Is your range gas or electric?

Gas

You can use either, but with gas it is always nice to be able to extract heat as well as steam, etc from cooking. Heat build up around a gas appliance is one of the few complaints about them. I would go with the 36". You may want to try some Houzz searches to see if you can find an example of a 36" hood over a 30" range. We are in process of doing one now, but it is a 36" cabinet hood with an insert instead of a free standing stainless hood.

Hi JP ... I, as a rule leave some space on each side... I like to run tile/ back splash material all the way to the ceiling and this allows some of the tile to be visible on each side... making it look more intentional. However if you intend on stopping your back splash material at the hood... make it meet the cabinets on each side... this will give you a natural place to stop!

36"

I have to make the *exact* same decision now! What do you end up choosing -and do you have a picture?

Wow, it does! Thank you for posting!

Wow..Exactly what I needed to see...36" with tile to soffit. Thx for posting

JP what good is that ? That is what I am looking for. Thanks !

I mean hood !

For an electric range, is the rule of thumb the same? We are getting a 30 inch cooktop and we have 42 inches of space between cabinets so we have room for 36 but 30 would give more room between the cabinets. Does it matter less with an electric cooktop? Or still go for the 36 (leaving 3 inches of space between the cabinets and the hood)? Thanks in advance!

36" for sure

I have an electric stove and am looking at a 900 CFM Cosmos island range hood, Will the 30" be ok? The CFMs are so high I was thinking it might be. Not much of a difference in price. I didn't want it taking up space tho, have to because of how my kitchen was designed.

Hi, what sizsize is your cook range in range photo? 30" ?

If anyone's looking for an amazing deal on a black stainless 36" range hood, let me know. I bought the wrong size and can't return it.

@Jeannine Walter, wall mount or island mount?

Sorry i sold it