If you haven’t confirmed that an external duct is available for use, start with a cooker hood explicitly confirmed as suitable for recirculation, and check which filters and kit are required for its exact model. Only consider extraction once you’ve confirmed that you can use a duct and have the necessary permissions. To compare models in recirculation mode, also consider their size, noise levels in that mode and filter maintenance.
If you can’t rely on a duct or make changes to the outside of your building, choose a cooker hood confirmed as suitable for recirculation for the model you’re considering. For work affecting communal areas or the exterior appearance of a shared-ownership building, Article 25 of the law of 10 July 1965, published on Légifrance, requires authorisation. Check the requirements that apply to your project before opting for extraction.
Compare information on odour and grease filtration in the mode you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, distinguishes between tests carried out with a charcoal filter in recirculation mode and those carried out in extraction mode.
An integrated or built-in cooker hood may suit a design that needs to fit into a cupboard. Check the installation dimensions and clearances in the instructions for your chosen hood and hob.
Consider this: when no usable external outlet has been confirmed, provided you have the accessories compatible with the exact model.
Bear in mind: filtered air is returned to the room and the filters need maintaining. Bosch says that, on the systems concerned, a charcoal filter can reduce extraction performance and increase noise.
Consider this: only if you’ve confirmed that the duct can be used, there’s space for the necessary route and you have any required permissions before buying.
Bear in mind: this option depends on your home’s layout and may require building work. A technical possibility doesn’t mean you have permission.
For a kitchen without a confirmed outlet, compare cooker hoods suitable for recirculation according to your main priority, then check the model instructions and the corresponding accessories.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Suitability for your home | Recirculation mode listed for the exact model; compatible kit and filters. | I don’t want to buy a cooker hood that needs an external outlet I can’t use. Around 33% of consumers would make this their main priority. |
| Odour and grease | Filtration information and test results for recirculation, rather than extraction. | When I cook food with strong smells or a high fat content, my first concern is to limit how much it spreads, even though the air is returned to the room. This would come first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Fit and installation | Dimensions of the cupboard and cooker hood; clearances required by the instructions for the hood and hob. | My cupboard or the space above the hob limits the types of cooker hood I can install. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise getting the fit right above all else. |
| Noise and maintenance | Noise levels in recirculation mode at a comparable speed; filter maintenance suited to the model. | I want to use my cooker hood regularly without overlooking its noise levels or filter maintenance. This would be the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
A cooker hood that can be used for extraction isn’t necessarily ready to use in recirculation mode when it’s delivered. Bosch notes that some cooker hoods may require a first-installation kit that’s compatible with the model.
Note down the exact model reference and check what’s included, along with the filter and kit references, in the manufacturer’s documentation.
The compatible kit and filters may be sold separately.
An advertised extraction rate or noise level for ducted extraction won’t necessarily reflect performance with a charcoal filter. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the test conditions for the two modes in its protocol. Electrolux also publishes separate figures for its LFG516X.
Compare figures measured in the same mode and at an equivalent speed, prioritising results specifically given for recirculation.
How often you need to do this depends on the filter. Franke recommends replacing one of its standard filters every three months, depending on use, while Elica describes a regenerable filter compatible with specific models.
Check which models the filter is compatible with and follow its instructions for replacement, washing or regeneration.
Depending on the filter you choose, allow for regular replacements or time for maintenance.
A recirculating cooker hood returns filtered air to the kitchen. ADEME distinguishes this from a home’s mechanical ventilation system, which continuously removes moisture and pollutants.
Continue to use your existing ventilation as normal, and have any unusual operation checked separately.
A brand to look at when checking which recirculation accessories are available for a specific model.
A brand worth considering if you need an integrated hood that fits into a cupboard.
A brand to look at if your kitchen can accommodate an island cooker hood.
A brand to consider if maintenance of a compatible charcoal filter is an important factor for you.
These four wall-mounted cooker hoods are options to consider for a kitchen without a confirmed external duct. Before choosing, check the recirculation setup required for each model, the space available and the installation instructions.
Image unavailable
If you’re considering wall mounting without a confirmed duct, check the recirculation setup required for this model.
Advertised width: 60 cm. Also compare noise levels and extraction rates in the mode you’ll use, along with the clearances required by the instructions for the hood and hob.
Image unavailable
An angled design to consider if you’re planning a wall-mounted cooker hood and want to use recirculation mode.
The product description lists three speeds, touch controls and an extraction rate of 580 m³/h. Don’t assume this figure is for recirculation mode. Check which filter is compatible and the installation clearances.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you have room for a 90 cm cooker hood and recirculation suits your setup.
The product description lists an extraction rate of 650 m³/h without specifying that it’s for recirculation mode. Check the figures for this mode, compatible filters and the clearances required around the hob.
Image unavailable
Worth a look for wall installation if you want to compare a cooker hood described as suitable for both extraction and recirculation.
The product description lists an included charcoal filter and an extraction rate of 300 m³/h, without specifying that this figure is for recirculation mode. Confirm the filter reference, the space required and the installation instructions.
Don’t base your decision on extraction until you’ve confirmed that you can use a duct and have any required permissions. For work affecting communal areas or the exterior appearance of a shared-ownership building, Article 25 of the law of 10 July 1965, published on Légifrance, requires authorisation. You’ll still need to check the requirements for your project.
No. It filters the air before returning it to the room, and doesn’t replace your home’s ventilation. ADEME describes mechanical ventilation as the system that continuously removes moisture and pollutants.
Follow the instructions for the filter that’s compatible with your cooker hood. Maintenance intervals and methods vary by model. Bosch recommends replacing its standard recirculation filters twice a year, while Franke recommends replacing one of its standard filters every three months, depending on use. Some Elica filters can be regenerated according to their own instructions.
Follow the clearances specified in the instructions for your chosen cooker hood and hob, as they depend on the appliances. Don’t approve an installation based on a general clearance given for a different model.