Cooker Hood Buying Guide

What is a cooker hood?

Also referred to as kitchen extractor fans, a cooker hood is essentially an electric fan that sits above the kitchen hob. It removes all airborne smoke, steam, grease and odour while you cook. Think of it as your kitchen's filter, helping to remove smells more quickly to prevent them from lingering.

How do cooker hoods work?

Cooker hoods work in two different ways, depending on the type you choose:

Ducted cooker hoods

Ducted cooker hoods remove smoke and grease from a room using a vent that leads outside (hence, they're also known as vented or external extractors). They are positioned by an exterior wall and the ducting goes into the ceiling or wall with a cover.

Vented cooker hoods tend to be quicker and more effective at removing smoke from the environment. However, the installation process takes longer and you'll need a professional to fit the vent.

Recirculation cooker hoods

Recirculation hoods filter smokey, greasy air and recycle it back into a room. Unlike external hoods, the air recirculates rather than being taken outside. This extraction process works by using a charcoal filter that absorbs dirt, grease and odours.

The main benefit of recirculation hoods is that they can be placed on any internal wall with no need for ducting, making them more flexible when planning your kitchen design.

When you come to buy a kitchen extractor fan, it's worth bearing in mind that some cooker hoods allow for both types of extraction, whilst others only allow for one. The product pages on our site explain the venting type(s) of each hood.

Do I need a cooker hood?

If you're reading this guide, chances are you're already considering buying a cooker hood - but do you need one?

In most cases, there isn't a legal requirement to install a cooker hood in your kitchen, providing it already has some ventilation. However, we recommend installing a good-quality cooker hood in your kitchen.

As you cook, you'll produce steam, grease and cooking odours which if left unchecked can be detrimental to your kitchen over time. Installing an extractor fan minimises this risk helping to keep your kitchen a pleasant place to be.

Not only that but many of our customers think adding a cooker hood above their hob is a way to finish off their kitchen.

Types of cooker hood

In addition to choosing between a ducted or recirculation cooker hood, there are quite a few different styles to choose from when buying a cooker hood. It can be difficult to know which type of cooker hood to go for with so many choices, so we've outlined the key features of each below to help you decide.

What to consider when buying a cooker hood

As well as deciding the extraction type and cooking hood style, you'll also need to consider the following:

1. Size
2. Extraction rate
3. Preferred brand
4. Colour
5. Accessories

We'll explain more about what to consider for each of the above below:

1. Choosing your size: what size cooker hood do I need?

Size is an important factor when choosing your cooker hood. Your choice will be determined by the height of your ceiling, as well as the size of your kitchen units and hob.

A useful rule of thumb is to pick a cooker hood that's the same width as your hob (or 1.5x wider). This tends to look more aesthetically pleasing and also ensures that you get the right level of ventilation.

How high should a cooker hood be?

Your cooker hood should also be positioned 75cm above the kitchen hob. You'll need to take this into account when picking which height of extractor fan to go for (read on for more information on how to measure up).

You'll find kitchen extractor fans in a wide range of widths and heights depending on which style you choose. We offer cooker hoods in a variety of different widths:

How to measure for a cooker hood

The general principle is that the cooker hood should be the same width and depth (or 1.5 times larger) as the hob. This ensures that the hood is large enough to remove all airborne grease and smoke efficiently. To work this out, you'll just need to measure the dimensions of your hob.

As suggested above, the height of your cooker hood is also an important factor to consider. For safety purposes, the hot zone area of your hob should be 75cm away from the hood, particularly if you're using a gas hob. You'll need to measure the distance between your hob and where the fan will sit to work out the correct height to go for.

There is a slight difference if you choose a downdraft cooker hood. Because they rise, you need to make sure that there is enough space behind your kitchen worktop for the hood to fit comfortably. There should also be a minimum of 70cm under the counter to create enough space for the hood and extractor pipes.

2. Choosing the right extraction rate

The extraction rate of your cooker hood should match the size of your kitchen. Follow these steps to work this out:

1. Measure the height, width, and depth of your kitchen space
2. Multiply the height x width x depth to get the volume of your kitchen
3. Multiply the volume of your kitchen by 10 to get the extraction rate

Height x width x depth of your kitchen = the volume of your kitchen

Volume of your kitchen x 10 = the extraction rate of your cooker hood

3. Cooker hood brands

There are many different brands to pick from when buying a cooker hood. We have a wide range of options from Miele, Rangemaster, Smeg, Neff, Bosch and more. No matter which type of cooker hood you're looking for, we have a brand to suit your budget.

The brand you choose is entirely up to you. We only stock reputable brands to offer you the most reliable range of cooker hoods. Some of our customers may choose a cooker hood from the same brand as their other kitchen appliances, such as their cooker, but this isn't essential.

4. Choose your colour

The colour of your cooker hood not only impacts the look of your kitchen but also more practical features like how easy it is to clean. Below, we've discussed some of the benefits of different colours to help you choose:

5. Buying the right accessories

Ducted and recirculation cooker hoods need certain accessories to help them function correctly. When buying a cooker hood, always check that the product comes with all of the accessories you'll need to set it up (our product pages provide you with all of this information).

Cooker hood accessories include things like filters and ducting kits. The sections below look at each type of accessory and when you'll need them.

Cooker Hood FAQs

After reading our guide on buying a cooker hood, you should have a good idea of what you're looking for. But if you do still have some questions, take a look at our cooker hood FAQs below for answers to the most common queries.

Do I need a charcoal filter for my cooker hood?

Yes, if you buy a recirculating cooker hood, you will need a charcoal or carbon filter. This accessory helps to remove grease, grime and smells from your kitchen during the extraction process.

Some of our recirculation cooker hoods come with a charcoal filter provided (check the relevant product page to find out whether this is the case). This will then need replacing every 4 to 12 months depending on how often you cook.

Where should I position my cooker hood?

You should position a cooker hood 75cm above your hob somewhere with an electricity supply nearby. If you choose a ducted hood, this will ideally be situated on an external wall so that the ducting can go straight outside.

How do I fit a cooker hood?

We recommend seeking the help of a professional to fit a cooker hood.

How can I hide cooker hood ducting?

Ideally, your cooker hood will be positioned on an exterior wall so you can have a short piece of ducting straight from the hood to the outside through a hole in the wall.

If there's no option but to have the cooker hood on an interior wall, you could run the ducting through the floor space in your ceiling if the positioning of your joist allows for this. Alternatively, other options include running the duct through your kitchen cupboards or boxing it in with wooden panels.