TL;DR: Range hoods should be at least as wide as your cooktop and ideally 3 to 6 inches wider total (3 inches on each side). For a 30-inch cooktop, a 36-inch hood is the sweet spot. For a 36-inch cooktop, choose a 42-inch hood. Standard range hood widths are 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, and 60 inches. Depth should be 18-24 inches to cover front and back burners. Mounting height depends on fuel type: 24-30 inches above electric or induction, 28-36 inches above gas. Island hoods need wider, deeper coverage than wall-mounted hoods because there's no back wall to channel smoke.
Range hoods are sized by three dimensions that all matter: width, depth, and mounting height. Get the width wrong and smoke escapes around the edges of the hood. Get the depth wrong and back burners produce smoke the hood never captures. Get the mounting height wrong and the hood either burns out from heat exposure or fails to capture rising smoke at all.
This guide covers every dimension that matters for range hood sizing, what changes for different mount types, and how to verify the hood will actually fit your kitchen before you order.
| Cooktop Width | Recommended Hood Width | Recommended Hood Depth | Mount Height (Electric/Induction) | Mount Height (Gas) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 inches | 30 inches | 18-22 inches | 24-30 inches | 28-36 inches |
| 30 inches | 36 inches | 20-22 inches | 24-30 inches | 28-36 inches |
| 36 inches | 42 inches | 22-24 inches | 24-30 inches | 28-36 inches |
| 42 inches | 48 inches | 24-26 inches | 24-30 inches | 28-36 inches |
| 48 inches | 54 inches | 24-27 inches | 24-30 inches | 28-36 inches |
| 60 inches | 60-66 inches | 27-30 inches | 24-30 inches | 28-36 inches |
These are baseline recommendations under typical install conditions. Pro-style ranges with high-BTU burners may need wider hoods or closer mounting heights — always check the manufacturer's installation guide.
Range hoods are manufactured in standard widths that match common cooktop sizes:
The Trade Table carries hoods in every standard width. Browse the full range hood collection to filter by width, mount type, and CFM rating.
The single most important sizing rule comes from the Home Ventilating Institute and is repeated across every major manufacturer:
Your range hood should be at least 3 inches wider than your cooktop on each side — 6 inches wider total.
A 30-inch cooktop pairs with a 36-inch hood. A 36-inch cooktop pairs with a 42-inch hood. A 48-inch cooktop pairs with a 54-inch hood. The extra 3 inches per side captures smoke that drifts off the front and back burners as it rises — without that overhang, smoke escapes around the hood edges into your kitchen.
Exceptions to the 3-inch rule:
Tight cabinet cutouts — If your existing cabinets only allow a 30-inch gap above a 30-inch cooktop, a 30-inch hood is acceptable. Some ventilation is better than none, even if it doesn't have the ideal overhang.
Outdoor and pro-style ranges — These produce more intense heat and require 6 inches per side of overhang (12 inches total wider than the cooktop), not just 3 inches.
Downdraft hoods — Pull air downward instead of upward, so they should match cooktop width exactly (no overhang needed).
For deeper coverage of pro-style ranges and how they affect ventilation needs, see our ZLINE Appliances Reviews and Forno Appliances Reviews — both brands are common pro-style range choices that require larger hoods.
Width is the dimension everyone gets right. Depth is the dimension that gets ignored — and it's nearly as important.
Depth measures front-to-back coverage, determining whether the hood actually reaches over your back burners. A standard residential cooktop is about 21-24 inches deep. Your hood depth should match or slightly exceed this.
Recommended hood depths by cooktop type:
The shallow hood problem: Many under-cabinet hoods are only 16-19 inches deep, designed to fit shallow cabinet runs. These work fine for front-burner cooking but consistently fail to capture smoke from back-burner sautéing. If you regularly use all four burners, depth matters as much as width.
The Trade Table carries wood range hoods and copper range hoods in deeper profiles for kitchens where capture performance matters more than under-cabinet space-saving.
Mounting height is the distance between the cooktop surface and the bottom of the hood. Get this wrong and even a perfectly-sized hood underperforms.
By fuel type:
| Fuel Type | Recommended Mount Height |
|---|---|
| Electric | 24-30 inches |
| Induction | 24-30 inches |
| Gas (residential) | 28-36 inches |
| Gas (pro-style, high-BTU) | 30-36 inches |
| Outdoor cooking | Per manufacturer (typically 36-48 inches) |
Why fuel type matters: Gas burners produce open flames that can damage hood electronics if mounted too close. Electric and induction surfaces produce no flame, so closer mounting is safe and improves capture.
By hood type:
| Hood Type | Recommended Mount Height |
|---|---|
| Under-cabinet hood | 24-30 inches above cooktop |
| Wall mount canopy hood | 24-36 inches above cooktop |
| Island hood | 30-36 inches above cooktop |
| Pro-style hood (over 48-inch range) | 30-36 inches above cooktop |
| Downdraft hood | At cooktop level (built into countertop) |
The trade-off: Higher mounting requires more CFM to overcome the longer distance smoke has to travel. For every inch above the recommended minimum, plan to size CFM up by 5-10%. For full CFM sizing math, see our guide on what CFM range hood you need.
Different hood types have different sizing considerations beyond just width.
Mounted directly to the wall above the cooktop with a chimney extending toward the ceiling. The wall channels rising smoke up into the hood, so the standard 3-inch overhang rule applies. Common widths: 30, 36, 42, 48, 60 inches.
Installed beneath existing cabinets above the cooktop. Hood width is constrained by the cabinet gap — you can't go wider than the available space between cabinet edges. Most are 30 or 36 inches wide. Depth is also typically shallower (16-22 inches) because of cabinet depth limits.
Suspended from the ceiling above a center cooktop. Because there's no back wall to channel smoke, island hoods should be sized larger than wall-mount equivalents — typically 6 inches wider than the cooktop (3 inches per side) and deeper as well. A 30-inch island cooktop pairs better with a 42-inch island hood than a 36-inch.
Built into or behind the cooktop, pulling smoke down rather than up. Sized to match cooktop width exactly with no overhang. Less effective than overhead hoods for high-heat cooking but useful when overhead ventilation isn't possible.
Custom wood or copper hood shells that conceal a separate ventilation insert. The decorative shell can be sized larger than the actual venting unit for design impact. Standard widths: 30, 36, 42, 48, 60 inches.
For a complete breakdown of every range hood style, see our guide on 9 types of range hoods.
Before ordering, take three measurements:
1. Cooktop width — Measure left to right across the cooking surface. Standard widths are 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, and 60 inches. If your cooktop falls between standard sizes, round down for hood sizing.
2. Cabinet gap above cooktop — Measure between the cabinet edges or wall surfaces where the hood will mount. The hood must fit within this gap. For under-cabinet hoods, this is the absolute maximum hood width.
3. Vertical clearance — Measure from the cooktop surface up to where the hood will mount. Verify this falls within the recommended 24-36 inch range. If your existing setup has cabinets too low, you may need to relocate cabinets or choose a thinner hood profile.
4. Cooktop depth (front to back) — Measure from the front edge of the cooktop to the wall behind it. The hood should be deep enough to extend over both front and back burners. For pro-style cooktops with deeper grate areas, measure to the back of the cooking surface, not the wall.
These measurements determine which hoods are compatible with your space. If you're remodeling and have flexibility on cabinet placement, plan for the ideal hood size first and design cabinetry around it. For broader range and cooktop sizing decisions, see our guides on 30 vs 36 inch cooktop and the kitchen range buying guide.
Pro-style cooktop brands often have specific hood-pairing recommendations that go beyond the 3-inch rule. The Trade Table carries hoods compatible with every major range and cooktop brand:
Premium brand pairings:
Mid-premium brand pairings:
For brand-specific decision support, see our ZLINE vs Thor Kitchen Appliances comparison and Thor Kitchen Appliances Review.
If you're replacing an existing hood, you have two options:
Option 1: Match the existing hood width. Easiest approach. The existing cabinet cutout, electrical, and ductwork are already sized for the original hood. As long as you stick with the same width, swap-out is straightforward.
Option 2: Upgrade to a wider hood. If your existing hood is undersized for your cooktop (common when 30-inch hoods are paired with 36-inch cooktops), a wider hood improves capture. But this usually requires:
The cost difference between option 1 and option 2 can be $1,500-$5,000 depending on the cabinet work involved. Many homeowners stick with the existing width during a replacement and only upsize during a full kitchen remodel. For broader replacement-vs-remodel guidance, see our slide-in vs freestanding ranges guide — same decision logic applies to hood replacements.
Sizing is the first decision; installation specifics determine whether the hood actually performs at its rated capacity:
For step-by-step installation guidance, see our how to install a range hood guide. For ventilation power sizing, the CFM range hood guide walks through the full BTU and width-based math.
The recommended hood size for a 30-inch cooktop is a 36-inch wide hood, providing 3 inches of overhang on each side. A 30-inch hood will work if your cabinet cutout doesn't allow for a wider unit, but 36 inches is the optimal size for capturing smoke from all four burners. For depth, plan for 20-22 inches.
A 36-inch cooktop pairs best with a 42-inch hood — 3 inches wider on each side. If cabinet space is constrained, a 36-inch hood is the minimum acceptable size. For pro-style 36-inch ranges with high-BTU burners, consider a 48-inch hood with 6 inches of overhang per side for better capture.
Industry standard: range hood width should be at least 3 inches wider than the cooktop on each side, totaling 6 inches wider overall. For outdoor or pro-style ranges, the recommendation increases to 6 inches per side (12 inches wider total). For downdraft hoods, match the cooktop width exactly — no overhang needed.
Technically yes — some ventilation is better than none. But a 30-inch hood paired with a 36-inch cooktop leaves 3 inches of cooktop on each side without coverage, allowing smoke from outer burners to escape. The recommended pairing is a 42-inch hood for a 36-inch cooktop. If 30 inches is your only option due to cabinet constraints, choose the highest CFM model available to compensate.
Standard residential range hood depth is 18-24 inches, designed to cover both front and back burners on a typical 21-24 inch deep cooktop. Pro-style cooktops with deeper grate areas may need 24-27 inch deep hoods. Under-cabinet hoods are often shallower (16-19 inches) due to cabinet depth limits, which can reduce back-burner capture performance.
Mounting height depends on fuel type. Electric and induction cooktops: 24-30 inches above the cooktop. Gas cooktops: 28-36 inches above. Pro-style high-BTU gas: 30-36 inches. Always check the manufacturer's installation guide for your specific hood model — some high-CFM units allow closer mounting because they're rated for higher heat exposure.
Yes. Island hoods need to be wider and deeper than equivalent wall-mounted hoods because there's no back wall to channel rising smoke into the hood. Add 6 inches of width (3 inches per side) compared to a wall-mount equivalent. For a 30-inch island cooktop, choose a 42-inch island hood rather than a 36-inch wall hood. They also require higher CFM. See our CFM guide for island-specific airflow recommendations.
Standard residential range hood widths are 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, and 60 inches. The most common sizes are 30 and 36 inches because they pair with the most popular cooktop widths. Custom and luxury kitchens may use 60-inch hoods for 60-inch pro-style ranges. Outdoor and commercial hoods can go even wider, often 66-72 inches.
It can be installed, but it shouldn't be. A hood narrower than the cooktop fails to capture smoke from the outer burners, defeating the purpose of having a hood. If you absolutely must use a narrower hood (due to existing cabinet constraints), choose the highest available CFM rating to partially compensate, and avoid using the outer burners during high-heat cooking.
Yes, slightly. While the industry standardizes around 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, and 60-inch widths, depths and chimney heights vary significantly between brands. Pro-style brands like Vent-A-Hood and ILVE typically have deeper hoods (24-27 inches) for better capture. Mass-market brands often have shallower depths (18-22 inches) for under-cabinet compatibility. Always verify exact dimensions on the manufacturer spec sheet before ordering.
Most wall-mount and island range hoods ship with telescoping chimney covers designed for 8-9 foot ceilings. For ceilings 10 feet or higher, you'll need a chimney extension kit (sold separately by most brands). Ceiling height does not affect hood width or capture performance — only the visible chimney portion. The hood's working capture zone remains at the cooktop level regardless of ceiling height.
Yes. If your cooktop is 33 or 34 inches wide (between standard 30 and 36-inch sizes), choose a hood sized for the next standard size up. A 33-inch cooktop pairs with a 42-inch hood, not a 36-inch hood. The 3-inch overhang rule should be applied to the full cooktop width, not rounded down.
Ready to find the right range hood? Browse The Trade Table's curated range hood collection by width, mount type, and CFM rating. Choose ductless range hoods for condos and retrofits, wood range hoods and copper range hoods for design-focused remodels, or ILVE range hoods for premium Italian craftsmanship. Pair with matching ranges, cooktops, or rangetops for a complete kitchen package. Free shipping, authorized dealer status, and price match guarantee on every model.
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