Types of rangehood

There are 4 types of rangehood available: fixed, tilting, sliding and canopy. All usually come in 600mm and 900mm widths. Our test includes 900mm canopy models.

Fixed hoods

Shaped like a flat box, they're fixed permanently to the wall or under an overhead cupboard. Some have a small hinged visor. They can be fitted to a new or existing kitchen. DIYers should find these easy to install.

This type of hood works well with a couple of pots steaming away, but it will miss quite a bit of the steam if you have all four elements going. Because they always stick out they can get in your way.

Tilt hoods

These range hoods are mounted between cupboards and have a front panel that tilts open. The panel can be matched to your kitchen décor. To use the hood, you swing the front panel out over the cooktop.

Tilt hoods are more effective than fixed ones at removing large quantities of steam. So if you often cook with all 4 elements at once, a good tilt hood may be a better option. Controls on tilt models are usually somewhere behind the tilting front, and are a little harder to use than the front controls of fixed or canopy models.

Tilt hoods are usually considered for new rather than existing kitchens, because of their "built-in" nature. But if you're getting new cupboards done, or don't mind having to reconfigure your existing cupboards, they are worth considering.

Retractable hoods

These are designed for kitchens where you want the hood to be out of the way when it's not in use. They're generally mounted under cupboards and have an extension that slides out – the fan and light come on automatically.

Canopy hoods

Canopy hoods are large and comparatively expensive. Once confined to commercial kitchens, they have joined a range of other high-quality cooking equipment that has found its way into domestic kitchens.

While other types are usually ducted through the wall, most canopy hoods have a vertical flue that takes cooking fumes out through the ceiling or wall. The hood itself is usually made of stainless steel or glass, and can be deep and rectangular, or curved. Some are fixed to the wall, others hang from the ceiling.

With a more powerful fan, bigger chimney and greater width, canopy hoods often have a higher airflow than fixed types. They usually have additional features such as electronic controls, built-in halogen lighting, glass shelves, a rail for hanging implements, and three or four fan speeds.