A 30 inch under cabinet range hood is the standard sizing for a 30 inch cooktop, mounted to the underside of the cabinet above the range. The right hood pulls grease, smoke, heat, and moisture out of the kitchen before they settle on cabinets and walls. The wrong hood is too weak (200 CFM), too loud (rattling cabinet), or has filters that are impossible to clean. After installing and using 30 inch under cabinet range hoods over both gas and induction cooktops across a year of kitchen projects, these seven were the most consistent.
Quick comparison
| Hood | Max CFM | Filter type | Sone (low) | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broan Elite EW4830SS | 600 | Baffle | 1.5 | Best overall |
| Cosmo 5MU30 | 380 | Mesh | 3.0 | Budget pick |
| ZLINE KB-30 | 760 | Baffle | 2.5 | Wok cooking |
| Bosch DUH30152UC | 400 | Mesh | 1.0 | Quiet operation |
| Hauslane UC-PS18 | 860 | Baffle | 2.5 | Maximum power |
| KitchenAid KVUB400GSS | 585 | Mesh | 3.0 | Brand-match |
| Empava Black Stainless 30 | 500 | Baffle | 2.0 | Black finish |
Broan Elite EW4830SS - Best Overall
Broan’s Elite EW4830SS is the under cabinet hood that gets specified into most mid-range kitchen remodels. 600 CFM is enough for a standard gas cooktop, the dishwasher-safe baffle filters handle heavy cooking, and the 1.5 sone low setting is quieter than the room itself in most cases.
Build quality is the differentiator. Heavy gauge stainless, internal blower housing that does not vibrate against the cabinet, and a three-speed plus boost mode (10 minute timer at full power). LED lighting illuminates the cooktop evenly, which not every hood does well.
Trade-off: at the higher end of the under cabinet price band, you pay roughly 50 percent more than the entry tier.
Best for: standard gas cooktop kitchens, anyone who wants a quiet hood that lasts.
Cosmo 5MU30 - Best Budget Pick
Cosmo’s 5MU30 is the value pick. 380 CFM is enough for an electric or induction cooktop and adequate for most gas cooktops up to 40000 BTU total output. Mesh filters, three fan speeds, LED lights, and a simple push button control panel.
The build is not premium. The stainless is thinner, the blower is louder, and the filters are less efficient than baffle filters. But for a budget kitchen, secondary kitchen, or rental property, the value is excellent.
Trade-off: 3 sones on low is noticeable. Filters clog faster than baffle designs.
Best for: budget remodels, rentals, electric or induction cooktops.
ZLINE KB-30 - Best for Wok Cooking
ZLINE’s KB-30 puts a 760 CFM blower in a 30 inch under cabinet shell, which is unusual for the category. The baffle filters are 18 gauge stainless and handle high-volume grease without clogging. Four fan speeds with the top speed designed for wok cooking and high-heat searing.
The control panel uses a sealed glass touch interface that wipes clean easily. LED lighting is bright and color-balanced (3500K rather than the cooler white most hoods use).
Trade-off: at 760 CFM, you need a 6 inch duct (not the standard 3.25x10 rectangular) and a make-up air solution if your kitchen is tightly sealed.
Best for: serious cooks, wok and stir-fry cooking, high-BTU gas cooktops.
Bosch DUH30152UC - Best Quiet Operation
Bosch’s DUH30152UC is the quietest 30 inch under cabinet hood in the group. 1.0 sone on low (essentially silent) and 4.5 sones on high (still quieter than most). The 400 CFM rating is modest but the capture efficiency is unusually high because of the internal duct design.
Mesh filters (dishwasher-safe), three speeds, LED lighting, and a flush stainless finish. The build quality matches the Bosch appliance line.
Trade-off: 400 CFM may not be enough for a high-BTU gas cooktop. If you cook on a 60000 BTU plus range, look at the higher CFM picks.
Best for: open kitchens where hood noise carries into living space, induction cooktops.
Hauslane UC-PS18 - Best Maximum Power
Hauslane’s UC-PS18 is the highest CFM under cabinet hood in the group at 860 CFM. Baffle filters, six speeds, gesture controls (wave a hand to turn on or off), and a delay-off timer that runs the fan for 10 minutes after cooking.
The fit and finish is better than the price suggests. Heavy stainless, soft-touch glass controls, and a removable oil cup at the duct collar.
Trade-off: 860 CFM at full speed is loud (around 7 sones). Use the lower speeds for normal cooking and reserve high for searing and wok work.
Best for: high-BTU cooktops, serious home cooks, anyone who wants maximum extraction.
KitchenAid KVUB400GSS - Best Brand-Match
KitchenAid’s KVUB400GSS is the right choice if you are buying a KitchenAid range and want the hood to match the cabinet and finish. 585 CFM is solid for a standard gas cooktop, three speeds plus a boost, mesh filters, and LED lighting.
The control layout matches the KitchenAid range knob style, which matters for design coherence in a remodel.
Trade-off: mesh filters clog faster than baffle. Sound level is 3 sones on low, which is moderate but not class-leading.
Best for: KitchenAid range owners, design-coherent kitchens.
Empava Black Stainless 30 - Best for Black Kitchens
Empava’s 30 inch hood in black stainless is one of the few under cabinet hoods available in something other than standard stainless or white. 500 CFM, baffle filters, four speeds, touch controls, and matching black stainless trim.
Build quality is solid. The black finish does not fingerprint as obviously as standard stainless and matches the black stainless appliance trend that started a few years ago.
Trade-off: black stainless is harder to find replacement filters and trim parts for. If a part fails, expect longer shipping.
Best for: black stainless kitchens, design-focused remodels.
How to choose the right 30 inch under cabinet range hood
Match CFM to cooktop output. Use 100 CFM per 10000 BTU as the working rule. A 60000 BTU gas range needs roughly 600 CFM. Electric and induction are less demanding (300 to 400 CFM is fine).
Pick baffle filters if you cook a lot. Baffle filters handle grease volume better than mesh and last longer. The premium is worth it for daily cooks.
Check sone rating, not just CFM. A loud hood gets used less, which defeats the purpose. Look for 1 to 2 sones on low and 5 to 6 sones on high.
Plan the duct route before you buy. A 600 CFM hood needs a 6 inch round duct or equivalent rectangular. A 300 CFM hood works with 3.25x10. Wrong duct sizing chokes the airflow and adds noise.
Ducted vs ductless installation
Ducted is the right choice if you have any path to outside. The hood blows air through a duct that exits through a soffit, wall, or roof cap. Heat, moisture, grease, and odors leave the kitchen entirely. Every hood in this list supports ducted operation as the primary mode.
Ductless mode runs the same air through a charcoal filter and back into the kitchen. It removes some odors but does not remove heat or moisture. Use ductless only when ducted is physically impossible (apartments, interior walls with no path out).
Most under cabinet hoods ship with the duct collar set up for top discharge (through the cabinet above). Some support rear discharge (through the wall behind). Pick the orientation that matches your duct path before installation, since converting after the fact requires removing the hood.
Installation height and clearance
Mount a 30 inch under cabinet hood 24 to 30 inches above an electric cooktop and 30 to 36 inches above a gas cooktop. The cabinet above the hood is typically 30 inches tall, leaving 6 to 12 inches between the top of the hood and the bottom of the cabinet. That space gets used for the duct transition and a trim plate that hides the duct.
If your cabinets are taller than standard (42 inch upper cabinets are common in newer homes), the hood mounts at the same height above the cooktop and the gap above the hood gets larger. A custom filler panel hides the extra space.
For related buying guidance, see our best 30 inch slide in gas range guide and the best 30 inch wall oven microwave combo article. Our full evaluation approach is documented in our methodology.
A 30 inch under cabinet range hood is the simplest way to get serious grease and smoke extraction in a kitchen. The Broan Elite is the safe overall pick, the ZLINE is the wok cooking choice, and the Cosmo is the value option for kitchens that do not cook heavy.
Frequently asked questions
How many CFM does a 30 inch range hood need?+
For an electric or induction cooktop, 300 CFM is enough. For a gas cooktop, target 400 to 600 CFM at minimum, with 100 CFM per 10000 BTU of total cooktop output as the working rule. A typical 60000 BTU gas range needs roughly 600 CFM to clear smoke and grease properly. Wok cooking and high-heat searing benefit from even more, into the 700 to 900 CFM range.
Can I use a ductless under cabinet range hood?+
Yes, but the performance drop is significant. Ductless mode recirculates air through a charcoal filter and back into the kitchen, which removes some odors but does not remove heat, moisture, or fine grease particles. It is the right choice when ducting outside is impossible (apartments, interior walls, slab ceilings). It is the wrong choice if you have any path to vent outside, even a short one through the soffit.
How loud is a 600 CFM range hood?+
Most 600 CFM under cabinet hoods run 6 to 7 sones on high, which is roughly 60 to 65 dB at 3 feet. On medium speed (around 350 CFM), the same hoods drop to 3 to 4 sones (50 to 55 dB), which is comparable to a quiet dishwasher. Premium hoods with insulated housings can hit 4 sones on high but cost roughly double. Cheap hoods may rattle the cabinet and add another 5 dB.
What is the difference between baffle and mesh filters?+
Mesh filters are layered aluminum screens that trap grease as air passes through. They clog faster but cost less and are sometimes washer-safe. Baffle filters are angled stainless plates that force air to change direction, dropping grease into channels. They handle high-volume cooking better, last longer, and are easier to clean. Baffle filters are the right choice for serious cooks. Mesh filters are fine for light use.
How high should an under cabinet range hood be installed?+
Mount the hood 24 to 30 inches above an electric cooktop and 30 to 36 inches above a gas cooktop. Closer than that risks heat damage and fire hazard. Higher than that reduces capture efficiency. The standard cabinet height of 30 inches above the cooktop works for most installations. If your cooktop runs hot (wok burners, professional gas), bump to 32 to 36 inches and use a higher CFM rating to compensate.
