When looking through all the range hood brands, you want to know many things, such as if it comes with specific features or what is the best brand to buy from.
These are intelligent questions because you want to make the most out of your money before getting into something you will keep for years. So, what are the best range hood brands?
Keeping in step with what we have mentioned above, we will delve into the details of each brand so you can find out what is best for you.
We have you covered whether you need an under cabinet, island, wall chimney, downdraft, ducted or ductless range hood! Continue with this article for more information.
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How We Evaluated Range Hood Brands
My home inspection business tests hundreds of range hoods each month. For this article, we tested and reviewed 20+ range hood brands, vetted over 25,673 customer reviews, and data from trustworthy services like Consumer Reports.
What Brand of Range Hood is Best?
It's an efficient solution to kitchen ventilation, combining an exhaust fan and overhead light inside cabinets for a comprehensive package.
This hood provides a maximum of 375 CFM and 5.5 Sones performance to remove 97.4% of smoke and cooking odors from the air faster.
With a single-intensity LED module lit by a push button control for simplicity of use, you can ensure even illumination across your kitchen area.
Dual one-piece dishwasher-safe open mesh grease filters ensure easy cleaning while retaining optimal grease capture.
Broan-NuTone
Broan brands have been among the top range hood brands for quite some time. They were established in 1932, making them almost a century old. If you’re looking for a budget range hood, it’s hard to beat a Broan-NuTone kitchen hood.
However, they also offer more expensive models at higher price points, including island range hoods and professional-style ducted range hood brands with stainless steel baffle filters.
Broan-NuTone offers hood designs for everyday cooking needs and has professional hoods suitable for heavy cooking.
Broan-NuTone offers painted white or black hoods or a stainless steel design to fit every shopper’s needs.
Broan-NuTone believes in the importance of air quality and ensures that this is a better way of living.
Broan-NuTone helps multiple people with what they wish to have, like designers, architects, remodelers, and contractors, as they upgrade the home’s ventilation systems.
The features this company provides are as follows;
- Antimicrobial LED lights
- Humidity and heat sensors
- Smart motors
- Cloud-connected automated indoor quality
They pride themselves in leading the industry, thinking of the future of ventilation products with indoor air quality and customized climates.
The customer service is excellent, with over 2,500 employees worldwide. For three years, their customer service has been awarded the International Service Excellence Award in the Customer Service Institute of America Visionary.
The company constantly seeks to improve customer service by building relationships, providing excellent knowledge, and product innovation.
As we continue, the lead company, Nortek, Inc, purchased NuTone a while back. This parent company also owns BEST range hood brands, which all share the same technology.
Broan-NuTone has quite a few names and is in over 110 million homes across the USA. The range hood names include Broan, Broan-NuTone, NuTone, and BEST.
Another excellent feature that this company offers is providing multiple products that meet the requirements of green building programs. These companies are as follows:
- ENERGY STAR®: Providing information on the energy consumed using different standardized methods.
- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines: The process of using processes and creating environmentally friendly and resource-efficient structures through a building’s foundation. The green building’s life cycle begins and ends from design to destruction of the home or property.
- US Green Building Councils (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Provides carbon-cost savings healthily and efficiently. LEED is well known for its leadership and how sustainable it is.
Moving right along, here is a bit more information about their three global range hood brands below:
- Broan: This American-leading brand offers kitchen exhaust range hoods, bathroom vent fans, whole-house fans, attic ventilators, and fresh air systems.
- NuTone: NuTone has a massive market in central vacuum systems, doorbells, kitchen exhaust range hoods, mosquito repellent systems, and bathroom ventilation fans.
- BEST: Lastly, we have BEST brands, which offer many high-end range models that provide excellent performance and design, allowing you to express this feature uniquely.
Cosmo
Cosmo is another excellent range hood brand specializing in range hoods and other appliances like refrigerators, air fryers, dishwashers, ranges, etc.
This company has excellent performing affordable range hoods, and we have provided multiple recent reviews on the appliances in a few articles.
Cosmo specializes in creating modern and luxurious appliances and is becoming one of the leading manufacturing companies for premium products you can trust and know well.
Aside from that, Southern California designs these appliances and gets sold throughout the United States and Canada.
One of their main goals is to inspire families and friends to come together and have a more enjoyable experience while creating the kitchen of their dreams.
Cosmo comes in three varieties of range hoods: under cabinet, wall mount, and island range hoods.
Each one is unique in its way, but there are a few sizes to keep in mind while shopping for one that suits your needs:
- Under cabinet: 30, 36 & 48 inches
- Wall mount: 24, 30 & 36 inches
- Island: 30 & 36 inches
AJ Madison has several Vent-a-Hood models to choose from. Compare models and enjoy discount pricing and free Nationwide delivery.
Vent-A-Hood
When you want a unique experience or wish to customize your very own vent hood, you cannot go to just any old store. However, the Vent-A-Hood range hood brand provides a customizable experience you will never forget.
Suppose you have a customizable stove that ranges between 36 to 41 inches. In that case, finding a vent hood that fits your needs might be difficult.
However, Vent-A-Hood’s website shows they provide a 3D interactive range hood experience right off the bat. In short, this feature is all across their products. You can export images and drawings and create specifications to your liking.
This company offers an online gallery if you need inspiration as well. On the other hand, if you do not wish to use this feature, they have hoods ready to go and will ship to your local dealer.
Vent-A-Hood is the best of both worlds. This particular brand provides style and functionality. They are committed to creating a personal style of your choice and come in multiple shapes and sizes.
The different types of Vent-A-Hoods are as follows:
- Premier magic lung
- Island
- Premier power lung (V-line)
- ARS duct-free
- M-line
- Custom-built option
Aside from all the perks, the company was established in 1933, and Carr P. Collins, Sr. financed the family-owned company in 1937.
A fun fact about Vent-A-Hood is that it was the first range hood manufactured in a home with floors made from dirt in Dallas, TX. These products are sold in the United States and Canada.
They ended up selling the product the old-fashioned way by going from door to door. Once they made a sale, the owners returned to the shop and started making the hood for that customer. Talk about genuine commitment!
One of the many reasons they are so successful is because they designed a fire-safe blower system called the Magic Lung®, making it among the quietest methods available. The air movement sounds like a whisper.
Although hoods have changed over the years, they continue with their original design concept.
This company offers another unique feature called the SensaSource®, which raises the blower from low to high depending on noise, grease control, and fire safety.
All of their hoods personally get crafted with the custom hood series and have individually engineered style and performance. Vent-A-Hood is highly developed, and the products are recognized due to their quality.
AJ Madison has several Viking models to choose from. Compare models and enjoy discount pricing and free Nationwide delivery.
Viking
Viking is the first company we talk about that is not above 100 years old. Compared to other range hood brands, they are a baby at 40. They strive to be the best and pride themselves on innovation and craftsmanship.
Viking has led the cooking industry to a new level with the highest quality range hoods and professional cooking equipment at home. They originated the professional-grade range design and set the standard for what a modern luxury kitchen design in America should be.
Viking provides numerous cooking options, including stoves, ventilation, refrigerators, dishwashers, and outdoor appliances.
They ensure professional performance and provide an excellent commercial kitchen design at home that many designers and chefs desire.
Viking came from Greenwood, Mississippi, and are now located in the Mississippi Delta, where they focus on family, home, and life, and ensure excellence. They are still upholding these values in every product made even today.
In terms of their ducted range hoods, you can quickly tell from the get-go that they are incredibly stylish and look to be professional.
These range hoods work silently and provide a robust smoke, steam, and odor extraction from within your home. In most cases, you cannot tell they are there except by how it is designed.
Viking hoods have been designed to understand that you will get a Viking product. This company uses commercial stainless steel baffle filters, which are relatively maintenance-free and dishwasher-safe.
These filters will never clog; you can easily take them out and put them in your dishwasher. It is relatively easy to control the bright LED lights to illuminate your cooking space and variable ventilation fan speeds with the Professional 5 series.
Lastly, Viking has a 3-year signature warranty. It also provides a 90-day no-quibble guarantee, meaning that if a defect happens within that time frame, they will repair and replace the hood ranges with no extra cost to you.
AJ Madison has several Whirlpool models to choose from. Compare models and enjoy discount pricing and free Nationwide delivery.
Whirlpool
As you may already know, Whirlpool is a relatively large company that many homeowners trust due to its strength and long-lasting features.
The Whirlpool Corporation started in 1911 and was a small company in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Since then, they have grown to 35 manufacturing locations in 13 different countries worldwide.
This company was the first to invent the automatic washing machine in 1947. However, it was under the Kenmore brand, which they later sold under the Whirlpool name.
They are proudly made in the USA and are the most prominent American appliance company. More specifically, Whirlpool produces and sells 80% of its US-made products in the USA and exports 12% globally.
Whirlpool employs over 69,000 workers worldwide. They have roughly 23,000 employees in the USA, including 15,000 manufacturing employees and 4,000 knowledgeable workers in Michigan alone.
As far as their vented hoods go, Whirlpool offers a wide selection:
- Low profile MHC
- Under cabinet hoods
- Canopy hoods
- Downdraft hoods
This vented range hood brand is extremely easy to clean and provides little maintenance. Whirlpool vent hoods offer LED lighting, making them highly energy-efficient.
After cooking can be odorous, but this company has your back for ventilating the air and creating a safer and quieter space for you to focus on conversations without dealing with a noisy background.
Their website has a few categories you can work with to customize your shopping experience. You can choose cooking with the quietest option, bright LED lights, or targetting your ventilation system.
Whirlpool has your back if you are interested in over-the-range hoods or a downdraft ventilation system.
Zephyr
Like Vent-A-Hood, Zephyr specializes in creating unique and timeless vent hoods for you to enjoy while cooking. Whether you are looking for island hoods, wall-mounted chimney hoods, or just a stylish yet powerful range hood insert, Zephyr has a range hood for every cooking style.
Compared to others, this range hood brand was also a baby, established in 1997. Regardless, they have come a very long way since then.
Its mission is to design a memorable and creative hood range that allows homeowners to feel good about their purchases.
However, Zephyr does not just focus on looks but also functionality. They bring philosophy to every hood design they make.
The company has a base in San Francisco, where they design and imagine the possibilities of range hoods.
Still, they have factories in Taiwan and Italy that produce the hoods. Their ideals are made with product longevity, quality construction, and excellent performance.
Zephyr has a 10, 3, 2, or 1-year warranty regarding the type of range hood you get from them. Not only that, but they also sell wine and beverage coolers that provide a warranty on their product.
The range hoods are from 21 to 63 inches and come in multiple colors, depending on your product.
You can choose which customization you wish to purchase on their website and find a retailer closest to you.
Zephyr has multiple filters you can choose for select items: mesh, filterless, baffle, pro baffle, or hybrid baffle filters.
Lastly, you can choose from the following types of hood ranges from Zephyr:
- Under cabinet
- Wall
- Island
- Insert
- Outdoor
- Downdraft
Overall, Zephyr’s hoods are genuinely a one-of-a-kind product, and you can go with confidence that they ensure they will benefit you in the long run.
Our Favorite Range Hood Brand
Based on our research and available data, Broan-NuTone stands out as a leader in the hood ventilation marketplace. However, this is not a slight on other range hood brands listed here because they produce high-quality products for their specific demographic. Broan-NuTone has affordable range hoods that are well-suited for the majority of households. We included affordable and luxury range hood brands to cover a broad demographic.
Why Trust Home Inspection Insider
Home Inspection Insider has a team of experts who provide top-notch reviews and advice on anything related to your home, including kitchen or bathroom fixtures. Hubert Miles is a Certified Master Inspector with over 20 years of experience testing home-related products.
How Much Should I Spend On a Range Hood?
How much you should spend on a range hood depends on your budget and needs.
Suppose you do not often cook in your house except once in a blue moon. You might want to choose a more affordable option because the range hood is not often used to make a few thousand dollar purchase worth it.
However, if you like cooking heavily, investing more into the product is better for you and your family. It will eliminate fumes more efficiently, but you can confidently say this is the right choice.
There are two main types of kitchen hoods:
- Ducted range hood: Also called a vented range hood. It uses a venting duct to direct cooking exhaust to the house’s exterior. Gas cooktop cooking requires a ducted hood for proper ventilation. The electric cooking surface can use ducted or ductless hoods.
- Ductless range hood: Also called a ventless range hood or recirculating range hood. It uses a replaceable charcoal filter to clean the kitchen exhaust before recirculating it back into the kitchen.
A range hood typically costs between $30 to $4,500 or more. These factors depend greatly on the materials, size, functionality, CFM, and design.
Your kitchen design will dictate the type of range hood you will need. To go more into specifics on the subject, we will need to break down the types of range hoods available:
- Under cabinet range hood: Typically cost between $30 to $150 for a basic model and $1,100 to $3,000 for a high-end model.
- Microwave & under cabinet range hood combo: Typically cost between $150 to $500 for a basic model and $500 to $1,500 for a high-end model.
- Wall-mount range hoods: Typically cost between $500 to $3,500 or more, depending on CFM, style, material, and size.
- Downdraft range hood: Typically costs between $300 to $2,000 or more depending on the style and if it comes built-in with a cooktop or is retractable and out-of-sight when you’re not using it.
Are Expensive Range Hoods Worth it?
If you purchase a high-quality hood that is more expensive, it can be worth it in the long run. It boils down to what you need or desire. Many more expensive range hoods offer modern style and smart features not available in basic kitchen hoods.
Four main factors determine the hood quality, including:
- Air Movement: measures the Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) of air the fan can handle. The higher the CFM, the more airflow the hood can move.
- Filter: includes mesh or stainless steel baffle filters to filter grease particles and cooking odors.
- Fan Speeds: determines how many speed setting the kitchen hood has. Hoods will have at least 2 and as many as 6-speed settings.
- Noise level: how loud the exhaust hood is on the highest setting measured in decibels or sones. A sone is a unit of loudness—the higher the sone rating, the louder the fan. For comparison, 28 decibels equals about 1 sone, and 65 decibels is equivalent to about 13 sones.
Although many budget range hood brands have excellent products, they often are inexpensive because they have higher sone ratings (loud fan operation) and basic control operations. Another drawback is that affordable hoods often only have a 1-year warranty.
With more expensive kitchen vent hoods, you often get quieter operation (lower sone rating) and at least a 3-year warranty.
If this is not in your budget, always ensure you get a good warranty backing the product up if anything occurs.
Can You Vent a Range Hood in the Ceiling?
You can put a range hood in the ceiling, but we do not recommend this option. However, if you are up for the challenge, go at it.
On the other hand, a ceiling-mounted cabinet hood means you have to get inside the ceiling, and it is a two-person job. It is incredibly tricky and can be even more so depending on your size hood.
What is the Best CFM for a Range Hood?
It would help if you had at least 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTUs to power the range hood. On the other hand, the higher BTU your stove has, the higher CFM you will need.
You will want to multiply the stove width times 10. For example, if you have a 42″ electric stove, you will want a range hood with roughly 420 CFM, as 42 x 10 = 420.
However, if you wish to completely vent the cooking from your exhaust, we recommend having at least a 600 CFM range hood.
Overall, an ideal CFM for your range hood depends on your cooking style and type of cooker.
So, what might be best for you might not necessarily be the best option for someone who does not cook often or is a heavy cooker.
Is a Range Hood Necessary?
While many local building codes do not require a vented range hood for most households, having a range hood in your home is recommended because it eliminates odors and removes smoke and chemicals, improving indoor air quality.
If you have a gas cooktop, it is even more essential. A vented range hood helps remove byproducts of gas combustion like carbon monoxide. It is required for a 6-burner gas cooktop. Given that information, it is much safer to have a range hood than not having one. Check with your local building codes for specific local requirements.
Home insurance requirements and building codes often don’t align. Home insurance providers are concerned about managing risk. Building codes usually don’t apply to existing homes. A kitchen fire where a range hood is not present can result in claim denial. Check with your home insurance provider for specific requirements.
However, some people persist in not having one in their homes due to technological advances. In that case, here are some options you can choose from:
- Opening a kitchen window
- Air purifier
- Portable exhaust fan
- Over-the-range microwave
- Charcoal briquettes
- Grease splatter guard
Are Ventless Hoods Any Good?
Ventless (ductless) range hood brands are reasonable if you do not want to take the time to duct the vent out yourself. More homeowners opt for this because of how easy it is to install.
However, they are not as effective as vent hoods, which help remove the humidity or keep your kitchen cool while cooking.
Ventless hoods work by filtering grease and cooking odors in the air through a charcoal (carbon-based filter), then released back into the air, creating a safer environment.
Final Thoughts
There are many excellent range hood brands, but the best ones you can trust and rely on efficiently.
We hope this article has helped you make the best decision on where to purchase a hood that goes above the stove, and we wish you the best of luck in having a safer and cleaner environment.
Upgrade your kitchen without the hassle by using one of our top-rated local kitchen remodeling contractors. Get new countertops, cabinets, sinks, faucets, and more installed quickly and easily.
