First, choose the option your home allows: extraction vents air outside, but requires a suitable dedicated duct and, depending on the work involved, checks beforehand. Recirculation works without an external outlet, but requires compatible filters that need maintaining. Then choose a design to suit the available cupboard or wall space, and compare airflow and noise in the mode you’ll actually use.
If you cook regularly and have a dedicated duct, or think you could have one installed, check that it can be used before choosing an extractor hood. This option vents cooking fumes outside the kitchen.
If there’s no external outlet that can be used or installed, look for a cooker hood designed for recirculation and check the reference for the compatible charcoal filter or kit.
Whether you’re replacing a hood or fitting out a kitchen, measure the cupboard, the space above the hob and any route for ducting. These measurements, together with the instruction manual, will determine whether an under-cabinet, integrated or wall-mounted hood can be fitted.
The presence of a duct determines which option is possible. Then choose a design and features to suit that specific installation.
Consider this: if there’s a dedicated duct to the outside, or one can be installed once you’ve checked what work is involved.
Bear in mind: air and steam are vented outside the home, but routing ducting or creating an outlet may require building work and permissions.
Consider this: when you can’t confirm that a usable external outlet is available.
Bear in mind: filtered air, including steam, is returned to the room. Odour control depends on using a compatible filter and keeping it maintained.
| Consideration | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ducting and building work | Check that there’s a dedicated duct and find out what permissions you need before planning an external outlet. A mechanical ventilation system or chimney cannot be used as a substitute connection. | If it’s not clear whether air can be vented outside, you’ll want to settle that before choosing a model. Around 36% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Odours and steam | Compare airflow and noise in the mode you plan to use, at a comparable speed. If the air will be recirculated, check which filter is suitable. | If you often cook food with strong smells or lots of steam, you’ll want to know what’s possible with the installation you can actually have. For around 29% of consumers, controlling odours and steam comes ahead of other considerations. |
| Available space | Measure the hob, cupboard and clearance above it. Check the model’s dimensions and installation distances in the instruction manual. | If you have a wall cupboard or limited space above the hob, you’ll first need to find a design that can be fitted. This is the main priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Noise and maintenance | Check the noise levels at the setting you plan to use, and find out which charcoal filter is compatible and how often it needs maintaining. | If the cooker hood will often be running while you’re in the kitchen, you’ll want to be able to manage its noise and filter maintenance. Around 14% of consumers make this their main concern. |
A connection to a mechanical ventilation system or chimney is not a substitute for a dedicated duct: UFC-Que Choisir advises against this because of the risks associated with this type of installation. A new outlet could also affect the façade or other parts of the building.
Have the duct and any requirements for your home checked before ordering an extractor hood. If this type of installation can’t be confirmed, look at models that can be used in recirculation mode.
Creating an outlet may also require ducting and building work, as well as prior discussions with your landlord or property management company.
The airflow and noise levels of the same cooker hood can vary between extraction and recirculation. Electrolux, for example, lists separate figures for these two modes for its LFG615W built-in hood.
Compare figures for the mode you’ll use, at a comparable speed, rather than looking at an isolated maximum airflow figure.
For recirculation, the filter or kit must be compatible with the model. Elica notes that not all of its cooker hoods can be switched from one mode to the other.
Check the reference of the replacement filter and read the manual for details on when to replace or regenerate it before choosing a cooker hood.
Using recirculation means adding regular filter maintenance to your routine.
An under-cabinet hood must fit the cupboard and the intended fixings. A wall-mounted hood must be installed at the distance specified for your hob.
Measure the hob width, cupboard and available height, then compare these measurements with the diagram and manual for the model you’re considering.
Built-in and wall-mounted cooker hoods to consider based on the installation mode, width and accessories required for each model.
Built-in and wall-mounted cooker hoods with product specifications that can help you compare features in each mode.
Cooker hoods and filtration accessories to consider, particularly if your kitchen requires recirculation.
Built-in cooker hoods to consider when the cupboard space determines which design will fit.
These wall-mounted cooker hoods and under-cabinet model offer extraction or recirculation options depending on your kitchen layout. For each model, check the intended installation, required accessories and fitting measurements.
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Worth considering if your hob is against a wall and a 90 cm cooker hood will fit the available space. This model is listed for both extraction and recirculation.
Touch and app controls, four speeds with a boost function, and a stated maximum airflow of 650 m³/h. For recirculation, check that the CBCF003 filters are compatible and find out how to maintain them. Consult the manual for installation distances and figures for the mode you’ll use.
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Consider this for a wall-mounted installation requiring a width of 60 cm, after checking it against the hob and the space above it. Both installation modes are listed.
Touch and app controls, four speeds with a boost function, and a stated maximum airflow of 650 m³/h. For recirculation, check the compatibility and maintenance requirements of the CBCF003 filters. Check the noise and airflow figures for the mode you plan to use.
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Consider this for a hob against a wall, provided the width and installation distances are suitable. This model supports extraction and recirculation.
Black glass panel and LED lighting. For recirculation, check whether CBCF055*2 charcoal filters are available, and consult the airflow and noise figures for your chosen mode.
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Worth considering if the cooker hood needs to fit beneath a cupboard and the dimensions allow it to be secured. This model is listed for both extraction and recirculation.
Push-button controls and a stainless steel casing. Check the installation dimensions in the manual and, for recirculation, whether a CBCF009-type filter is included or needs to be bought separately.
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Consider this for a wall-mounted installation if the 60 cm width and chimney suit your kitchen. The product details list both extraction and recirculation modes.
Stainless steel, touch and gesture controls, LED lighting and a stated maximum airflow of 650 m³/h. If you’re planning to use recirculation, check the reference for the compatible filter and whether it’s included before buying. Also check the installation distances in the manual.
No. UFC-Que Choisir says an extractor hood must use a dedicated duct, not a mechanical ventilation system or chimney. Have the proposed connection checked before choosing this option.
Check the rules that apply to your home before drilling. If you live in a block of flats, consult the property manager and the building’s rules if the work could affect communal areas or the exterior appearance. Also check any relevant local requirements and procedures for your address.
Don’t plan this work without consulting your landlord first. Depending on the property, your tenancy agreement and building rules may also affect the project. Check what’s permitted before buying a cooker hood for a new outlet.
Follow the distance specified in the manual for your chosen cooker hood and hob type. Bosch gives 650 mm above a gas hob and 550 mm above an electric hob in its FAQ, but you shouldn’t assume these distances apply to every model.
Follow the replacement schedule for the exact filter reference. Bosch recommends replacing the filters in its recirculating cooker hoods every six months, while Elica gives a lifespan of 3 to 4 months for its CFC0141563 filter. Check that the replacement filter is compatible before choosing a cooker hood.