First, check whether you can install an external duct in your home: an extractor hood with external extraction sends the air it draws outside, while a recirculating hood filters the air and returns it to the room, and needs suitable filters. Then choose a style that suits the position of your hob, and compare extraction rates and noise levels using the same operating mode and similar speeds.
In an open-plan living space, consider how well the hood captures grease and odours, as well as how noisy it is at the speed you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol measures performance separately in extraction and recirculation modes.
Before choosing a hood with external extraction, have the duct route and any proposed work assessed. If this type of installation isn’t suitable for your home, check that a recirculating hood accepts the filters specified for its model.
The position of your hob determines which styles are worth considering. Measure the ceiling or cabinetry, allow space for ducting and make sure you can access the filters before choosing a ceiling-mounted, built-in or hob-integrated hood.
Start with the airflow route and the position of your hob. These will rule out unsuitable configurations before you even compare the figures on product specifications.
Consider this if: you can install an outlet to the outside without compromising ventilation in your home.
What to bear in mind: check the duct, route to the outside and any necessary permissions before you buy.
Consider this if: an external outlet isn’t suitable for your home and the hood supports recirculation.
What to bear in mind: filtered air returns to the room. The filters need maintenance, and your home still needs to be ventilated.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Check the duct route, the status of any existing duct and the work required. If you’re planning an external opening or work to communal areas, check what permissions apply to your home with the relevant people. | I don’t want to choose a hood with external extraction before finding out whether an outlet can be installed in my home. |
| Filtration | For recirculation, check which kits and filters are compatible with the model, whether they’re easy to access and what maintenance they need. Bosch notes that its kits aren’t universal. | If the air is returned to the kitchen, I need to be able to maintain the filters without neglecting ventilation in my home. |
| Capture performance | Compare grease capture results and, for recirculation, odour reduction results using the same testing protocol. UFC-Que Choisir measures these separately from airflow rate. | Odours and steam shouldn’t become a nuisance in the living area. A maximum airflow rate on its own doesn’t tell me whether they will. |
| Noise and airflow | Check the figures for the speed and operating mode you’re considering. Compare like-for-like acoustic measurements: sound power and sound pressure aren’t interchangeable. | I want to be able to chat in the room while cooking, so I won’t judge noise levels on the intensive setting alone. |
| Space and fit | Check the hob width against the installation dimensions in the manual. For an island, check the ceiling fixing; for a venting hob, check the cut-out and the space available in the base unit. | My hob is on an island or built into a specific unit, so I need a style that will actually fit my kitchen. |
A hood that suits your hob may still be impossible to install as planned if the duct route or the work required causes a problem. ANIL notes that an opening which changes the external appearance of a building may require prior planning permission, while work affecting communal areas or shared building equipment is subject to collective decisions.
Before choosing a model, confirm the duct route, which parts of the building are affected and what permissions apply to your home.
The air is filtered and returned to the room. Recirculation doesn’t replace the general, continuous ventilation required in homes under the French Order of 24 March 1982.
Check which kit is compatible with the model, what type of odour filter it uses and how to clean or replace it.
The initial installation kit and regular filter maintenance are part of the ongoing requirements.
Published airflow and noise figures may relate to different speeds or operating modes. UFC-Que Choisir measures airflow separately in extraction and recirculation modes.
When comparing two models, look at figures for the intended mode and similar speeds, then check the available capture performance results.
A ceiling-mounted hood needs a suitable fixing; a venting hob takes up space beneath the cooking surface; and an under-cabinet hood needs to leave the filters accessible.
Measure the hob, ceiling and cabinetry, then check the installation distances and technical space specified in the model’s manual.
These examples showcase styles worth considering. The features mentioned apply to the specific models listed, not every hood from each brand.
Bosch wall-mounted hoods offer extraction and recirculation options, depending on the model.
The Phantom Cable 7530 is an example of a ceiling-mounted island hood with recirculation.
The NikolaTesla Fit combines an induction hob with integrated extraction, so there’s no hood above the cooking area.
These models are suited to a hob against a wall or a project involving a hob with integrated extraction. Compare their installation types and dimensions with your kitchen before weighing up their stated features.
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For a hob against a wall, this hood offers both extraction and recirculation. Its product information lists four speeds, a maximum airflow rate of 620 m³/h and a noise level of 59 dB. Check the figures for the mode and speed you’ll use, as well as the odour filter required for recirculation.
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This 60 cm wall-mounted style is worth considering if it matches the width of your hob. The product title lists four speeds with a booster and an airflow rate of 650 m³/h. Check the operating levels for this model and its noise figures for the mode you intend to use.
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This 60 cm angled wall-mounted hood offers extraction and recirculation, with three speeds and an airflow rate of 580 m³/h. Before choosing it for an open-plan kitchen, check the noise level in the intended mode, the installation dimensions and the exact grease filter configuration.
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This induction hob has integrated extraction, making it an option if you don’t want a hood above the cooking area. Check how it expels air, how much space it needs in the cabinet and its installation requirements. The product name indicates that you’ll need to allow for CBEHKIT accessories with the hob.
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For a wall-mounted hob, this 60 cm hood offers extraction and recirculation, and is listed as including a charcoal filter. Its stated airflow rate of 611 m³/h is a quoted figure, so check which mode it applies to and consult the noise data relevant to how you’ll use it.
No. It filters the air it draws in, then returns it to the room. The French Order of 24 March 1982 requires general, continuous ventilation in homes. Keep your home ventilated and follow the cooker hood’s filter maintenance instructions.
First, check the rules that apply to your building and the status of the wall. ANIL notes that an opening which changes the external appearance may require prior planning permission. In a leasehold building, work affecting communal areas or shared equipment is subject to collective decisions. Also check that you’re allowed to use any existing duct.
Compare the same acoustic measurement, in the same operating mode and at similar speeds. A figure for intensive mode alone won’t tell you how noisy the hood will be during everyday cooking; sound pressure and sound power can’t be compared directly.
Clean the grease filter and maintain the odour filter according to the manual for your model. Bosch specifies different schedules for its standard filters and CleanAir modules; Novy also notes that filter life depends on the type of filter. Check the instructions and schedule for your specific model.