Good measurements help narrow the choice, but they are not a substitute for the installation drawing. Use this checklist to document your kitchen, then compare it with the exact hood model before ordering or cutting cabinetry.

Prepare a measurement record

Use a tape measure and record units consistently. Take a straight-on photo of the cooking area and a second photo showing the cabinet or ceiling above it. Photograph the existing model plate if it is safely accessible. Do not dismantle an energized hood or expose wiring to complete the checklist.

Record the available opening

• Clear width: measure the usable space between obstructions, not the outside cabinet width. Check more than one point if the opening is uneven.
• Usable depth: note the wall-to-front space and any door, trim or handle that may interfere.
• Available height: record the space under the cabinet or within the enclosure.
• Cooking surface: record its width and height separately.
• Obstructions: note beams, soffits, sloped ceilings, pipes and nearby doors.

Keep the dimensions in a labelled sketch. A photograph alone does not show a reliable scale. If two measurements differ, keep both and note where each was taken instead of averaging them.

Record the connections without guessing

Photograph where the existing duct enters the hood or cabinet. Record the connection’s shape, size and direction when safely accessible. Ask an installer to inspect the full route if it is concealed. A visible collar does not establish that the entire duct run has the same size or reaches the exterior.

Note where the electrical connection is located, but do not open wiring compartments for a shopping measurement. Electrical suitability belongs in the installation review.

For wall and island hoods, add the ceiling measurements

Record floor-to-ceiling height and cooking-surface-to-ceiling distance. Identify a slope or soffit explicitly. The permitted hood mounting position and supplied chimney sections must be checked against the exact instructions. Do not order an extension from ceiling height alone.

For inserts, separate body, cutout and enclosure

An insert project needs three separate records. The body drawing describes the appliance. The cutout drawing specifies the opening it requires. The enclosure plan accounts for the space around and above it, including any liner, connections and service access.

• Ask for a drawing labelled with the complete model and applicable revision.
• Check whether the visible flange is larger than the body or cutout.
• Confirm the required enclosure materials, support and any liner with the applicable instructions and installer.
• Do not cut until the model and drawing match the product being supplied.

Avoid these common shortcuts

Do not use package dimensions as appliance dimensions. Do not scale from a photograph. Do not assume a model advertised as 30 inches requires a 30-inch cutout. Do not transfer a dimension from a similar model or a different suffix. Those shortcuts can turn a small uncertainty into an expensive cabinet change.

Send a useful fit question

A concise request could read: “I am considering this exact model. My clear opening is shown in the attached labelled sketch. These photos show the cooking area and existing duct connection. Please confirm which current drawing applies and which installation components are required.” Add your existing model number when replacing a hood.

Use KSTAR fit support and the manual directory. Start with insert hoods for an enclosure project or under-cabinet hoods when retaining an upper cabinet.

Sources

Whirlpool: range-hood measurement concepts. This checklist deliberately supplies no universal clearance or cutting dimensions; those come from the matched product instructions and applicable local requirements.