Ducted vs Ductless Range Hood: Which Should You Buy?

TL;DR: A ducted range hood pipes air outside your home through a wall or roof vent, removing smoke, grease, and moisture for good. A ductless hood filters air through a charcoal filter and blows it back into the room, which costs less to install ($150-$400 vs $500-$2,000+) but leaves more heat and grease particles indoors. If your walls or ceiling can support ductwork, a ducted hood is almost always the better long-term choice.

_Last reviewed: July 2026 · 7 min read_

You're staring at two range hood listings that look nearly identical, except one says "ducted" and the other says "ductless" or "recirculating," and the price gap makes you wonder what you're actually paying for. The difference isn't cosmetic. One vents your kitchen air outside your house. The other just filters it and sends it right back at you.

Okoniq Property Hub helps you log which vent type you have, track filter replacement dates, and keep installation receipts in one place for every unit you own.

What's the actual difference between ducted and ductless range hoods?

A ducted range hood pulls smoke, grease, steam, and odors up through the hood and pushes them outside through metal or flexible ducting, usually terminating through an exterior wall or roof cap. A ductless hood pulls that same air through a charcoal or carbon filter, strips out some odor and particles, then blows the filtered air back into your kitchen.

The ducted version physically removes the problem from your house. The ductless version recycles it, minus whatever the filter catches, which is rarely more than 60-70% of grease particles and almost none of the humidity. If you cook with oil regularly or live somewhere humid, that moisture has to go somewhere, and often it ends up condensing on cabinets or contributing to the kind of hidden dampness covered in 5 signs your attic ventilation is failing your roof when kitchen humidity migrates upward over years.

How much does each option cost to buy and install?

Ductless hoods run $100-$400 for the unit and typically take under an hour to install since there's no ductwork to run. Ducted hoods cost $200-$1,500 for the unit itself, but installation adds $300-$1,200 depending on how far the duct has to travel and whether you're cutting through a wall, roof, or existing chase.

| Factor | Ducted | Ductless | |---|---|---| | Unit cost | $200-$1,500 | $100-$400 | | Install cost | $300-$1,200 | $0-$150 | | Air actually removed | Yes, vented outside | No, recirculated | | Ongoing cost | Duct cleaning every 1-2 years | Charcoal filter every 3-6 months, $15-$40 each | | Best for | Any kitchen with exterior access | Apartments, islands with no exterior wall nearby |

If a contractor is cutting a new vent opening, you're also looking at drywall repair afterward. That patch job is easy to botch, so it's worth reviewing 5 mistakes people make patching drywall before you assume the installer's finish work will hold up.

Does CFM rating matter more than duct type?

Yes, and a lot of buyers skip this number entirely. CFM (cubic feet per minute) tells you how much air the fan actually moves, and it matters whether you go ducted or ductless. For a standard 30-inch gas range, aim for at least 300 CFM; for high-BTU professional-style ranges, 600-1,200 CFM is common.

Here's the catch: a ductless hood's real-world CFM is always lower than its rated number because the air has to push through a filter before recirculating, which adds resistance. A ducted hood with the same rated CFM moves air more efficiently because it's exhausting straight outside with less back-pressure. So a "600 CFM ductless" hood often performs closer to 400-450 CFM in practice. If your range puts out serious heat and smoke, ducted is the safer bet regardless of price.

Can you convert a ductless hood to ducted later?

Sometimes, but it's rarely a simple swap. Some hood models are sold as "convertible," meaning the same housing can run either way if you add ducting and remove the recirculation kit. Check the model number against the manufacturer's install guide before buying if you think you'll want to add ducting down the road.

If your kitchen sits on an interior wall with no easy route to the outside, ducting can mean running pipe through cabinets, up through the attic, or across a ceiling, which adds real cost and sometimes requires an electrician if you're adding a new circuit for the fan motor. In older homes, that conversation often overlaps with panel capacity. If you're already adding appliances that need dedicated circuits, it's worth checking 100 vs 200 amp service to confirm your panel can handle another load before committing to a ducted upgrade.

FAQ

Is a ductless range hood even worth buying?

Yes, for apartments, rentals, or kitchen islands where running ductwork isn't physically possible or allowed by a landlord. It's a real improvement over no hood at all, just not a full substitute for venting air outside.

How often do I need to replace a ductless hood's filter?

Charcoal filters need replacement every 3-6 months with regular cooking, costing $15-$40 per filter. Grease filters underneath (metal mesh) can usually be washed monthly instead of replaced.

Do ducted range hoods need to vent through the roof?

No, most vent through an exterior wall using a wall cap, which is cheaper and easier to install than routing through the roof. Roof venting is typically only necessary when the hood sits on an interior wall or island with no nearby exterior wall.

Will a ducted hood lower humidity problems in my kitchen?

Yes, significantly. Ducted hoods remove steam and moisture at the source, which reduces condensation on cabinets, windows, and ceiling drywall that ductless models can't touch since they just recirculate that same moist air.

What CFM do I need for an average home kitchen?

For a standard gas or electric range under 45,000 BTU total, 300-400 CFM is typically sufficient. Multiply your range's total BTU output by 1 CFM per 100 BTU for a rough baseline before shopping.

This is educational information, not construction or HVAC advice. Talk to a licensed contractor about duct routing, wall penetrations, and electrical requirements specific to your home before installing a new range hood.