Best range cookers 2024: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice

Whether you want an electric, gas or dual-fuel model, pick a Best Buy recommended range cooker to avoid ending up with inaccurate ovens, a tiny grill or a hob that’s a horror to clean. 

Range cookers are the ultimate all-in-one cooking stations. Multiple spacious ovens, a separate grill, a variety of hob burners, and even handy storage compartments – all in one sleek appliance. They're perfect for passionate cooks who crave versatility and the ability to tackle multiple dishes at once.

Our range cooker reviews will help you find your perfect model.

Best range cookers for 2024

We’ve picked out the best electric, induction, gas and dual-fuel models, split by size so you can find the one that'll fit perfectly in your home.

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90cm range cookers

100cm range cookers

110cm or wider range cookers

Not found the range cooker for you? See all our range cooker reviews. 

Video: how to buy the best range cooker

Watch our video to help you decide which type of range cooker is right for you.

To help you to narrow down your options, think about the following:

• How many ovens do you need? What are your usual cooking habits? Do you need one large oven for an epic roast, or the convenience of multiple cavities for different dishes? It’s common to see range cookers with one main oven paired with a tall, thin one – handy for several trays at a time – or two main ovens. You’ll also come across models with one giant oven cavity or three smaller ones.  
• How many shelves per oven would you find useful? Check how many shelves each oven can accommodate. With some, only one cooking level is practical. But if you go for a cooker with a tall, narrow secondary oven, you could have as many as four levels – handy for a family stack of pizzas.
• What size range cooker will fit your kitchen space? Standard widths are 90cm, 100cm, or 110cm (give or take the odd centimetre). The width generally determines how many cooking zones you'll get on the hob - between five and eight. 
• What type of hob do you prefer? Gas hobs offer responsive heat and often include a wok burner for high-powered stir-fries. Induction and ceramic ranges tend to have an extra-large zone to accommodate larger dishes.  
• Do you need a dedicated grill compartment? This allows you to grill food while using the ovens for other dishes. Grill sizes can vary, however, so check the dimensions before you buy.

Range cooker fuel types explained

There are four main types, although your choice might be influenced by the fuel supply you have available to your home, as switching will mean extra expense.

• Gas These models are the cheapest to run in terms of energy costs. The hobs on gas cookers are easy to control and provide instant heat when you need it. 
• Dual-fuel This type is the most popular. They have a gas hob and electric oven, which generally heat more evenly than gas ovens. Gas and dual-fuel range cookers need to be installed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer.
• Electric At least one of the electric ovens will usually have a fan, which helps to spread the heat around the oven. Fan ovens heat up and cook more quickly, so you can reduce cooking times and temperatures.
• Electric induction These have induction hobs rather than conventional electric ceramic hobs, meaning they will heat more quickly and efficiently. But you’ll need iron-based pans, such as those made from stainless steel. Test your current pans with a fridge magnet – if it sticks, then they will work on an induction hob.

Range cooker or Aga?

Aga cookers work differently to conventional range cookers, using radiant heat from a steel core to provide heat to the ovens and hob. Traditional Agas stay on all the time, although modern versions let you switch to heat on demand when needed.

We don't lab-test traditional Aga cookers, but you can see advice and tips in our full Aga buying guide.

Read about different range cooker brands in our guide to which range cooker brand is the most reliable?

Best range cooker features to look for

From wok burners to pyrolytic cleaning, here are the main nice-to-have features:

• Catalytic liners These linings absorb oven spills and splashes, breaking them down and burning them off during high-temperature cooking.
• Control panel Range cookers tend to have chunky control dials lined up above the ovens. Make sure you can read the settings clearly without twisting your head or bending. Cheaper models might not have a timer, so if this feature is important to you then make sure it’s listed.
• Fan oven Most electric or dual-fuel range cookers have a fan to distribute the heat evenly around the oven.
• Griddle These are large cast-iron slabs on part of the hob that are excellent for searing meat or veg and can be used for making pancakes or frying eggs.
• Multifunction oven These allow you to cook with a variety of heat sources independently or in combination, such as the grill and fan together.
• Pyrolytic self-cleaning A program that heats the oven to around 500°C and incinerates any burnt-on food spills. All you need to do is sweep away the ash afterwards.
• Roasting tray Some range cookers have a roasting tray that swings out when you open the door, which avoids you having to reach into the oven.
• Telescopic runners These support the oven shelves and help them to glide out smoothly. This is especially useful when dealing with hot, heavy dishes. 
• Warming drawer Lots of range cookers have one – they’re good for taking the chill off plates or serving dishes, and for proving dough. They can also be useful for storing baking trays and roasting dishes that might otherwise clutter your kitchen.
• Wok burner Found on gas hobs, this is a fierce burner that's great for a stir-fry, searing meat or simply heating up a big pan of water quickly.

What size range cooker should I buy?

Most range cookers are 90cm, 100cm or 110cm wide, and have different features depending on their size. 

• Larger range cookers tend to have four separate compartments: two ovens, a large grill compartment and a heated warming drawer or storage drawer for pots and pans. They usually have six to eight burners.
• Small range cookers generally have two ovens, a grill and a five or six-burner hob. Models that are 90cm wide usually have one standard oven and one tall thin oven on the side. Some range cookers have just one large oven, but this provides less of a true range-cooking experience.
• Mini range cookers are styled to look like range cookers, but they're the same width as a standard freestanding cooker (60cm). 

Oven space

The usable space inside a range cooker can be substantially less than the manufacturer's stated capacity, so you might find you're getting less cooking space than you bargained for. This is because manufacturers often quote the total internal volume, which includes areas such as the gap beneath the lowest shelf. 

Our tests take away the guesswork by measuring how much usable space there is to cook with. We use a variety of different food templates – including a family-sized plastic turkey and a tray of roast potatoes – to show you exactly what you can fit in the oven. 

It's worth thinking about how often you'll need to cook for a large gathering, or have several things on the go at once, as this can help you to figure out what size and shape of range cooker you'll need.

If you don't have the space for a full range cooker, you can see how mini ranges compare with other options in our freestanding cooker reviews.

How much do I need to pay for a good range cooker?

Expect to pay upwards of £1,000, although we occasionally find decent ranges costing less than this. Most Best Buy models cost in excess of £2,000.

Cheaper range cookers might lack some of the trademark cooking accessories, such as griddles, hotplates and roasting trays, that you might normally expect to find.

More expensive models might have a multifunction oven, which gives extra cooking options. Electric models will usually have quicker-to-heat induction hobs and accessories such as griddles, wok rings and roasting trays attached to the inside of the doors.

Price doesn’t guarantee quality, so check our guide to the most reliable range cooker brands to help you in your search.

How much do range cookers cost to run?

The cheapest option is to stick with the fuel type your current cooker runs on. Although gas is cheaper to cook with, if your current cooker is electric, it will take a long time to recoup the outlay of swapping over to a gas connection.

On average, running a gas range cooker will cost as little as £27 a year, while dual-fuel or electric is typically more than double that, at around £63.

These costs are calculated from the energy prices in place from 1st October 2024 to 30th December 2024 of 24.5p/kWh for electricity and 6.24p/kWh for gas. All of our range cooker reviews now have running costs attached – and you don't need to be a member to see them.  

Cooking makes a relatively small contribution to household energy bills, but opting for electricity gives the possibility of sourcing this energy from renewable resources.

Dual-fuel range cookers have electric ovens and a gas hob – the hob's lower running costs will mean they add a little less to your annual energy bill than all-electric cookers.

All-electric ranges can have either an electric ceramic or an induction hob. Induction hobs are very energy efficient.

Read our range cooker reviews to see how much each model costs to run, and how well they perform.

Where to buy a range cooker

There are plenty of places to buy a range cooker, including national chains and specialty sellers. The following are some of the most searched-for retailers. 

• Appliances Online offers a wide selection of range cookers from brands including Smeg, Beko and Rangemaster. You can get an electric range cooker starting from £850, gas models starting from £880, and a dual fuel range cooker from £750. Shipping typically costs £30.
• Currys has range cookers available starting at £460 from its own-brand Logik, but if you want a model from brands such as Rangemaster, or Stoves, you'll have to pay more – starting from £900. Delivery starts from £20, and Currys offers recycling and installation services, too. 
• John Lewis stocks compact and full-sized gas, dual fuel and electric range cookers from manufacturers including Stoves, Belling, Smeg and Fisher & Paykel. Prices start from £7,000, but free standard delivery is often included.