Under-cabinet range hood buying guide: CFM, ducted vs ductless

Stainless steel range hood with baffle filters and LED lights, seen from below
Photo: Stilfehler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Affiliate disclosure: Product links below are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. We have not hands-on tested these hoods; specs are the sellers' own claims on the live listings as of November 1, 2026. See our affiliate disclosure.

Last reviewed: November 1, 2026.

A range hood is the one kitchen appliance whose job is the air. It pulls grease, steam, smoke and, on a gas range, combustion gases away from the cooktop before they spread through the house. Shopping for one usually turns into a numbers contest: 300 CFM, 600 CFM, 900 CFM. Bigger is not automatically better. The right hood is the one that's sized for your range, actually vents outside if you can manage it, and is quiet enough that you'll turn it on.

Ducted vs ductless: the decision that matters most

The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI), the industry group that certifies fan performance, is blunt about it: nonducted, recirculating range hoods "provide no actual ventilation," and for the best kitchen air quality it recommends hoods that vent directly outside. The U.S. EPA says the same thing from the health side. It notes that gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particles, and that a stove hood with a fan vented to the outdoors greatly reduces exposure while cooking.

So why buy a ductless hood at all? Because sometimes there's no practical duct route: a condo, an interior kitchen wall, or a rental where you can't cut into the cabinet or roof. A recirculating hood still gives you a light, a grease filter and some odor control, and that beats nothing. Just know what you're getting. If you can vent outside, do.

How many CFM do you need?

CFM (cubic feet per minute) is how much air the fan moves. HVI's guideline for a standard residential range is based on range width:

For a wall range, that works out to about 250 CFM for a 30-inch range, 300 CFM for 36 inches and 400 CFM for 48 inches. For "professional-style" high-output cooktops, HVI says to follow the cooktop maker's ventilation advice instead.

Two cautions on the numbers. First, HVI warns that inflated airflow claims are common on hoods that aren't HVI-certified, so treat an uncertified "900 CFM" with some suspicion. Second, the rated number is measured under test conditions. Long duct runs, lots of elbows and a too-small duct cut real-world airflow. Use the duct size the hood's manual calls for, keep the run short and straight, and end it at a proper wall or roof cap with a damper, never in an attic or soffit cavity.

Above 400 CFM? Check the makeup-air rule

An exhaust fan can only pull air out of a house as fast as air can get back in. The International Residential Code (IRC) section M1503.6, adopted in many U.S. jurisdictions, requires makeup air for a kitchen exhaust system capable of more than 400 CFM when the home has a fuel-burning appliance inside the air barrier that is neither direct-vent nor mechanically drafted. A typical example is a natural-draft gas water heater or furnace. The makeup air has to roughly match the exhaust rate and needs a damper that opens when the hood runs.

Why it matters: a powerful hood in a tight house can backdraft an atmospherically vented water heater, pulling its exhaust into the living space. An all-electric home, or one where every combustion appliance is direct-vent or power-vented, isn't covered by that rule. Local codes can be stricter, so check with your building department before you install a high-CFM hood. For most 30-inch wall ranges, a quality hood in the 250 to 400 CFM range does the job without triggering makeup air at all.

Noise: the reason hoods sit unused

A hood only works when it's on. Many hoods list noise in sones (HVI's certified measure) or decibels. Lower is quieter, and quiet low-speed settings matter more than the top-speed number because that's where you'll run it most. Multi-speed controls let you use a gentle setting for everyday cooking and the high setting for searing or frying.

Filters and upkeep

Size and mounting height

Match the hood to the cooktop width at minimum. A hood a few inches wider than the range captures more of the rising plume. For mounting height, follow the hood's installation manual. Makers set a minimum clearance above the cooktop (the Broan model below, for example, says at least 18 inches), and gas and electric ranges often have different requirements. Too low is a fire and head-bump risk. Too high and the hood misses much of the smoke.

Wiring note: many under-cabinet hoods are hardwired. If you aren't comfortable working on a circuit with the breaker off, hire an electrician. Cutting a new exterior duct through a wall or roof is also a job many homeowners hand off.

Curated range hoods (2)

Two products only: a budget ductless insert for kitchens with no duct route, and a 30-inch stainless ducted upgrade. Prices were checked on the live Amazon listings on November 1, 2026 and change often.

  1. Broan-NuTone 413001 30″ Ductless Range Hood with Light (White). This is the budget, no-duct pick, and one of the most-reviewed hoods on Amazon (about 20,666 ratings, 4.6 stars when we checked). The listing describes a 30-inch under-cabinet insert that installs non-ducted only, with a replaceable charcoal filter (model 41F, the seller suggests changing it every 6 months), separate rocker switches for the light and a 2-speed fan, a light socket for up to a 75 W bulb (bulb not included), and installation at least 18 inches above the cooktop. Remember the limits: it filters and recirculates, so it won't remove heat, moisture or gas-stove combustion gases. The listing's price didn't load for us tonight, so check it on Amazon.
  2. AMZCHEF 30″ Under-Cabinet Range Hood, Stainless Steel, about $179.99. This is the ducted upgrade. The listing describes 430 stainless steel, a 6-inch round air outlet, 3 fan speeds, touch and remote controls with a timer, two LED lights and two dishwasher-safe stainless filters. The title says 750 CFM, while the spec table lists 700 CFM and 63 dB. Either number is well above HVI's roughly 250 CFM guideline for a 30-inch wall range, and above the 400 CFM makeup-air threshold. Before you buy, read the makeup-air section above if you have a natural-draft gas water heater or furnace.

Amazon links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Airflow and noise figures are the sellers' claims; we haven't measured them, and neither listing says the hood is HVI-certified.

Where this fits in the house

A range hood is part of the same indoor-air system as your HVAC filter. When there's no outdoor vent, EPA suggests opening windows and running a portable air cleaner while you cook. Our furnace/AC filter sizes and MERV guide explains the tradeoffs. Gas range and natural-draft water heater in the same house? Our tankless water heater flushing guide covers the other appliance that cares about venting. For kitchen airflow beyond the cooktop, see the indoor/outdoor ceiling fan buying guide. All our picks are on the Products page.

Bottom line

Vent outside if you possibly can; a ductless hood is a fallback, not an equal. For a 30-inch range on a wall, HVI's guideline of about 250 CFM is plenty for everyday cooking. Going past 400 CFM can trigger makeup-air requirements if you have natural-draft gas appliances, so size up only when your cooking truly needs it. Then use the hood every time you cook and keep the filters clean.

Sources

Information only; not electrical or mechanical advice. Follow the hood's installation manual and local codes, and turn off the breaker before any wiring work.