Do you want to find the best 400-cfm range hood for your kitchen? Range hoods that
Top 5 Best Rated Range Hoods (*2021 Review*)
Do you want to find the best range hood to remove smoke, steam, and odors?
Range hoods come in a variety of styles and features. In this product review, I will go over…
- My #1 top pick for the best range hood
- The main types or styles of kitchen vent hoods
- How to pick the right CFM or fan speed
- Full reviews of the best range hoods
Let’s get started with this review!
My Overall #1 Rated Top Pick
(updated 12/1/2020)
My overall #1 top pick goes to the Cosmo COS-QS75.
This premium 500-cfm under cabinet range hood is made out of 430-grade 18-gauage stainless steel for a highly durable finish and an incredible look. It also has a modern touch screen control panel, and it even comes with a remote control.
It comes with stainless steel baffle filters that are dishwasher friendly, two bright LED lights, and it even has a delayed auto off timer.
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick  | Top Pick | Cosmo COS-QS75
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| View on Amazon |
 | Ciarra CAS75502
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Kobe Insert
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| View on Amazon | |
Best Look  | Best Look | AKDY Island Mount
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| View on Amazon |
Best Budget  | Best Budget | Cosmo 5MU30
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| View on Amazon |
What's In This Guide?
Top 5 Best Range Hoods
My top picks for the best range hoods come in a variety of styles such as under cabinet, wall mounted, island, and even an insert. These range hoods are in the 300 to 500 cfm range, and they are all made out of premium stainless steel. Check them out below…
- Cosmo COS-QS75 (Top Pick)
- Ciarra CAS75502
- Kobe Insert
- AKDY Island Mount (Best Look)
- Cosmo 5MU30 (Best Budget)
Introduction
Range hoods are crucial home appliances that will remove cooking odors, smoke, grease, and harmful fumes. As a home inspector, checking the operation of the range hood is one of the first things I do during the kitchen inspection. I verify that the fan actually turns on (for all speed levels), that the light is working, and that the filters are reasonably clean.
Dirty filters is a common thing that I point out to my clients. Aluminum mesh filters need to be periodically replaced, or it will greatly reduce the hood’s efficiency.
I also want to verify if the range hood is self-circulating or exterior vented. As a home inspector, I always recommend an exterior vented range hood if at all possible because they are much more effective at removing cooking fumes.
Read Also: What Is The Best Ductless Range Hood?
How To Pick The Best Range Hood?
Probably the most important consideration when picking a range hood is choosing the correct style.
Under Cabinet
The most common type of range hood by far is the under cabinet. Under cabinet range hoods are installed underneath a kitchen cabinet. These hoods are either installed into the wall studs using screws, or they are screwed into the upper cabinet using brackets.
The nice thing about under cabinet hoods is that they save space. Under cabinet range hoods frequently have a slim design to save space, and you also get to keep the cabinet space above your range.
Read Also: How Does A Ductless Range Hood Work?
Wall Mount
Wall mounted range hoods, as the name implies, are installed on the kitchen wall, above the range, but without an upper kitchen cabinet.
Wall mount range hoods have a so-called chimney above the hood, which usually has a rectangular shape, and which encloses the round vent hose that goes outside.
The chimney usually goes up along the wall at least a few feet, and sometimes goes all the way up to the ceiling.
Wall mount range hoods can give a nice commercial/industrial look to a kitchen if your range is along a wall and you do not have an upper cabinet (or don’t want one).
Read Also: What Are The Best Wall Mount Range Hoods?
Insert
Range hood inserts are a great type of range hood to install in your kitchen if you want a minimalist look, and perhaps don’t want a large steel appliance sticking out.
Insert hoods are designed so that custom cabinetry can be installed on the exterior of the hood, thereby completing enclosing the range hood in wood veneer.
Since the hood is encased in cabinetry, the range hood will blend seamlessly into the rest of the kitchen, and people may not even notice that you have a range hood.
Read Also: What Is The Best Range Hood Insert?
Island
Island range hoods are very similar to wall mounted hoods except that they are installed on an island (not a wall), and the chimney has to go completely up to the ceiling.
Island range hoods are really only one of two styles that can be installed on an island (the other is downdraft). People love the look of island range hoods and they are highly effective at catching cooktop smoke and fumes since it is directly above the cooking area.
Read Also: What Are The Best Island Range Hoods?
Downdraft
The last main type of range hood is the downdraft. Downdraft range hoods are installed either at the front, side, or rear of the range, and it pulls in the cooking fumes downwards. These hoods are usually installed with kitchen cooktops (not ovens) because the blower fan and motor are installed underneath in the cabinet.
The great thing about downdraft range hoods is that they are ultra minimalist. These hoods are flush with the range or countertop, so they take up the least amount of space.
The vent hose is routed through the floor, and then to the outside. The motor and blower are installed underneath the cooktop.
Read Also: What Are The Best Downdraft Range Hoods?
How To Determine Width Of Range Hood?
After picking the style of your range hood, the next important consideration is the size or width of the hood. In general, you want to pick a range hood that is at least as wide as your range or cooktop.
If the range hood is undersized, it won’t be as effective as catching the grease, smoke, and cooking fumes—decreasing your home’s indoor air quality.
The most common sizes of range hoods are 30-inches and 36-inches. Ideally, if at all possible, you would like a range hood that is even slightly larger than your cooking surface by a few inches.
Read Also: How To Install A Range Hood Vent Through A Ceiling?
How Many CFM For Range Hood?
Picking the right CFM or fan speed of your range hood is very important when selecting the best hood.
Range hoods are rated by CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute, or how much the range hood can exhaust per minute. Range hoods are generally in the 250-cfm to 750-cfm range, with around 400-cfm probably being the most common.
The Home Ventilating Institute (an industry association) recommends that homeowners get a hood that is at least 100-cfm per linear foot if it is installed against a wall. And HVI recommends 150-cfm per linear foot if the hood is installed on an island.
The ‘per linear foot’ is based on the width of your range or cooktop.
Read Also: How Many CFM For Range Hood?
What Is The Best Range Hood?
Here are my full reviews of the best range hoods together with their pros and cons. Check it out below…
My #1 top pick for the best range hood goes to the COS-QS75 by Cosmo. This hood is made out of 430 18-gauge stainless steel for a contemporary look, durable finish, and it can save space by installing underneath a cabinet.
It also comes with stainless steel baffle filters that are dishwasher friendly, and highly effective at grease removal.
The COS-QS75 has a premium backlighted touchscreen control for the fan, and it even comes with a remote control so you can operate the hood while watching TV.
The Cosmo hood includes two 1.5-watt LED lights for extra cooking illumination. This hood has two powerful centrifugal motors, and is rated at 500-cfm which is great for small to medium sized kitchens.
The COS-QS75 has a delayed auto shutoff feature which is great if you want to leave the kitchen without having to turn off the hood.
- Pros
- Backlit touchscreen controls
- 430-grade 18-gauge thick steel
- Remote control
- Auto shutoff timer
- Cons
- Poor instruction manual
- Difficult installation
The CAS75502 by Ciarra is a high quality wall mounted range hood.
This 30-inch Ciarra hood has a unique glass visor that is made of tempered glass that will give any residential kitchen a modern look.
The ‘chimney’ comes in two sections that is totally adjustable, and can fit underneath a 10-foot ceiling or less.
The Ciarra range hood has a touch screen control panel as well as a delay off feature for unparalleled control.
It features to ultra bright LED lights that have a long lifespan, over 100,000 hours.
The two aluminum mesh filters are dishwasher friendly and will efficiently capture grease. The powerful motor has three speeds, and it also has a delay off function, which means you can set the hood to turn off in 5-20 minutes.
- Pros
- Tempered glass visor
- Adjustable 2-section chimney
- Two bright LED lights (long lifespan)
- Touch screen control panel
- Cons
- Complaints of being louder than advertised
- Difficult install (unique size)
The Kobe Insert is a top notch range hood insert that will fit in beautifully with your custom cabinetry.
It is rated at 550-cfm, and it is 30-inches wide—made of premium stainless steel.
The Kobe hood comes with two stainless steel baffle filters as well as two aluminum mesh filters for incredible cooking filtration.
This hood features two bright 3-watt LED lights for extra cooktop illumination for any home kitchen.
It features 3 fan speeds with push button controls, and it is also quiet — only 2 sones on quiet mode (low) speed. The best part about this Kobe range hood insert is that since it is an insert, it will give your kitchen a low key range hood, rather than an appliance that sticks out like a sore thumb.
- Pros
- Two baffle and mesh filters (dishwasher friendly)
- Insert blends with cabinetry
- Two 3-watt LED lights
- Durable stainless steel
- Cons
- Have to match cabinetry
- Pricey
The Island Mount by AKDY is a high quality range hood that can be installed in a kitchen island from the ceiling. It is made out of premium black stainless steel for a durable finish and a great look.
This island range hood comes in 30″ and 36″ widths, and it is rated at 343-cfm.
The motor is powerful at 194-watts, and it has three fan speeds and comes with a touch screen control panel.
This hood comes with three aluminum mesh filters that look nice and are dishwasher friendly.
The AKDY hood comes with bright LED lights for cooktop illumination, and it is also pretty quiet, only 60-decibels on low speed.
- Pros
- Black stainless steel for unique look
- Three aluminum mesh filters
- Digital touch screen controls
- Two LED lights
- Cons
- Difficult installation due to chimney
The 5MU30 is a great budget-friendly under cabinet range hood that is made by Cosmo.
This economical range hood is made out of 430-grade 20-gauge stainless steel that gives it a nice look and makes it easier to clean.
This hood is also slim, and it is a great space-saving design that is installed underneath your cabinet.
It has three fan speeds with push button controls and it comes with 30-inch and 36-inch models.
The aluminum mesh filters are dishwasher friendly, and are multi-layered for efficient grease removal. This range hood by Cosmo can also be easily converted to a ductless install with the purchase of a charcoal filter. It also has an LED light to supplement your kitchen’s lighting.
- Pros
- 20-gauge stainless steel
- Slim space-saving design
- Three fan speeds
- Easily made ductless if desired
- Cons
- LED light isn't very bright or placed well
- Loud on high speed
My overall #1 top pick for the best range hood goes to the COS-QS75 by Cosmo. Here’s why…
#1. Stainless Steel
This range hood is made out of 430-grade 18-gauge stainless steel for a very strong and durable finish, plus it has a great look.
#2. Baffle Filters
It comes with nice looking steel baffle filters which are highly efficient at capturing grease, plus they are dishwasher friendly.
#3. Controls
The COS-QS75 comes with a modern touch screen control panel and it even comes with a remote control so you can operate the hood while watching TV.
#4. Shutoff Timer
This Cosmo hood has an auto shutoff feature so you can automatically have the hood turn off when you are away from the kitchen.
Meet Your Author
Arie Van Tuijl
I am a licensed home inspector in two U.S. states and the founder of Home Inspector Secrets. After performing hundreds of inspections, and seeing thousands of house defects, I realized people would love to have an online resource dedicated to home maintenance. I write detailed home guides and product reviews sprinkled with inspection tips. You can read my bio here.
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Got Questions? Search For In-Depth Answers Below!
Arie Van Tuijl
I am a licensed home inspector in two U.S. states and the founder of Home Inspector Secrets. After performing hundreds of inspections, and seeing thousands of house defects, I realized people would love to have an online resource dedicated to home maintenance. I write detailed home guides and product reviews sprinkled with inspection tips. You can read my bio here.
About Home Inspector Secrets
A dedicated online resource for maintenance guides, product reviews, cost estimates, inspection tips, and home science.