Wood Range Hood Guide: Styles, Sizes, Finishes and Real Costs

A wood range hood is a wood shell, painted or stained to match or contrast your cabinets, with a stainless liner inside and a blower insert bought separately. Choosing one comes down to four decisions: a shape that suits the kitchen, a width at least as wide as the cooktop (we usually go one size up), a height that fits between the 24-to-30-inch mounting window and your ceiling, and a finish. This guide walks through each one using the five Fabuwood Allure hoods we sell: their real spec-book dimensions, which ceilings they fit, and three priced parts lists so you know what the whole hood costs before you order.

Table of Contents

• The Five Wood Hood Styles at a Glance
• Farmhouse, Transitional or Modern: Which Shape Fits
• Hood Width vs Cooktop Width
• Height and Ceiling Fit: 8, 9 and 10-Foot Ceilings
• Painted or Stained: Match the Cabinets or Contrast Them
• Range Hood Cover, Liner and Insert: What Is in the Box
• What a Wood Range Hood Costs: Three Worked Parts Lists
• Wood or Stainless: The Honest Trade-offs
• Five Ordering Mistakes We Catch on Drawings
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Five Wood Hood Styles at a Glance

Every hood in our catalog is a Fabuwood Allure wood hood, offered in the same finishes as the Allure cabinet collections. Our store lists them under shopper names that differ from Fabuwood's, which trips people up when they compare our site with the Allure spec book, so the table gives both. Dimensions are from the spec book (version V.01.20.25); prices are our displayed Galaxy Nickel prices for the 36-inch size, shell only, when this was written.

Two names on that list mislead. "Slim" does not mean shallow: once its molding is counted, the Signature ties with the Curved Artisan as the deepest of the chimney shapes. And the "Curved Glass" hood is solid wood; the name comes from its curved profile.

Width moves the price far less than shape. The Arched runs $2,418.00 at 36 inches and $2,596.75 at 48, while the plainest and most decorative 36-inch shells are $1,625.00 apart. The blower is extra on all of them.

Farmhouse, Transitional or Modern: Which Shape Fits

The hood is usually the largest object on the cooking wall, so its shape sets the tone.

Farmhouse and rustic kitchens

The Farmhouse (our Designer hood) is the obvious answer, and for once the obvious answer is right. Its canopy and chimney are clad in horizontal planks, so it gives you the shiplap look many people search for without a carpenter building a custom box. It is also the tallest at 54-3/4 inches, which suits the high ceilings of many newer farmhouse-style builds and fights an 8-foot ceiling (more on that below). In a smaller farmhouse kitchen, the Arched hood is the quieter option: a paneled box whose arched valance echoes a shaker or cathedral door, finished like the cabinets around it. Stained versions of either push the room toward rustic; painted white or Linen keeps it closer to modern farmhouse. Our farmhouse kitchen cabinets guide covers the doors, colors and hardware that go with it.

Transitional kitchens

Transitional rooms want a hood with a clean outline and one softening detail, which describes the Signature (Slim) well: a straight canopy sitting on a molded base band. The Euro (Chimney) is the plainer cousin, with no band and a narrow chimney, and the least expensive chimney shape. Both pair naturally with shaker doors in white, gray or greige. If the room has a lot of straight lines already, the Curved Artisan's sweep can be the single curve that keeps it from looking cold. More on the style itself in our transitional kitchen cabinets guide.

Modern and contemporary kitchens

None of the five is a true minimalist box with no molding, so be honest with yourself here. The closest are the Euro, which is a simple sloped canopy, and the Curved Artisan in Walnut, which reads as a piece of furniture against flat-panel doors. Pair either with a slab or narrow-rail door from our modern kitchen cabinets guide. If the design calls for a sharp-edged stainless or plaster hood, that is a different product from a different supplier, and we will draw the cabinets around it.

Traditional kitchens

Raised panels and stacked crown suit the Arched hood, whose valance profile Fabuwood coordinates with the door style and whose sides are flush finished ends, so from the side it reads as one more wall cabinet. The Curved Artisan suits a grander look; both come 48 inches wide for pro-style ranges. Our traditional kitchen cabinets guide covers the doors.

Hood Width vs Cooktop Width

The Home Ventilating Institute puts the baseline plainly: hood width should match the cooking range. That is the minimum. Smoke and steam spread as they rise, so a hood that overhangs the cooktop by a few inches on each side catches more of what rolls off the front and outer burners. When the wall allows it, we draw one size up.

Two practical points that the nominal width hides:

• Overall width can exceed the nominal size. The Signature's molded base measures 31-3/4, 37-3/4 and 43-3/4 inches overall on the 30, 36 and 42, and the Curved Artisan's measures 37-3/4, 43-3/4 and 49-3/4 on the 36, 42 and 48. The hood bottom sits 6 to 12 inches above the bottom of the wall cabinets beside it, so that molding is between the uppers, not below them. Draw the gap between the wall cabinets to the overall number, using fillers, not the nominal one.
• The hood width sets the upper gap, not the range. A 36-inch hood over a 30-inch range needs a 36-inch opening (plus molding) between the uppers even though the base cabinets still leave a 30-inch hole. Our wall and tall cabinet guide has the upper sizes, and end panels, scribe and fillers explained covers closing the difference.

Depth is the third dimension, and here every shell is generous: 19 to 21 inches, against 12 inches for a standard wall cabinet. That projection helps capture over the front burners, and it puts the finished sides fully on show. How much airflow that width and depth need is a separate question, answered in our range hood CFM guide.

Height and Ceiling Fit: 8, 9 and 10-Foot Ceilings

This is the decision people skip, and the one that most often changes the style. The Broan-NuTone installation guide for the inserts that fit these shells puts the bottom of the hood at least 24 and at most 30 inches above the cooktop. With the cooking surface at the usual 36 inches, that puts the hood bottom between 60 and 66 inches off the floor. Whatever is left above that line, up to the ceiling, is the space the hood has to fill.

The chimneys on the Euro, Farmhouse and Signature are removable and trimmable on site, and the Curved Artisan's one-piece chimney trims by up to 12 inches. The spec book lists no chimney extensions for any of them, so a hood can get shorter but not taller. Here is how each fits, assuming a 36-inch cooking surface and the finished ceiling height measured at the range wall:

Read the table as a shortlist by ceiling. On an 8-foot ceiling, the Arched, Euro and Signature are comfortable, the Curved Artisan works if you accept the low end of the window, and the Farmhouse is a question for the instruction sheet. On 9 feet, everything fits, and the Signature and Curved Artisan reach the ceiling with no cutting. On 10 feet, the Farmhouse is the only shape that reaches without help; anything else needs a soffit or a built-up bulkhead above it, framed and finished by your contractor, to hide the duct.

Two checks before you trust those numbers. First, read the range's installation instructions for its clearance to combustible material above the cooktop; it can be higher than Broan's 24-inch minimum, local code can raise it too, and the larger number always wins. Pro-style gas ranges are where this bites: the spec sheet for Thermador's 30-inch Professional gas range (PRG305WH), for example, calls for 36 inches from the cooking surface to combustible material, six inches above Broan's recommended 30-inch maximum. Ask the range maker whether a lined wood hood counts as combustible before you order. If the 36 inches applies, the hood bottom sits at 72 inches: on an 8-foot ceiling that leaves 24 inches, less than the shortest shell; on 9 feet everything but the Arched needs trimming; on 10 feet the Signature and Curved Artisan come within about 2 inches of the ceiling, the Euro leaves about 8, and the Farmhouse needs 6-3/4 inches trimmed. A hood mounted that high also captures less, so it is one more reason to go a size wider. Second, measure the real cooking-surface height from the range spec sheet. An inch or two matters: the Curved Artisan on an 8-foot ceiling has only two inches to spare. Our range hood installation guide walks through marking the height on the wall; this article stops at choosing a hood that fits it.

One pleasant coincidence for 8-foot rooms: 42-inch wall cabinets hung at the usual 54 inches top out at 96 inches, the same line as an Arched hood mounted 30 inches above a 36-inch cooktop. The whole run, hood included, then finishes in one level line at the ceiling. Fabuwood mounts the Arched's crown above the box rather than on its face, so with no room left above, plan a small scribe molding at the ceiling rather than a full crown.

Painted or Stained: Match the Cabinets or Contrast Them

The hoods come in the Allure finishes, 32 of them on our site at the time of writing: all 15 Galaxy finishes (Macadamia Beige included), five Luna, five Fusion, three Echo, three Luxe and Nexus Frost. The Arched is the exception: the spec book rules it out in Luna, and we list it only in the Galaxy, Fusion and Nexus finishes, 20 of the 31. That gives you two easy routes and one more involved one.

Match: the hood as part of the cabinetry

Ordering the hood in the same finish as the uppers makes it read as built-in millwork. It is the safer choice in a small kitchen, where a contrasting hood can crowd the wall, and it avoids two slightly different whites side by side, which looks like a mistake.

Contrast: the hood as the focal point

A stained hood in a painted kitchen is the classic contrast move, and Fabuwood makes it simple. The Euro and Farmhouse are listed with a Timber version, and the Signature and Curved Artisan with Timber and Walnut versions, under every finish and at the same price as the painted hood. Timber is Fabuwood's warm honey-brown stain; the Walnut versions are drawn in the spec book as fully walnut hoods. Our rule: tie the hood to another wood in the room, such as the floor, open shelves or an island, or it looks borrowed from another kitchen.

Contrast also works the other way, with a painted hood over stained cabinets: a Frost or Linen hood in a Truffle or Mocha kitchen brightens the darkest wall in the room. Our two-tone cabinet pairings guide has combinations that work, and the Fabuwood colors guide describes every finish.

Two-tone hoods

Fabuwood offers a two-tone modification that adds an accent finish to a hood's base, chimney, moldings or valance: for example, a painted canopy with a stained base band. It is available on the four chimney-style hoods (Euro, Farmhouse, Signature and Curved Artisan), not on the Arched. The spec book limits it to Fabuwood's Signature and Designer Collection colors and the stained hoods, Timber SKUs included, and rules out Walnut and Pure Custom Colors. It is a modification, so ask us to quote it with the rest of the order.

Painted or stained for a hood specifically

The trade-offs are the same as for doors, covered in our painted vs stained cabinets comparison, with one twist: a hood takes steam and grease every day. Grain hides fingerprints and grease film better than flat paint. Either way, the hood is the biggest surface in that finish, so order a Fabuwood door sample ($25) and hold it up at the range wall, in daylight and under your own lights, before committing.

Range Hood Cover, Liner and Insert: What Is in the Box

People call these products range hood covers, vent hood cabinets and wood hoods, and all three names are fair: the wood part is a decorative cover, built like a cabinet, around a metal insert that does the work. Here is who supplies which piece.

The three inserts differ in airflow and noise: the 250 moves up to 300 CFM at 3 sones on normal speed, the 400 up to 450 CFM at 1 sone, and the 600 up to 650 CFM at 0.5 sone with an automatic heat-sensing mode and a Code Ready setting that can turn it down to 300 CFM where makeup-air rules bite. All three fit every Allure hood except one pairing: the 250 is not offered for the 48-inch Arched. Fabuwood recommends venting every hood outside; the recirculating kit is for kitchens where that is not possible. How the kit works, and what a hood liner and insert are, is explained in our range hood types and parts guide.

What a Wood Range Hood Costs: Three Worked Parts Lists

A shell price on its own is never the price of a working hood. These three examples come from real layouts we see often, priced at our displayed Galaxy Nickel prices when this was written. Prices change with the price list and can differ by finish, so check the live range hood listings for your finish before you budget. Our installation guide prices 36-inch shells with the 400 CFM insert, so we skip that set here.

Example 1: a 30-inch range in a transitional kitchen, 9-foot ceiling

Gray shaker cabinets, a 30-inch gas range on an outside wall with a short duct run. We go one size up to a 36-inch Signature, which on a 9-foot ceiling meets the ceiling untrimmed with its bottom 25-5/8 inches above the cooktop.

Stepping up from the 30-inch shell ($2,785.25) to the 36 cost $159.25 for three inches of overhang on each side, the cheapest capture improvement in the whole order.

Example 2: a 36-inch cooktop in a condo that cannot vent outside

The building will not allow a new exterior penetration, and the owners want warmth against gray cabinets. We draw a 42-inch Curved Artisan in its Walnut version, which costs the same as the painted one, recirculating through the kit.

Budget for replacement charcoal filters (RHBB FLTR, $71.50 each) as an ongoing cost. Recirculating catches grease and some odor but returns heat and moisture to the room, which is why Fabuwood recommends ducting outside wherever the building allows it.

Example 3: a 48-inch range in a farmhouse kitchen, 8-foot ceiling

Only two styles come 48 inches wide, and the Farmhouse is not one of them. On an 8-foot ceiling the Arched is the natural pick: mounted 30 inches above the cooktop, it finishes at the ceiling in line with 42-inch uppers. The 250 insert is not offered for this hood, and a 48-inch range wants more air anyway.

The same range with a 48-inch Curved Artisan (GNK RHCA48, $4,062.50) and the 600 insert comes to $5,850.00, and on an 8-foot ceiling it only fits with 10 to 12 inches trimmed and the hood low in the window. A 600 CFM blower can also trigger a makeup-air requirement under local code; our CFM guide explains the rule.

All three totals are parts only. Duct, cap, any makeup air, the electrician and the installer are separate, and the installation guide gives typical labor figures. We design, quote and ship the hood and cabinets; your contractor or you install them.

Wood or Stainless: The Honest Trade-offs

Heat and safety. The reasonable worry about a wood hood over a burner is answered by the liner. Broan's insert guide says that when the hood is less than 30 inches above the cooktop, the insert should sit in a metal liner to protect combustible cabinetry from heat. Every Allure hood ships with a stainless liner, so the wood is never the surface facing the flame. Follow the range maker's clearance and run the fan when you cook on high.

Cleaning. The parts that collect grease are metal: the liner and the filters (dishwasher-safe mesh on the 250 and 400, a dishwasher-safe hybrid baffle on the 600). The wood gets cabinet-door care. If the shell has gone tacky, our cabinet degreasing guide covers what is safe on painted and stained finishes.

Cost. Wood is the more expensive route. Our least expensive complete hood, the 36-inch Arched with the 250 insert, is $2,837.25 in parts; a stainless wall hood with a built-in blower often costs less. You are paying for a hood that matches the cabinets and lets you choose the blower.

Warranty. The wood shell is a Fabuwood product under the Allure limited lifetime warranty, which excludes appliances and third-party accessories. The Broan inserts carry Broan-NuTone's own one-year limited warranty, so keep the insert's paperwork with the appliance manuals.

Five Ordering Mistakes We Catch on Drawings

1. Sizing the upper gap to the range. The hood sets it, so a one-size-up hood narrows the flanking uppers.
2. Using the nominal width on molded styles. A 36-inch Signature or Curved Artisan measures 37-3/4 inches across its base molding.
3. Choosing the shape before measuring the ceiling. A Farmhouse on an 8-foot ceiling, or a Euro on a 10-foot one, turns into a trimming job or a soffit nobody budgeted.
4. Budgeting the shell as the hood. Add the insert, plus kit and filters if you recirculate.
5. Lining the hood bottom up with the wall cabinets. Uppers usually start at 54 inches; the hood bottom belongs 6 to 12 inches higher. The step is correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a wood hood safe over a gas range?

Yes, when it is built and mounted correctly. The blower sits in a stainless liner that shields the wood, and every Allure hood ships with one. Mount it 24 to 30 inches above the cooktop, or higher if the range manual or local code requires it; some pro-style gas ranges call for 36 inches to combustible material.

How much does a wood hood cost?

At our displayed Galaxy Nickel prices, the shells run from $2,418.00 (36-inch Arched) to $4,277.00 (42-inch Farmhouse), and the insert adds $419.25, $903.50 or $1,787.50. Complete parts lists in this guide run from $2,837.25 to $5,850.00, before duct and installation.

What size range hood do I need for a 30-inch stove?

At least 30 inches wide, and 36 inches if the wall allows, for about three inches of overhang on each side. All five styles come in 36 inches; the Euro, Signature and Farmhouse also come in 30.

Should the range hood match the cabinets?

Match it for a built-in look, especially in a small or painted kitchen. Contrast it, usually with a Timber or Walnut version, when you want the hood as the focal point and another wood in the room to tie it to.

Does a wood hood come with a fan?

No. The shell includes the stainless liner but not the blower. You add a Broan RHBB insert (250, 400 or 600 CFM), sold as a separate line.

Can a wood hood be ductless?

Yes, at 36 inches and wider. Add the RHBB DCT recirculating kit, which returns filtered air to the kitchen through a soffit grille, and replace its charcoal filter (RHBB FLTR) as it loads up; the kit is not compatible with the 30-inch hoods. Ducting outside works better and is what Fabuwood recommends.

How do you clean a wood range hood?

Run the metal filters through the dishwasher, wipe the stainless liner with a degreaser made for steel, and treat the wood like a cabinet door: mild soap, a soft cloth, then dry it. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh solvents on the finish.

Will a wood hood fit a 10-foot ceiling?

The 54-3/4-inch Farmhouse reaches a 10-foot ceiling untrimmed with its bottom about 29 inches above a 36-inch cooktop. The shorter styles fall roughly 8 to 30 inches short, so plan a soffit or bulkhead above them; no chimney extensions are listed.

Get the Hood Drawn With the Cabinets

Send us the range model, the ceiling height at the range wall and a photo or sketch, and our free 3D design service will draw the hood with the cabinets around it. A designer replies within one business day, and the renderings and an itemized quote follow within 24–48 hours. You can also browse the chimney hoods and designer hoods by finish, read the Allure line overview or our Allure series guide, and check every drawing in the Allure spec book.

Questions about a tricky ceiling or a finish pairing? Use the contact page or call 609-900-3358. Contractors ordering for several kitchens can ask about Captivating Pro.

Sources: Fabuwood Allure spec book V.01.20.25 (hoods pp. 18–21, liner specifications pp. 22–24, hood ventilation systems pp. 25–26, two-tone hood modification p. 95); Broan-NuTone Powerpack Inserts PM400SSV and PM600SSV installation, use and care instructions; Thermador PRG305WH 30-inch Professional gas range specification sheet; Home Ventilating Institute, "Range Hoods" consumer guide. Prices are our displayed Galaxy Nickel prices at the time of writing and change with the price list. Ceiling-fit figures assume a 36-inch cooking surface.