Cooker Hood Installation Costs

Want to know how much it will cost to install a cooker hood?

A cooker keeps your kitchen free from grease, odours, and smoke while you are using your hob. There is a wide range of styles and designs to choose from, including the choice of an extracting hood or a recirculating hood.

In this article, we will give you the average costs for installing a cooker hood and the different styles and materials you can choose.

But why do this?

We want to make sure you get your jobs done at home at a reasonable cost. By giving you average ballpark figures for home renovation projects you have a better idea about the costs involved. We can connect you with local electricians to give you quotes for cooker hood installation.

How Much Does Installing a Cooker Hood Cost?

The installation costs will depend on the type of cooker hood you use and if you need new wiring installed or if you are replacing an existing cooker hood with already in place.

Some installations require two people to do the job which means it will be more expensive. Where you live will also influence labour costs. You will always pay more if you live in London.

When you are choosing a new cooker hood, take into account that you can choose to buy an Extraction Cooker Hood or a Recirculation Hood.

Cooker Hood Installation Prices

How much does it cost to install a cooker hood? This chart will give you the average costs an electrician will charge to install a cooker hood.

As you can see the amount of time it takes to install a cooker hood will depend on the type of cooker hood you have chosen.

Labour Costs and Timescales

Costs of fitting a cooker hood and the timescales involved depend on what type of cooker hood you are having installed. The above costs are for cooker hood installation by an electrician. This is because some installations will require a new electricity supply and only a qualified electrician can sign this type of job off, even if someone else does the installation.

There are two types of cooker hoods. You choose to have a recirculation model or a ducted model. Recirculation models require less work to install. A ducted model may need to be installed by an electrician rather than another trade.

Recirculation Cooker Hoods

A recirculation hood does not have a duct to an external wall. Instead, the air is circulated through a set of filters which remove moisture and odours. The clean air then flows back out into the kitchen.

While installation is cheaper because you don’t have ductwork you will have to replace the filters now and then. The cost of new filters varies between £10 and £20 depending on the cooker hood you have installed.

Ducted Cooker Hoods

A ducted cooker hood is installed with ducting that goes through the wall, ceiling or floor and leads to the outside. This means when the extractor is in use the steam and odours are being channelled along the ducting into the air outside.

The installation of ducted cooker hoods takes longer because of the extra work the ducting entails. If your cooker hood is being placed on an outside wall, then the ducting won’t be a huge job. But for example, if you are having an Island cooker hood installed the ducting will need to pass through the ceiling or the floor which can be complex.

If the wiring is already in place, or you are having a recirculation cooker hood installed other trades can do the job. You can ask your kitchen fitter, a builder, or a handyperson. Have a look at the chart below for the average costs of each of these trades.

Installing a cooker hood - Costs for other trades

Supply Costs

Cooker hood costs vary. How much does it cost to fit a cooker hood? Well, there are several styles and designs you can choose from, and some are cheaper than others. For example, it is more cost-effective to buy a cooker hood that fits to the wall as this is easier to install than say an island hood or a hood using new technology like the downdraft hood.

Prices are also influenced by the size of the cooker hood. Standard sizes are 60cm, 80cm and 90cm. Some brands are also more expensive than others. For example, a common chimney cooker hood brand can be around £150 cheaper than a chimney cooker hood from a high-end brand.

Cooker Hood Prices

Additional Costs

An additional cost whilst installing a cooker hood is the installation of ducting. Vent kits are relatively cheap at around £15 to £25. You will also need someone to drill the right-sized hole in your wall. Any one of the trades in the above chart should be able to do this as long as they have the right tools.

Kitchen Island Installation

Other work you may be doing in the kitchen will also need to be added to your budget. For example, you could have a kitchen island installed with the addition of a hob or a sink.

A kitchen island on average will cost between £5,000 and £8,000. If you want a hob integrated into the kitchen island you will have to pay for the appliance and the electrics. A sink will require plumbing.

A New Hob

A hob installed on a kitchen island will take an electrician between 1 to 3 hours if the wiring is in place. If extra wiring needs to be channelled through to the kitchen, then this will take longer and cost more in labour costs.

A New Sink

A sink installation will also need a cold and hot water feed and a plumber will normally extend the pipes from wherever your water supply is located in the kitchen. A plumber will take between 1 and 2 hours to install a sink.

New Plug Point

If you haven’t got a plug point for your new cooker hood, then an electrician can install one for you. The average time it takes to install a plug is between 1 and 2 hours. At £40 an hour, you are likely to pay around £80 and at £60 an hour the cost will be around £120.

You will always pay more for services if you live in and around the London area where costs are higher.

You will also have to pay for the plug. A single plug will cost around £10 to buy from a DIY store.

Have a look at the chart below to see installation and supply prices. These costs are for installation only and don’t include the price of cutting the worktop as you may have already had this done before delivery.

If you haven’t, then a builder, handyperson or carpenter can do this job for you. The average price to cut a hole is between £40 and £60.

Cost Factors Installing a Cooker Hood

The cost factors that influence the price of installing a cooker hood are varied. The type of cooker hood you choose will influence the cost of installation.

Another factor is what type of cooker hood extractor you choose and whether you have a recirculating cooker hood or a ducted cooker hood because as you have seen a ducted cooker hood requires more work.

One more that may affect the cost of your installation is if two people are needed. If your electrician needs an assistant with him then this will cost more. An electrician’s mate on average costs between £15 and £20 an hour.

What’s Involved in Installing a Cooker Hood?

If the wiring is not already in place, then more work will be required. These steps show you how to install a cooker hood with the wiring in place.

Tools

• Core Hole Drill
• Electric drill with a masonry bit
• Ducting kit
• Cooker hood components
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Pencil
• Tape measure

Steps

• Cover the kitchen units and protect the hob. Drilling a hole for ducting will create a lot of dust so it’s important to lay dustcovers.
• Mark out the correct measurements using a tape measure and a spirit level
• Drill the correct-sized hole for the ducting to pass through.
• Drill the holes needed to install the cooker hood bracket and screw in the bracket
• Remove the filters from the hood
• Lift the hood onto the bracket so it is in position and tighten all screws
• Install the power board and fix the cable into the hood
• Fix the chimney hood into place with the appropriate screws
• Replace the filters
• Plug in the cooker hood and test

Can I Install a Cooker Hood Myself?

If you are replacing an old cooker hood and only the writing needs connecting, then anyone competent with electricity should be able to do this as a DIY job. Recirculating cooker hoods can also be installed as a DIY project because there is no ducting involved.

We recommend, however, that the work is carried out by a professional. If you are having other electrical works carried out such as the installation of a new circuit you will have to use an electrician, or have the work signed off by one to adhere to Part P of the Building Regulations.

If you decide to do electrical work yourself and it needs to be inspected by Building Control, you should expect to pay around £200 to £400 for a safety certificate.

Planning Permission and Building Regulations

You don’t need planning permission to drill a hole in your wall for ducting unless you live in a listed building or a conservation area. If you live in a flat, you will need permission from the leaseholder.

Electrical installations are covered by Part P of The Building Regulations. This means for example, that only a person who is registered with one of the government-approved Part P schemes can install a new electrical circuit in your home.

The installation of a cooker hood does not need to be carried out by a certified electrician, but certain guidelines need to be followed regarding the height of the cooker hood above the hob and the maximum length of ducting.

From 2023 however, there is a new regulation regarding ventilation which may affect the installation of a cooker hood if it is of the recirculation type. Talk to your contractor about this or visit your Building Control department if you intend to do a DIY installation.

Types of Cooker Hoods

Here are the types of cooker hoods you can buy.

Chimney Hood

Chimney hoods are often installed against the wall. They are chimney-shaped and are placed above the hob. The extractor can be curved or angled for a modern look. They are ideal in larger kitchens.

Canopy Hood

Canopy hoods fit into chimney breasts or a wall unit and it is placed flush against the wall or unit and provides a minimal look for householders who want a discreet appliance.

Visor Hood

Visor hoods fit under a kitchen wall unit. You can pull out the extractor to extend it and they are ideal for small kitchens. They are perfect if you are on a budget and are looking for an affordable cooker hood.

Integrated Hoods

Integrated or built-in cooker hoods are placed in a wall cabinet above your hob and usually come in compact sizes, so they aren’t suitable for a large hob. However, they are perfect for small kitchens. Prices vary according to the brand you choose, but you can get one at a reasonable price.

Ceiling Hoods

Ceiling hoods sit flush with the ceiling which gives it a sleek, minimalist look. Installation often requires a false ceiling. This type of cooker hood can be expensive, but if you want a cooker hood that blends in and doesn’t stand out like a chimney hood, then a ceiling hood is an ideal purchase.

Island Hoods

An Island Hood is suspended from the ceiling and is placed over your hob. Some styles are made to look like pendant lights and are popular with householders who want to make a statement with their appliances.

Downdraft Extractors

Downdraught Extractor aren’t cheap but if you want your kitchen units to flow seamlessly then a downdraft extractor could be the solution. They are built into the kitchen worktop and are hidden from sight under the work surface. You press a button for the cooker hood to rise upwards. The extractor takes the steam and air across the hob and then through the extractor.

Removing a Cooker Hood (Plug-in Design)

• Turn off the power supply
• Cover your hob to protect it
• Take the plug out of the socket
• Remove the filters
• Unscrew the hood (You may need someone else to help you hold the hood in place while you loosen the screws)
• Take the hood away ready for disposal
• If you have a chimney to remove loosen the screws and slide the bottom of the chimney upwards and then ease it from the wall.

Hiring a Contractor to Install a Cooker Hood Checklist

As we have already said, an electrician is normally the person you would choose to install your cooker hood. But other trades can also do the job as long as the electricity connection doesn’t need a qualified electrician.

Here’s a checklist of questions you can ask the contractor to find out if they are right for the job.

• Ask the contractor how much experience he has installing cooker hoods
• Find out if he has any feedback from previous customers
• Ask them if they will dispose of an old cooker hood if you have one
• Ask if the contractor guarantees the work
• Find out if they have any accreditations
• Make sure they have the necessary insurance

FAQs