¿Cuántos CFM debe tener una campana extractora?

¿Qué son los CFM de una campana extractora?

Every range hood’s ventilation ability is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The CFM measurement refers to how many cubic feet of air your range hood is capable of moving per minute at its highest speed.

Esencialmente, los CFM indican la rapidez con la que una campana extractora ventilará el aire de su cocina. Cuanto mayor sea el CFM, más rápida será la velocidad de ventilación. 

Potential Problems of Overpowered Range Hoods

While it may seem like more power is always better, a range hood with too much CFM for your kitchen can cause issues that outweigh the benefits:

• Unnecessary energy use: A high-CFM hood running at full power consumes more electricity than needed, driving up your utility bills.
• Backdrafting: Overpowered hoods can pull air from vents or chimneys, drawing harmful gases like carbon monoxide back into your home.
• Negative air pressure: Excess suction can affect your HVAC system, making it harder to regulate temperature and air balance indoors.
• Increased noise levels: High-powered fans often run louder, creating a disruptive cooking environment.
• Ductwork complications: Smaller or improperly installed duct systems may struggle to handle the airflow, reducing efficiency and causing wear on the motor.

When Is Make-Up Air Required?

When a range hood removes air from your kitchen, that air must be replaced to maintain balanced indoor pressure. This replacement air is known as make-up air.

In many areas, local building codes require a make-up air system when a range hood exceeds 400 CFM. These systems bring fresh outdoor air into the home to offset exhausted air, helping prevent backdrafting, HVAC performance issues, and pressure imbalance.

Because requirements vary by location, it’s important to check local building codes or consult a contractor before installing a high-CFM range hood, as a make-up air system can affect installation complexity and overall cost.

Factores que determinan un buen CFM de la campana extractora

Most kitchens don’t need extreme airflow. When buying a range hood, your cooktop type, kitchen layout, and how often you cook will determine most of your CFM needs. When in doubt, it’s better to slightly oversize your range hood than choose one that struggles to keep up.

A continuación, le ofrecemos una lista detallada de los factores que debe tener en cuenta a la hora de elegir la mejor campana extractora para su hogar.

1. Anchura y BTU de su estufa o placa de cocción

Your cooktop’s size and heat output are two of the most important factors in determining how much airflow your range hood needs.

Wider cooktops create a larger area of smoke and grease, while higher BTU output generates more heat and fumes that require stronger ventilation—especially with gas ranges.

Together, these factors provide a baseline for CFM recommendations for range hoods. From there, airflow can be adjusted based on kitchen size, layout, ductwork, and how often you cook.

2. Ductwork Length & Design

The design of your ductwork directly impacts how effectively your range hood can move air. Long duct runs, narrow ducts, and multiple bends increase resistance, reducing airflow and overall performance.

Kitchens with more complex ducting often benefit from higher CFM to compensate for this added resistance and maintain effective ventilation.

3. Kitchen Size

Kitchen size affects how much airflow your range hood needs to keep the air clean and comfortable. Larger kitchens—or spaces with high ceilings or open layouts—require more ventilation to effectively remove smoke, heat, and odors.

As a general guideline, a range hood should be capable of refreshing the air in your kitchen about 15 times per hour. Larger or more open spaces may benefit from higher airflow.

4. Cooking Habits

How often and how intensely you cook determine how much airflow your range hood needs. Daily cooking, high-heat techniques, or preparing meals for larger groups typically require higher CFM to keep smoke and grease under control.

If you’re choosing between two range hood models with different airflow options—such as the Slant Vent Series—it’s usually better to select the higher CFM if you cook frequently.

5. Noise Level

For many range hoods, “quiet” usually means there’s a smaller fan that will produce less suction. At FOTILE, we solve this problem using physics. By utilizing the Coanda Effect, we can increase the airflow and suction of our range hoods without increasing noise levels.

6. Range Hood Mounting Height

The distance between your cooktop and your range hood affects how much airflow is needed to effectively capture heat, smoke, and fumes. As installation height increases, ventilation becomes less efficient without additional airflow.

Range hoods installed more than three feet above the cooking surface may require higher CFM to maintain proper performance.

7. Your Budget

Where your range hood is installed also affects how much airflow is needed for effective ventilation.

Island range hoods typically require more CFM than wall-mounted models because they lack a wall to help contain and direct smoke, grease, and heat. Because air can disperse in all directions, island installations often require an additional 100–200 CFM to achieve comparable performance.

If your range hood will be installed over a kitchen island, choosing a slightly higher CFM can help ensure consistent capture of cooking byproducts.

8. Your Budget

Las campanas extractoras pueden costar desde 500 dólares hasta más de 3.000 dólares. Las campanas extractoras más baratas pueden estar fabricadas con materiales menos duraderos y no ventilar de forma eficiente, mientras que los modelos extremadamente caros suelen tener características innecesarias o están diseñados para adaptarse a una estética específica. Por lo general, es mejor evitar el modelo más barato o el más caro y optar por algo intermedio. 

At FOTILE, our range hoods are durable, efficient, and priced to reflect that, starting at $849 for our Pixie Air UQS3001 model. 

CFM Guidelines by Cooktop Type

The type of cooktop you have determines which airflow guideline is most relevant for your kitchen.

Gas ranges:
Ventilation is typically based on total heat output. A common guideline is 1 CFM for every 100 BTUs of total burner capacity.

Electric and induction cooktops: Airflow is usually based on cooktop width rather than heat output. For these cooktops, a general guideline is 100 CFM per linear foot for wall-mounted range hoods.

These guidelines assume the range hood is installed 30–36 inches above the cooking surface, which is standard for most residential kitchens.

How to Calculate CFM For Your Range Hood

To calculate the right CFM for your range hood, consider your cooktop, your kitchen’s size, and how you cook. Use the calculation below that best matches your cooktop and kitchen layout, then select the highest applicable CFM to ensure effective ventilation.

• Measure your cooktop width. Use 100 CFM for every 12 inches of stove width. For example, a 36-inch cooktop needs at least 300 CFM.
• Account for based on heat output (gas ranges only). Add 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTUs. A stove with 30,000 BTUs would require 300 CFM.
• Calculate based on kitchen volume. Multiply your kitchen’s length × width × height to get its cubic feet. Multiply that number by 15 (air changes per hour), then divide by 60.
  
   Example:
  12 ft x 15 ft x 10 ft = 1,800 cubic feet
  1,800 × 15 = 27,000
  27,000 ÷ 60 = 450 CFM
• Use the highest result. Compare your cooktop-based and kitchen-based calculations and choose the higher number for effective ventilation.
  
  For most households, aiming slightly higher is better—especially if your ductwork is long or you cook frequently. FOTILE’s range hoods feature high CFM to align with various kitchen sizes and needs.

Por qué las campanas extractoras FOTILE utilizan los CFM máximos equivalentes

At FOTILE, efficiency and convenience are key components of high-quality range hoods. That’s why all of our range hoods have a higher CFM rating—to help make your kitchen as healthy and comfortable a space as possible. 

Nuestra tecnología sin filtro combina los motores WhisPower y nuestro diseño Capture-Shield para acelerar de forma silenciosa y potente la extracción de humos y la separación de grasas. Los motores son silenciosos y eficientes, mientras que el Capture-Shield nos permite aplicar el efecto Coanda, la tendencia natural del aire caliente a dirigirse y fluir a lo largo de las superficies cercanas, depositando las partículas del aire en esas superficies mientras se mueve.

Juntas, estas características permiten que nuestras campanas cubran superficies de cocción más grandes y logren tasas de filtración de aceite y eliminación de olores extremadamente altas. 

Quick CFM Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes

• It’s better to slightly oversize your range hood than choose one that’s underpowered for your kitchen.
• Higher-CFM hoods are more flexible because they can run at lower speeds when full power isn’t needed.
• Multi-speed range hoods allow you to adjust airflow based on what you’re cooking.
• Island hoods generally require more CFM than wall-mounted designs.
• If your hood exceeds 400 CFM, check whether a make-up air system is required in your area.

Cómo elegir su campana extractora FOTILE

FOTILE ofrece tres estilos de campanas extractoras con diferentes capacidades de CFM para adaptarse a cocinas de todos los tamaños.

Pixie Air Series – Best For Small to Medium Kitchens

Our Pixie Air Series ranges from 800 to 850 CFM, perfect for small or medium kitchens. It mounts easily under your cabinets and comes with a recirculation kit. This kit allows you to install your Pixie Air with outside ventilation or as a recirculating range hood.

Slant Vent Series – Best For Medium to Large & Open Kitchens

Nuestra serie Slant Vent cuenta con entre 850 y 1000 CFM para cocinas un poco más grandes. Funciona bien en cocinas medianas y grandes y en espacios abiertos. Al igual que el Pixie Air, se monta fácilmente bajo los armarios y es compatible con los sistemas de ventilación externos. Este modelo también está disponible en acero inoxidable cepillado o vidrio templado negro para adaptarse a su estilo personal. 

Slant Vent Series – Best For Medium to Large & Open Kitchens

La serie Perimeter Vent presenta nuestras campanas extractoras más potentes con 1000 a 1100 CFM. Todos los modelos Perimeter Vent se montan en la pared, por lo que son ideales para cocinas grandes y abiertas.

Nuestras campanas extractoras garantizan que su cocina sea más segura y cómoda para toda la familia. Todas nuestras campanas extractoras son silenciosas, se limpian fácilmente y presentan un índice de separación de grasas del 92% y un índice de eliminación de olores del 97% como mínimo. Compre ahora.

Frequently Asked Questions About Range Hood CFM