Summary

Cooker hood installation looks like one trade but is actually three: a builder cutting and making good a wall, an electrician fitting a fused spur and final connection, and a kitchen-fitter mounting the hood and connecting ductwork. On a domestic project most kitchen fitters self-install, but the regulatory cost of doing the electrical side without Part P notification is significant. Pricing must reflect either Part P-registered installer cost or the cost of a separately notifying competent electrician.

The fundamental scope decision is recirculation vs ducted extraction. Recirculation hoods filter and recycle kitchen air through carbon filters — no external venting, no Part F extract rate requirement on the duct, but the filter needs changing every 3–6 months and humidity removal is poor. Ducted extraction pulls air to outside via a duct — meets Part F properly, removes humidity and odour, but adds duct run, external grille, and wall penetration costs.

Pricing must distinguish between the two arrangements clearly on the quote. Customers often agree to a recirculating hood to save the £150–£350 duct extras, then complain six months later about steamed-up windows. State the limitation in writing. For complete kitchen-fit pricing see kitchen fitting pricing guide; for under-counter appliance work see oven installation pricing guide and hob installation pricing guide.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

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Scenario Time Labour Only Materials Full Fitted Price
Like-for-like recirculating swap 1–2 hr £80–£180 £25–£60 £100–£240
New recirculating hood + spur 2–3 hr £150–£280 £40–£90 £190–£370
Ducted, ≤2m duct, internal route 3–4 hr £250–£420 £70–£140 £320–£560
Ducted, external 100mm brick penetration, ≤3m duct 4–6 hr £350–£600 £100–£200 £450–£800
Ducted, cavity wall + ≤5m duct + first-floor flat 6–8 hr £500–£900 £150–£280 £650–£1,180
Chimney/island hood, soffit + duct boxing 8–12 hr £700–£1,200 £200–£400 £900–£1,600
Re-route existing duct (kitchen refit) 3–5 hr £280–£500 £80–£160 £360–£660

Detailed Guidance

Recirculating vs Ducted — The Pricing Fork

Recirculating: hood draws air through grease filter and carbon filter, returns it to the room. Pros: no wall penetration, no duct run, easy in flats. Cons: removes only smoke and odour, not humidity; carbon filter needs replacing every 3–6 months (£15–£35); does not satisfy Part F mechanical extract on its own.

Ducted: hood discharges via duct to outside through an external grille. Pros: removes humidity, full Part F compliance, no consumable filters (grease filter only, washable). Cons: requires external wall route, longer install, external make-good costs.

The price differential is £150–£400. Customers consistently choose recirculating to save money, then complain about condensation. The quote must spell out: "Recirculating hoods do not extract moisture or fully meet Part F mechanical extract requirements. Where humidity control is needed, ducted installation is required."

Part F — Extract Rates That Apply

Approved Document F (Volume 1 — Dwellings, 2021 edition, updated 2022) requires mechanical extract in kitchens. The numbers:

These extract rates apply only to ducted systems. Recirculating hoods are not classed as extract ventilation under Part F because they do not remove moisture to outside. New-build and material-alteration kitchens still require a separately specified extract fan in addition to a recirculating hood; price this in as a £140–£280 extra.

Part P — Electrical Notification

The electrical connection — a fused spur from a kitchen ring final or radial — is notifiable under Part P only if it is a new circuit or it is in a special location. Adding a fused spur to an existing kitchen ring is non-notifiable (Schedule 4 of Approved Document P), but it must still comply with BS 7671 and be tested and certified.

In practice:

Quote the electrical scope explicitly. The most common cost surprise is an electrician's day-rate after the fitter "thought it was just a plug-in."

Duct Route Decisions

Duct material:

Route considerations:

External grille:

Common Site Overruns

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a cooker hood replace a kitchen extract fan?

A ducted cooker hood that achieves 30 l/s minimum can satisfy Part F as the kitchen extract. A recirculating cooker hood does NOT count toward the Part F extract requirement; a separate wall- or window-mounted intermittent extract fan or a passive stack vent is required in addition.

What size duct should I use?

Manufacturer instructions are authoritative. Most domestic hoods specify 125mm (5") round duct. A 100mm duct will fit but reduces the achievable extract by 30–50% and may breach the manufacturer's minimum flow specification. Never reduce duct size below the hood spigot size.

Is a recirculating hood acceptable in a new-build kitchen?

Yes — if a separate mechanical extract fan achieves the Part F flow rate independently. The hood plus the fan together satisfy the regulation. If the hood is the only ventilation, it MUST be ducted.

Can the duct go through a soffit and discharge into a roof void?

No. Discharging extracted air (containing moisture, grease aerosols and odour) into a roof void breaches Part F — the air must reach outside. Doing so also voids any roofing warranty and causes interstitial condensation. The duct must terminate at an external grille, not a soffit, gable or attic vent.

How long does a fitted job actually take?

A straightforward ducted install — hood mounted, ≤2m flexible duct, internal route, fused spur from adjacent unit — runs 3–4 hours for a competent fitter-electrician working alone. Add an hour each for external make-good, cavity-wall sleeving, and tile cutting. Cabinet voids, chimney breast obstacles and first-floor work routinely push the job to a full day.

Regulations & Standards