A range hood effectively removes odors, steam, and grease particles produced while cooking. This protects the kitchen and enhances the comfort of your home. Depending on your kitchen layout, there are various range hood options available.
We'll show you how they differ and how to find the right model for your aesthetic and functional needs.
Range hoods can be broadly categorized into traditional, top-mounted hoods and modern, down-draft cooktop hoods.
Cooking range hoods can be categorized into the following types:
>The main differences between these range hoods lie in their installation location, the planning required, and their appearance.
Wall-mounted range hoods are the classic solution for above the cooktop and are available in various styles. They are mounted directly on the wall above the cooktop and direct the steam either outside (exhaust) or back into the room through a filter (recirculation). Overhead hoods are mounted at an angle to give you a full view and more freedom of movement while cooking. Both options are easy to install, but they limit the design possibilities for the kitchen. They are not suitable for a freestanding kitchen island, for example.
For a cooktop that is built into a kitchen island, there are island range hoods. They are mounted on the ceiling without touching the wall. This makes it a key design element in the kitchen. Island range hoods require sufficient ceiling height and a sturdy mounting point. They really show off their visual appeal, especially in spacious, elegant open-concept kitchens.
Ceiling hoods are largely integrated into the ceiling—the mechanism is discreetly concealed behind plaster, drywall, or within the kitchen cabinets. This makes it a good choice for a minimalist, clean-lined kitchen design, where the goal is to keep the amount of technology that obstructs the view to a minimum. Disadvantages: Installation requires careful planning; retrofitting is often a time-consuming process.
Hob hoods are the modern alternative to traditional range hoods. The rising steam and grease particles are extracted by range hoods right where they are produced: at the pot or pan. This way, no mist spreads throughout the room. The kitchen remains open, the view unobstructed, and the room feels more spacious. For many modern kitchens, this is the most innovative solution.
Depending on the design, the following types of range hoods are distinguished:
| Variant | Design |
|---|---|
| Downdraft | Exhaust ventilation directly at the cooktop |
| Tabletop hood | Integrated into the countertop behind the cooktop; extendable |
| integrated into the cooktop | forms a single unit with the cooktop |
Cooktop extraction technology has been significantly advanced by BORA. With the modular cooktop extractor systems BORA Professional 3.0 and BORA Classic 2.0, you can customize your cooktop extractor and cooktop to suit your needs. All components are perfectly coordinated and available from a single source: Cooktop range hood, cooktop, fan, filter, duct, and wall box. The compact cooktop hood systems in the Pure Series come with the cooktop hood and fan already built in.
Unobstructed view, uninterrupted communication, no bulky range hood: BORA cooktop extractor systems offer you all that and much more.
In a recirculating air system, the air is filtered and returned to the room. In contrast, a range hood with an exhaust system vents the air to the outside through a duct system, such as the efficient BORA Ecotube . Both options have their merits—the right choice depends on the layout of your kitchen.
BORA offers cooktop extractor systems with recirculation and vented models. The recirculating models use specially designed, high-performance activated carbon odor filters that are incredibly easy to replace.
Would you like to learn more? Read our detailed guide on the differences between recirculating and exhaust systems.
When choosing the right range hood, you should consider the installation location, the size of your kitchen, and your comfort needs. These are the most important criteria:
That depends entirely on the kitchen and your comfort preferences. In open, design-oriented spaces, the cooktop hood is a standout because it captures steam right at the cooktop and keeps the view unobstructed. Classic range hoods are a good choice if you specifically want a visible design element and prefer a traditional kitchen design. Our guide "Exhaust Hood Alternatives" offers further guidance: The cooktop hood.
The main difference between these range hoods is where they are installed: Wall-mounted range hoods require a load-bearing wall; island range hoods hang freely from the ceiling; and under-cabinet range hoods are installed under the wall cabinet to save space.
In an open kitchen,odor control andnoise levelsare of great importance. A range hood is often thebestchoice here, as it extracts steam as soon as it forms and does notobstruct the open feel of the space or the line of sight with a hood.
Sloped ceilings pose a design challenge for wall-mounted range hoods. The best option here is a headroom hood installed at the correct angle. Thebestsolution, however, is anintegrated cooktop hood,since it takes up no space on the wall or ceiling and thus offers maximum flexibility when planning a kitchen with sloped walls.
