Cooker hoods

How to choose a cooker hood

• Width. The hood should be at least as wide as the hob: 60 cm hood for a 60 cm hob, 45–52 cm for a narrow one.
• Type. A telescopic hood hides under a cabinet and pulls out for cooking, a canopy hood is a simple visor, a wall-mounted one stays visible above the hob, and a built-in one disappears into the units.
• Extraction rate. Kitchen volume times ten gives the minimum: about 200 m³/h for a 20 m³ kitchen, 600 m³/h and more for an open-plan one.
• Ducted or recirculating. Ducting really removes odours; recirculation needs a charcoal filter and suits kitchens with no duct.
• Noise. 60–70 dB at top speed is normal; pick a quieter model for an open-plan kitchen.

Delivery

Cooker hoods are bulky goods: they travel by courier, as the box does not fit a parcel locker.

Related categories

See also microwave ovens and kettles.

Frequently asked questions

How high should it be mounted? Usually 65 cm above an electric hob and 75 cm above a gas hob — the exact figure is in the manufacturer's manual.