How High Should a Range Hood Be Above the Stove?

On this page (9 sections)

1. How high should a range hood be from the stove top?
2. How do you measure the clearance correctly?
3. What manuals and rules should you check before mounting?
4. Can you mount a hood higher for more headroom?
5. Does cooktop fuel change the recommended height?
6. Which hood shape and size affect the fit?
7. Which under-cabinet hoods could fit a common setup?
8. What should you check before drilling?
9. How high should your range hood be above the stove?

A range hood is commonly mounted about 20–24 inches above an electric cooktop and 24–30 inches above a gas cooktop, measured from the cooking surface to the hood's lowest point. Your hood and cooktop manuals set the safe mounting range, so check both before installation.

These ranges are a starting point, not a substitute for model instructions. Some appliance combinations call for different clearances, and a hood installed too low can interfere with cooking or violate its instructions.

How high should a range hood be from the stove top?

For many home installations, plan on roughly 20–24 inches for electric and 24–30 inches for gas. Measure straight up from the cooking surface to the hood's lowest edge, not to the cabinet or the top of the hood.

The exact permitted height depends on the appliances. Check the range hood manual and cooktop or range manual, and use the requirements that apply to both.

If the manuals give different minimums or maximums, don't guess between them. Contact the appliance makers or a qualified installer to confirm a height that meets both sets of instructions.

How do you measure the clearance correctly?

Measure from the top of the cooking surface to the hood's lowest point. For a raised trim piece or control edge that extends below the hood body, count that as the lowest point.

Use a tape measure and hold it vertical. Record the measurement before marking holes, then check the planned height in more than one spot so the hood won't sit tilted.

For a gas range, measure from the cooking surface, not from the burner grate if the grate sits above it. Follow the range manual if it defines the reference point differently.

What manuals and rules should you check before mounting?

Check the hood instructions first for the allowed mounting range, then check the cooktop or range manual for its clearance requirements. Also confirm any local building or electrical requirements that apply to your installation.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association's kitchen planning guidance can help you think through kitchen layout, but your appliance manuals govern the clearance for specific models. If instructions are missing, contact the manufacturer before drilling or wiring.

Don't rely on a measurement from a different hood that looks similar. Small differences in design, capture area, and intended installation can change the required distance.

Can you mount a hood higher for more headroom?

You can mount it higher only when the manuals allow that height. More clearance can make it easier to see and work over large pots, but excessive distance can reduce how well the hood captures rising cooking air.

Check headroom while standing at the cooktop and using your usual pots. Keep the hood low enough to work effectively within its permitted range, while leaving enough room to avoid bumping your head or cookware.

A lower-profile hood can help when cabinet clearance is tight. The low-profile range hood guide covers compact designs, while how deep a range hood should be explains how hood depth affects coverage.

Does cooktop fuel change the recommended height?

Yes. Gas cooktops often call for more space than electric ones because they use open flames, but the model instructions decide the actual clearance.

Don't apply an electric-cooktop range to a gas range unless both manuals permit it.

For help matching ventilation to a gas cooking setup, see our guide to range hoods for gas cooktops. If you are also choosing hood width, what size range hood you need covers width and coverage.

Which hood shape and size affect the fit?

The hood needs to fit the space while covering the cooking area. Width and depth influence how much of the cooktop sits beneath the capture area, so check those measurements along with height.

An under-cabinet hood may work where a cabinet sits above the range, while other hood styles need different supports and clearances. Compare the layout in our under-cabinet range hood buying guide before choosing a model.

Before you buy, measure the cabinet opening, available depth, and the distance from the cooktop to the cabinet bottom. Then compare those numbers with the hood's installation instructions.

Which under-cabinet hoods could fit a common setup?

These under-cabinet options may suit different kitchen layouts, but their dimensions do not set the mounting height. Confirm the installation range for the exact hood and cooktop models before choosing where to mount one.

The COSMO COS-5MU30 Delta 30 Inch has a slim 5.5-inch-high body and can vent through the top or back.

The CIARRA CAS75918A 30 Inch has a 3.94-inch-high profile and supports ducted or ductless use with an optional carbon filter.

The Broan-NuTone BCSQ130SS Glacier 30 Inch is 6 inches high and supports ducted or non-ducted installation with a separate filter for recirculation.

What should you check before drilling?

Confirm the planned height, hood width, cabinet support, vent route, and electrical connection before drilling. The hood must be secured as its instructions describe, and the duct path must match the model's venting options.

If you're replacing an existing hood, compare its mounting points and vent opening with the new unit. Our guide to replacing an under-cabinet range hood walks through the broader replacement process.

Don't cut a cabinet or wall until you have verified the hood's dimensions and the location of wiring, pipes, and framing. If you aren't sure what is behind the surface, ask a qualified installer to inspect it.

How high should your range hood be above the stove?

Choose a height within the range allowed by both appliance manuals, using the cooktop surface and hood's lowest edge as your measurement points. Use the common electric and gas ranges only as a planning guide.

If the instructions are missing, conflict, or leave you unsure about headroom or capture, confirm the requirement with the manufacturers or an installer before mounting. Once height is settled, check hood size and coverage to finish planning the fit.

Frequently asked questions

How high should a range hood be above an electric stove?

Many electric cooktops use a hood clearance around 20–24 inches, measured from the cooking surface to the hood's lowest point. Check both appliance manuals first, since some models require a different minimum or maximum.

If the instructions differ, follow the more restrictive safe installation range.

How high should a range hood be above a gas stove?

A common starting range for gas cooktops is about 24–30 inches from the cooking surface to the hood's lowest point. The exact clearance depends on the hood and cooktop instructions, including any limits for the burners.

Confirm the manuals before drilling or mounting.

Do all range hoods mount at the same height?

No. Hood type, cooktop fuel, cabinet layout, and appliance instructions affect the allowed height.

A wall hood, under-cabinet hood, and range hood over a commercial-style range can have different requirements.

Use the model-specific instructions rather than assuming one measurement fits every kitchen.

Should I mount a range hood higher for more headroom?

Only if the hood and cooktop instructions allow it. A higher hood may leave more room above the cooking surface, but it can also make capture less effective.

Measure the permitted range first, then choose a height within it that leaves comfortable headroom.