How to Choose the Right Rangehood: A Complete Australian Buying Guide
A rangehood is an essential kitchen appliance that removes cooking odours, smoke, moisture and grease from your kitchen. The wrong rangehood leads to lingering cooking smells, greasy surfaces and potential moisture damage to cabinetry. This guide explains everything you need to know to choose the right rangehood for your kitchen.
Rangehood Types
Canopy Rangehood (Chimney)
Wall-mounted with a stainless steel canopy and chimney extending to the ceiling. These are the most visible style and make a design statement in a kitchen. Available in 60cm, 90cm and 120cm widths. Ideal over a freestanding oven or against a wall. Most require external ducting (vented) but some can be recirculated with a charcoal filter.
Under-Bench (Under-Cabinet) Rangehood
Mounts flush under a kitchen cabinet directly above the cooktop. These are the most common rangehood style in Australian kitchens — practical, relatively affordable and work with standard kitchen cabinetry layouts. Available in 60cm and 90cm widths. Can be ducted externally or recirculated with charcoal filters.
Slideout Rangehood
A slim rangehood unit that slides into a standard cabinet space. When cooking, the front panel slides out to increase the extraction area. Very clean, minimalist look when retracted. Available in 60cm and 90cm. Suitable for kitchens where the rangehood will be used with an induction or ceramic cooktop (lower heat and grease than gas).
Island Rangehood
Hangs from the ceiling above a kitchen island or island cooktop. Requires ceiling mounting and ducting to an external vent. Statement design piece — available in various shapes from classic canopy to flat island profiles. More expensive due to ceiling mounting complexity.
Integrated / Built-in Rangehood
Completely concealed behind a cabinet front. The fan and motor are hidden, with only a glass or stainless fascia visible. Very clean look in contemporary kitchens. Usually requires professional installation.
Key Specifications to Understand
Airflow (m³/hr)
Airflow is the amount of air the rangehood moves per hour and is the most important performance specification. As a guideline, calculate the volume of your kitchen (length x width x height in metres) and multiply by 10–15. For a 30m³ kitchen, aim for 300–450 m³/hr minimum. For heavy gas cooking, multiply by 15–20. More is better — rangehoods at higher airflow settings are noisier, so having headroom means you don't always need to run at maximum.
Ducted vs Recirculating
Ducted (vented) rangehoods expel air outside — by far the best performance. Recirculating rangehoods filter air through charcoal and return it to the kitchen — adequate for light cooking but charcoal filters must be replaced every 3–6 months. If you can duct externally, do so.
Noise Level (dB)
Rangehoods are noisier than most kitchen appliances. At low speed, 50–60 dB is typical. At maximum speed, 65–75 dB is common. For a quiet kitchen, choose a larger rangehood and run it at a lower speed.
Width Guidelines
- 60cm cooktop: 60cm or 90cm rangehood
- 90cm cooktop: 90cm rangehood minimum
- Wider is better: a rangehood slightly wider than the cooktop captures more cooking vapour
Brands Available at Oceania Appliances
We stock rangehoods from Bosch, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, Westinghouse, Smeg, Artusi and more. Free delivery across Sydney. Visit 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park (open 7 days, 10am–8pm), call or WhatsApp 0422 489 492, or email support@oceaniaappliances.com.au.