13 BEST DUCTLESS RANGE HOODS IN 2022 (REVIEWS & BUYING GUIDE)

You look at those TV commercials where everyone gathers around in the kitchen, smiles, and cooks a meal.

After all, nothing compares to putting on some good music and cooking a good meal for yourself and the family, right?

But you’re standing in a greasy mess of a kitchen and coughing your lungs out.

You’re thinking to yourself- since when did smoking a chicken become so difficult?

What you need is a range hood, and we can show you the top-selling ones right now.
You’ll find range hoods that improve air quality and put a stop to pesky cooking smokes for good!

Head on to our best under cabinet ductless range hood reviews below:

Benefits of a Ductless Range Hood

First of all, a range hood is not that expensive silverware that feels “too much” to go inside your kitchen. It’s also not an electric cheese grater you can do without. Unlike both of these things, a kitchen range hood can actually save your life.

Wondering how it’s possible? Keep on reading!

It Rids Your Kitchen of Harmful Cooking Fumes

As delicious as that smoked turkey is coming out, its fumes are not doing you any good. In fact, if you cook without so much as a simple kitchen vent for a long time, you might catch respiratory cancer.

Not only do they pollute your indoor air but also irritate your eyes and lungs. Mind you, detoxing your body from long-term smoke exposure will need more than lemons and cucumbers.

Some cooking fumes straight up have carcinogenic properties.

Don’t believe us? Take it up with WHO!

Nobody Has to Know You Burned Those Pancakes!

If your recipe has blown up in your face, don’t worry. Turn up your range hood’s fans and pretend like it never happened!

Even if you’re the best baker in the neighbourhood, you don’t want your whole house to smell like cookie dough, right? (They have candles for that!).

Range hoods that come with lights and an exhaust fan are our favourites. They usually come with multi-speed modes and a charcoal filter.

Now, these charcoal filters capture grease and oil fumes so that your kitchen is absolutely odorless!

Say Goodbye to Greasy Kitchen Walls!

Let’s face it. Cleaning a greasy wall is no fun. The grease splatters never seem to go away, and you end up dog-tired from all that rubbing.

At the end of the day, your life is not a fairy tale. A spritz of vinegar and a wipe of a dishtowel will not get those grime stains off any time soon.

Remind us why you’re risking your beautiful kitchen decor in the first place? Take our advice, and head on to our top range hoods section.

Get one fast before it’s too late!

Best Under cabinet Ductless Range Hood Reviews

Given a sea of cheap options, finding a suitable range hood can leave you at sixes and sevens. Don’t worry! We have 13 of the finest ductless and convertible range hoods to help you enjoy cooking!

1. Broan 413004

A grand meal almost always follows a celebration. But it sure leaves your kitchen all topsy-turvy. Let’s start with the smoke problem. By this time, you’ve already had enough of cooking smoked briskets. Before you decide not to do it ever again, find out what Broan-NuTone 413004 has in store for you!

Every kitchen needs a range hood depending on its location of ducts, and vents. You’ll need this best ductless range hood with a charcoal filter for smoking whole chicken, fish, and turkey. The replaceable charcoal filters allow you to be versatile with your cooking styles.

Besides, if your kitchen is located in the middle part of your house, the ductwork is going to cost a lot. But when you get a ventless hood as powerful as the Broan-NuTone 413004, you can save hundreds of bucks.

We have no personal beef with ducted range hoods. It’s the fact that you need a pre-installed ducted system to even have one that really puts us off.

Personally, it made a big difference for us because we don’t want to wake the whole house when we’re craving smoked lobster tails at 2 in the morning.

Yes, try new recipes at ungodly hours, because why not?

2. Broan 413001

Sporting a high-quality insert with powerful charcoal filters, and a multi-speed fan, Broan 413001 is our best ductless range hood – 2021. It has everything starting from a protective lamp and easy-to-reach rocker switches. What’s there not to like?

See, the irritants in cooking fumes are dangerous both in the short-term and in the long-term. You want them nowhere near your eyes and lungs. And Broan 413001 takes care of it all sitting quietly under your cabinet.

We couldn’t ask for a range hood that does the job better. Especially for a ductless range hood that has limited exhaust options, Broan-NuTone totally hit a home run with this range hood.

That’s not all; you can either buy a single insert with its complementary charcoal filters, or you can choose one from its faucet, light, and garbage disposal combos!

If you ask us, an illuminating 75W light will surely brighten up your midnight cookie explorations. When it’ll be coming from the range hood, you’ll like it even more!

3. Broan-NuTone 413023

A “masterpiece” was not the word we were looking for to describe a range hood, but Broan-NuTone 413023 convinced us otherwise. Its exhaust quality, premium filtration, and effective grease expulsion are worth trying out!

If your kitchen is starting to look like a steam room with lots of grease, consider getting the Broan 413023 for the most effective grease removal. When it comes to keeping the kitchen fresh and the air clean, we trust a Broan-NuTone for the job.  

High-end ductless range hoods have something called “permanent filters” and they don’t need a change every once in a while. However, a cheap ventless range hood, preferably above the 450 CFM level, can outperform a professional ducted one with a quality carbon filter.

For a high-powered exhaust system on a budget, Broan-NuTone 413023 is the best ductless range hood under cabinet.

As for the ductwork for its vented counterpart, it’s important that you know the ins and outs of your house (Find out what’s behind your kitchen walls). This way you won’t damage any possible plumbing and wiring in the process.

4. Broan-NuTone PM390 Power Pack

Ventless range hoods suck in the humid air and fumes, purify them with filters, and send them back to your kitchen. But when it’s the Broan-NuTone PM390, you can expect a lot more!

For starters, you can use the PM390 as both a ductless range hood and a ducted one. Its heat-resistant LED light can burn all night without any issue. The 3-speed button offers 390 CFM airflow.

We found this PM390 model a very well-suited one for standard to large kitchen spaces. Most affordable vented or convertible systems max out around 350 CFM, and you’ll see a lot of them pretty soon. If PM390 is not the best ductless under cabinet range hood, then what is?

Now, a ducted hood will require a ducting system (Who would have thought?). But if you really wanted to skip calling in the handyman, you might as well learn how the basic installation procedure goes.

With Broan-NuTone PM390, you can enjoy the comfiest installation ever. Since the hood measures 20.5″ ×11″ ×9.5″, make sure that your cabinet allows it!

5. Broan-NuTone F403004

It goes without saying, in a kitchen full of smoke and grease, a ductless range hood with a charcoal filter is your best friend. With a powerful exhaust and infallible filtration, F403004 by Broan-NuTone can be the same to you!

To put things in perspective, ductless range hoods have a fan and a charcoal filter. Now, the fan moves the air around. In this case, we’re talking about a heavy-duty 250 CFM exhaust fan.

The filter collects the cooking smoke so that it doesn’t go back inside the kitchen. Cool, right? This vented range hood pushes the cooking fumes outside. However, a ductless range hood circulates the same air that was inside your home.

Unless you have a vent hole or a window, no fresh air will come inside the kitchen from the outside. Lucky for you, its ductless extension makes it one of the best recirculating range hoods. The good news is- the Broan-NuTone F403004 model meets the ADA compliance with an optional remote operation!

6. Broan-NuTone BKSA130WW Sahale

The best thing about having the best ductless range hood with a charcoal filter is its ability to remove that annoying cooking smoke. Inhale too much of it, and you’re going to end up feeling sick and exhausted. Lucky for you, Broan-NuTone is here with yet another magnificent range hood!

With crazy-high CFM ratings, this ducted hood drives out greasy steam and smoke entirely from your house. No two ways about it!

Unlike ventless range hoods, this one will not recirculate the cooking fumes inside your kitchen. Connect it to your kitchen ductwork and see the difference this Broan-NuTone makes!

Besides, the charcoal filters on ducted products are not really a one-time investment. You’ll need to replace the filters with new ones after you’ve used them up completely.

It has all the opportunity to improve your kitchen air quality with a satisfying 250 CFM exhaust fan. It’s as quiet as a lamb and won’t do that annoying burr inside your peaceful kitchen.

Besides, its forward-positioned inlet removes kitchen smoke with great efficacy. The halogen bulbs add generous lighting to your main cooking area. Additionally, the range hood has an extra-large open-mesh aluminium filter.  

7. Broan-NuTone 402402 ADA

The truth is- vented range hoods are fierce. Their air-circulation and venting system don’t give a fighting chance to resilient cooking smokes. On the other hand, their ventless counterparts are not so bad themselves. And Broan-NuTone 402402 is an excellent example of that!

This Broan-NuTone range hood is compatible with 3.25-inch × 12-inch ducts. For your comfort, you can install the duct either vertically or horizontally. So far, the installation is a breeze, and it’s not going to strip you of that extra money you’ve been saving!

Its metered sides and hemmed bottom will prevent accidents and bumps. There are no sharp edges at all. Any member of your family can safely use this exhaust system to improve the overall venting. Moving on, its quick-release aluminium filters effectively catch grease, so that the expelled air is safe for the environment.

8. Broan-NuTone BCSD136BL

This is an effective range hood that neatly fits at the rear side or under your kitchen cabinet. It comes with a 250 CFM exhaust fan and is reported to remove up to 97.4% smoke and fume from your kitchen. Broan-NuTone, once again, shows you how it’s done!

First of all, this ductless hood is the cheapest to install. It usually goes up the cooktop or under the cabinet.

Since it doesn’t have to send a large volume of air outside and bring in a fresh batch, the fan is also much quieter than average ducted hoods.

Besides, its halogen lights radiate a warm yet bright glow to a large area. You can comfortably cook any meal or keep them turned on at night for illuminating the area. After all, bumping into shelves and racks is no fun.

This is hands down the best ductless range hood with a built-in option for an upgrade. Its practical blower design flaunts a centric inlet- filtering out steam and smoke as soon as they’re produced!

Lastly, its concealed rocker switches control the fan speeds and lights. So, this Broan-NuTone goodness shows off an expensive, sleek exterior without any knobs and switches sticking out!

9. Cosmo QS75 Pro

We’re not here to decide why you should select a ductless rangehood over a ducted rangehood. But there are a few reasons you should consider. And Cosmo QS75 Pro gives you many!

First of all, this ductless range hood is great for winter. Who would want the snowy and chilly air into their home from outside, right? What’s more, you can easily convert it to a ducted range hood for summer!

It circulates the same air in a purified condition. If you’re going to smoke salmon for dinner, the regular fan speed won’t cut it. Well, you can always turn it up a notch and disperse the steam with its high-powered fan.

The product’s five hundred CFM airflow offers unbelievably quick ventilation. Besides, you have not three but four fan speeds to choose from! Speaking of which, its exhaust fan doesn’t produce a lot of noise.

We also liked its LED touchscreen. You can instantly see all the controls and adjust them with a single touch!

10. Cosmo QB75

If you’re looking for efficient service at a reasonable price, then this can be a worthy try. Coming with a 500 CFM airflow, ventilating your kitchen with the minimum of fuss has just become easy with this one. It also comes with push-button controls, twin centrifugal motors, and a 3-speed fan. Amazing, no?

We’re just getting started though. This very hood is special for its easy cleaning procedure. These filters are extremely durable and dishwasher-safe. You don’t really need to replace them in a long while, all you have to do is put them in the dishwasher and clean them properly.

As expected with Cosmo, this product also comes with cutting-edge technology to ensure efficiency and durability.

The hood boasts its energy-efficient 1.5-watt LED lights that will save energy and last longer than your average lights. Moreover, the bright and high lumen lighting will ensure proper visibility, especially at night.

11. Cosmo 5MU30

This here is a premium-quality hood with its sleek look and excellent quality- that too coming at a very affordable price! It has a solid build and cutting-edge technology, so efficiency is never a question with this product. With this hood, cooking and cleaning would seem like a cakewalk.

If you’re living in a small apartment or a condo, you’d need a hood that will take up the least amount of space- and the slim design of this hood ensures that. It is a flexible and highly compatible product that can be installed against walls or even under your cabinet!

The vent hood is special for another reason- the covertness of its work. Hoods are a bit loud in general, however, this one has a max sound of 56 dB only.  With a 3-speed motor, you will get your work done for sure, but with less sound.

Cosmo’s special invention- this hood has reusable aluminum mesh filters to trap oil, grease, and similar waste. The filters are multi-layered to ensure that they can trap as much waste as possible. Also, there is a 5-inch duct for the exhaust vent.

12. Cosmo UMC30

Featuring a 3-speed fan, permanent stainless-steel filters, and energy-saving lights, the Cosmo UMC30 is a cool exhaust system for your kitchen. But if we’re being honest, its sophisticated LED screen had us sold on from the very first look!

This under-cabinet range hood flaunts an elegant design. It goes with any kitchen decor and looks absolutely gorgeous from all sides. Cosmo proves once again that looks do matter!

It’s made of 430-grade stainless steel (one of the best there is) and is extremely durable for long-term use. The backsplash is rounded off with reversible sides so that you can choose which side is a better fit. It keeps your kitchen walls from accumulating stubborn grease stains.

You can’t avoid cooking splatters, but you sure can avoid their damage. Its 2-watt LED lights were bright and soft. Say hello to cooking at odd hours just for yourself! If there’s a downside, we’ll say that it’s the mounting screws. Cosmo doesn’t provide you with the 8 screws you need for installation.

13. Cosmo UC30

With push-button controls, dishwasher-safe filters, and Cosmo’s signature high-powered exhaust fan, Cosmo UC30 is another model you can consider. the model certainly isn’t the best ductless island range hood, but its 380 CFM fan sure keeps a lot of smoke and grime out of your face.

This one is available in ductless, convertible range hoods with a handy Carbon filter kit. Considering the 380 CFM fan on this model, we expect it to be quieter than most range hoods on the market. Honestly, it’s a good thing and a bad thing at the same time.

A low CFM fan may not be able to move a large volume of air. Therefore, you have to deal with a little smoke from time to time. 

On the plus side, you don’t need to drill a big hole in the wall. It sounds like hard work anyway!

Moving on, its Arc-Flow permanent filters will save you the trouble of replacing charcoal filters so often. You need a 6-inch circular duct for the UC30. Additionally, you can meet its 120V/20Hz electronic requirements with your existing kitchen outlet.

What to Look for Before You Buy

Ducted range hoods, for one, cost a ridiculous ton of money. And going through all that trouble when a ductless one does it might not be the most profitable choice.

This is where we tell you how to pick the best recirculating range hoods for your home! When it comes to choosing this kind of product, you have to consider their size, filtration quality, safety, and of course, fan speeds!

Filtration System

The filtration quality alone can set a ductless range hood apart from its alternatives. Cooking in a highly humid area with lots of smoke and grease has serious side effects on your health. This is why you need a good range hood that takes filtering very, very seriously.

Look at the Broan-NuTone 413004 range hood for example. It comes with a handy exhaust fan that goes under the cabinet and spreads out the smoke instantly. Since it sits quite close to the cooktop, all of the smoke is effectively removed and filtered before it irritates your eyes!

The Broan-NuTone 413001 is also a great product considering its 30-inch body fits the most common cabinet sizes. Both models feature top-notch charcoal filters that clear out the smoke, moisture, and airborne particles from your kitchen.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to how well a ductless range hood filters the pollutants. We especially like brands such as Broan-NuTone and Cosmo for the filtering system they come incorporated in all their range hoods.

Their products improve your kitchen air quality and give you a comfortable cooking experience at all times!

Multiple Fan Speed

You’re not going to need the same level of ventilation when you’re cooking two different types of meals. To give you an idea, think about the times when you stir-fry vegetables or make soup. Since they produce the smallest amount of smoke, you might not need to turn on the range hood.

But when you’re smoking a turkey or grilling burger patties, you can expect a crazy amount of smoke. So much that it drives you out of the kitchen!

This is where a range hood comes to save the day.

Hold your horses; a random range hood with a low fan speed is as good as having no range hood at all. If it’s not clearing the smoke, why buy it in the first place?

A common mistake most customers make is to mess up the fan speeds and CFM ratings. CFM is a unit that measures the volume of air a machine can replace in one minute. Now, ductless range hoods do not technically remove the air altogether. It simply recirculates it.

Therefore, you can’t associate it with ductless range hood models that come with an exhaust. What you should be looking at instead are the fan speed and levels. If you ask us, we particularly liked the Broan-NuTone BCSD136BL and the Cosmo QS75 Pro for their low to high fan speed levels.

Size

This is where you play by the book, and not buy a range hood on a whim. See, a range hood is not a standalone device. It mounts under a kitchen cabinet that sits directly above your cooktop.

Another thing- the distance between your cooktop and the range hood should be 18 inches to get optimum results.

Of course, there are wall-mount or island-mount range hoods. But when the efficiency of a ductless system is in question, under the cabinet is the most ideal position. No wonder why you’ll see all the fuss about cabinet measurements on the Internet.

Got a small cabinet? Their sizes go down as small as 21 inches. And if you’re talking about a big one, you’ll surely love their 36-inch range hoods.

Mounting Options

If your cabinet is shorter in length and width than the range hood, you will face difficulty installing it. That’s why it’s so important to find the right kitchen range hood size. Luckily enough, all Broan-NuTone range hoods come in four different sizes so that you can find your perfect fit.

Looking at the most common consumer choices, a 30-inch range hood works for most households. Besides, installing a ductless range hood won’t have you call in a mechanic.

There’s no drilling involved. In fact, if everything else is in line, you’ll need a single flathead screwdriver for the complete set-up! How cool is that?

Maintenance

High-quality range hoods are made of rust-resistant materials that withstand heat damage and rust. They might get greasy, though. But it’s nothing a few wipes with a towel soaked in soap water can’t remove.

Ductless range hoods don’t require intricate ductwork, so you don’t have to worry about anything other than the hood’s exterior.

Of course, there’s a thing about removable filters. What we mean by “maintaining” them is to throw the old one out and fit a new one in its place. These replaceable filters are quite inexpensive, and if your cooking habits include non-oily foods, you can go a long time without replacing them.

Additional Features

This segment is reserved for what a top-notch range hood can do other than filtering grease and smoke from your kitchen.

Although, most range hoods will come with an option for installing light bulbs. The reason why we highly recommend Broan-NuTone is that their range hoods feature the finest lighting options.

For example, a 30-inch Broan-NuTone ventless range hood is available in four exciting options. You can get a fan and light combo. Guess what? It only gets better!

There’s actually a range hood and faucet combo. It’s a practical choice, and it sure is an interesting thing to show off to your guests! Last but not the least, Broan-NuTone offers you a range hood and garbage disposal combo. Grease and garbage are synonymous in more ways than you can imagine!

Types of Range Hoods

Kitchen range hoods are life saviours when it comes to removing those grease splatters, and smelly fumes!

Let’s see your kitchen range hood options and find your perfect fit!

Ductless or Ventless Range Hood

Ventless range hoods are often considered the last resort when you don’t have convenient ductwork installed. Honestly, these ventless products have gone through some serious advancements in the last couple of years. (Does it remind you of those all-in-one coffee makers that actually get the flavours right?).

Ducted Range Hood

Well, here’s the thing about a great ducted range hood. It’s going to have your back even if you choose to have a family BBQ party indoors. (Remember when the lockdown wasn’t a thing?).

Convertible Range hood 

If you’re having a hard time choosing between your other two options, don’t sweat it. You have a third choice, and take it from us, it’s going to be worth it!

A convertible range hood is the best of both worlds. You can alternate between its vented system and recirculating system at any time.

The best part about ducted/ductless range hoods?

You can mount it in a lot of positions. And if you want to go the extra mile, you can get yours with a sensor and a remote control!

Ductless Vs. Ducted Range Hood

The cost of installing ductwork to an already finished house is something most home cooks aren’t ready to make.

But let’s not forget that a vented range hood runs more efficiently, shall we?

Then what’s it going to be- ducted or ductless?

Go over the pros and cons of both types of range hoods and decide for yourself!

Installation & Repairs

For installing a vented range hood, you’re going to need a long drill bit to cut the vent hole and outdoor pipe opening. And of course, some electrical work and measuring are involved.

Moving on, installing a ductless range hood is the easiest. If everything is in order, you’re going to need a flathead screwdriver and an HVAC foil tape for an airtight fit!

Venting Vs. Air Recirculation

Ventless systems include a heavy-duty air filter that catches fumes, grease, and smoke from the air. It purifies the pollution and, therefore, keeps the recirculating air fresh.

Well, probably not as fresh as a full-on vented hood would. But it’s an inexpensive start that works well enough, if not the best!

How Ventless Range Hoods Work

See, under cabinet ductless range hoods recirculate the air inside your kitchen. But how does that help with the grease and smoke, you might ask. It’s pretty simple.

We’re explaining the whole process step by step down below!

It Doubles up as an Exhaust Fan

The roles of an exhaust fan and a range hood are quite similar. Both of them deal with cooking smokes. Although a range hood is much more advanced, it’s probably what you need for improving your indoor air quality.

Filters out Irritants and Fumes from the Air

Ductless range hoods feature removable or permanent filters. These filters catch the irritating particles from your kitchen air and send the purified air back.

Keeps the Air Circulating

A ductless range hood comes with a fan that quickly scatters smoke and fumes before they suffocate you. Besides, a good one can make your kitchen as odour-free and fresh as any other room in your house!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make my range hood quieter?

Running your ventless range hood at a low speed will produce less noise, as usual. But when you’re cooking oily meals or smoking fish, you are going to need the highest speed. You can install a noise dampener or an inline blower. But the ductless models actually produce less noise to begin with.

How to clean a range hood? 

Depending on how greasy the exterior of your range hood looks, there are multiple ways you can clean it. Take a little bit of glass cleaner on a towel and gently wipe the surface.

Wiping it with an anti-grease, liquid dish soap also works! Ductless range hoods come with removable filters, so you can’t reuse them.

Why do I need a range hood in the kitchen?

According to a study, our indoor air is already more polluted than outdoor air. It’s more prominent in the kitchen because you’re working with fire, smoke, and airborne toxins.

All things combined, the air quality in any kitchen needs a healthy boost. Now, a range hood filters out the smoke and greasy cooking fumes so that you can breathe a lot better.

Can I have an exhaust fan and a ventless range hood at the same time?

Since ventless range hoods don’t exactly expel the cooking smoke outside, an exhaust fan gives you more coverage. Together they can work just as nicely as a vented system.

What size range hood should I get?

Range hoods go under the cabinet that sits close to your stoves. You have to screw in all four sides of a range hood to the cabinet and install the electrical wiring. So, the size of your range hood should not exceed the cabinet’s measurements.

Final Words

A ductless range hood makes your time in the kitchen feel more comfortable. It also protects you from inhaling harmful cooking smokes. Besides, your walls and cabinets can finally be grease-free forever!

We hope that our best under cabinet ductless range hood reviews helped you choose a suitable fit for your kitchen. Happy cooking!