6 Types of Range Hoods: How to Choose the Right One

Wall-mount canopy hoods install into the wall above the range and completely replace over-the-range cabinets. They have a bell-like shape that effectively captures and filters kitchen air. Expect these hoods to feature a range of powerful venting speeds and a variety of styles to match your kitchen aesthetic.

Wall-mount canopy hoods are available in sizes to match your range below, from compact to extra-wide. For instance, Maytag^® wall-mount range hoods offer 24-inch to 36-inch widths. These range hoods can come as back-to-basic models or with the full set of high-end features like LED lighting and perimetric ventilation.

Island canopy hoods install in the ceiling and hang over an island range. Since they’re typically near the center of the room, they can contribute to the aesthetics of your kitchen rather than blend in. Island canopy hoods often deliver powerful ventilation along with the latest innovations. Unlike wall-mount canopy hoods, these models are finished on all sides to look good from any angle. 

Island canopy hoods from Maytag brand deliver advanced features like Glass Edge LED Lighting that senses when your kitchen lights dim and automatically turns on to act as a night-light. The In-Line Smart Blower can be installed as an exhaust motor in the hood or as an in-line blower in the attic of your home for added noise reduction.

Learn more about measuring counter height.

These hoods install under an over-the-range cabinet. Their slim design delivers a more built-in look than a canopy hood and allows you to use the cabinets above for storage. Despite their discreet size, they offer a range of venting power and speeds suitable for most meals. Under-cabinet hoods typically vent by filtering kitchen air then pushing it back out into the kitchen, a process called recirculation, though external venting may be available.

Since under-cabinet hoods should fit snug under and between cabinets, finding the right size for your kitchen is essential. Most Maytag^® under-cabinet hoods come with the FIT System, which helps reduce measuring, cutting and trim so that your hood is a perfect fit every time.¹

Microwave hood combinations do double duty: they cook food while venting smoke and odor coming off the cooking surface below. These two-in-one appliances free up countertop space and let you retain some cabinet storage above the microwave. Like under-cabinet hoods, these models typically vent through recirculation. 

Not only do these appliances do the work of a microwave and a vent, some models even have features similar to those commonly found on ovens. For instance, select Maytag^® microwave hoods offer the Dual Crisp feature which combines broiler-like, top-down heat with traditional microwave cooking to deliver oven-like, crispy results.²

Retractable downdraft systems are installed into countertops and remain flush with the cooktop surface until needed. When it’s time to cook, these hidden vent hoods rise up around fourteen inches behind the range or cooktop. Downdraft vents are a great solution for kitchen island ventilation. Smoke and odor is vented down into the ductwork beneath the floor, though recirculating kits are often available.

Expect strong venting capabilities from these vent hoods which benefit from their close proximity to the cooking surface. For example, Maytag^® retractable downdraft hoods offer a powerful 600 CFM interior blower motor,³ which means they have the capacity to vent a large amount of air out of the kitchen per minute. Learn more about CFMs later in this article.

Range hood liners let you hide ventilation within cabinetry so you can create the look you want. The inner workings are concealed inside custom cabinetry and the liner is simply inserted in the bottom. These hoods typically deliver similar venting strength and features as other types of range hoods. 

Some hood liners come with a blower (the part that enables venting) and some don’t. For instance, you can buy this Maytag^® hood liner with a blower, or buy an individual blower so you can choose the venting strength you need. Always check to see if a hood liner includes the blower or if it is purchased separately.