Kitchen Chimney Calculator – Find the Right Size
Buying a kitchen chimney that’s the wrong size — or has insufficient suction power — is a frustrating and expensive mistake. Too weak and smoke, oil vapour, and cooking odours fill your kitchen. Too powerful and it sucks in conditioned air, wastes electricity, and creates noise. Our Kitchen Chimney Suction Calculator helps you find the right chimney size and suction capacity in m³/hr for your specific kitchen based on its volume, cooktop type, and cooking style.
How to Use the Chimney Suction Calculator
- Enter your kitchen dimensions — length, width, and height in feet or metres. The calculator uses kitchen volume to determine base airflow requirement.
- Select your cooktop type — gas burners (2, 3, or 4 burners), induction, or mixed. Gas cooking generates significantly more heat, smoke, and grease than induction.
- Select your cooking style — light (salads, boiling), moderate (everyday Indian cooking), or heavy (deep frying, tadkas, heavy masala cooking). Tadkas and deep frying generate intense smoke bursts requiring high suction.
- Choose duct or ductless mode — ducted chimneys exhaust air outside (far more effective); ductless chimneys recirculate air through filters (lower performance, higher filter maintenance).
- Click Calculate to get your recommended suction capacity in m³/hr and the ideal chimney width.
Chimney Size Quick Reference (Indian Kitchens)
| Kitchen Type | Cooktop | Recommended Suction | Chimney Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen (up to 8×8 ft) | 2-burner gas | 800 – 1,000 m³/hr | 60 cm |
| Medium kitchen (8×10 ft) | 3-burner gas | 1,000 – 1,200 m³/hr | 60 – 90 cm |
| Large kitchen (10×12 ft+) | 4-burner gas / hob | 1,200 – 1,500 m³/hr | 90 cm |
| Open kitchen / island | Gas hob | 1,500 – 2,000 m³/hr | 90 cm island hood |
| Induction cooktop (any size) | Induction | 600 – 800 m³/hr | 60 cm |
The Right Way to Mount a Kitchen Chimney in India
Mounting height makes a big difference in chimney effectiveness. For gas cooktops, mount the chimney 65–75 cm above the burner grate. For induction cooktops, 75–85 cm is acceptable. Too high and suction is ineffective; too low and it may pose a safety risk from open flames. The chimney should be at least as wide as your hob or cooktop — ideally wider — so the hood captures the full plume of smoke before it can spread sideways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What suction power is good for an Indian kitchen?
For a standard Indian kitchen with 3–4 gas burners and regular cooking (dals, sabzis, tadkas, occasional frying), a minimum of 1,000–1,200 m³/hr is recommended. If you frequently deep-fry or cook heavy non-veg dishes with strong spices, go for 1,400–1,500 m³/hr. The chimney industry often advertises peak suction, so look for sustained suction ratings from reputed brands like Elica, Faber, Hindware, or Kaff.
Is 60 cm or 90 cm chimney better for my kitchen?
The chimney width should match or slightly exceed your cooktop width. A standard 2-burner cooktop is 60–65 cm wide — a 60 cm chimney is adequate. A 3-burner or 4-burner hob is typically 70–90 cm — a 90 cm chimney will capture smoke better and is highly recommended. For island kitchens with hobs on a central counter, an island hood of 90–120 cm is appropriate.
Ducted vs ductless chimney — which is better?
Ducted chimneys (with external exhaust through a wall or ceiling duct) are significantly more effective — they remove smoke, moisture, heat, and odours from the kitchen permanently. Ductless chimneys recirculate air through carbon filters that remove grease and partially absorb odours, but do not remove heat or moisture. Ductless is only recommended when external ducting is physically impossible. If you can duct it, always choose ducted.
How often should chimney filters be cleaned?
For mesh/baffle filters (standard in Indian chimneys): clean every 2–4 weeks for heavy cooking, every 4–6 weeks for moderate cooking. Simply soak the filter in hot water with dish soap or baking soda for 30 minutes, rinse, and let dry. For ductless chimneys, carbon filters must be replaced (not cleaned) every 3–6 months. Never run a chimney without its filters — grease will accumulate inside the motor housing.
Which chimney brand is best in India?
Top chimney brands in India include Elica, Faber, Hindware, Kaff, Bosch, and Glen. Elica and Faber are Italian brands with strong Indian presence and good after-sales service. Hindware is a reliable Indian brand with good value at mid-range price points. For premium performance and build quality, Faber and Bosch are excellent choices. Consider the availability of local service centers in your city when choosing a brand.
What is the ideal chimney height above the gas stove?
The standard recommended height is 65–75 cm between the bottom of the chimney hood and the top of the burner grate for gas cooktops. For induction cooktops, 75–85 cm is acceptable since there’s no open flame. Mounting too high (above 80 cm for gas) reduces suction effectiveness significantly. Mounting too low (below 60 cm) near gas burners is a fire safety concern.
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Based on kitchen volume × 10 (standard rule-of-thumb), adjusted for burner count and cooking style. Rounded up to common suction ratings sold in India.