Canstar Blue’s first rangehoods review has seen six brands rated on performance, ease of cleaning, design, features, noise and overall satisfaction. Compared brands were Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, Bosch, Smeg, Westinghouse and Blanco.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Electrolux has topped Canstar Blue’s first customer ratings for rangehoods, scoring five-star reviews from customers on overall satisfaction, performance and features.
While you might enjoy the sweet aroma of food cooking in the kitchen, you’re still producing a lot of heat, smoke, moisture and grease during the process. Not only can this damage your kitchen cabinetry and walls, it’s not ideal for your health either. Rangehoods are designed to remove the bad odours and provide ventilation so that fumes are replaced with fresh air.
Rangehoods are not typically the first appliance that many consider when upgrading their kitchen, but they’re important to help keep your kitchen smoke free. From traditional rangehoods to modern canopy designs, they can be a stylish addition to your kitchen aesthetic. So, which brands are keeping Australian families happy and which… suck? To find out, we surveyed more than 500 households and asked about the rangehood they have installed in their home.
In the first year of our customer ratings for rangehoods, Electrolux top-scored with five stars for overall satisfaction, performance and features. It also received four stars for ease of cleaning, design and noise. Five other brands made the 2018 list, rated in the following order for overall satisfaction:
Fisher & Paykel, Bosch, Smeg and Westinghouse all received four stars apiece overall, while Blanco was left with three stars. Other results of note include five stars for Bosch on ease of cleaning and Smeg on design – the two key categories that Electrolux fell behind in with four stars. Top ratings were in fairly short supply in terms of noise, with no brand reaching a five-star review. Electrolux and Bosch, however, received four stars for this category.
To help you make an informed decision, read on as we review what each brand currently has to offer in the rangehoods department.
Perhaps best known for fridges and washing machines, Electrolux is a Swedish brand with a focus on technology and sophisticated designs. In terms of rangehoods, it features integrated under cupboard, island canopy, slideout and wall mounted canopy rangehoods with nine models in total across all types. Expect sleek and stylish touch on glass controls and removable filters for an easy clean. Some models also boast Hob2Hood technology that features sensors to automatically adjust the hood when cooking heat increases.
The Electrolux range starts off around $500 in price, maxing out at $2,500. Electrolux cleaned up the competition in this year’s rangehoods review, scoring five stars for overall customer satisfaction and in most categories, except for ease of cleaning, design and noise where it was rated a still respectable four stars.
Electrolux’s rangehood models include:
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Founded in New Zealand, Fisher & Paykel is a company that has been around for more than 80 years. It has emerged as one of the most technologically-advanced appliance brands and often a popular choice in Aussie kitchens. Boasting intuitive controls with touch panels, Fisher & Paykel rangehoods are stated to be easy to use and built to perform. There are 11 products in total with built in options, as well as slideout rangehoods and integrated rangehoods on offer. If you would prefer an exposed option, you can choose from box, pyramid and glass chimney style rangehoods, designed to add to the aesthetic of your kitchen.
The Fisher & Paykel range is middle of the road when it comes to price, with retail tags between $449 and $1,649. Fisher & Paykel was rated four stars for overall satisfaction in this year’s customer ratings, but did score five stars for performance, a key factor to consider. It was three stars for noise.
Fisher & Paykel’s rangehood models include:
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Bosch is a well-renowned name in the home appliance world, with the German manufacturing giant synonymous with quality and technology. Featuring wall mounted canopy rangehoods, slideout rangehoods and integrated rangehoods, each model is separated in a specific series – Serie 2, Serie 4, Serie 6 and Serie 8. Both 6th and 8th series are equipped with electronic operation displays and boast a quiet operation.
The full range starts from a low of $349 and you won’t find any prices above the $2,000 mark. Its most expensive model, sitting at $1,949, is boasted for a low noise level of 66dB, as well as intensive speed settings. Bosch states all you can hear is a swishing sound generated by the motor itself and the air flow where 50% of the noise is ducted to the outside (with the ducted models). The company was rated four stars overall in this year’s rangehoods review, as well as for design and noise, but earned five stars for ease of cleaning and features. It scored three stars for performance.
Bosch’s rangehood models include:
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Smeg is an Italian appliance manufacturer providing “elegant contemporary living solutions” for Aussie kitchens. Smeg’s rangehoods reflect the elegance and style you’ll find with a number of its appliances, including – ovens, dishwashers and dryers. There is a wide selection of rangehoods available categorised by design – Classic, Linear, Victoria and Portofino. Installation types include telescopic, downdraft, wall mount, under mount and island mount. On top of this, Smeg offers a variety of colour options whether you’re looking to add a pop of red or stick to the black appliance trend, you have the choice of stainless steel, cream, white, orange, green and red finishes. Smeg also boasts super-quiet performance with some models stated to have a noise level of 53db. When ducting is not possible, active charcoal filters are also available.
Smeg doesn’t really foray into the budget end of the rangehood segment. For the brightly coloured models (Victoria Aesthetic Canopy Rangehood, pictured), expect to pay $2,390 RRP. The full line up sits between $790 and $4,090 RRP. While these might not be for every budget, if you’re looking to add a standout appliance into your kitchen, Smeg might be the way to go. In this year’s review, Smeg was rated four stars for overall satisfaction and ease of cleaning with five stars for performance, design and features but three stars for noise.
Smeg’s rangehood models include:
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Part of the Electrolux Group, Westinghouse is a long-standing Australian brand covering more of the budget friendly options. It features fixed, integrated under cupboard, slideout and wall mounted canopy rangehoods. All models have one to two fans as well as various speed options. There are basic design features such as inter-locked push button controls, LED lighting and just white and stainless steel finishes.
Westinghouse has by far some of the cheapest rangehoods, with prices starting from $129 for a 60cm fixed rangehood. While it might not come with many bells and whistles, if you’re on a budget, this might be one to consider. The rest are around $200 and $400, but it could go up to $949 RRP for the canopy rangehoods. Westinghouse was another brand to be rated four stars for overall satisfaction in 2018, it also had four stars for performance and design, but was rated five stars for features. It received three stars for ease of cleaning and noise.
Westinghouse’s rangehood models include:
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Combining precision engineering and stylish good looks, Blanco rangehoods aim to make a statement in your kitchen. Blanco was founded in Germany and has a focus on innovation and design. The rangehood line-up features under cupboard, slide-out and canopy models. Expect some models to come equipped with touch control operation, various speed options to suit the type of cooking, as well as a timer that switches the rangehood off automatically after 15 minutes. The Blanco Clean Air function is also boasted to ‘activate’ the rangehood for 10 minutes every hour to help reduce lingering cooking odours.
Most Blanco rangehoods sit between $400 and $600, giving you various budget friendly options. The cheapest model is a slideout style hood with a price tag of $409 while the most expensive is a canopy model – BRU53X – that can be found for just over the $2,000 mark. It’s stated to provide “powerful” extraction with a max air capacity of 650 m3/hr and can be discreetly installed underneath a kitchen cabinet to save on space. Blanco was rated three stars for overall vacuum satisfaction and in most other categories, except for features where it was rated four stars.
Blanco’s rangehood models include:
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Aside from the major rangehood manufacturers rated in this year’s review, there are several other brands worthy of your consideration, including:
Chef is part of the Electrolux family, so you might find a few similar aspects to those featured in the Westinghouse range mentioned above. Chef is also one to offer some of the cheapest prices yet and it has just over 10 models in the full range. There are three different styles to choose from – fixed, canopy and slideout – so you can find what looks and functions best in your kitchen. Expect up to three fan speeds, push button controls and some with slide controls. In term of noise levels, the Chef rangehoods are stated to produce 62 dB when working. The range starts at $119 and maxes out at $539, boasting simple and straightforward solutions.
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Robinhood is an Australasian brand, offering both kitchen and laundry products. Robinhood’s products are claimed to be sourced globally from leading manufacturers, and are well-designed boasting modern technology. The range features laundry tubs, ironing centres, waste disposers as well as rangehoods and ducting solutions. Styles include all canopies, island canopies, compact canopies, tilterhoods, slideout rangehoods and powerpack rangehoods. Expect touch-screen switches and dimmable lighting, stated to generate very little heat. Robinhood rangehoods can be found from as little as around $130 for a 60cm compact canopy rangehood and can go up to approximately $2,200 for the island curved glass models.
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Ilve offers rangehoods for the passionate home cooks, as well as professional chefs. It’s dedicated to bringing the versatility and performance of its unique Italian brand to Australian kitchens. Renowned for continuous technological research and innovation, every Ilve rangehood is stated to be hand-assembled with care, ensuring each one is a work of culinary art. Styles include BBQ/outdoor, canopy, concealed, island and slideout hoods with streamlined electronic control panels. Some are also equipped with a maximum air consumption capacity of 1200 m3/hr. This additional air consumption will cost you $5,999 but you can also score a 90cm slideout model for $499 RPP. A unique style Ilve offers a cyclinder island hood (pictured), boasted to be the visual focal point or discreetly integrated, as per your kitchen style.
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Now that we’ve wrapped up the different brands you might like to consider, there are several other aspects to think about when buying a rangehood, in particular the budget. On average, consumers spend $787 on a new rangehood. Our 2018 survey of consumers also found that:
More than half of survey respondents (54%) indicated that they have a ducted rangehood, while the remaining 27% own a recirculating type. The difference between the two is that ducted rangehoods – also referred to as extractor rangehoods – offer better performance by extracting the cooking fumes from the kitchen and expelling them to the outside via ducting. Non-ducted or recirculating rangehoods, on the other hand, are designed for kitchens where there is no external vent, thus the rangehood extracts cooking fumes and passes them through active charcoal filters, recirculating the cleansed air back into the room. Once you know which option is suitable for your home, you can consider other key factors such as style, size, power settings and features.
Deciding on which type of rangehood to choose from will depend on your kitchen set up. All rangehood types are typically available in 60cm and 90cm widths, covering off the most common sizes of cooktops. Different styles include the following:
Depending on the type of rangehood, many models come with different lighting fixtures. You can choose from incandescent, florescent, halogen and LED. Some rangehood brands boast dimmable lighting, so you can select the level of light that works for you. It can also be used as mood lighting when you finish cooking!
Noise level proved to be an important factor in this year’s ratings, with no brand reaching a five-star review. According to our survey, a third of respondents (33%) said they often refrain from using their rangehood because it’s too noisy. Noise level is important as you should still be able to hold a conversation when it’s on.
Typically there are sliding, push-buttons and touch control panels, which are easy to reach and operate. Some retractable models feature controls on the underside of the hood while others increase the fan speed the further you pull the hood out. Consider what would be most comfortable and suitable for you when buying.
Rangehoods often have from three to six fan speeds with some models also offering an automatic variation of speeds. High speeds are used when cooking while the lower speeds can be utilised once finished. Generally, you shouldn’t need more than three speeds.
So whether you’re after a simple rangehood or one with all the bells and whistles, we hope this guide has been a useful tool to help with your rangehood purchase.
^By checking latest prices, you may leave Canstar Blue and be taken to a referral partner to compare. You agree that Canstar Blue’s terms and conditions apply to this referral. If you click on a brand that is not a referral partner, you will be taken to a brand page on Canstar Blue.
Canstar Blue commissioned Colmar Brunton to survey 3,500 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have a rangehood installed in their home and have used it in the last 3 months – in this case, 589 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted b star ratings and then alphabetically. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
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