7 Types of Stoves and How to Choose One for Your Home

When selecting the right stove for your kitchen, start by choosing a stove style that meets your needs—whether it's induction, radiant, freestanding, or another—and pairing it with your kitchen's fuel type, either electric or gas. This guide covers seven basic types of stoves, discussing their fuel types and how to choose the best one for your kitchen.

Induction Stove

An induction stove is an electric range that heats cookware through a strong magnetic field. You can also purchase induction cooktops separately.

The surface of an induction stove is ceramic glass, under which are elements that heat ferromagnetic pots and pans to cook food.

Cleaning an induction stove is simple due to its smooth, cool top. Most spills can be wiped away with a sponge. Use a ceramic glass top cleaner for best results.

Tip

An induction stove is the most energy-efficient type of stove—only 15% of its energy is lost while cooking, making it significantly more efficient than gas stoves. It’s also up to 10% more efficient than electric radiant or exposed coil stoves.

One consideration with induction stoves is the requisite cookware, which must be made of cast iron, enameled cast iron, or certain types of stainless steel. Aluminum and glass cookware require a metal pan adapter.

The induction stove uses induction heating for the burners, while the oven operates as a conventional electric convection oven.

Tip

A stove is a combined cooking device with both burners on top and an oven below, available in gas or electric options. A cooktop is a flat cooking surface installed within the countertop. Lacking an oven, a cooktop can be paired with a separate wall oven.

Radiant Stove

A radiant stove is an electric stove with burners underneath a smooth ceramic glass top.

Both radiant and induction stoves look similar, with hidden heating elements beneath a ceramic-glass surface. However, radiant stoves use coils to radiate heat, unlike the magnetic energy used by induction stoves.

Tip

Any type of cookware can be used with radiant stoves, but caution should be taken with cast iron to avoid scratching the surface.

Cleaning a radiant stove is easy when cool, with a sponge or paper towels. However, spills can bake on due to high surface temperatures. Use ceramic glass top cleaning products or a razor for stubborn residues.

Radiant stovetops remain hot for a while after being turned off. Hot surface indicators stay lit until the temperature drops below a certain threshold, around 150°F or 125°F.

What Is a Bridge Element Burner?

A bridge burner connects two round heating elements to form one larger oval-shaped element, offering a more extensive cooking space. This feature is available on some radiant and induction stoves.

Electric Stove

An electric stove heats cookware through direct contact with exposed heated coils. This type of stove includes both burners on top and a convection oven underneath.

Electric stoves with exposed coils are quite durable since they lack a glass top that can break or scratch. The coils can be easily removed for cleaning and replacement.

These stoves are harder to clean compared to smooth glass top stoves, as food can clog the coils or drip pans.

Freestanding Stove

A freestanding stove includes burners on top and an oven beneath. Available in induction, radiant, electric, and gas variants, these stoves feature a distinguishing raised back panel with burner controls that also serves as a backguard. Some models split the controls between the back and front.

Freestanding stoves can be installed free of surrounding cabinets as their sides are finished.

Slide-In Stove

A slide-in stove also offers burners on top and an oven below, and can be found in induction, radiant, electric, and gas forms. Unlike freestanding stoves, slide-in stoves lack a back panel and their rear aligns with a kitchen backsplash.

Tip

Some slide-in stoves offer optional matching backsplashes, or you can install your own heat-resistant backsplash.

With controls on the front and no back panel, slide-in stoves seamlessly fit between kitchen cabinets. Because the sides are unfinished, it must be installed between base cabinets or within a kitchen island.

Commercial Style Stove

A commercial style stove resembles a restaurant stove in form and function, boasting higher burner grates, greater flame capacity, grates spanning the top, and features like griddles.

Like slide-in stoves, commercial style stoves lack a backsplash. Matching backsplashes can be purchased separately or you can install your own.

Typically gas-powered, these stoves come in widths from the standard 30 inches up to 60 inches.

Downdraft Stove

A downdraft stove includes a ventilation system that eliminates the need for an external exhaust fan and hood. This system pulls cooking odors, steam, and smoke down through a vent that exits the house.

Downdraft stoves can be either gas or electric. This feature is compatible with electric, freestanding, slide-in, or commercial stoves.

The downdraft vent can be flush with the cooktop surface or retractable.

How to Choose a Stove

When choosing a stove, start by deciding on the fuel source—electric or gas. Next, select a stove style within that fuel category. Finally, choose a stove with the size and design that fits your kitchen layout.

Stove Fuel Source

Stoves are powered by either electricity or gas, typically natural gas. Consider whether to keep your current fuel source or switch to a new one, as this impacts the type of stove you can install.

Electric

• Induction stove

• Electric (coil) stove

• Radiant stove

• Freestanding stove

• Slide-in stove

• Downdraft stove

Gas

• Freestanding stove

• Slide-in stove

• Downdraft stove

• Commercial-style stove

If your home has a gas line, you cannot install an induction stove unless you hire an electrician to set up 240V electricity. If you want a gas stove but lack a gas line, you’d need a certified plumber to install one.

Gas Stove

• Heats up quickly
• Fast temperature changes
• Less energy efficient
• May produce indoor air pollutants

Electric Stove

• Energy efficient
• Clean burning
• Heats up slowly
• Slower temperature changes

Stove Style

Select a stove type that matches your kitchen and cooking style:

• Induction stove: Offers top stovetop safety and energy savings, but cookware choice is limited
• Electric stove: Provides savings with simple exposed coil designs
• Radiant stove: Similar to electric stoves but with a ceramic glass top covering the coils
• Freestanding stove: Basic design with a rear control panel and finished sides for flexibility
• Slide-in stove: Offers a sleek look that integrates with countertops and cabinets
• Commercial-style stove: Ideal for serious cooks needing more space and precise gas temperature control
• Downdraft stove: Perfect for kitchens without a traditional hood-style exhaust fan

Stove Size and Design

Most stoves are 30 inches wide, a versatile size for nearly any kitchen layout, including one-wall or galley kitchens. Other widths include 36, 48, and 60 inches.

Consider the sides of the stove: If it’s at the end of a cabinet bank, you'll need a freestanding stove. Slide-in stoves have unfinished sides and must be installed within cabinets or an island.

Stove Costs

Electric stoves are typically the least expensive, starting at around $500. Radiant electric stoves range from $600 to $3,300.

High-end induction stoves cost between $2,500 and $5,600 or more. Despite the higher upfront cost, induction stoves save energy, reducing long-term expenses.

Stove	Cost
Induction stove	$2,500 to $5,600
Electric stove	$500 to $2,300
Radiant stove	$600 to $3,300
Freestanding stove	$500 to $2,700
Slide-in stove	$1,600 to $3,600
Commercial-style stove	$4,200 to $12,000
Downdraft stove	$3,200 to $3,600