A range hood's installation guide gives a minimum and maximum distance from the cooking surface to the bottom of the hood. Too low and the hood sits in the heat and grease of the burners; too high and smoke and steam escape before they reach the filters.
In San Diego, hood height questions usually come up during kitchen remodels: a pro-style gas range going into a La Jolla or Del Mar kitchen, a high-ceilinged open plan in a Carmel Valley home, or a switch from gas to induction where the old hood height no longer fits the new cooktop.
General guidance by fuel type
- •KitchenAid: For gas cooktops, the range hood is typically recommended 24 to 30 inches above the stove, and for electric, 20 to 24 inches. KitchenAid gives 18 to 22 inches for induction, at least 24 inches (electric) or 27 inches (gas) for island hoods, and no more than 36 inches between the cooktop and the hood. It says to always defer to the specific instructions in the owner's manual.
- •Whirlpool: The same 20 to 24 inches for electric and 24 to 30 inches for gas, with no more than 36 inches for either. A hood should be at least as wide as the cooking surface, preferably 3 inches wider on each side, and you should check the product manual and local building codes.
A specific model can be stricter
- •KitchenAid KXW8730Y, KXW8736Y and KXW8748Y (commercial-style wall-mount canopy hoods): The dimension guide sets the distance from the cooking surface to the bottom of the hood at a minimum of 24 inches over electric and 30 inches over gas, with a suggested maximum of 36 inches.
That 30-inch gas minimum sits at the top of the general 24-to-30 range. General ranges are a starting point; the guide for your hood decides.
Why height matters
- •Gas needs more room. Open flames and hot grates put more heat straight up than electric or induction elements.
- •Induction runs coolest. It heats the pan rather than the surface, which is why its suggested range is lowest.
- •Capture drops with height. Above about 36 inches, rising smoke spreads out before it reaches the hood.
- •Width helps capture. A hood wider than the cooktop catches plumes drifting from the outer burners.
- •Island hoods. With no wall behind, air moves around them more, so their figures differ.
Common situations in San Diego homes
- •Tall ceilings. Chimney hoods come with duct covers in fixed lengths. In high-ceilinged homes, an extension may be needed to keep the hood at the right height.
- •Gas to induction. A hood set at gas height may sit higher than ideal over a new induction cooktop. It still works, but check whether it's within the hood's range.
- •Pro-style ranges. High-output burners on brands like Wolf and Thermador often call for specific hood sizes and heights in their own guides, and the cabinets beside them have their own spacing rules; see range clearance to cabinets.
- •Open-plan kitchens. Coastal homes often keep windows open, and cross breezes pull smoke away from a hood that's mounted high. Mount toward the lower end of the range.
How to check yours
- Identify your cooktop type: gas, electric radiant or coil, or induction.
- Find the installation guide for your hood model and note its minimum and maximum.
- Measure from the cooking surface (the grates on gas) to the bottom edge of the hood.
- Compare the hood's width with the cooktop's.
- For a chimney or canopy hood, measure ceiling height too.
- If an over-the-range microwave is involved instead, it follows its own rules; see over-the-range microwave mounting height.
What goes wrong
- •Too low: the hood's underside and filters run very hot, grease builds faster, and taller cooks hit their heads.
- •Too high: smoke and steam escape and odors linger.
- •Too narrow: plumes from front and outer burners bypass the hood.
What we check on a service visit
When a hood seems weak, we check the fan motor and speed controls, the grease filters (clogged filters are a frequent cause), the damper at the hood outlet, and whether the duct is crushed or undersized. A dead light or fan is often a switch, control board or motor. See our range repair page.
Work for other trades
- •A hood needs power. The KitchenAid canopy hood guide calls for a 120-volt, 15-amp circuit; adding one is a job for a licensed electrician.
- •Running ductwork through a wall, ceiling or roof is a job for a contractor or HVAC installer.
- •California's building and energy codes include kitchen ventilation requirements for new construction and some remodels, and large hoods can raise makeup-air questions. Ask your building department before buying.
Height is only half of performance. See range hood duct size.
Sources
- •KitchenAid: What is the right range hood height above a stove? (gas, electric, induction and island ranges; 36-inch limit)
- •Whirlpool: Range hood dimensions (20 to 24 and 24 to 30 inches; width; codes)
- •KitchenAid KXW canopy hood dimension guide (24-inch electric and 30-inch gas minimums; 36-inch suggested maximum)
If your hood is loud but leaves smoke hanging in the kitchen, book a visit online and we'll check the fan, filters and damper.