4 Ways To Determine How Far Should a Range Hood Stick Out

Jessica Wiest
Last updated: August 22, 2023

Are you struggling with how far a range hood should stick out from your cooktop? Your mind says to install the hood as closely as the cooktop. So it can easily cover your foggy, smoky air and ensure a better cooking environment. On the other hand, your brain says to install the hood far away from the main cooktop. Because the hood may lose its effectiveness shortly due to direct heat.

You feel helpless staying in between your mind and brain, right? However, here’s a short answer to adjust your range hood projection.

It’s ideal for keeping your under cabinet range hood at least 18-24″, wall mount at least 24-30″, and Island mount 30-36″ far away from the main cooktop.

Is there any reason to determine these distances to install a range hood?

Of course. Here, I’ve discussed the secrets of successful right projection for your range hood. Keep reading this post to unreveal those secrets.

What You will Know show

How Far Should A Range Hood Stick Out?

You should consider multidimensional factors while installing a range hood to ensure the best proposition. Otherwise, the hood can’t efficiently meet your expectations and fulfill your purposes.

However, let me discuss all the factors keeping them under four main categories. So you can easily grasp the concept.

Category 1: Types of Kitchen Hood 
Category 2: Stove Size & Its Configuration
Category 3: Personal Preferences and Cooking Habits
Category 4: Understand Range Hoods Functionality

And you can’t ignore any of the categories for getting optimal efficiency and performance from your hood. But, yes, there is no right or wrong to prioritize the categories based on your needs. Without any more words, let’s dive deep into the categories.

Category 1: Types of Kitchen Hood

Every home is unique, and their kitchen layout, design, shape, and style all are unique. The range hood manufacturers want to be a part of your healthy home environment irrespective of these. So, they bring 3 different range hood types that fit your needs. Such as

Under-Cabinet Range Hoods

This type of range hood is designed to install beneath your kitchen cabinet. And ensuring easy use with top-notch efficiency is the main part of the hoods.

You have to consider your kitchen cabinet height, width, depth, and flexibility to fit the hood snugly. These are perfect for space-saving kitchens.

Most under-cabinet range hood manufacturers, like Broan, recommends 18 to 24 inches for the right projection distance. The hood can effectively capture smoke and fumes from this amount of space. That is also great for maintaining a comfortable cooking experience.

Wall-Mounted Range Hoods

If you don’t have any kitchen cabinets and don’t like island mount hoods. This time, a wall mount hood is a good choice for versatility and visual impact. These hoods meet both styles of performance.

Your kitchen ceiling height, wall, and stove location are important in getting the right projection for your wall mount hood installation.

Generally, 24 to 30 inches is the ideal distance to install a wall mount range hood from your heat source. It’s effective in both cases; to provide powerful ventilation and retain the hood aesthetic.

Island Range Hoods

Whose cooktop is primarily in the middle of the kitchen? They love Island mount range hoods. These hoods defy gravity and meet elegance.

The main challenge to getting the right proposition for this hood is adequate ceiling height for ductwork and no wall for support.

30 to 36 inches can be the appropriate projection distance for your island mount hoods. Here, you should meet 3 things for optimal efficiency. The size of your hood, the height of your kitchen ceiling, and the suggested smoke capture area. That’s all.

Note: These are the general distance between the range hood and cooking area or all types of range hoods. You should read the user's manual to embrace your manufacturer recommended distance.

Category 2: Stove Size & Its Configuration

All home cooks don’t use the same cooktop for cooking. Different sizes, styles, and configured cooktops are available in the market. And they use a cooktop based on their preference.

So, you should consider your stove size and configuration to find the right proposition for your hood installation.

Types Of Stoves

Gas, electric, and induction stoves or cooktops are the most used heat source in the kitchen. All of these cooktops provide different levels of heat. Such as

Gas stove generates open flame burning natural gas. Electric and induction stoves generate heat with their electric, electromagnetic coils. And they use electricity as fuel. That means there is no risk of an open flame.

So, if you don’t adjust the minimum height, the gas stove’s high heat and open flame may affect your range hood when induction or electric stove doesn’t highly affect your hood.

Stove Configuration

Stove configuration keeps a great impact on your range hood. The stove burners/size are also important as it directly impacts the range hood projection.

Larger stoves need a wider hood projection to cover the smoky area as effectively as possible; a narrow hood projection is alright for the smaller stoves.

Category 3: Personal Preferences and Cooking Habits

Each home is a factory for making unique and interesting stories. Every day new and lovely stories of love, affection, and fulfillment are made among the family members.

And you know what? Your cooking preferences and habits are a deniable part of these stories. Because most sweet stories are related to taste, unforgettable delicious, and yummy foods cooked by either mom, wife, or the little princess.

As the right range hood proposition can elevate your culinary styles. So, it’s related to your cooking preferences to customize your cooking space.

Influences of Personal Preferences

If you like a sleek and minimalistic look in your kitchen, then the range hood should be placed a long distance. If you want a bold statement outlook, tailor your hood according to your preference.

Scenarios and Placement Options

Now, your cooking habits and routines also come into play. Do you like Chinese, Japanese, or Continental cooking styles with high heat? Then you need a higher projection of the hood to capture all the smoke, steam, and odors.

And if you prefer low heat light cooking. Then it’d be better to have a hood in lower projection.

Category 4: Understand Range Hoods Functionality

You should also understand the range hood’s functionality. Because it’s related to determining how far your range hood should stick out from your cooktop. Such as

Clear the Culinary Smoky Air

The first and foremost purpose of using the range hood is to clear the smoky culinary air from the kitchen. It’s not ideal to install the hood too high or too low.

If the hood is too high, it can’t efficiently combat smoke, steam, and unwanted food smells. And if it’s too low, it takes up your cooking space. As a consequence, you won’t feel comfortable while cooking.

Elevate Your Kitchen Experience

A range hood elevates your cooking experience eliminating the smoky air from the kitchen. It protects your kitchen cabinet, wall, and surroundings from pesky airborne particles and grease. So it looks stunning and guests-ready all the time.

But, it is only possible when you install the hood and maintain the right distance from your cooktop.

Ensure Easy Breathing

The range hood maintains optimal air quality in the kitchen, even during heavy cooking. You can inhale fresh air due to controlling smoke and odors.

But, if you fail to install the hood in the right projection. The ventilation systems of the hood can’t synchronize with your produced smoke and grease. As a result, the unwanted smoke and odors will spread throughout your home, which is unfortunate.

Optimal Range Hood Projection Guidelines

Would it be better to get special guidelines for optimal range hood projection?

Then, go through my further words.

Expert Insights Unveiled

Following recommended industry standards is wisdom. Because they set the recommendation based on years of extensive research and expert experience.

Rational Recommendations

You can also consider your hood’s CFM, suction power, and construction. They’ll help ensure maximum performance and seamlessly blend with kitchen design.

Proper Clearance Importance

Keep a sufficient gap between the range hood and cooktop to protect your culinary haven. The distance allows the hood to offer optimal ventilation.

Safety Assurance

Don’t ignore fire hazards, as a flame spot may damage your paramount. Ensuring enough space between the flame and range hood will minimize the accidental fire risk. So, you can use the hood for years with no heat-related damage.

Final Verdict

You have to harmonize the range hood with your kitchen design and stove to tailor the best projection. The more you can maintain the harmony, the better performance you get from the hood.

Keep in mind these four categories while finalizing the range hood position. And enjoy no more lingering cooking smoke and grease.

Apitize your hunger with happy and enjoyable cooking experiences.