Zephyr range hood sones: every under-cabinet, wall, island, insert and downdraft rating

October 5, 2026 · 17 min read

Zephyr Valina 30-Inch Slide-Out Under-Cabinet Range Hood, 290 CFM

Zephyr range hood sones: every under-cabinet, wall, island, insert and downdraft rating

By Stanley Alu

The short answer

Zephyr prints a minimum to maximum sone range on almost every spec sheet, most often "1 - 6", and never says which speed or test produced it.
The Home Ventilating Institute certifies 50 of Zephyr's 71 current US lines at high speed, and there the figures run from 3.5 to 12 sones.
The lowest certified rating belongs to the Valina 290 under-cabinet hood, 3.5 sones at 260 CFM, then the Pisa 290 at 4 sones and the Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR insert at 4.5.
The Siena ENERGY STAR is the quietest certified wall hood at 6.5 sones at 400 CFM, the Amalfi and Como lead at 500 CFM with 8 sones, the Titan is the quietest certified island hood at 10 sones, and the Lift is the quietest certified downdraft at 8.5.
The other 21 lines publish only Zephyr's own range, which we list separately.

#1 · Lowest certified Zephyr rating at high speed

Zephyr Valina 30-Inch Slide-Out Under-Cabinet Range Hood, 290 CFM

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At a glance

1
Lowest certified Zephyr rating at high speed
Zephyr Valina 30-Inch Slide-Out Under-Cabinet Range Hood, 290 CFM
No figure published
Price not verifiedCheck price →
2
Quietest certified Zephyr insert
Zephyr Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR 21-Inch Range Hood Insert
No figure published
Price not verifiedCheck price →
3
Quietest certified Zephyr wall hood
Zephyr Siena Wall ENERGY STAR 30-Inch Range Hood
No figure published
Price not verifiedCheck price →
4
Quietest certified Zephyr wall hood at 500 CFM
Zephyr Amalfi Wall 30-Inch Pyramid Range Hood
No figure published
Price not verifiedCheck price →
5
Most airflow of the 9-sone Zephyr under-cabinet hoods
Zephyr Typhoon 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood
No figure published
Price not verifiedCheck price →
6
Quietest certified Zephyr island hood
Zephyr Titan 36-Inch Island Range Hood
No figure published
Price not verifiedCheck price →
7
Quietest certified Zephyr downdraft
Zephyr Lift 36-Inch Downdraft Range Hood
No figure published
Price not verifiedCheck price →

Our Picks

#1 · Lowest certified Zephyr rating at high speed

Zephyr Valina 30-Inch Slide-Out Under-Cabinet Range Hood, 290 CFM

Zephyr

No current Zephyr hood has a lower certified high-speed figure. HVI lists the Valina 290 at 3.5 sones at 260 CFM through a 6-inch round vertical duct, and 0.9 sone at 180 CFM at working speed. Zephyr's own sheet prints "180 - 290" CFM and "1.5 - 4" sones, a range that does not say which speed is which. It is a slide-out under-cabinet hood with two speeds and a 290 CFM blower, which Zephyr lists as "CA Title 24 Compliant". The 36-inch ZVA-M90AS290 carries the same ratings.

Buy it ifA 30-inch electric or induction cooktop where quiet on high matters more than airflow

Skip it ifYou cook on a big gas range or a 36-inch cooktop and need 300 CFM or more

What we like

3.5 sones at 260 CFM certified, the lowest high-speed figure HVI lists for any current Zephyr
0.9 sone at 180 CFM at working speed
Slide-out canopy hides when not in use
Recirculating kit available

What to know

Tops out at 260 CFM certified, enough for a 30-inch cooktop by HVI's 100 CFM per foot rule but not a 36-inch one
Vertical 6-inch round duct only
Two speeds, mechanical push button, no auto delay-off
Zephyr shows no price, so we could not verify one

Certified high speed: 3.5 sones at 260 CFM
Zephyr's printed range: 1.5 to 4 sones
Certified working speed: 0.9 sone at 180 CFM
Duct: 6 in. round, vertical
Type: Under-cabinet, 30 or 36 in.

Price not verified yetSpecs checked Oct 4

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#2 · Quietest certified Zephyr insert

Zephyr Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR 21-Inch Range Hood Insert

Zephyr

The Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR is a 21-inch power pack that fits a standard 12-inch-deep cabinet or a custom hood with one of Zephyr's adjustable liners. HVI certifies it at 4.5 sones at 280 CFM on high and 2 sones at 190 CFM at working speed, through a 6-inch round vertical duct, and it is one of the few Zephyr hoods whose printed range matches its certification: the sheet says "190 - 290" CFM and "2 - 4.5" sones. Zephyr's page calls the blower "ultra-quiet". The regular Tornado Mini, AK8400BS, moves more air and is certified at 7 sones at 360 CFM.

Buy it ifA custom hood or cabinet over an electric or induction cooktop

Skip it ifYou need 400 CFM or more, where the Tornado Mini AK8400BS or the Vortex are the next steps up

What we like

4.5 sones at 280 CFM certified, the lowest high-speed figure of any Zephyr insert
Zephyr's printed 2 to 4.5 sones matches HVI's working and high-speed figures
ENERGY STAR certified
Fits a standard 12-inch cabinet, or a custom hood 17-1/2 to 20-1/2 inches deep with a liner

What to know

280 CFM certified is modest for a gas range
No recirculating option and no auto delay-off
Mesh filter rather than baffles
Zephyr shows no price, so we could not verify one

Certified high speed: 4.5 sones at 280 CFM
Zephyr's printed range: 2 to 4.5 sones
Certified working speed: 2 sones at 190 CFM
Duct: 6 in. round, vertical
Type: Insert, 21 in.

Price not verified yetSpecs checked Oct 4

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#3 · Quietest certified Zephyr wall hood

Zephyr Siena Wall ENERGY STAR 30-Inch Range Hood

Zephyr

Among Zephyr's chimney and wall hoods, the Siena ENERGY STAR has the lowest certified high-speed figure: 6.5 sones at 400 CFM through an 8-inch round duct, vertical or horizontal, and 2 sones at 210 CFM at working speed. Zephyr's sheet prints "200 - 400" CFM and "2 - 6.5" sones, which here line up with HVI's two figures. The standard Siena, ZSI-E30DS, moves more air and is certified at 9 to 9.5 sones at 560 to 570 CFM, so the ENERGY STAR version trades 160 to 170 CFM of top airflow for a lower top rating.

Buy it ifA 30 or 36-inch cooktop against a wall where 400 CFM is enough

Skip it ifYou want a quieter low setting, where the Amalfi and Como are certified lower

What we like

6.5 sones at 400 CFM certified, the lowest high-speed figure of any Zephyr wall hood
Printed range matches the certified working and high-speed figures
ENERGY STAR certified; ACT can cap it at 290 CFM
Five speeds, auto delay-off

What to know

2 sones at working speed, where the Amalfi and Como are certified at 0.7
No recirculating option
Zephyr shows no price, so we could not verify one

Certified high speed: 6.5 sones at 400 CFM
Zephyr's printed range: 2 to 6.5 sones
Certified working speed: 2 sones at 210 CFM
Duct: 8 in. round, vertical or horizontal
Type: Wall chimney, 30 or 36 in.

Price not verified yetSpecs checked Oct 4

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#4 · Quietest certified Zephyr wall hood at 500 CFM

Zephyr Amalfi Wall 30-Inch Pyramid Range Hood

Zephyr

The Amalfi pyramid hood and the Como, which shares its blower table, are tied for the lowest certified high-speed figure among Zephyr wall hoods that reach 500 CFM: 8 sones at 500 CFM through a 6-inch round vertical duct. They also share the joint lowest certified working speed of any Zephyr wall hood, 0.7 sone at 180 CFM. Zephyr's sheets print "200 - 600" CFM and "1 - 6" sones for both. The next Zephyr wall hoods up are at 9 sones: the Podesta at 520 CFM, the Siena at 560 CFM and the 42 to 54-inch Tempest II at 570 CFM.

Buy it ifA gas cooktop against a wall where you want 500 CFM on high and near silence on low

Skip it ifYou prefer a flat modern front to a pyramid, which is the Como with the same ratings

What we like

8 sones at 500 CFM certified, joint lowest with the Como among Zephyr wall hoods at that airflow
0.7 sone at 180 CFM at working speed
ACT can cap the blower at 390 or 290 CFM
TruHue LED lighting, adjustable from 2700K to 5000K

What to know

Vertical 6-inch round duct only, not recirculating
Three speeds; ACT 290 leaves two
2-year parts warranty
Zephyr shows no price, so we could not verify one

Certified high speed: 8 sones at 500 CFM
Zephyr's printed range: 1 to 6 sones
Certified working speed: 0.7 sone at 180 CFM
Duct: 6 in. round, vertical
Type: Wall pyramid, 30 or 36 in.

Price not verified yetSpecs checked Oct 4

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#5 · Most airflow of the 9-sone Zephyr under-cabinet hoods

Zephyr Typhoon 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood

Zephyr

Five Zephyr under-cabinet lines have a certified high-speed figure of 9 sones somewhere in HVI's listing, and the Typhoon moves the most air at it: 680 CFM through a 3-1/4 x 10-inch horizontal duct. On a 7-inch round vertical duct it is 9.5 sones at 620 CFM. Its certified working speed, 0.7 sone at 230 CFM on that round duct, is the most airflow at under 1 sone that HVI lists for any current Zephyr. Zephyr calls the blowers "virtually noise-free" and prints "0.9 - 5" sones, a long way from HVI's 9 to 10 on high.

Buy it ifA gas range under a cabinet where you need 600 CFM or more and mostly cook on the low steps

Skip it ifYour cooktop needs under 400 CFM, where the Breeze II is certified at 7.5 sones

What we like

9 sones at 680 CFM certified, horizontal rectangular duct
0.7 sone at 230 CFM at working speed, 7-inch round vertical
Six speeds, Quiet Speed Setting (QSS) and ACT
10 years parts warranty, the longest on any Zephyr sheet we read (the Cyclone, Hurricane, Tornado I and Twister match it)

What to know

Zephyr's printed "0.9 - 5" sones is far below the certified 9 to 10 at high speed
10 sones at 530 CFM on a vertical rectangular duct
No recirculating option
Zephyr shows no price, so we could not verify one

Certified high speed: 9 sones at 680 CFM
Zephyr's printed range: 0.9 to 5 sones
Certified working speed: 0.7 sone at 230 CFM
Duct: 7 in. round or 3-1/4 x 10 in.
Type: Under-cabinet, 30 to 48 in.

Price not verified yetSpecs checked Oct 4

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#6 · Quietest certified Zephyr island hood

Zephyr Titan 36-Inch Island Range Hood

Zephyr

Of the eight Zephyr island lines HVI certifies, the pro-style Titan has the lowest high-speed figure: 10 sones at 560 CFM through an 8-inch round vertical duct, with 2 sones at 180 CFM at working speed. The 42, 48 and 54-inch versions carry the same listing. Zephyr's sheet prints "200-650 CFM, 1-8 Sones" for the included blower and "400-1,200 CFM, 3-11 Sones" for the optional dual blower, which HVI does not list.

Buy it ifA pro-style island where you want the lowest certified Zephyr figure on high

Skip it ifYou mostly cook on low, where the Napoli's 0.8 sone working speed is lower

What we like

10 sones at 560 CFM certified, the lowest high-speed figure of any Zephyr island hood
Optional dual blower to 1,200 CFM for big gas ranges
Pro baffle filters; ACT can cap the single blower at 390 or 290 CFM

What to know

2 sones at working speed, where the Napoli is certified at 0.8
The dual blower configuration is not in HVI's directory
No recirculating option
Zephyr shows no price, so we could not verify one

Certified high speed: 10 sones at 560 CFM
Zephyr's printed range: 1 to 8 sones
Certified working speed: 2 sones at 180 CFM
Duct: 8 in. round, vertical
Type: Island, 36 to 54 in.

Price not verified yetSpecs checked Oct 3

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#7 · Quietest certified Zephyr downdraft

Zephyr Lift 36-Inch Downdraft Range Hood

Zephyr

Zephyr's Lift downdraft takes a blower sold separately, and HVI certifies the pairing with the DBI-600A blower as "DBI-600A with compatible downdraft intake": 8.5 sones at 440 CFM on high and 1 sone at 180 CFM at working speed, through an 8-inch front discharge. Zephyr's blower sheet names the Lift as that blower's compatible model but prints "SONES" as "NA", so the certified figure is the only one there is. It is lower than the Treviso's 9.5 and the Sorrento's 10.5.

Buy it ifAn island cooktop where a hood overhead is not an option

Skip it ifYou can hang a hood, which captures smoke better than any downdraft

What we like

8.5 sones at 440 CFM certified with the DBI-600A, the lowest of Zephyr's three downdrafts
1 sone at 180 CFM at working speed
Raises 18 inches; turns the blower on and off as it rises and lowers
4-Way Ducting, which Zephyr says works with all blower options

What to know

Zephyr publishes no sone figure for any of its blower options
The in-line and external blowers it also takes are not certified with it
Blower sold separately, and Zephyr shows no price

Certified high speed: 8.5 sones at 440 CFM
Zephyr's printed range: None (blower sheet says NA)
Certified working speed: 1 sone at 180 CFM
Duct: 8 in. round, front discharge
Type: Downdraft, 30 or 36 in.

Price not verified yetSpecs checked Oct 3

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Compare the picks

Every figure is the maker's own, as quoted in each pick above.

Pick	Certified high speed	Zephyr's printed range	Certified working speed	Duct	Type	Price
1.Zephyr ZVA-E30AS290	3.5 sones at 260 CFM	1.5 to 4 sones	0.9 sone at 180 CFM	6 in. round, vertical	Under-cabinet, 30 or 36 in.	Not verified yet
2.Zephyr AK8400BS-ES	4.5 sones at 280 CFM	2 to 4.5 sones	2 sones at 190 CFM	6 in. round, vertical	Insert, 21 in.	Not verified yet
3.Zephyr ZSI-E30BS-ES	6.5 sones at 400 CFM	2 to 6.5 sones	2 sones at 210 CFM	8 in. round, vertical or horizontal	Wall chimney, 30 or 36 in.	Not verified yet
4.Zephyr ZAM-E30AS	8 sones at 500 CFM	1 to 6 sones	0.7 sone at 180 CFM	6 in. round, vertical	Wall pyramid, 30 or 36 in.	Not verified yet
5.Zephyr AK2100CS	9 sones at 680 CFM	0.9 to 5 sones	0.7 sone at 230 CFM	7 in. round or 3-1/4 x 10 in.	Under-cabinet, 30 to 48 in.	Not verified yet
6.Zephyr AK7736CS	10 sones at 560 CFM	1 to 8 sones	2 sones at 180 CFM	8 in. round, vertical	Island, 36 to 54 in.	Not verified yet
7.Zephyr DLI-E36ASX	8.5 sones at 440 CFM	None (blower sheet says NA)	1 sone at 180 CFM	8 in. round, front discharge	Downdraft, 30 or 36 in.	Not verified yet

Buying Guide

Search for Zephyr range hood sones and you will find the same short range on spec sheet after spec sheet: "1 - 6". Zephyr prints a minimum and a maximum sone figure for nearly every hood it sells, under the heading "Sones (Min. - Max.)", beside a matching "Blower CFM (Min. - Max.)". Neither number is tied to a speed, a duct or a test condition. The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) certifies most of the same hoods, and its figure is a high-speed rating at a stated airflow and duct. For a typical Zephyr chimney hood that certified figure is 8 to 12 sones.

On October 4, 2026, Zephyr's US catalog listed 73 range hood products. Two, the Alto and Forte custom hoods, are shells built around a separate insert and carry no figure of their own. That left 71 current lines, from under-cabinet hoods to downdrafts. HVI certifies 50 of them under their current model numbers. This page lists every one with both figures, quoting Zephyr's range and HVI's certified ratings verbatim, and ranks the certified hoods quietest first within each type. The 21 lines with only Zephyr's own range are listed separately and not ranked. We do not rank other brands here; for how Zephyr sits beside FOTILE, Broan and Bosch, see our quietest range hoods guide, which ranks on the same certified high-speed figure.

Our picks are listed above, with full specifications for each.

How to read a Zephyr sone figure

Every Zephyr spec sheet has a "BLOWER PERFORMANCE" block. On most it reads "Blower CFM (Min. - Max.)" and "Sones (Min. - Max.)", with a pair of numbers under each, such as "200 - 600" and "1 - 6". On the Designer Collection hoods, which are sold without a blower, the block lists each blower option instead, such as "Internal Blower (CBI-600A)" at "240-600 CFM, 1.8-6 sones". Zephyr does not say which speed produced the low or high sone figure, what duct was attached, or what static pressure the blower was pushing against. It also gives no sone figure at all for some products: the Sorrento downdraft lists its sones as "NA", and the in-line and external blowers read "sones NA".

HVI's directory works differently. For each certified hood it lists a high-speed rating at 0.1 inch of static pressure, with airflow and sones, and a working-speed rating, which is the first speed at or above 100 CFM, at a very low pressure. Each pair is given per duct and discharge direction: 8-inch round vertical, 3-1/4 x 10-inch horizontal and so on. HVI also lists airflow at 0.25 inch, but for Zephyr gives sones there only for the Treviso. We checked every current Zephyr model number against HVI's certified products directory spreadsheet, data generated September 23, 2026, and downloaded October 4.

We rank on HVI's high-speed figure at 0.1 inch, because every certified Zephyr has one and it is measured the same way for all of them. Where HVI lists more than one duct, we rank on the lowest high-speed figure and name its duct, and we give the others so you can read the one that matches your kitchen. Working-speed figures are compared only with working-speed figures, and Zephyr's printed ranges are never ranked against HVI's ratings. Our explainer on sones vs decibels covers the unit itself; in short, sones scale in a straight line, so 10 sones sounds about twice as loud as 5.

Printed range against certified rating

On most Zephyr hoods, the top of the printed range is well below HVI's high-speed figure. A few examples, all for current models:

Breeze I: Zephyr prints "1.8 - 3.5" sones; HVI certifies 9 sones at 230 CFM (vertical) and 260 CFM (horizontal).
Monsoon Mini insert: "1.5 - 4" printed; HVI certifies 9 to 10 sones at 240 to 290 CFM.
Typhoon: "0.9 - 5" printed; HVI certifies 9 to 10 sones at 530 to 680 CFM.
Anzio, Roma, Savona and Ombra wall hoods: "1 - 6" printed; HVI certifies 12 sones at 550 to 560 CFM.

The printed low end is often close to HVI's working-speed figure, and on the two ENERGY STAR models the whole range matches: the Siena ENERGY STAR prints "2 - 6.5" and HVI certifies 2 sones at working speed and 6.5 on high; the Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR prints "2 - 4.5" and HVI certifies 2 and 4.5. The Valina is close too, "1.5 - 4" against a certified 0.9 and 3.5.

Zephyr's blower CFM is usually higher than HVI's rated airflow, too. The Typhoon is sold with "850-CFM blowers"; its highest certified airflow is 680 CFM. Compare certified CFM with certified CFM.

Under-cabinet hoods, certified, quietest first

HVI certifies 10 of Zephyr's 13 current under-cabinet lines (counting the Gust as one line, though only its 400 CFM version is listed). Figures are high speed at 0.1 inch unless marked working speed.

Valina 290, ZVA-E30AS290 and ZVA-M90AS290: 3.5 sones at 260 CFM, 6-inch round vertical; working speed 0.9 sone at 180 CFM. Zephyr prints "180 - 290" CFM, "1.5 - 4" sones.
Pisa 290, ZPI-E24BG290, ZPI-E24BW290, ZPI-E30BG290, ZPI-E30BW290 and ZPI-E36BG290: 4 sones at 260 CFM, 6-inch round vertical, and 4.5 sones at 260 CFM horizontal; working speed 0.8 sone at 130 CFM vertical. Printed "1.3 - 3.2".
Breeze II, AK1200 and AK1236 in four finishes: 7.5 sones at 390 CFM, 3-1/4 x 10-inch horizontal, and 7.5 at 350 CFM vertical; 8 sones at 320 CFM, 7-inch round vertical. Printed "1.9 - 4.5".
Gust, AK7100BS-BF and AK7136BS-BF (400 CFM): 8.5 sones at 300 to 320 CFM on all three ducts. Printed "2 - 5".
Typhoon, AK2100, AK2136, AK2142CS and AK2148CS: 9 sones at 680 CFM, rectangular horizontal; 9.5 at 620 CFM, 7-inch round vertical; 10 at 530 CFM, rectangular vertical. Printed "0.9 - 5".
Cyclone, AK6500, AK6536 and AK6542CS: 9 sones at 580 CFM, rectangular horizontal, and 9 at 490 CFM vertical; 10 sones at 430 CFM, 6-inch round vertical. Printed "1.5 - 5".
Hurricane, AK2500 and AK2536: 9 sones at 510 CFM, rectangular vertical; 9.5 at 500 CFM, 7-inch round, and 9.5 at 610 CFM horizontal. Printed "1.5 - 5.5".
Breeze I, AK1124, AK1100 and AK1136: 9 sones at 230 CFM vertical and 260 CFM horizontal, rectangular duct only. Printed "1.8 - 3.5".
Tempest I 48-inch, AK7048DS: 9 sones at 570 CFM, 8-inch round vertical, and 9 at 550 CFM horizontal. Printed "1 - 7".
Tempest I, AK7000DS, AK7036DS and AK7042DS: 10 sones at 560 CFM, 8-inch round vertical; 10.5 at 600 CFM horizontal; 11.5 at 540 CFM, rectangular horizontal. Printed "1 - 7" with the included blower and "3 - 10" with the optional dual blower, which HVI does not list.
Tidal I, AK7300AS and AK7336AS: 10 sones at 670 CFM, 8-inch round vertical; working speed 0.9 sone at 150 CFM. Printed "0.8 - 6".
Pisa 500, ZPI-E24BG, ZPI-E30BG, ZPI-E36BG and white-trim versions: 10 sones at 490 CFM, 6-inch round vertical; 10.5 at 450 CFM horizontal. Printed "1.7 - 5.3".

Not in HVI's directory, Zephyr's range only: Gust II, AK7200BS and AK7236BS, "290 - 600" CFM and "2 - 7" sones; Gust 290, AK7100BS290-BF and AK7136BS290-BF, "120 - 290" and "1.1 - 3.2"; Pyramid, ZPY-E30BS and ZPY-E36BS, "210 - 400" and "2 - 5", and ZPY-E30BS290, "120 - 290" and "1.1 - 3.2"; Vetro, ZVT-E30ABG and ZVT-E30ASG, "290 - 500" and "2 - 7". Our guide to the quietest under-cabinet range hoods reads these figures at the step a 30 or 36-inch cooktop needs.

Wall and chimney hoods, certified, quietest first

HVI certifies 18 of Zephyr's 27 current wall lines. All figures are high speed at 0.1 inch.

Siena ENERGY STAR, ZSI-E30BS-ES and ZSI-E36BS-ES: 6.5 sones at 400 CFM, 8-inch round, vertical or horizontal. Printed "2 - 6.5".
Amalfi, ZAM-E30AS and ZAM-E36AS, and Como, ZCO-E30AS and ZCO-E36AS: 8 sones at 500 CFM, 6-inch round vertical; working speed 0.7 sone at 180 CFM. Printed "1 - 6".
Podesta, ZPO-E30AS and ZPO-E36AS: 9 sones at 520 CFM, 6-inch round; working speed 0.9 sone at 180 CFM. Printed "1 - 6".
Siena, ZSI-E30DS and ZSI-E36DS: 9 sones at 560 CFM horizontal and 9.5 at 570 CFM vertical, 8-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".
Tempest II 42, 48 and 54-inch, AK7542DS, AK7548DS and AK7554DS: 9 sones at 570 CFM vertical and 550 CFM horizontal, 8-inch round. Printed "1 - 7".
Titan wall, AK7636CS to AK7654CS: 9.5 sones at 550 CFM horizontal and 10 at 560 CFM vertical, 8-inch round. HVI lists the 60-inch AK7660CS separately at 10 sones at 560 CFM vertical. Printed "1-8 Sones".
Tempest II 30 and 36-inch, AK7500DS and AK7536DS: 10 sones at 560 CFM, 8-inch round vertical; 11.5 at 540 CFM, rectangular horizontal. Printed "1 - 7".
Roma Pro, ZRP-E36CS and ZRP-E48CS: 10 sones at 560 CFM, 8-inch round. Printed "1-8 Sones", dual blower "3-11 Sones".
Tidal II, AK7400AS, AK7436AS and AK7448AS: 10 sones at 670 CFM, 8-inch round; working speed 0.9 sone at 150 CFM. Printed "0.8 - 6".
Luce, ZLU-E30CS and ZLU-M90CS: 11 sones at 520 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".
Venezia, ZVE-E30DS, ZVE-E36DS and ZVE-E42DS: 11 sones at 690 CFM, 8-inch round; working speed 0.8 sone at 140 CFM. Printed "0.8 - 6".
Modena, ZMO-E30BS and ZMO-M90BS, and Verona, ZVO-E30BG and ZVO-M90BG: 11.5 sones at 570 CFM, 8-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".
Siena Pro, ZSP-E36DS and ZSP-E42DS: 11.5 sones at 1,080 CFM, 10-inch round; working speed 2 sones at 370 CFM. Printed "2 - 9".
Anzio, ZAN-E30DS, ZAN-E30DBS and ZAN-M90DS, and Roma, ZRO-E30FS and ZRO-M90FS: 12 sones at 560 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".
Savona, ZSA-E30 and ZSA-M90 in three finishes, and Ombra, ZOM-E30BS, ZOM-E30BBS, ZOM-E36BS and ZOM-E36BBS: 12 sones at 550 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".

Not in HVI's directory: Milano, ZMI-M90CG and ZMI-M90CS, "200 - 700" CFM and "0.8 - 6" sones; Ravenna, ZRV-E30 and ZRV-M90 versions, "200 - 600" and "1 - 6"; the outdoor and indoor Cypress, AK7836CS to AK7854CS, "450 - 1,200" and "3.5 - 9"; and five Designer Collection hoods sold without a blower, Apex, Horizon, Layers, Mesa and Okeanito, plus the Vista wall hood. For those six, Zephyr prints the blower's figure: "200-290 CFM, 1.4-3 sones" with the CBI-290C, "200-390 CFM, 1.4-5 sones" with the CBI-390A, "240-600 CFM, 1.8-6 sones" with the CBI-600A, "500-1,100 CFM, 3.5-8 sones" with the dual PBI-1100B on the 48-inch Mesa, and "sones NA" with the PBN-1000A in-line or CBE-1000 external blower. The 24-inch Anzio, ZAN-E24DS, the 36-inch black stainless Anzio, ZAN-M90DBS, and the 48-inch Siena Pro, ZSP-E48DS, are also missing from the directory, though their siblings are listed (HVI does list an older 48-inch Siena Pro, ZSP-E48CS). Our guide to the quietest wall-mount range hoods compares the certified ones with other brands at the step a cooktop needs.

Island hoods, certified, quietest first

HVI certifies 8 of Zephyr's 14 current island lines. All figures are high speed at 0.1 inch.

Titan island, AK7736CS, AK7742CS, AK7748CS and AK7754CS: 10 sones at 560 CFM, 8-inch round. Printed "1-8 Sones".
Napoli, ZNA-M90DS and ZNA-E42DS: 11 sones at 690 CFM, 8-inch round; working speed 0.8 sone at 140 CFM. Printed "0.8 - 6".
Luce island, ZLC-M90CS: 11 sones at 520 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".
Modena island, ZMD-M90BS and ZMD-E42BS, and Verona island, ZVN-M90BG and ZVN-E42BG: 11.5 sones at 570 CFM, 8-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".
Siena Pro island, ZSL-E42DS: 11.5 sones at 1,080 CFM, 10-inch round. Printed "2 - 9".
Anzio island, ZAZ-M90DS and ZAZ-E42DS, and Roma island, ZRM-E36FS and ZRM-E42FS: 12 sones at 560 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "1 - 6".

Not in HVI's directory: Milano island, ZML-M90 and ZML-E42, "200 - 700" and "0.8 - 6"; Ravenna island, ZRE-M90BBSGG and ZRE-E42BBSGG, "200 - 600" and "1 - 6"; and the blower-choice Lux Connect, Lux Glo, Trapeze and Vista island, with the same blower figures as the wall Designer hoods. The 42-inch Luce island, ZLC-E42CS, and the 36 and 48-inch Siena Pro island, ZSL-E36DS and ZSL-E48DS, are not listed either (HVI lists an older ZSL-E48CS). One sheet has a slip worth knowing: the 63-inch Lux Connect, ALU-E63CSX, lists "200-390 CFM, 1.4-3 sones" for the CBI-290C and "200-290 CFM, 1.4-5 sones" for the CBI-390A, the reverse of every other Zephyr sheet. Our guide to the quietest island range hoods reads each certified island hood at the step a 36-inch island needs.

Inserts, certified, quietest first

HVI certifies 11 of Zephyr's 14 current insert lines. All figures are high speed at 0.1 inch.

Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR, AK8400BS-ES: 4.5 sones at 280 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "2 - 4.5".
Tornado Mini, AK8400BS: 7 sones at 360 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "2 - 5".
Twister, AK8000CS, and Vortex, AK9028BS and AK9034BS: 7.5 sones at 380 CFM vertical and 370 CFM horizontal, 6-inch round. Printed "2 - 5" for the Twister, "1.4 - 5" for the Vortex.
Monsoon I 42 and 48-inch, AK9240CS and AK9246CS, and Monsoon II 42 to 60-inch, AK9340CS, AK9346CS, AK9352CS and AK9358CS: 9 sones at 580 CFM, 8-inch round vertical, and 10.5 at 580 CFM horizontal; working speed 1.3 sones at 180 CFM. Printed "1 - 7" with the included blower.
Monsoon Mini II, AK9528AS to AK9546AS: 9 sones at 470 CFM, rectangular vertical; 9.5 at 460 CFM, 7-inch round. Printed "1.5 - 6".
Monsoon Mini, AK9128BS and AK9134BS: 9 sones at 290 CFM, rectangular horizontal; 9.5 at 240 CFM, 7-inch round; 10 at 280 CFM, rectangular vertical. Printed "1.5 - 4".
Monsoon I 30 and 36-inch, AK9228CS and AK9234CS, and Monsoon II 36-inch, AK9334CS: 9.5 sones at 550 CFM, 8-inch round vertical. Printed "1 - 7".
Monsoon Connect, AK9428BS to AK9446BS: 10 sones at 670 CFM, 8-inch round; working speed 0.9 sone at 150 CFM. Printed "0.8 - 6".
Tornado I, AK8100BS and AK8134BS: 10.5 sones at 480 to 500 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "1.4 - 6".
Tornado II, AK8227AS and AK8234AS: 11.5 sones at 510 CFM, 6-inch round. Printed "200 - 600 CFM, 1 - 6 sones".

The Monsoon I and II sheets disagree with themselves. The summary box at the top prints "1 - 8" sones for the included blower and "3 - 11" for the optional dual blower; the model table on the next page prints "1 - 7" and "3 - 10". We quote the table. Not in HVI's directory: Tornado Glo, AK8500AS, "200 - 600" and "1.4 - 6"; the outdoor Spruce, AK9834BS to AK9858BS, "450 - 1,200" and "3.5 - 9"; and the Tornado III, AK8340ASX, sold without a blower. The Alto and Forte custom hoods take a Monsoon Mini, Monsoon Mini II, Monsoon I or Monsoon Connect insert, so their figures are the insert's. Our guide to range hood inserts sorts certified inserts from every brand by airflow.

Downdrafts, certified, quietest first

HVI certifies all three of Zephyr's current downdrafts:

Lift, DLI-E30ASX and DLI-E36ASX, with the DBI-600A blower: 8.5 sones at 440 CFM, 8-inch front discharge; working speed 1 sone at 180 CFM. HVI lists it as "DBI-600A with compatible downdraft intake". Zephyr prints no sone figure.
Treviso, ZTV-E30AS and ZTV-E36AS: 9.5 sones at 470 CFM, 6-inch round, front or rear exhaust; working speed 2 sones at 200 CFM. It is the one Zephyr with a certified sone figure at 0.25 inch too: 9.5 sones at 450 CFM. Printed "2 - 6".
Sorrento, DD1-E30AS and DD1-E36AS: 10.5 sones at 500 CFM, rectangular vertical; working speed 3 sones at 230 CFM. Zephyr's sheet lists its sones as "NA".

With the Lift's in-line or external blower there is no figure from either source. Our downdraft guide covers why a downdraft has to work harder than a hood to catch the same smoke.

Zephyr's quiet features, by name

Zephyr markets several features with noise in mind, and it helps to know what each one does.

ACT, Airflow Control Technology. Zephyr describes it as "an exclusive feature built into specific Zephyr hoods which can limit the maximum blower CFM to meet local code requirements". Turning it on removes the top speeds: on the Amalfi, "ACT 390 CFM = 3 speeds and ACT 290 CFM = 2 speeds". A few sheets print lower sones with ACT on, such as "0.9 - 1.5" for the Typhoon at ACT 290, but HVI does not certify ACT settings.

PowerWave 3-Phase Blower Technology. Used on the Milano, Napoli, Venezia, Tidal and Monsoon Connect, and described as delivering "best-in-class performance with unparalleled quiet operation". The PowerWave hoods HVI certifies are rated at 0.8 to 0.9 sone at 140 to 150 CFM at working speed, close to Zephyr's lowest certified working-speed figures (0.6 to 0.7 on the Pisa 290, Amalfi, Como and Typhoon), and at 10 to 11 sones at 650 to 690 CFM on high.

Quiet Speed Setting (QSS). On the Typhoon, listed as a feature without further detail on the sheet.

Perimeter Aspiration System. On the Como and others: it "moves airflow away from the central area of the hood and evenly distributes it through narrow openings around the perimeter of the hood", which Zephyr says improves capture. Zephyr makes no noise claim for it.

What moves a Zephyr's certified figure

Airflow. The two quietest certified Zephyrs, the Valina 290 and the Pisa 290, are rated at 260 CFM on high. The 500 CFM Pisa, in the same body, is 10 sones at 490 CFM. More air on top means more noise on top, and a hood rated for 600 or 700 CFM is rarely certified below 9 sones.

The duct. The Typhoon is 9 sones on a horizontal rectangular duct and 10 on a vertical one; the Cyclone is 9 on rectangular and 10 on 6-inch round. Read the line for the duct your kitchen has.

The model, more than the series. Zephyr reuses blower tables across many hoods, yet HVI's figures for hoods with the same printed "1 - 6" run from 8 sones (Amalfi, Como) to 12 (Anzio, Roma, Savona, Ombra) at similar airflow. The canopy and filters matter, and only the certified figure shows it.

What the figures mean in your kitchen

The certified figures here run from 3.5 to 12 sones on high, and sones add up in a straight line: a 12-sone hood sounds about three and a half times as loud as the 3.5-sone Valina. On working speed the range is narrower, 0.6 to 3 sones, and that is the setting a hood spends most of its time on. Where that line should fall for an open kitchen, as against a closed one, is the subject of our room-by-room guide to how quiet is quiet enough. For brand pages in another product type that use the same certified directory, see our Broan bathroom fan sones page.

How we chose

We opened every range hood listed in Zephyr's US product catalog on October 4, 2026, 73 in all, and downloaded each hood's spec sheet from Zephyr's document site, plus the blower options sheet the Designer Collection hoods use. We recorded the "Blower CFM (Min. - Max.)" and "Sones (Min. - Max.)" values for every model number, and set aside the Alto and Forte custom hoods, which have none. We then searched HVI's certified products directory spreadsheet, data generated September 23, 2026, for every current model number and recorded each high-speed and working-speed line with its airflow, duct and discharge. We ranked only certified high-speed figures at 0.1 inch against each other, kept Zephyr's printed ranges in a separate list, and did not convert any sone figure to decibels. Zephyr's site showed no prices, so none appears here.

We did not measure any of these hoods ourselves. Every figure on this page is either Zephyr's own published range, quoted as printed, or the Home Ventilating Institute's certified rating, quoted with the airflow and duct it describes, and we say which is which throughout.

Common questions

How many sones is a Zephyr range hood?

It depends which figure you read. Zephyr's own spec sheets print a minimum to maximum range, most often "1 - 6" sones. The lowest printed bottom is 0.8, on the PowerWave hoods ("0.8 - 6"), and the highest printed top is 11, for the optional dual blower on the Titan and Roma Pro ("3-11 Sones"); the sheets do not say which speed or test each end comes from. The Home Ventilating Institute's certified high-speed figures for current Zephyr hoods run from 3.5 sones (Valina 290, at 260 CFM) to 12 sones (Anzio, Roma, Savona and Ombra, at 550 to 560 CFM), and its certified working-speed figures from 0.6 to 3 sones.

Which Zephyr range hood is the quietest?

On HVI's certified high-speed figure, the Valina 290 under-cabinet hood: 3.5 sones at 260 CFM. By type, the quietest certified Zephyrs are the Valina 290 (under-cabinet), the Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR at 4.5 sones at 280 CFM (insert), the Siena ENERGY STAR at 6.5 sones at 400 CFM (wall), the Titan at 10 sones at 560 CFM (island) and the Lift with the DBI-600A blower at 8.5 sones at 440 CFM (downdraft).

Why does Zephyr say 1 to 6 sones when HVI says 10 or 12?

Zephyr's range is printed under "Sones (Min. - Max.)" next to "Blower CFM (Min. - Max.)", with no speed, duct or static pressure attached. HVI's figure is a certified rating at high speed and 0.1 inch of static pressure, through a named duct. The two are not measured the same way, and on most Zephyr hoods the certified high-speed figure is well above the top of the printed range. Where they line up, as on the Siena ENERGY STAR and the Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR, the printed range matches HVI's working and high-speed figures.

Which Zephyr range hoods are HVI certified?

Of 71 current US Zephyr hood lines with a sone figure, HVI's directory lists 50 under their current model numbers, including every downdraft. The 21 that are not listed include the Designer Collection hoods sold with a choice of blower (Apex, Horizon, Layers, Mesa, Okeanito, Vista, Lux Connect, Lux Glo and Trapeze), the Milano and Ravenna, the Gust II, Pyramid and Vetro, the Tornado Glo and Tornado III inserts, and the outdoor Cypress and Spruce.

Does ACT make a Zephyr hood quieter?

ACT, Zephyr's Airflow Control Technology, caps the blower at 590, 390 or 290 CFM to meet local codes, and removes the top speeds. Some sheets print a lower sone range with it on: the Typhoon is "0.9 - 1.5" sones at ACT 290, the Hurricane "1.5 - 1.5", the Ombra "1 - 3" and the Siena ENERGY STAR "2 - 3". HVI does not list ACT settings separately, so none of those figures is certified.

Are Zephyr hoods with an in-line or external blower quieter?

Nobody can say from the paperwork. Zephyr's sheets give the PBN-1000A in-line and CBE-1000 external blowers "500-1,000 CFM, sones NA", and HVI lists neither with a Zephyr hood. Moving the motor out of the kitchen is the usual reason to choose one, but there is no published figure to compare.

Is the Zephyr Tempest I really 1 to 6 sones?

The current D-series sheet says "1 - 7" sones for the included 650 CFM blower and "3 - 10" for the optional 1,200 CFM dual blower; an earlier C-series sheet said 1 to 6. HVI certifies the 30, 36 and 42-inch Tempest I at 10 sones at 560 CFM through an 8-inch round vertical duct, and the 48-inch at 9 sones at 570 CFM.

How do Zephyr's sones compare to decibels?

They do not convert. Sones scale with how loud a sound seems, so 8 sones sounds about twice as loud as 4, while decibels are logarithmic. There is no simple, reliable formula between them, and Zephyr publishes no decibel figure for its hoods, so every number on this page stays in sones.

What We Also Considered

These are worth knowing about, and why they didn't make the list.

Zephyr Pisa 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood, 290 CFM
Second only to the Valina among Zephyr hoods: 4 sones at 260 CFM certified through a 6-inch round vertical duct, 4.5 horizontal, and 0.8 sone at 130 CFM at working speed. It sits within the cabinetry behind a pull-out visor. The 500 CFM Pisa is certified at 10 sones at 490 CFM.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Como Wall 30-Inch Range Hood
Ties the Amalfi exactly: 8 sones at 500 CFM and 0.7 sone at 180 CFM certified, with the same printed "1 - 6" sones. It is the flat-fronted version, with the same TruHue lighting and Perimeter Aspiration System panel.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Breeze II 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood
The quietest certified Zephyr under-cabinet hood above 300 CFM: 7.5 sones at 390 CFM through a horizontal rectangular duct, 8 sones at 320 CFM through 7-inch round. Zephyr prints "1.9 - 4.5" sones.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Breeze I 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood
The widest gap in the range. Zephyr says the 250 CFM blower "quietly clears the air" and prints "1.8 - 3.5" sones; HVI certifies it at 9 sones at 230 to 260 CFM through its rectangular duct.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Tempest I 36-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood
The hood our category guide used to show the gap. The current D-series sheet prints "1 - 7" sones (the earlier C-series sheet said 1 to 6); HVI certifies the 30, 36 and 42-inch models at 10 sones at 560 CFM on an 8-inch duct, and the 48-inch at 9 sones at 570 CFM.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Napoli 36-Inch Island Range Hood
11 sones at 690 CFM certified on high, a sone above the Titan, but 0.8 sone at 140 CFM at working speed, the lowest certified working-speed figure of any Zephyr island hood.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Monsoon Mini 30-Inch Range Hood Insert
A 300 CFM insert that Zephyr prints at "1.5 - 4" sones. HVI certifies it at 9 to 10 sones at 240 to 290 CFM depending on the duct, so it is louder on high than the Vortex, which moves 380 CFM at 7.5.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Vortex 30-Inch Range Hood Insert
7.5 sones at 380 CFM certified through a 6-inch round duct, level with the Twister and behind only the two Tornado Minis among Zephyr inserts. Zephyr prints "1.4 - 5" sones.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Monsoon Connect 30-Inch Range Hood Insert
The app-connected insert with the PowerWave blower: 10 sones at 670 CFM and 0.9 sone at 150 CFM certified on an 8-inch duct. Zephyr prints "0.8 - 6" sones.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Treviso 36-Inch Downdraft Range Hood
The only Zephyr with a certified sone figure at 0.25 inch as well as 0.1: 9.5 sones at 470 CFM at 0.1 inch and 9.5 at 450 CFM at 0.25, front or rear exhaust. Zephyr prints "2 - 6".
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Sorrento 36-Inch Downdraft Vent Hood
Zephyr's sheet lists its sones as "NA". HVI certifies it at 10.5 sones at 500 CFM and 3 sones at 230 CFM through a rectangular vertical duct.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Milano Wall 36-Inch Range Hood
Shares the "200 - 700" CFM and "0.8 - 6" sone table of the Napoli and Venezia, which HVI certifies at 11 sones at 690 CFM, but the Milano itself is not in HVI's directory, so we do not rank it.
See it at Amazon
Zephyr Trapeze 36-Inch Island Range Hood
A suspended island hood whose noise depends on the blower you choose: Zephyr prints 1.4 to 6 sones for the internal blowers and "sones NA" for the in-line and external ones. Not in HVI's directory.
See it at Amazon

Sources

Every figure on this page was read on one of the pages below. We did not measure anything ourselves.

Manufacturer pages and manuals for every product

Zephyr Valina 30-Inch Slide-Out Under-Cabinet Range Hood, 290 CFM: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Tornado Mini ENERGY STAR 21-Inch Range Hood Insert: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Siena Wall ENERGY STAR 30-Inch Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Amalfi Wall 30-Inch Pyramid Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Typhoon 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Titan 36-Inch Island Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Lift 36-Inch Downdraft Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Pisa 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood, 290 CFM: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Como Wall 30-Inch Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Breeze II 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Breeze I 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Tempest I 36-Inch Under-Cabinet Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Napoli 36-Inch Island Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Monsoon Mini 30-Inch Range Hood Insert: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Vortex 30-Inch Range Hood Insert: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Monsoon Connect 30-Inch Range Hood Insert: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Treviso 36-Inch Downdraft Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Sorrento 36-Inch Downdraft Vent Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org
Zephyr Milano Wall 36-Inch Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org, hvi.org
Zephyr Trapeze 36-Inch Island Range Hood: zephyronline.com, docs.zephyronline.com (PDF), hvi.org

Written by

Stanley Alu

Founder and editor

I founded QuietSpecs after running a product review blog, and I built it around the spec that is hardest to pin down. With noise, makers tend to quote the quietest setting they can find, or nothing at all. So I read the spec sheets, manuals and certification directories, quote each figure with the setting it describes, and say so plainly when a maker publishes none. I do not test products or measure decibels, and no brand pays for a place in a guide.

How we compare products

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