odours at a moderate speed, keeping noise at a comfortable level while you talk, host or enjoy a relaxed meal at home.
Ducted extraction delivers the best results
A ducted hood sends air outside, removing moisture, odours and grease from the kitchen. When renovating, this is usually the best-performing option and the clearest route to a fresher indoor environment. It is especially valuable for Vancouver Lower Mainland homes, where wet weather can make moisture management feel more significant through much of the year.
The duct route matters as much as the motor. Short, straight ducting with the correct diameter allows the hood to deliver its stated performance. Long runs, tight bends and undersized ducts restrict airflow and increase sound. A powerful hood connected to poor ducting can underperform a more modest model installed properly.
Recirculating hoods filter the air through grease and charcoal filters before returning it to the room. They can be an elegant solution for flats, strata properties, or kitchens where exterior venting is not feasible. The compromise is that they do not remove humidity in the same way as ducted systems, and the filters require regular replacement to remain effective.
Choose a hood style that supports the layout
The right size should complement the kitchen rather than compete with it. Wall-mounted chimney hoods suit a dedicated cooking wall and create a strong focal point above a range. Under-cabinet hoods offer a clean, space-conscious option where upper storage is a priority. Integrated hoods disappear into cabinetry for a quieter, tailored look, while island hoods bring a polished centrepiece to open-plan layouts.
Do not let a minimalist profile override practical capture area. A discreet integrated hood can be ideal for an induction kitchen with light cooking, but a household that cooks aromatic meals most evenings may benefit from a deeper, more powerful canopy. The best choice balances your desired aesthetic with the real demands of the kitchen.
For a cohesive renovation, consider the hood alongside tap finishes, cabinet hardware, lighting and appliance detailing. Brushed metal, matte black and clean-lined glass can each create a distinct mood, from warm contemporary to crisp modern luxury.
Measure before you order
Before selecting a model, measure the cooktop width, the available wall or cabinet space, the depth from the wall to the front of the cooktop, and the ceiling height. Then confirm where ducting can run, whether a make-up air solution may be needed for high-capacity extraction, and how the electrical connection will be handled.
It is also wise to check the hood’s full specification, not just its product image. Review its maximum and minimum installation heights, duct diameter, noise rating, filter type, lighting, and whether it can operate in ducted or recirculating mode. These details turn an attractive purchase into a long-term upgrade you will appreciate every time you cook.
A 76 cm hood may be all your kitchen requires, while a 91 cm model may deliver the cleaner air and stronger presence your design deserves. Choose the size that gives your cooktop proper coverage, fits your installation conditions, and lets the kitchen feel as refined during a busy dinner as it does when freshly styled. Kits can help bring that considered finish together, from the statement range hood above the hob to the surfaces that complete the room.