Choosing a range cooker starts with a practical question that has nothing to do with brand or colour: what size actually fits your kitchen and your cooking life. Get the size wrong and even the best-built range cooker in the world will feel cramped or oversized. Here's how to think it through.
What do the width measurements actually mean?
Range cookers are sized by their overall width, and the jump between sizes is bigger than it looks on paper. A 60cm range cooker occupies roughly the same footprint as a standard built-in cooker, making it a natural first step up for anyone replacing an existing appliance without altering their kitchen units. Move up to 90cm and 100cm and you start gaining a second oven cavity or a wider hob layout — 100cm is the most commonly chosen size in UK kitchens, striking a balance between cooking capacity and floor space. From 110cm upward, you're typically looking at multiple full-size ovens, a grill compartment, and often a warming drawer, which suits households that cook in volume rather than just cook often.
How many ovens do you actually need?
It's easy to focus on the hob and forget about oven configuration, but this is where day-to-day usability is decided. A single spacious oven works well for most households. Two full ovens make more sense if you regularly cook two dishes at different temperatures — a Sunday roast alongside a dessert, for example — or if you host family gatherings often. A dedicated grill compartment and warming drawer are smaller conveniences that matter more than they sound once you're using them weekly.
Matching size to household, not just kitchen space
As a rough guide: smaller kitchens and couples tend to be well served by 90cm models; 100cm suits most family kitchens; 110cm is worth considering for larger families who cook daily; and 120cm or above tends to suit households that entertain regularly or simply want the extra capacity. It's also worth thinking beyond today — a range cooker is typically a 10-15 year purchase, so sizing for how your household might grow isn't unreasonable.
Does size affect kitchen value?
A well-chosen range cooker, sized appropriately for the room rather than as an oversized statement piece, is generally viewed positively by buyers and valuers alike — it signals a considered, higher-spec kitchen. An undersized cooker crammed into too small a space, or an oversized one dominating a modest kitchen, can have the opposite effect. Proportion matters more than raw size.
See also: once you've settled on a size, our buying guide pulls sizing together with budget and lifestyle to help you land on a specific model.
Quick Answers
Q: What width should I choose — 90cm, 100cm, 110cm, or 120cm?
A: 90cm suits smaller kitchens and couples, 100cm is the most popular all-round size for family kitchens, 110cm suits larger families who cook daily, and 120cm+ suits households that entertain often.
Q: Do I need multiple ovens?
A: Only if you regularly cook two dishes at different temperatures or host large gatherings. A single well-specified oven is enough for most households.
Not sure which size is right for your kitchen? Browse the full Lofra range cooker collection or visit one of our 20+ UK showrooms to see the size difference in person before you decide.
