Best 36 Inch Island Range Hoods
An island cooktop is the focal point of your kitchen. It’s the first thing people see when they walk in. With a stylish new 36-inch island range hood, your kitchen will look modern and inviting.
We’ll take a look at some of our favorite 36-inch island range hoods, complete with pros and cons, customer reviews, and more.
Best 36 Inch Island Range Hood - ProSI.36 - Most Powerful
The ProSI.36 is one of the most powerful 36-inch island range hoods on the market. At just 36” wide, it features an incredibly powerful 1800 CFM blower that vents heavy grease and smoke from your kitchen in just minutes. 1800 CFM is double the power of most island range hoods, so you’ll never be left wanting more from your hood.
The ProSI.36 features a sleek LCD touch panel where you can adjust the blower speed to four different levels. So you don’t have to keep your hood running at max power all the time.
This island hood also comes with energy-efficient LED lights to help you see clearly in the kitchen. The stainless steel baffle filters are dishwasher safe, so you can focus more on cooking and less on cleaning.
Buy yours below.
The ProSI is also available in 30”, 42”, 48”, 54”, and 60” sizes.
Reviews
“Ordered this hood online a few months before I was ready to install. Installation went without a problem and I was surprised how sturdy it was supported by the ceiling. It has no movement when turning on/off or in use. Even on low it kept a paper towel attached to underneath when I tested it. This is one well built machine!” - Ray L.
“I got the 36" island ProS and love the professional look of the hood. The installation was straightforward and the build quality was better than the KitchenAid which it replaced. The robust look is matched with the powerful suction and my kitchen now looks good and smells good! Would recommend it to anyone looking at Proline!!” - Kevin W.
“Proline Range Hood provided a superior product for my hood for my outdoor kitchen. It works tremendously and we were very pleased with the ordering, delivery and ease of installation.” - Don F.
PLFI 520.36 - Low Profile
The PLFI 520.36 is a beautiful low profile island range hood for your home. It features a quiet 600 CFM blower that runs at about 5 sones. This blower comes with six adjustable speeds, so you have a lot of options in the kitchen. The backlit LED buttons are easy to use. Also, the control panel includes a digital display to show the time and blower speed.
The PLFI 520.36 features stainless steel mesh filters that are easy to clean. Just place them in the dishwasher and you’re done! This island hood also features great LED lighting to make cooking easier.
Buy your PLFI 520.36 at the link below.
Depending on the size of your kitchen, you might need a 30-inch range hood. Or, if you’re looking for a larger hood, check out our 42” and 48” sizes.
Reviews
“It has been great. My wife loves it. She talks about it all the time people come over to our house to eat. They bragged about it, and my wife loves the fact that it vents through the roof and works really well. Customer service has been awesome.” Jeremy D.
“This hood is fantastic. Quiet, even on level 6, and powerful. The seller also has fantastic support to help you find the right hood for your application. I would buy from them again.” - Paul P.
“I love this hood! It works great, was easy for my contractor to install, and looks great in my kitchen! I stumbled upon Proline and I'm glad I did. I shopped around at kitchen appliance stores for island range hoods, and found that they were charging about $1,000+ more (for similar island range hoods) than Proline.” - Shelley H.
PLFI 544.36 - Unique Glass Design
The PLFI 544.36 is a unique island range hood for your home. It features a unique, tapered glass design. This island hood comes with a powerful 600 CFM blower that can accommodate most cooks.
The best part about this hood is the six speed settings. If 600 CFM doesn’t work for you, no problem. You can run the hood anywhere between an ultra-quiet 100 CFM to the max 600 CFM. This hood is 5 inches tall so it’s a great low profile option for your kitchen.
The PLFI 544.36 can run as either ducted or ductless. You won’t see many ductless island range hoods out there. To convert the hood to ductless, all you need is charcoal filters.
This island hood will help you have a smooth kitchen experience. The stainless steel mesh filters are dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to spend time scrubbing away at the tough grease and grime. Just place them in the dishwasher and focus on cooking delicious food for your friends and family.
Don’t forget to turn on the bright LED lights as well. They make cooking so much easier!
Buy your PLFI 544.36 at the link below.
You can also find the PLFI 544 in 30 inches and 42 inches here.
Reviews
“Since I purchased this hood I have had no problems with it. It has a sleek design with the glass and stainless steel and great lighting, but even better is the powerful fan that expels just about every bit of residue and smoke out of the kitchen.” - Christine C.
“I did a lot of research to get the range hood that had power but not a lot of noise. I chose the right one. Icing on the cake; it looks awesome. Fantastic product.” - Mark H.
“Very happy with this hood. It replaced one I had earlier and is much better quality than the first one. Strongly recommend it.” - Jim R.
ProVI.36 - Most Versatile
The ProVI.36 is our most versatile island range hood. It comes with three blower options: a 1200 CFM local blower, 1300 CFM inline blower, or 1700 CFM local blower. If noise bothers you, an inline blower is a great option. Inline blowers sit inside your ductwork, further away from your hood. So it will run much quieter. Avid cooks will love the powerful 1700 CFM blower to keep strong smells and greasy air out of your kitchen.
Most of our range hoods have set speed settings, but the ProVI features dial knobs. You can adjust the speed however you like.
The ProVI features durable dishwasher-safe baffle filters to capture grease and dirt efficiently. The bright LED lights also make your life easier in the kitchen. Just turn them on and enjoy seeing clearly with your bright cooktop.
Buy your ProVI.36 below.
The ProVI is also available in 42”, 48”, 54”, and 60”. Take a look at more of the sizes here.
Review
I ordered my hood from Proline after looking at every retailer in town as well as on the internet. Their products are high quality and very reasonably priced. I thought I did all my research but ordered a remote blower which ended up not fitting in the area I needed it to go, Proline was very helpful in returning the remote blower and shipped me the internal blower which actually turned out to be easy to install and super quiet which is why i originally wanted the remote blower.
During the installation I didn't clean the chimney sections very well and subsequently the lower section broke free from the tape which was holding it up. I placed a call to Proline to see about replacing the lower chimney section due to the damage and even though it was clearly my fault they offered to replace the section free of charge!!
The hood looks beautiful and we couldn't be happier with the products and service we received from Proline.
- Bryan M.
PLFI 755.36 - Modern Rectangular Design
The PLFI 755.36 is a minimalist island hood for your kitchen. It includes a powerful 1100 CFM dual blower that can adapt to any cooking style. You can adjust the blower speed using the sleek LCD glass touch panel. There, you can also turn on the bright LED lights to keep you on task in the kitchen.
The PLFI 755 features a unique rectangular look and is a low profile island hood. At only five inches tall, it packs a punch. Like the other hoods in this list, you’ll enjoy dishwasher-safe filters that save you valuable time and effort in the kitchen.
Check out the PLFI 755.36 below.
You can also find the PLFI 755 in 42”, 48”, 54”, and 60”. Browse the other sizes here.
Reviews
“No complaints here. The hood is working great and is a really modern addition to my kitchen. Thanks, Proline!” - Steve O.
“This hood is handsome, functional and easy to clean. It has strong filtering capacity for wafting aromas and the lights are very efficient.” - Ming Lee P.
“Couldn't be happier with our range hood. Great product and great value. Customer service is great as well. Would highly recommend them to anyone.” - Mark M.
If you’re looking for more island range hoods, we reviewed five of the best on the market right here.
Learn more about the benefits of island range hoods below.
Benefits of a 36-Inch Island Range Hood
Streamlined Cooking Experience
An island range hood keeps your kitchen air clean and fresh. This makes it safer for your family and friends to breathe. That means no more worrying about setting off the smoke alarm. No more scrubbing tough grease from the walls and ceiling.
Also, some 36 inch island range hoods feature dishwasher safe baffle filters. These are incredibly convenient because it cuts down on the time you need to clean. You can focus more on cooking your meals.
Finally, bright LED lights will help you see what you’re cooking in the kitchen. Not only that, but you won’t have to worry about going to a different room to read your recipes anymore.
Clean Kitchen Air
It’s essential to have good ventilation in your home. You don’t want to breathe in all the smoke and greasy air from your cooking. A range hood will keep all that air out of your home.
Gas stoves produce some harmful contaminants like carbon monoxide, so you’ll want a range hood to keep it at a safe level.
Learn more in our article “Is it safe to cook without a range hood?”
Removes Strong Odors from Your Kitchen
While it cleans your kitchen air, an island range hood also removes strong cooking odors from your kitchen. With an island hood, you won’t have to deal with pesky lingering cooking odors. You and your guests can enjoy fresh and clean kitchen air.
Safety Net in Case of an Emergency
The best 36 inch island range hoods pack a lot of power. With these hoods, you don’t even need to use the max speed. In fact, this can be reserved just for emergencies. Using your hood at lower speeds will also help it last longer.
Keeps Grease Off Your Ceiling and Surrounding Cabinetry
Have you noticed grease accumulating on your walls, ceiling, and surrounding cabinetry? If so, an island range hood is right for you.
Without a hood, all that greasy air that would end up on your ceiling and walls moves right outside your home. But an island hood saves you a headache down the road since you won’t have to clean up the tough grease stains.
Great Conversation Starter
An island range hood is a beautiful appliance for your kitchen. Not only does it clean your air but it is a great talking point when you have friends or guests over. Everyone will be talking about your new island hood. A 36 inch island hood is a great focal point of your kitchen.
How to Choose Your 36 Inch Island Range Hood
A modern 36-inch island range hood can elevate a kitchen from appealing to top-notch quality. Here are seven things to consider when choosing the right 36 inch island range hood for your kitchen.
Kitchen Island Size
For safety reasons and to give yourself some space while cooking, allow for at least 12 inches of space on each side of your island range. Also, make sure you have at least 9 inches of room behind the range. This way, your guests can sit at the island, far enough away from the heat of the range.
The width of the kitchen island is up to you. Islands are most common in medium-size to large kitchens. In today’s kitchens, most islands are 42” wide or larger.
If you want to seat guests at your island, go with a larger width. If you just want the island as a cooking space, you can use a smaller one.
Range Hood Size
You may think you need a 36 inch island range hood, but the larger the range hood, the more coverage it has over your range. The more coverage, the faster all that pesky greasy air moves out of your kitchen.
A 36 inch island range hood is a great option for 30” or 36” ranges. But, we recommend that you size your hood six inches larger than the range. So, for your 36” range, a 42” island hood might be your best choice.
CFM
Ask yourself a few questions about your kitchen and cooking habits:
How often do you cook?
Do you enjoy Asian cooking, frying, barbecuing, or cooking greasy food?
Do you often cook for large groups?
Are you bothered by noise in the kitchen?
The more often you cook, the higher the CFM you’ll need.
Also, if you cook for large groups, you might consider a hood with a high CFM. You can use the max setting when cooking for a crowd, and turn it to the lower settings when cooking for you or your family.
If noise bothers you, make sure to ask about the noise level or sones of the range hood before purchasing.
You can always run the hood at lower speeds that are much quieter. But some motors may be loud regardless of the speed.
Generally, the higher the CFM, the louder the hood. The lower the CFM, the quieter the hood. That being said, range hoods from big box stores are low CFM, but they are also quite loud. This is because they’re built with cheap materials and the motors are pretty inefficient.
So you might find that a higher CFM hood is much quieter than a lower CFM hood.
Duct Size
Use this helpful chart to determine the minimum duct size for your 36 inch island range hood. Duct size does not depend on the size of the hood, but rather the CFM.
Larger duct size works great, but you don’t want to use a duct that is too small. Otherwise, all the greasy air won’t move smoothly out of your home. Over time, you’ll have to deal with excess grease buildup inside the hood and range hood duct. No one wants to do that extra work.
Chimney or No Chimney?
This is merely a cosmetic choice. If you install no chimney, the installation may be a little faster, but it’s not significant. Most 36 inch island range hoods come with chimneys, but be sure to ask your manufacturer to make sure.
Depending on the height of your ceiling, you may need a chimney extension for your island hood.
Mounting Height
Your island range hood should be mounted between 28 and 36 inches from the cooktop. This will ensure that the greasy kitchen air leaves the home efficiently.
If you are mounting a 36 inch island range hood in an outdoor kitchen, mount it between 36 and 42 inches away from the cooktop. Outdoor kitchens feature grills that produce a lot of heat, so it’s important to allow for the extra distance.
Style
When it comes to style, you have a few options: glass front, tapered, or rectangular.
You also might like the look of stainless steel push buttons or the black LCD touch panel. The choice is yours!
Some Other Parts…
Filters
Most 36 inch island hoods come with stainless steel baffle filters or mesh filters. We recommend stainless steel over aluminum because it’s more durable and easier to clean. If your island hood can convert to ductless, it also may come with charcoal filters.
Learn more about the different types of filters in this guide.
Control Panel
You have a few options when it comes to range hood control panels. Stainless steel push buttons and backlit push buttons are quite popular. Modern island hoods also feature touch panels which are becoming increasingly popular.
Check out some of the different types in the photos below.
How to Install an Island Mount Range Hood in a Wall Mount Application
Unfortunately, you can’t install an island mount range hood in a wall mount application. Island mount range hoods can only be installed through the ceiling.
Island hoods are designed for island mount applications only. Many island hoods feature control panels on two sides. They also come with a ceiling mounting bracket and support brackets. These parts wouldn’t be compatible with a wall mount hood installation.
Wall mount hoods can be installed through the wall or ceiling. Some wall hoods, but not all, can fit under cabinets.
Other Island Range Hood FAQ
How do kitchen island range hoods work?
Kitchen island range hoods are powered by fans that move greasy air to the outside of your home through ductwork. Most island hoods feature one or two blowers. The duct runs through an exterior wall or the ceiling to the outside of your home.
To learn more about how an island range hood works, click here.
Who installs island range hoods?
Your local contractor can install an island range hood. Typically, the installation will take between three and five hours to complete. You can also install an island range hood yourself if you are comfortable with a little DIY work.
Check out the video below to learn how to install an island range hood.
What is the difference between wall mount and island mount range hoods?
Wall mount range hoods mount on your wall, while island range hoods mount on your ceiling. If you have an island range, go with an island range hood. If your range is against the wall, go with a wall or under cabinet hood.
To learn more about the different types of range hoods, check out this article.
Why do all island range hoods look the same?
The most common island range hoods are tapered and made of stainless steel – these all look quite similar. But, you can find black matte island range hoods or white island hoods for a distinct look. Glass range hoods and rectangular hoods are also popular choices for your kitchen.
Recap
Did you enjoy this guide on the best 36 inch island range hoods? Let’s go over what we discussed.
Here are the five best 36 inch island hoods for your kitchen.
- ProSI.36 - Most Powerful
- PLFI 520.36 - Low Profile
- PLFI 544.36 - Unique Glass Design
- ProVI.36 - Most Versatile
- PLFI 755.36 - Modern Rectangular Design
When shopping for an island hood, the two most important things to consider are the CFM and ducting (ducted or ductless).
If you enjoyed this guide, check out our other guides at the links below.
Related Articles
Ultimate 30 and 36 Inch Range Hood Guide
Range Hood Mounting Height Comprehensive Guide
Ductless Range Hood Reviews and Buyer’s Guide