If your kitchen already has a dedicated, usable external duct, first consider a ducted cooker hood that expels extracted air outside your home. If there’s no suitable external outlet, choose a model designed for recirculation and check which filters or kits are compatible with its exact model number. In either case, the wall-mounted or built-in design must fit the available space and meet the requirements in the instructions.
You’re replacing or installing a cooker hood and already have a dedicated duct that you’re allowed to use. Whether you can expel extracted air outside is the first thing to consider; UFC-Que Choisir points out that your home may determine which installation method is possible.
You can’t connect the cooker hood to the outside in your current kitchen layout. Recirculation means you don’t need to install a duct, but it does require an odour filter suited to the model, as UFC-Que Choisir and Bosch explain.
You’d like to fit the cooker hood inside a wall unit or keep the space above your hob clear. With a built-in hood, the cut-out dimensions and clearances specified in the instructions matter more than the advertised width alone. Bosch and Electrolux list these appliances by model number.
First, work out which installation method is actually possible, then check the available space and the maintenance required for your chosen model. A recirculating cooker hood returns filtered air to the kitchen; a ducted cooker hood needs a dedicated external duct.
| What matters | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| No external outlet | Recirculation mode is supported for the model; compatible odour filter or kit. | Without a suitable external outlet, I want to install a cooker hood without adding a duct and be able to maintain its filtration system. Around 31% of consumers put this first. |
| Expelling air outside | A usable dedicated duct; connection and air supply comply with the instructions. | When I cook with lots of steam or strong-smelling ingredients, I’d like to expel the extracted air outside if my installation allows it. This is the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Space and built-in installation | Unit and hob dimensions; cut-out and clearances required for installation. | In a compact kitchen or one with wall units, I first need to make sure the cooker hood will actually fit. Around 19% of consumers prioritise a good fit. |
| Noise and maintenance | Noise level stated for the mode and speed you plan to use; maintenance requirements for compatible filters. | If the kitchen is close to the living area, I want to consider the noise and know what maintenance will be needed. For around 19% of consumers, this ease of use comes first. |
A wall-mounted or built-in cooker hood won’t necessarily suit the available air outlet. For recirculation, the kit you need may also depend on the exact model number, according to Bosch.
First confirm which installation method is possible in your kitchen, then compare designs, dimensions and compatible accessories.
The odour filter must be compatible with your cooker hood and maintained correctly. Bosch and Elica filter model numbers show that replacement instructions vary by product.
Find out which filter or kit is designed for your chosen model, then follow its maintenance instructions.
UFC-Que Choisir says that a ducted cooker hood must not be connected to an MVHR system or chimney flue, highlighting risks including blockages and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Use only a dedicated duct that’s suitable for your installation. If there’s no suitable external outlet, consider a model that supports recirculation.
The advertised width doesn’t tell you whether the cut-out will fit or whether there’s enough room in the unit for the duct or accessories.
Check the internal dimensions of the unit against the measurements in the instructions before choosing a model.
Bosch offers wall-mounted and built-in cooker hoods, along with recirculation accessories for selected models.
The range reviewed includes decorative cooker hoods and built-in models, with the installation method depending on the model.
Siemens offers decorative and integrated cooker hoods, with ducted or recirculating options depending on the model.
Elica offers cooker hoods in a range of designs, as well as replacement filters for its appliances.
These wall-mounted models are listed as suitable for ducted or recirculating installation. First choose the method that works in your kitchen, then check the installation dimensions and accessories for your chosen model.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a wall-mounted cooker hood listed as suitable for ducted and recirculating installation. The product title states that it has three speeds and an advertised extraction rate of 580 m³/h. Check the instructions for installation clearances and filters suited to your chosen mode.
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Consider this wall-mounted model if you have enough space for its 90 cm width. The product title states that it supports ducted and recirculating installation, includes a charcoal filter and has an extraction rate of 564 m³/h. Check the installation dimensions and filter model number in the instructions.
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Worth considering if your wall layout calls for a 60 cm cooker hood, provided you can meet the required clearances. The product title states that it supports both installation methods, includes a charcoal filter and has an extraction rate of 611 m³/h. Check the filter model number before choosing recirculation.
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Consider this model if you’d like a 60 cm angled wall-mounted cooker hood and it suits your kitchen layout. The product title states that it supports ducted and recirculating installation, includes a charcoal filter and has an extraction rate of 300 m³/h. Check the installation dimensions and compatible filter.
Not if it’s a ducted cooker hood. UFC-Que Choisir says these connections should be avoided, highlighting risks including blockages and carbon monoxide poisoning. Check that you have a dedicated external duct before choosing this installation method.
Work affecting communal areas or the exterior appearance of a building requires the authorisation set out in Article 25 b) of the law of 10 July 1965, published on Légifrance. Before considering drilling through a wall, check which parts of the building are affected and what permissions your project requires.
No. In recirculation mode, filtered air is returned to the kitchen. This does not vent cooking moisture outside or replace ventilation for your home. Also check that the odour filter is compatible with your cooker hood.
Follow the guidance for the specific filter you have fitted rather than relying on a single replacement interval. Bosch recommends replacing its Clean Air Standard 17006791 filter every 6 to 12 months, while Elica recommends every 3 to 4 months for its CFC0038668 model. These recommendations don’t apply to all their filters.