Cooktop vs. Range: Which One is Right for Your Kitchen?

Your kitchen is the heart of your home – a place where you can cook up mouthwatering meals for the people you love. But which kitchen appliance is the best match for your family's culinary needs: cooktop or range? Use our cooktop vs. range guide to make a confident choice.

Cooktop vs. Range: What's the Difference?

What Is a Cooktop?

A cooktop is a kitchen appliance that works just like a stovetop, but without the oven. It's a standalone appliance that takes up counter space but not floor space, allowing you to create a more flexible kitchen environment. A cooktop can be fueled by gas, induction, or electricity. To learn more about cooktops, check out our Cooktop Buying Guide.

Benefits of Cooktops

With anywhere from one to six burners, you can choose a cooktop that suits your culinary and space needs. Take a look at some of the key benefits of cooktops.

Space Saving: In the cooktop vs. range matchup, cooktops require a much smaller cutout in your counter space, and they leave plenty of room for cabinets beneath them. Plus, having a cooktop separate from an oven gives you more options when designing your kitchen space.

Ergonomic: If you have knee or back problems, cooktops offer an ergonomic solution. Your cooktop can be placed at an appropriate height for cooking while seated, and it may even feature central controls and knobs that are easy to move. These types of features are labeled “ADA compliant," meaning they're safe for use by people with disabilities (per the Americans with Disabilities Act).

Versatile: With separate cooking and baking zones, more than one person can easily use a cooktop to prepare dinner and dessert at the same time. A cooktop can also be used in conjunction with a range, giving you access to additional burners to accommodate an elaborate dinner.

What Is a Range?

A range is a single, multifunctional appliance that combines a stovetop and an oven. A stovetop uses its own fuel to heat a surface equipped with four, five, or six burners, and an oven is an enclosed compartment used to cook food. Ranges typically use gas, electricity, or a combination of the two to cook your food to perfection. To learn more about ranges, check out our guide What Is a Kitchen Range?.

Benefits of Ranges

Since ranges combine a stovetop and an oven in a single appliance and location, they're a great choice for kitchens with limited space. Take a look at some of the benefits of this all-in-one appliance.

Variety of Installation Options: With various installation methods, it's easy to find a range that fits your kitchen. A freestanding range has finished sides and prominent legs that allow it to stand independent from a countertop, while a slide-in range is installed into a cutout countertop for a sleek look. Or, for a built-in look, shop for a drop-in range that's anchored between cabinets and rests on low-set cabinet drawers.

Self-Cleaning: Some ranges offer a self-cleaning function, saving you time and energy on scrubbing. The high-temperature cycle turns stuck-on food debris into ash that you can quickly sweep away so you can get on with your day.

Wi-Fi Connection: Want to maximize your time and stop slaving over the stove? With a range that connects to your home Wi-Fi network, you can use your phone or voice activation to preheat the oven or even turn burners on and off from another room in your house.

Once you know where you stand on the cooktop vs. range question, you can purchase the appliance that's just right for your kitchen.

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Written by Robyn Tellefsen