Cooker hood height above a hob
Updated: October 2026
You are marking the wall for a new chimney hood and three web pages give different heights. Gas, electric and induction hobs have different guidance. The correct cooker hood height above a hob is the greater requirement from both appliance instructions, not the lowest generic number online. The retained amazon.co.uk listings rarely print a clearance in millimetres, so the model manual still decides the mark on the wall. This page applies that rule to our [stainless steel chimney hood comparison](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/stainless-steel-chimney).
You are marking the wall for a new chimney hood and three web pages give different heights. Gas, electric and induction hobs have different guidance.
You are marking the wall for a new chimney hood and three web pages give different heights. Gas, electric and induction hobs have different guidance. The correct cooker hood height above a hob is the greater requirement from both appliance instructions, not the lowest generic number online. The retained amazon.co.uk listings rarely print a clearance in millimetres, so the model manual still decides the mark on the wall. This page applies that rule to our stainless steel chimney hood comparison.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Gas clearance | Electric clearance | Chimney reach | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  AEG AEG DKB5660HM 60 cm pyramid chimney hood | 650 mm on AEG page | 500 mm on AEG page | Not stated | 8.3 | about £272.00 | View offer |
 CIARRA CIARRA CBCS6201 60 cm chimney hood | See the manual | See the manual | 2 × 40 cm | 9.6 | about £79.99 | View offer | |
| Preis-Tipp |  COMFEE' COMFEE' KWH-PYRA17SS-60 chimney hood | See the manual | See the manual | Not stated | 9.1 | about £69.99 | View offer |
On this page
Gas hobs usually need the larger clearance
Start with both manuals. General UK guidance often sits around 750 mm above gas. Hotpoint says 750 mm, Smeg says at least 75 cm, and Caple’s extraction guide uses 760 mm for its products. Those are cross-checks, not replacement dimensions for another brand.
AEG’s UK page for the DKB5660HM states 65 cm above a gas hob. That figure belongs to this AEG model and must not be copied to CIARRA, COMFEE', SNDOAS or FIREGAS. If the gas hob’s own instructions require more space, the higher figure governs. Do not lower a hood because the telescopic chimney looks short, and do not move a gas hob yourself. If pipework or safe clearance needs changing, use a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Electric and induction figures still vary
Electric and induction installations often permit a smaller gap than gas, but no single number overrides the manuals. Hotpoint’s general answer is 650 mm above electric. Smeg gives about 65 cm for induction or ceramic. The Bosch UK chimney page uses 500 mm above induction for the Bosch hoods on that page. Caple’s guide uses 650 mm for electric. Do not borrow a dimension from another brand.
AEG’s page for DKB5660HM states 50 cm above an electric hob. That is model-specific. The other six amazon.co.uk listings do not print a clearance in millimetres, so the supplied manual is the source. A low hood can obstruct headroom, and an unnecessarily high hood can capture less vapour. If the manual states a maximum height, do not exceed it.
Resolve manuals, building guidance and missing data
When the hood and hob manuals give different minimums, use the greater distance. If a hood allows 650 mm but a gas-hob manual requires 750 mm, set at least 750 mm.
For England, Approved Document F says an externally extracting hood should use the manufacturer’s height, or 650–750 mm if none is given. That fallback does not override a hob manual. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate systems. Recirculation does not automatically change the heat clearance. Smeg says the same distance applies whether a hood ducts or recirculates, but use your model’s manual. Our ducted or recirculating guide covers the moisture point.
If the listing has no height, do not turn a retailer’s generic line into a model specification. Find the manufacturer PDF for the exact model. If the documents conflict, ask the manufacturer or a competent installer before drilling.
Check chimney reach at the chosen height
Once the canopy position is fixed, measure from the chimney-cover seat to the ceiling. The gesture COMFEE' states 485–820 mm and CIARRA CAS6201A states 573–940 mm. CBCS6201 lists two 40 cm extensions, and SNDOAS lists two 300 mm sections. Those figures are cover reach, not hob clearance, and telescopic overlap reduces the usable extension. SNDOAS reviews say the sections can be short.
A cornice, shelf or existing duct can stop the upper bracket. Read our guide on how to fit a chimney cooker hood before assuming the steel will hide the route. If the cover is short at the safe height, look for an approved extension. Do not lower the canopy below its minimum, or raise it past a stated maximum, to make the chimney meet the ceiling.
Common questions
How high should a cooker hood be above a gas hob?
Use the greater minimum stated in the hood and gas-hob manuals. General UK guidance commonly falls around 750 mm, but exact model figures differ. AEG states 650 mm for DKB5660HM. Never copy that AEG number to another hood without its documentation.
Is induction clearance the same as gas?
Often not. Manufacturer examples commonly permit a smaller distance above induction than gas, but figures vary from 500 to 650 mm in the public guidance reviewed. Your exact hood and hob manuals determine the installation, and the higher applicable minimum wins.
What if the amazon.co.uk listing gives no height?
Search the manufacturer’s UK documentation using the exact model number and compare it with the product label. Do not infer the figure from a similar-looking hood. If no reliable manual is available, contact the manufacturer or ask a competent installer before mounting.
Can I fit the hood higher for headroom?
Only within any range allowed by the manufacturer. Raising it can reduce capture because steam spreads before reaching the canopy. If the position remains awkward at the permitted height, a different hood shape or kitchen layout may be more suitable.
Does recirculation change the mounting height?
Do not assume it does. Heat and flame clearances still apply, and some manufacturers explicitly use the same distance for either mode. Follow both appliance manuals. Recirculation changes what happens to moisture, not the need to protect the hood from the hob.
What if the chimney cover cannot reach the ceiling?
Check for an approved extension for the exact model or choose a hood with a longer stated range. Keep required overlap between telescopic sections. Never solve a short cover by lowering the canopy below its safe minimum or exceeding a stated maximum height.
Related pages
Sources
Prices, star ratings and review counts are the amazon.co.uk listing figures used for this comparison. The public sources below are the ones named for the rules, clearances and filter points.
- GOV.UK: Approved Document F, Volume 1 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Which?: how to buy the best cooker hood (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Bosch UK: chimney hood tips (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- AEG UK: DKB5660HM cooker hood (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Hotpoint UK: height above a hob (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Appliances Direct: cooker hoods buying guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Caple: extraction guide (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- BFCMA: chimneys and flues (retrieved 16 October 2026)