Cooktops are meant to be used when you want to put the oven under the cooktop. Rangetops are used when you want to have wall-mounted ovens, or if you want griddles, or grills as part of the cooking surface. Rangetops can also be found in larger sizes like 48-inches wide, where cooktops are generally 30 or 36-inches wide.

That makes sense Swines. I don't want a griddle or a grill, but I do want more than 4 burners. I was thinking of going 36" wide. I also need 2 ovens. I don't really have wall space for wall ovens, although I'd love to have them. Is it possible to put an oven under a rangetop? I have limited space even with remodeling. I don't need a 36" oven under a 36" cooktop so I was trying to save space by putting a 27" or 30" oven under a larger cooktop. I even looked at 48" ranges, but the cheapest one I could find (KA at $6500) didn't have a smaller oven big enough for my needs. I was trying to avoid spending close to $10K on a range. Plus now I'm planning to locate rangetop/cooktop in the island. Any ideas?

I don't quite agree with Swines' reasoning. "Cooktops are meant to be used when you when you want to put the oven under the cooktop" is true, but that's a small percentage of the people who choose cooktops, and isn't the main reason people choose cooktops over rangetops. Many if not most people with cooktops opt to have separate wall oven(s).

As to griddles and grills, as Swines said, one can choose them to be a built-in feature of rangetops, but many people prefer the accessory type of grill/griddle anyway over the built-in grill/griddle, cause they're easier to clean, can be removed when you want the use of two more burners, and only cost about $40. So cooktop or rangetop can have a grill/griddle.

I'll link below a recent thread on rangetops vs. cooktops that provides a list of differences. You don't say what size you are looking at--I think a 36" width is much better than a 30" width in a cooktop or rangetop. Also, I don't know that I'd call the differences "advantages/disadvantages". It's more a matter of people's personal cooking style, how different people like to operate in the kitchen, and their personal taste. As to the knobs on the cooktop, I wouldn't call them "dangerous". Millions of people have cooktops with the knobs on top! However, some cooktops do have those knobs closer to the burners than others; it depends on their layouts, and you should look at them in the store to see if you think the knobs are too close. But I think you'd be hearing about people burning themselves all the time if that really were the case. As I already said, you would do better with a 36" width where there will be less crowding.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread about Cooktop vs. Rangetop

akchicago--thanks for the thoughtful reply. As mentioned, I don't want a built-in grill or griddle for the reasons you stated. I definetly want a 36".

As to my follow-up post above, can a separate oven fit under a rangetop? I'm leaning towards GE Profile for ovens, but have no idea for good rangetop brands.

Breezygirl - It looks like our two posts crossed, so I didn't see that you'd posted about the 36" width, etc.

I don't think an oven can fit under a rangetop, or if it could be squeezed in, it would be so low to the ground that it would really be difficult every time you want to use the oven, much less the Thanksgiving turkey. If you are determined to have the oven underneath, the cooktop is the answer. The cooktop is also a sleek look, with less nooks and crannies than a rangetop, though I really like a rangetop too! But with your requirements, it looks like the cooktop is the answer. I am wondering though, how you'd have room for the 48" range that you mentioned, but not room for wall ovens? Have you posted your layout, or layout questions on the Kitchens Forum? Perhaps the amazing gurus there could help you fit wall ovens--that way, you'd have the two ovens you want.

I was afraid that an oven wouldn't fit under a rangetop. I guess that makes my decision for a cooktop.

I won't have very much wall space under my current layout idea. In trying to open the kitchen up to the rest of the house, I'll only end up with 10 feet of usable wall space. I'm now trying to keep the sink on the wall so I can have a window. With the Kitchen Forum guidelines, I'll need at least 24" of counter space on each side of a 30" sink. Add to that that I really need a pantry in this arrangment and I'm down to not enough room for wall ovens. At one point, I had designed the range on that wall and the sink in the island. That's how I had room for a 48" range (but no window).

I've posted my layout ideas. No one seems to like anything I come up with, but everyone feels free to comment about why I have a breakfast table and a large dining room table. I'm going to post my new idea soon to see if someone can work in wall ovens.

Our kitchen is open to our family room & there are NO windows in the kitchen. This let us maximize cabinet space and we included lots of lighting. With a dishwasher, we just don't spend much time at the cleanup sink to miss a window. More time is spent prepping, which we do on the island with a prep sink, facing the family room (and its windows).