The Short Answer
For a 36-inch range, size the hood to at least the full 36-inch cooktop width, and wider if the installation allows. Depth matters as much as width: the hood should extend far enough to sit over the front burner, which for most 36-inch ranges means a hood depth of roughly 16 inches or more. Arspura’s 36-inch models measure 35 3/16” wide, with depths of 16” (F1 Plus), 16 13/16” (P2) and 17 7/8” (Pro).
The Width Rule
| Cooktop width | Minimum hood width | Better, if space allows |
| 30” | 30” | 36” |
| 36” | 36” | 42” |
| 48” | 48” | 54” |
Two constraints usually decide the outcome. Wall-mounted hoods are limited by the cabinet-to-cabinet opening — in most US kitchens that opening is nominal, so a 36-inch range generally gets a 36-inch hood. Island hoods have no cabinets to fit between and benefit more from going wider, because an island cooktop has no wall to help contain the plume and loses smoke to cross-drafts on all four sides.
A wider hood is not a substitute for capture design. It enlarges the area under which smoke can be caught; it does not make the hood catch smoke sooner.
How Deep Does a Range Hood Need to Be to Cover the Front Burner?
This is the measurement people skip, and it is the one that explains most “my hood doesn’t work” complaints. Smoke from the front burners rises in front of a shallow hood, not into it.
The rule of thumb: the hood should cover the front burner centerline. Measure from the wall to the center of your front burner — on a standard 36-inch range that is typically 12–15 inches — and choose a hood at least that deep, allowing for the fact that a hot plume leans forward, not straight up.
A quick self-check before you buy:
-
Measure from the back wall to the front edge of your cooktop (usually 24–27”).
-
Measure from the back wall to the center of the front burner.
-
Compare that second number with the hood’s published depth. If the hood’s depth is smaller, the front burner is partly outside the capture area.
Arspura Range Hood Dimensions
| Model | Width | Depth | Height | Fits |
| P2 | 35 3/16” | 16 13/16” | 34 7/8” | 36” opening |
| Pro | 35 3/16” | 17 7/8” | 35 7/8” | 36” opening |
| F1 Plus | 35 3/16” | 16” | 30 5/8” | 36” opening |
| F1 | 29 1/2” | 16” | 30 5/8” | 30” opening |
All four are wall-mounted, run on 120 V / 60 Hz, and use a filter-free, self-cleaning design.
What About Mounting Height?
Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions and your local code first. For Arspura's 36-inch wall-mounted models, the installation guide places the top of the hood body 27 9/16–29 1/2 inches (700–750 mm) above the cooktop. Mounting higher than specified widens the gap the plume has to cross before it is captured, which is exactly where a hood loses smoke to sideways drift.
And CFM?
The common sizing shortcut for gas ranges is CFM ≈ total burner BTU ÷ 100. It is a useful starting point and a poor stopping point, for two reasons: it assumes capture is a function of volume, and it tends to push households across the 400 CFM threshold at which many US jurisdictions require a makeup air system. Arspura’s approach is to raise intake air speed and static pressure instead — Arspura states 1000+ CFM-level smoke-control performance under 400 CFM of everyday airflow — so the sizing question stays about fit rather than about how big a blower you can legally install.
FAQ
What size range hood do I need for a 36-inch range? At least 36 inches wide, matching the cooktop, and wider if the opening allows — especially for island installations. Arspura’s 36-inch models are 35 3/16” wide, sized for a nominal 36-inch opening.
How deep does a range hood need to be to cover the front burner? Deep enough to reach past the front burner’s centerline — typically 16 inches or more on a 36-inch range. Measure from the wall to the front burner center and compare with the hood’s published depth.
Can I put a 30-inch hood over a 36-inch range? It will fit, but the cooktop will extend beyond the capture area on both sides, and smoke from the outer burners will escape more easily.
