- Proline Range Hoods
How Many CFM's Do I Need For My Range Hood?
This is one of the most common questions we are asked here at Proline. Let’s talk about CFM requirements and how to calculate the CFM you need to make sure you’re keeping your kitchen clean and free of lingering smells and harmful fumes.
The ventilation power of your range hood is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). This refers to how many cubic feet of air the range hood is exhausting for every minute of operation at full speed. Simply put, the higher the CFM, the more air the hood can remove.
To determine how much CFM you need for your range hood, consider the following:
How often do you cook?
What cooking style(s) do you like?
Is your range gas or electric?
How many BTUs is your kitchen range?
How wide is your range hood?
How long is your ductwork?
There is no ideal range hood CFM, but instead, an appropriate CFM based on your cooking style and habits in the kitchen. The best range hood is different for everyone and depends not only on your cooktop but on your cooking and lifestyle as well.
Table of Contents
1. Type of Range and Output
2. Size of Your Kitchen
3. Cooking Routines
4. Ductwork
How do you calculate CFM for a range hood?
How many CFM do I need for a 36” gas range?
Is 400 CFM enough for my range hood?
Is it better to have a higher CFM?
Do I need makeup air for my range hood?
What is the minimum duct size for a range hood?
How many CFM do I need for my range hood? – Some Other Considerations
1. Type of Range and Output
Range hoods over electric and gas cooktops, along with outdoor grills, require different amounts of CFM.
Electric
The rule for determining the minimum range hood CFM for electric ranges is determined by the width of your range. On average, you need roughly 100 CFM for every 10” width of your electric range. For example, if your cooktop is 36”, this calls for at least 360 CFM.
Gas
Gas ranges produce a lot more heat and fumes compared to an electric range so their CFM demands are higher. The amount of heat emitted from a gas cooktop is measured in British thermal units (BTUs).
This is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Burners range from 400 BTUs to 18,000 BTUs, but most will fall somewhere in between.
The rule for establishing a gas range’s minimum CFM requirement is to add up the BTU output of each burner and divide it by 100.
For example, if you had two burners that put out 10,000 BTUs each and two burners that put out 15,000 BTUs each, your total BTUs for your stovetop would be 50,000. 50,000 divided by 100 equals 500 CFM or more.
This answer is a minimum requirement. Because gas stoves generate more concentrated fumes, it is better to err on the side of caution and choose a higher CFM.
Outdoor Grills
Remember, your outdoor grill has higher BTUs than indoor cooktops and may have side burners and other equipment that produce more fumes. Take it all into account when calculating the CFM for your outdoor range hood.
Calculate your outdoor grill’s minimum CFM needs the same way as your gas stove: determine the total BTUs and divide by 100.
2. Size of Your Kitchen
Ready to really geek out? When shopping for a range hood, it’s important to understand how the volume of your kitchen affects your range hood CFM. Larger kitchens will need to move more smoke and unwanted air to keep the air clean and harsh cooking odors at bay.
So, with a greater kitchen volume, you require more ventilation power. Once you’ve measured the size of your kitchen, you can calculate the CFM using the following formula.
First, determine the volume of your kitchen.
To calculate your kitchen’s size in cubic feet, multiply the length by the width and height.
For example, your kitchen is 18’ long x 14’ wide x 9’ ceiling height = 2,268 cubic feet.
Now, as an accepted rule for ventilation, a range hood needs to have the power to exchange your kitchen’s air 15 times per hour. To get the number of cubic feet moved per hour, multiply your kitchen’s cubic feet by the air exchanges per hour.