Stylish and practical, a range is your all-in-one cooking solution. The design means you don’t have to buy and install a separate hob, oven and cabinets: a single appliance can produce everything from perfectly baked bread to casseroles, cakes and curries. Installation is a lot easier than you might think – most range cookers simply slot into place – and the best models bring warmth and character to your kitchen.
However, there’s wide range of styles and sizes to choose from, supporting different functions and fuel types. And a range is a sizeable investment, so it’s important to buy one that gives you the right mix of capacity, energy efficiency, cleanability and so on. Here’s our rundown of the best range cookers money can buy – along with a buyer’s guide to help you make the right choice.
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How to buy the best range cooker for you
Range cookers come in two types. The first is cast-iron heat-storage models that cook using radiant heat. This category includes traditional Agas and appliances such as Rayburns that can also heat water for your radiators and hot water system. They can be powered by electric, gas, LPG, oil or solid fuels and may require a flue. In the winter they provide an always-on ambient warmth, but can normally be switched off in the summer.
The other type of range cooker has its roots in professional kitchens; this type typically has a multi-purpose hob top, sometimes with extra-powerful burners, griddles or a hotplate. Most are dual-fuel or electric, with induction tops an increasingly popular option. Just be aware that, by design, the multiple ovens may have different energy efficiency ratings, with only the main oven gaining an A-rating.
There are different design styles to choose from too: you may prefer traditional lines for a classic country vibe, or stainless steel for a professional look. Cookers with bright enamelled finishes are an easy way to add colour and create a focal point.
How much should I spend?
A basic range cooker can be had for as little as £600, while bespoke professional models can cost up to £20,000. Some of that huge price variation comes down to specification and colour choices, but paying more also tends to get you a better quality product. For example, a good cast-iron range should last you for decades – and the price reflects that.
What size do I need?
Range cookers come in a range of standard widths, from 50cm to 150cm. The most popular size is 90cm, which tends to come with three cavities (tall oven, second oven and grill), but there are also plenty of four-cavity 100cm and 110cm models to choose from.
If you have space then bigger is normally better, as this gives you maximum flexibility. For example, if you have a large family or like to entertain, it’s very helpful to have two or three separate ovens, as well as a warming drawer, to ensure everything’s ready at the right time. It can also be helpful for batch baking, or catering for different dietary requirements.
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What features should I look for?
Ranges may come with a whole gamut of cooking options – but before you get hung up on fancy extras like rotisseries, griddles, hotplates and meat probes, ask yourself if you’re likely to use them. The key things to look for are at least two ovens (preferably both multifunctional) and a varied hob top, such as a large wok burner and smaller burners for simmering.
Other handy features that might tempt you include telescopic oven shelves to help you remove dishes; warming or storage drawers; and settings for defrosting, reheating and keeping food warm. An induction top and touch-safe oven doors are also desirable if you have young children.
Finally, look for ovens that are easy to clean. Many feature pyrolytic cleaning, which burns grease off at high heat or have catalytic liners that use the heat of the oven to break down grease, reducing time spent cleaning the cavity. Others have enamel coatings which are easier to clean than bare iron.
The best range cookers to buy in 2018
1. Belling Farmhouse 60DF 60cm Freestanding Dual-Fuel Cooker: Best range cooker under £700
Price:£629 | Buy now from Amazon
Having a compact kitchen doesn’t have to mean compromising on the traditional range aesthetic. The latest incarnation of Belling’s popular Farmhouse cooker is just 60cm wide, yet manages to cram in three gas burners and a wok burner with cast-iron pan supports, plus a double oven (with defrost and slow cook functions) and a grill. If the jalapeño red shade is a bit too spicy for your kitchen, the 60DF also comes in more tasteful cream and black shades. The glass door is removable, so it’s easy to clean, but you’ll have to get on your hands and knees to clean the enamel-coated ovens. Note too that the second oven is only around half the size of the main one, limiting what you can use it for.
Key specs – Size: 60 x 60 x 91.5cm (WDH); Fuel: Dual; Ovens: A-rated 65-litre fan, A-rated 37-litre conventional; Hob: Four gas burners
2. Five-Oven Aga Total Control: Best large-capacity range cooker
Price:£13,825 | Buy now from Aga Living
The Aga is a classic design, and the Total Control model marries traditional looks to modern flexibility, with programmable switch-on, switch-off technology. That means it can still cook with gentle radiant heat, but you can switch it off in the summer and just fire up individual hotplates and ovens as needed. It’s more economical than its predecessors too, with an average energy consumption of 35kWh per week when used only for cooking (less than £5 a week), and 75kWh when in always-on slumber mode.
The five-oven design features a dedicated slow cooking oven in addition to the normal complement – perfect for a leg of lamb, puddings, casseroles and stocks – yet at 150cm wide, it has only the same footprint as a four-oven model. And if you upgrade to the iTotal Control model you can even control it from your phone while you’re out and about.
Key specs – Size: 150 x 70 x 92cm (WDH); Fuel: Electric (in-room venting flue); Ovens: Five, for roasting, baking, simmering, slow cooking and warming; Hob: Warming plate / induction hob with boiling plate and simmering plate
3. Hotpoint CH10456GFS Cannon by Hotpoint range cooker: Best range cooker for families
Price:£1,399 | Buy now from Amazon
If you’ve a metre of space in your kitchen, the Cannon by Hotpoint range cooker is a great way to fill it. It offers more than 120 litres of oven capacity, a dedicated warming compartment and a separate grill that can also be used to keep food hot. On top, three cast-iron pan supports sit over two double face burners, which distribute the flame evenly to ensure food is cooked quickly; there's also an auxiliary gas burner, plus semi-rapid, rapid and double-crown wok burners. You’ll only find catalytic liners to help minimise cleaning, though – there’s no pyrolytic programme – and both ovens only have a B-rating for energy efficiency.
Key specs – Size: 100 x 60 x 90cm (WDH); Fuel: Dual; Ovens: B-rated 61-litre fan, B-rated 63-litre conventional; Hob: Six-burner gas hob
4. Esse 500EL range cooker: Best compact range cooker
Price:£4,495 | Buy now from Esse
Tiny kitchens needn’t compromise on style: just half a metre wide, the 500EL still manages to accommodate two ovens, a grill and a hot plate large enough for three pans. And since it’s flue-free, it can be positioned anywhere – all you need is a 13A socket for easy plug-and-play installation.
One particularly neat feature is the cabled control panel, which can be wall-mounted up to 1.5m away, or used freestanding. We also like the way that both ovens have vents that can retain moisture for baking or create dry heat for crisping roast potatoes. In slumber mode the entire hob is heated, so it’s ideal for warming dishes, but can heat up to a searing 400°C in just 38 minutes.
Key specs – Size: 50 x 60 x 90cm (WDH); Fuel: Electric; Ovens: 42-litre top oven, 30-litre bottom oven, both with 3kW elements (uses 0.32kW in slumber mode); Hob: cast-iron hotplate
5. Rangemaster NEXUS SE 110cm range cooker: The best all-round range cooker
Price:£2,806 | Buy now from Rangemaster
With two spacious ovens, plus a third slow-cooking oven and a deep-pan glide-out grill, the Nexus SE can adapt easily from whipping up everyday meals to creating something special. On the left, the eight-function oven heats up 30% quicker than a conventional oven, while on the right there’s a separate fan oven – and both have easy clean catalytic liners. The slow-cooking oven can also be used for warming food, and has thermostatic controls for temperatures from 80° to 140° – although the enamel finish will need a bit of elbow-grease to clean after use. Finally, on top, there’s a griddle that’s ideal for sizzling steak, fish or a fry-up alongside five burners, including a powerful 3.5kW multi-ring burner.
Key specs – Size: 110 x 60 x 90cm (WDH); Fuel: Dual; Ovens: A-rated 73-litre multifunction, A-rated 73-litre fan, A-rated 21-litre slow cooking oven; Hob: Give-burner gas hob, two-burner hotplate with multi-zone griddle
6. Bertazzoni Professional Series 90cm induction top double oven: Most stylish range cooker
Price:£4,179 | Buy now from John Lewis
Bold colour and elegant design define this 90cm range – but behind the eye-catching finish you’ll find plenty of practical features to get excited about. For one, its digital programmer provides an at-a-glance display of your selected oven function and temperature, which is very useful if you’re cooking dishes that need precision. Settings on offer for the main oven include pizza, fast preheat, defrost, bake and grill, while the second oven adds four functions, a grill and a rotisserie option.
Add in a storage drawer and an induction hob and you have a hard-working range that’ll make a great centrepiece for your kitchen. Again, though, the ovens only have enamel linings, however, so you’ll need to give it a good scrub from time to time.
Key specs – Size: 90 x 60 x 92cm (WDH); Fuel: Electric; Ovens: A-rated 69-litre multifunction, A+-rated 38-litre conventional; Hob: Five-zone induction hob
7. Rayburn 600 Series in Duck Egg Blue: Best range cooker for heating your home
Price: From £9,795 | Buy now from Rayburn
The Rayburn 600 is more than just a range – it’s a combined heating and cooking system. Beneath its classic exterior lies an A-rated boiler, which can provide hot water for your home and heat up to 20 radiators. It’s a versatile cooker too: its cast-iron hotplate is the largest on the market, with space for eight saucepans, while its main oven is 16% larger than standard Rayburn models, with four different heat zones for grilling, roasting, baking and simmering. The lower oven offers half the radiant heat, so it’s ideal for slow-cooking casseroles, vegetables and puddings, and there’s also an eco mode to help you save energy. You can even programme the Rayburn 600 to switch on automatically when you’re out; just be aware that it needs venting, so you might need to fit a flue.
Key specs – Size: 100 x 58 x 91cm (WDH); Fuel: Commercial kerosene; Ovens: A-rated boiler, 47-litre main, 34-litre lower; Hob: Cast-iron hotplate
8. Miele HR1956G range cooker: Best range cooker for pro-style cooking
Price:£17,999 | Buy now from Miele
This range cooker will empty your piggy bank – but its superb feature set can make your cooking something quite spectacular. As well as swipeable touch controls, it boasts a standard oven with Moisture Plus for better baking and succulent meat, a combination microwave oven (with a dedicated popcorn programme!), a wireless food probe and a rotisserie for Sunday roasts, delicate fish and perfect poultry. There’s also a gourmet food-warming drawer for low-temperature cooking and plate-warming duties, while time-saving pyrolytic self-cleaning makes for minimal maintenance.
Key specs – Size: 122 x 70 x 90cm (WDH); Fuel: Dual; Ovens: A+++-rated 84-litre fan, D-rated 43-litre microwave combination; Hob: Six-burner gas hob, griddle