What is the Best Island Range Hood This 2023?
You can’t go wrong with an island range hood for your island stovetop - or can you? With the right unit, you can avoid the dreaded food smell with excellent filtration, but the wrong unit with insufficient CFM could leave you with poor ventilation. Not all island range hood units are the same, which is why our engineers have created a list of the best.
Reviews of the Top Island Range Hoods
1. Winflo 30 In. Island Range Hood - Editor’s Choice
The beautiful Winflo island mount range hood has both high and low settings for just the right amount of suction. At the highest setting, the Winflo range hood delivers 350 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of suction capacity.
The brushed stainless steel construction gives the range hood a very luxe appearance and the aluminum mesh filters will trap the grease from your food to make cleaning easier.
At that awkward time during the day when indoor lighting is too much but it’s just beginning to dim outside, you can utilize the four LED lights to illuminate your culinary dishes.
Pros
- Adjustable telescoping chimney
- 4 energy-efficient LED lights
- 3-year limited parts warranty
- Convertible design
- Non-ducted or ducted range hood
- Installation kit included
- Rocker control for fan speed and light
- High and low settings
- 350 CFM
- Quiet operation with 65 dB at max speed
- Dishwasher safe filters
Cons
- Charcoal filters not included
- Installation will take some time
2. ZLINE 36" Island Mount Range Hood - Premium Choice
Capture smoke and grease particles with your new ZLINE 36-inch island mount range hood. This particular unit can either vent out or be ductless with carbon filters sold separately.
The push-button control panel is very easy to use and gives users control over the fan speeds and the LED lighting. The island mount range hood is made of stainless steel and is only rated at 60dB, which is considered a much quieter hood than others in the same size category.
There are 4 fan speed settings to accommodate all cooking situations and the island mount range hood is designed to light up your countertops with LED illumination.
Pros
- Island mount range hood
- Large 36-inch range hood size
- Low noise
- Improves air quality
- Sufficient lighting
- LED lighting
- Sleek design
- Complements most modern kitchens
- Can ventilate a gas range successfully
- Can be a ductless range hood
Cons
- Installation will take some time
- Only has controls on one side
3. Cosmo 668ICS900 - Budget Option
You can get very effective ventilation from your island range hoods for an affordable price if you go with the Cosmo 668ICS900. It measures 36 inches and is a ductless island range hood crafted from high-grade stainless steel with permanent filters and bright LED lighting.
For a more inexpensive unit, the 668ICS900 comes with high-tech features that make it one of the most modern island hoods. We mean an LCD digital touchscreen control panel, a digital clock, and three fan speeds with the highest at 380 CFM.
The Cosmo ARC-Flow permanent filters are reusable. Just toss them in the dishwasher and they’re as good as new.
Pros
- Extension telescopes
- Best island range hood for the price
- Three-speed settings
- Stainless steel construction
- LCD touchscreen
- LED lights
- One of the most modern kitchen range hoods
- Dishwasher safe filters
- Will capture grease effectively
- Good for a tight budget
- Centrifugal motor
Cons
- Installation isn’t the easiest
- Not recommended for a vaulted ceiling
4. ZLINE 30" Island Mount Range Hood
Our contractors have another suggestion from the ZLINE brand at a slightly smaller size for those who have more limited space. Your island mount range hood will be the focal point of your kitchen with its attractive stainless steel construction, easy button controls, and very efficient fan control.
There are 4 fan settings with the highest rated at 400 CFM. What’s amazing about the powerful fan is its quiet operation. The island range hood is measured at only 52 dB! This means you will hardly notice it’s turned on.
Like most other island range hood models, this one also features LED lighting to illuminate your space.
Pros
- 4-speed powerful motor
- LED lights
- 400 CFM at the highest setting
- Only around 52 decibels
- Can be ductless
- Smaller unit
- Easy to clean
- Brushed stainless steel
Cons
- May need to be professionally installed for beginners
- Carbon filters not included
5. Broan-NuTone E5490SS
The Broan-NuTone E5490SS island range hood is not the most cost-efficient model around, but there is a reason for the higher price. It has more than enough power to keep your kitchen free of lingering odors.
It mounts with a chimney-style design that is not only effective at keeping your kitchen grease and exhaust-free but also provides extra lighting. The range hood takes halogen bulbs to light the area evenly.
The aluminum grease filters are dishwasher safe and do a superior job at capturing grease compared to some other brands.
Pros
- 550 max blower CFM
- Overhead lighting
- Strong and powerful motor
- Dishwasher-friendly range hood filters
- Great match for a kitchen island
- Stainless steel
- Ducted or non-ducted design
Cons
- Pricier than some
- No remote control
Island Range Hoods Buyer’s Guide
Getting the best island range hoods is easier if you go with our experts’ guide below. Our team has listed the most important features to help narrow down the choices for your space.
Size and Fit
First thing’s first, does the island range hood fit your kitchen space? Our experts say many people go with a more streamlined look with their range hood matching the stove width. The most basic sizes are 30 and 36 inches, which is the standard to fit most kitchen range models. It’s simple to identify the size for you, just measure the width of your stovetop.
The next consideration is the height of your kitchen ceiling. Our team has provided models with telescoping chimneys, which is a design in range hoods that allows users to adjust the fit to match their ceiling height.
In order to make sure the range hoods will fit, you have to measure the height of your ceiling to where the base of the hood will hang above your range, which is usually around 2 to 3 feet.
Filter
The filter, which is what the range hood relies on to trap all the grease and gunk needs to be easy to clean. There are two main types - stainless steel baffle filters, or aluminum mesh filters. Our team suggests dishwasher-safe baffle filters for more durability.
CFM
The CFM is the cubic foot per minute, the measurement for how much air is moved by your range hood in one minute. The higher the number, the greater amount of air is being moved around and filtered. The higher the number you go for, the better the ventilation will be, so CFM is one of the most important factors when considering range hoods.
For an island range hood, the most common CFM ratings are between 350 and 550 CFM. For example, if you have a small space and don’t cook fried foods or stir fries a lot, then 350 will be sufficient.
Ducted or Ductless Range Hood?
You will have noticed that our team of contractors highlighted some models that can be both ducted and ductless, but what does this mean? In short, a ductless hood recirculates the air in your home, while a ducted hood actually filters the air out of your kitchen.
The benefits of the ducted filter are quite obvious - it has a smaller profile and is better for smaller kitchens. Almost all ducted models can be installed as ductless, but the difference is you cannot use the regular mesh or baffle filters. You will need to add a carbon or charcoal filter that will give an extra layer of purification indoors.
Unfortunately, not a lot of range hoods come with these filters so you will have to shell out a bit more money to install your range hood as ductless.
While a ducted hood takes up more space, there isn’t much you need to do other than the basic installation. The factory filters will be enough to do the trick and because the air gets filtered out of your space, a ducted hood can handle heavier cooking.
Noises
It may not seem like a big deal, but our team says the noise level the range hood emits can impact your willingness to turn it on. Cooking can be boring, so many of our team members like to listen to music, have a conversation, or follow some new recipe videos on YouTube, all of which cannot be done with a noisy range hood.
The noisiness of the best island range hoods is measured in dB (decibels) [1]. Unlike speakers, you want the dB for your island hood to be as low as possible. Our team suggests 65 dB and under for the best results.
Material Durability
As for the durability of your island mount hood, the best way to guarantee your investment will last for years to come is to go for the most robust materials. In the case of the best island range hoods, the material is stainless steel.
Even for cabinet range hoods or wall-mount range hoods, stainless steel is the ultimate choice and our experts’ recommendation.
Some people with a more rustic decor will want to go for the traditional wooden hood ranges, but keep in mind that they will be nowhere near as durable as stainless steel, especially over time when the surface is subjected to oil, grease, and moisture.
Some units will have a tempered glass exterior as well. Tempered glass can look very modern, and it’s also easier to wipe down these parts on your range hood.
Lighting and Controls
Again, it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but having extra lighting on your range hood will be something you appreciate. Your hood will cast a shadow over your food with overhead indoor lighting, and in-build LED lights will offset that and balance the illumination.
As for the controls, you will most likely have a button or soft-touch controls. There may even be range hoods that have a remote or can be controlled via your phone, but our contractors say a control panel is the easiest to manage.
What are the Benefits of Island Range Hoods?
Consumers have the choice between an island range hood, a cabinet range hood, or a wall-mount range hood, so why should you choose the first option? Island hoods provide more placement flexibility, and not only above your island. They can go almost anywhere, as long as they perform their function adequately.
FAQ
Are island range hoods good?
Yes, island range hoods are good. They may be your only option if you have a stovetop island and this type of hood is easier to install and can do the job just as well as other types. Island hoods are also generally larger, which will ensure the air quality in your kitchen.
What should I look for in an island range hood?
You should look at the CFM rating, the noise level, the type of filter it has, and whether you want a ducted or ductless installation when looking at an island range hood. The material it’s crafted from and the controls are also crucial considerations.
Our Top Pick For an Island Range Hood:
Winflo 30 In. Island Range Hood
Our top range hood is the one from Winflo. It’s a smaller unit but still capable of plenty of centrifugal force. There are high and low settings, 4 LED lights, easy-to-clean mesh filters, and an adjustable chimney to suit almost any space. The combination of stainless steel and glass makes for a very attractive unit.
