At a Glance:
What’s CFM and Why it Matters?
Importance of The Type of Cooktop
6 Best Under Cabinet Range Hoods
Under-Cabinet Hoods vs Built-in Range Hoods
If your kitchen is suddenly feeling stuffier and smokier after you cook a meal, it’s time for an upgrade. But before you buy your next under-cabinet range hood, let’s talk about what qualifies as a good cabinet range hood.
If you want to keep your kitchen fresh and airy, you need proper ventilation. You need a quality range hood with good built-in quality and a CFM rating. If you’re unsure about what’s CFM and what’s a good CFM rating, don’t worry; I’ll break it down for you!
Explore Our Selection of Range Hoods!
Make sure your kitchen remains free of cooking fumes with an under-cabinet range hood. Plaza Appliance Mart offers a wide selection of styles, ensuring you'll find the perfect range hood for your home and cooking needs..
Under Cabinet Range HoodsWhat’s CFM and Why It Matters?
CFM is the abbreviation of cubic feet per minute; it’s used to measure how much air a range hood can transfer. The higher the CFM, the better – because it indicates that it can remove smoke, smells, and heat from your kitchen more quickly.
Removing smoke and heat also protects your kitchen from catching grease and other unwanted particles, keeping the space clean, comfortable, and pleasant for your next meal.
Importance of The Type of Cooktop
Let’s take a deeper dive and discuss how the cooktop you’re using affects the ventilation in your kitchen and what should be your ideal CFM.
Electric vs. Gas
Typically, gas cookpots need a higher CFM rating as compared to electric ones because of all the excessive combustion that causes smoke. As per the manufacturer’s recommendation, a minimum of 100 CFM is required per 10,000 BTU.
On the other hand, electric cooktops require a much lower CFM rating, as they produce only a fraction of the smoke compared to traditional gas cooktops.
Size range (30” vs. 36”)
The size of your range hood determines what CFM rating is best for your kitchen. A standard 30-inch range with a gas stovetop requires about 400–600 CFM rating, and if it’s electric, the CFM rating goes down to 200–400.
If you have a larger 36-inch range at home, you’ll need 600–1000 CFM for the gas cooktops and 400–600 for the electric cooktops.
Learn More: Spice Up Kitchen Thor Cooktops
6 Best Under Cabinet Range Hoods
If you’re looking for the perfect under cabinet hood range for your kitchen, we can help you. We did thorough research and came up with the 6 best hood ranges, based on performance, built quality, and customer reviews.
GE® Series 30" Stainless Steel Under the Cabinet Hood
GE® Series 30" Stainless Steel Under the Cabinet Hood
The GE 30" Stainless Steel is a suitable option for standard residential kitchens. It fits over most 30" cooktops and ranges, while the fingerprint-resistant stainless-steel construction maintains a clean, sleek appearance.
Customer review:
“Great features and it's both vented and unvented
Actually I am extremely happy with the new hood range. Really is so much better than the 35 year old one that we replaced”
- Heather42
Frigidaire® 30" Black Under Cabinet Range Hood
Frigidaire 30in Black Under Cabinet Hood
The Frigidaire 30" Black Under Cabinet Range Hood offers a cost-effective ventilation solution with the unique style of a black finish instead of stainless steel – a great choice for modern kitchen decor.
Take a look at what one of the customers had to say about it:
“We have the Frigidaire Pro line of appliances in our other home. We were happy to see our new home came with Frigidaire Gallery appliances. We are very happy with the performance and the look great.”
- NewnanRB
Whirlpool® 30” Stainless Steel Convertible Under Cabinet Hood
Whirlpool Convertible Under Cabinet Hood
With the Whirlpool 30" Stainless Steel Convertible Under Cabinet Hood, you get flexibility in both venting and installation. It can be set to vent outside or recirculate inside, while Whirlpool's guaranteed fit system ensures smooth integration with your cabinets.
Maytag® 36" Stainless Steel Under the Cabinet Range Hood with the FIT System
Maytag 36in Under Cabinet Hood
Providing coverage for larger cooking areas, the Maytag 36" Stainless Steel Under the Cabinet Range Hood has a 36" width. It also includes a built-in damper to prevent backdrafts from entering your kitchen space.
An anonymous reviewer wrote:
“Stylish modern range hood with great features! Excellent air flow and strong suction from the fan. The light is very bright and makes cooking a pleasure. matches well with stainless steel/black ranges.”
KitchenAid® 36'' Stainless Steel Under the Cabinet Hood
KitchenAid® 36'' Stainless Steel Under the Cabinet Hood
The KitchenAid 36" Stainless Steel Under the Cabinet Hood brings a pro-style design from a premium brand name. Expect strong exhaust ventilation with a likely high CFM rating to handle demanding cooking.
“We needed a high powered motor to clear the kitchen/family room of cooking odors. The old hood just didn't do it. We searched and liked the styling and features of this hood, and it has lived up to what we needed and wanted in an exhaust hood.”
- M.Chef (Verified reviewer)
Monogram® 48" Professional Hood-Stainless Steel
Monogram® 48" Professional Hood-Stainless Steel
For true professional-level performance, the Monogram 48" Professional Hood offers an extra-wide 48" size to pair with commercial-style ranges. Its powerful exhaust fan is engineered to remove heat and smoke from the most intense kitchen cooking environments.
Under-Cabinet Hoods vs Built-in Range Hoods
The obvious difference between the two is that Under-cabinet range hoods are mounted beneath the kitchen cabinets, while built-in range hoods are installed as a separate unit, often designed to be integrated into the cabinetry.
If you’re confused about which option is better, we’ll break down the advantages of both and help you decide.
Under-cabinet range hoods
Save space: They don't take up much of your cabinet space and are a great option for smaller kitchens with a minimal layout.
A perfect fit: Under-cabinet range hoods blend in your kitchen without disrupting the design. They give a sleek and clean look to your kitchen.
Easy to install: Compared to built-in models, they are much easier to install; you don’t have to do the heavy lifting or reshaping of your kitchen cabinetry and ductwork.
Save you money: Under-cabinet range hoods are really affordable; they’ll cost you around $100–$400, depending on the size and brand.
Built-in range hoods
Better ventilation: Built-in hoods are better for your kitchen ventilation as they have higher CFM ratings, making the smoke and heat in the kitchen vanish quickly.
Personalized design: They have a broader range of designs, styles, and colors compared to under-cabinet range hoods. You can pick the one that goes with your kitchen’s theme.
Turn on the lights: Most built-in range hoods have a lighting feature, making your kitchen aesthetic and providing you with better lighting, so you can prepare a perfect meal.
Learn More: Cooktop Repair or Replace?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s do a little recap and clear up your confusion with a FAQ.
What is a CFM?
CFM stands for Cubic Feet per Minute, in simple terms, it measures the amount of air a range hood can move or exhaust, the higher the rating the more powerful the range hood performs, freeing your kitchen from smoke, odors, and unnecessary heat.
Do under-cabinet range hoods need to be vented?
Of course, under-cabinet range hoods need to be vented to the outside for proper ventilation, so it can get rid of all the pollutants and contaminants from your kitchen. If you don’t have proper venting, the range hood will simply recirculate everything back into your kitchen.
What do I need to know about under-cabinet range hoods?
A few key points about under-cabinet range hoods that you should know:
- They mount beneath your kitchen cabinets above the cooktop which saves you space
- Look for a CFM rating that matches your cooktop type (gas or electric) and size.
- During installation, make sure that the vent is properly hooded to the outside through ductwork.
- They are more affordable than built-in models.
Are under-cabinet hoods different from built-in range hoods?
Under-cabinet hoods mount beneath cabinets, while built-in models are integrated into cabinetry above the range. Built-in hoods often have higher CFM ratings and powerful ventilation but are more expensive.
What CFM ratings do I need for my under-cabinet range hood?
For gas cooktops, most experts recommend at least 100 CFM per 10,000 BTU of cooktop output. For electric cooktops, a range of 100-200 CFM is generally sufficient. The range size (30" vs 36") also affects the ideal CFM needed.
Why Trust Plaza Appliance Mart?
Plaza Appliance Mart is a local, family-owned, appliance store in North Carolina where you can get personalized, expert service that you won’t find at the big box stores. Plaza Appliance Mart is YOUR source for competitive prices with knowledgeable in-store professionals here to help you every step of the way, whether you need to replace an old appliance, or if you're remodeling and need an entire kitchen full of new brand-name products. And, our delivery and installation specialists will assure that your new appliances arrive safely and are installed properly.
If you were to ask the employees at Plaza Appliance Mart about their roles in the company, they'd say they're not just employees, they're family. So as you might imagine. a team of professionals like this who are already so tightly knit and bonded together make for a perfect partner with the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. Apart from their community ties, Plaza Appliance is an accredited Better Business Bureau company with an A+ Rating.
Shop Under Cabinet Ranges Hood at Plaza Appliance Mart
Stop by Plaza’s Charlotte, Huntersville, Matthews, or Pineville locations to see what a difference buying local with an experienced staff can make. Or shop ranges online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find the perfect under cabinet range hood — whether you call us at 704-568-7600, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.