Range Hood CFM Requirements: Sizing Guide

A properly sized range hood removes cooking fumes, grease, and odors effectively. Undersized hoods leave your kitchen smoky; oversized ones waste energy and may cause problems.

Understanding CFM

CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) measures airflow capacity. More BTUs from your cooktop means more CFM needed.

Calculating Requirements

For Gas Cooktops

Rule: 100 CFM per 10,000 BTU

Example:

6-burner Wolf range: ~90,000 BTU

Recommended: 900+ CFM

For Electric/Induction

Rule: 10 CFM per inch of cooktop width

Example:

36-inch induction: 360+ CFM minimum

Island Installations

Add 150+ CFM to standard calculations—open-air locations need more power.

Other Considerations

Duct Length and Turns

Longer ducts and more elbows reduce effective CFM:

Add 25 CFM per duct foot over 10 feet

Add 25 CFM per elbow

Noise Levels

Higher CFM = more noise. Look for:

Multiple fan speeds

Sone ratings under 8

Quality motor design

Makeup Air Requirements

Hoods over 400 CFM may require makeup air systems per building codes.

Premium Hood Brands

• Wolf (designed to match Wolf ranges)
• Thermador
• Zephyr
• Vent-A-Hood
• Best by Broan