How to Choose a Cooker Hood for Wok Cooking

If you cook with a wok, you already know the problem: smoke, oil and smell that seem to get everywhere. The right cooker hood keeps most of it out of your kitchen and your living room. The wrong one just makes noise.

The short version: get a hood at least as wide as your hob, with strong suction, and duct it outside if your kitchen allows. For heavy wok cooking, a chimney hood is usually the most powerful choice.

Which type of hood?

Chimney hoods mount on the wall with a chimney cover above. They are usually the most powerful, which is why they are a popular choice for frying and stir-frying. Many extract well over 1,000 m³/h, and some Mayer chimney hoods go up to 1,600 to 2,000 m³/h.

Slim hoods are flat and low profile, and fit under a cabinet. They suit compact kitchens and give a cleaner look.

Telescopic and semi-integrated hoods are built into the cabinet above the hob, with a visor that slides out or stays fixed. They almost disappear when you are not cooking.

Island or pendant hoods hang from the ceiling over an island hob.

Width matters more than people think

Smoke from the outer burners drifts sideways. If the hood is narrower than the hob, it misses it. Make the hood at least as wide as the hob: a 90cm hood for most 86 to 88cm hobs, and a 60cm hood for a 60cm hob.

Suction, in plain terms

Suction is measured in cubic metres per hour (m³/h). A higher number means the hood can move more air. If you fry or stir-fry often, go for a higher rating and a boost setting you can switch on when the wok is really going. Hoods with more than one motor spread the suction across the full width of the hob.

Ducted or recirculating?

A ducted hood pushes smoke and smells outside through a duct. It is the most effective option. A recirculating hood cleans the air through a charcoal filter and blows it back into the kitchen. It is easier to install where you cannot run a duct, but the charcoal filter has to be replaced regularly.

Think about cleaning too

Washable metal filters, an oil tray or oil collector, and a front panel that wipes clean will save you time. Matt finishes hide fingerprints better than gloss.

Buying a hob at the same time? Our hood and hob packages from Fujioh, Rinnai and Mayer cost less than buying the two separately. See all cooker hoods and hobs.

Frequently asked questions

How high should the hood be above the hob?

Follow the installation height in the hood's manual, as it depends on the hood and the type of hob. Too high and the hood captures less smoke.

How often should I clean the filters?

Clean washable metal filters regularly, often every few weeks if you fry daily. Charcoal filters in recirculating hoods cannot be washed and need replacing.

Get help choosing

Not sure what fits? Bring a photo and your measurements to any Lucky Khoon showroom and our team will help you pick the right model. We are an authorised dealer for the brands we carry, and our in-house installation team can supply and install for you.

• Enterprise One: 1 Kaki Bukit Road 1 #01-01 to #01-05, Singapore 415934. Bathroom and kitchen: +65 6346 2172
• Tradehub 21: 24 Boon Lay Way #01-72/73, Singapore 609969. Bathroom and kitchen: +65 6795 1862
• TOTO Boutique, Oxley Bizhub: 61 Ubi Road 1 #01-10, Singapore 408727. Tel: +65 6320 3778

Opening hours are on our contact page.