Comparing The Best High-End Range Brands 2023

Your kitchen range is an essential appliance and often serves as the centerpiece of the kitchen. Whether using the oven or the stovetop, the range is the best friend of a home cook looking to make the best meals possible. Many brands claim to offer the best when it comes to high-end ranges in terms of both functionality and style, but how can you be sure you’re making the right decision with such an important kitchen appliance? This week at Appliance Educator, we’re taking a look at four high-end range brands to help you find the best choice for your kitchen.

ZLINE, Viking, Wolf, and Thermador are four of the leading range brands and all offer premium features. Today we’re putting these four brands head to head in 3 categories; sizes, pricing, and fuel type. We’ll then examine the performance and design each brand offers to crown the best high-end range brand in 2024.

A ZLINE 48-Inch Range with champagne bronze accents

Range Sizes

There are several important factors to consider when it comes to range sizes. Namely, how much available space do you have? You should also take into account your cooking needs and preferences as well as the aesthetic of your kitchen. Range sizes are fairly standardized across the industry and all four brands offer a wide selection. Larger ranges offer more cooktop and oven capacity but require additional room and may command too much attention when considering the visual appeal of a kitchen.

Available Range Sizes

ZLINE: 24” 30”, 36”, 48”, 60”
Viking: 30”, 36”, 48”, 60”,66”
Wolf: 30”, 36”, 48”, 60”
Thermador: 30”, 36”, 48”, 60”

ZLINE and Viking stand out in the range size category with each brand offering a unique size. ZLINE’s 24-inch ranges can fit in small kitchen spaces and are popular in cabin settings. Viking’s 66-inch range offers enough cooktop and oven space to meet even the heaviest cooking demands.

Best Size Offerings: ZLINE and Viking

RANGE Pricing

Range prices can vary significantly depending on the brand, size, features, and customizability. Since 2020, it seems like everything has increased in price and that includes most of the high-end range brands we examined with one notable exception.

Range Prices

ZLINE: $2,000 - $12,600
Viking: $5,000 - $26,000
Wolf: $7,850 - $20,800
Thermador: $4,950 - $23,000

ZLINE has not increased the prices of their ranges since we last took a look at pricing in 2022. ZLINE stands out as by far the most affordable high-end range brand out of the bunch, with prices well below their competitors. Wolf remained the brand with the highest price starting point but was overtaken by both Viking and Thermador in terms of the upper price range.

It came as no surprise to see some significant price jumps in high-end ranges between 2022 and 2024. ZLINE, however, remains true to its slogan of Attainable Luxury with prices around 50% of comparable high-end ranges.

Best Prices: ZLINE

Range FUEL Type

There are three main categories of fuel types that high-end ranges use; all-gas, all-electric, and dual fuel. There’s also induction which is technically a subcategory of electric, but with the growth in popularity of induction cooking some brands have started considering induction as a fuel type.

Available Range Fuels

ZLINE: Dual Fuel, All-Gas, All-Electric with Induction
Viking: Dual Fuel, All-Gas, All-Electric, All-Electric with Induction
Wolf: Dual Fuel, All-Gas, All-Electric with Induction
Thermador: Dual Fuel, All-Gas, Induction

Many home chefs prefer gas cooktops and electric ovens making the dual fuel option a popular choice with all four brands offering dual fuel ranges. Additionally, all four brands offer all-gas ranges, with ZLINE launching an all-new SGR gas range line in late 2023. Viking is the only brand that still offers all-electric without induction by deploying standard surface elements. ZLINE, Viking, and Wolf offer induction ranges while Thermador launched their induction ranges in the summer of 2023. There’s no clear winner in terms of fuel types, but Thermador’s induction ranges are too new and untested to justify the $8,399-$11,599 price tag, making them the clear loser.

Best Fuel Types: ZLINE, Viking, and Wolf

PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN

ZLINE seems committed to delivering high-performance ranges at a more affordable price point. With powerful burners, spacious ovens, and a wide range of heat outputs, ZLINE ranges offer versatile cooking options. ZLINE proved it is just as refined as its competitors by launching the Autograph Edition which lets customers add their choice of accents and door finishes to customize their range. With a minimalist and elegant design approach, ZLINE ranges fit well into modern and rustic kitchens alike.

Viking is known for its professional-grade ranges. Viking ranges feature high BTU output burners, enabling quick heating and precise control. Their ovens often include convection baking and broiling. With ranges as large as 66 inches, Viking has a range to conquer the heaviest cooking you will need to do. Viking allows you to choose from 14 different color door options with their Contemporary Color Collection.

Wolf ranges are well-regarded for their cooking capabilities with both professional and contemporary styles available. Wolf ranges often feature dual-stacked burners which are capable of high heat and simmering options at the same time. Wolf ranges have been praised for their durability and longevity but do come with a lenient and friendly warranty in case something gets damaged or parts and service are required. Wolf also offers knob and handle customization.

Thermador ranges often feature proprietary technologies, such as their patented Star Burners, which provide unique flame spread and heat distribution. Thermador also offers ranges with extra-large oven capacities and self-cleaning options. Additionally, some models offer steam cooking options, allowing for more versatile and healthier meal preparation. Thermador is lacking in customization options with their ranges generally only being available in a stainless steel finish.

ZLINE Autograph edition range white white matte door and black matte accents

THE BEST HIGH-END RANGE BRAND

Out of the four brands we examined, we crowned ZLINE as the best high-end range brand. ZLINE continues to impress by offering high-end ranges that deliver on features and performance without a high price tag. With ever-increasing prices in seemingly every industry, it is nice to see a brand that is conscious of inflation without compromising on capability. Rumor has it their entirely redesigned all-gas ranges will be available sometime soon and we’ll be keeping our eye out for them to hit the market. We found the best prices on ZLINE ranges at The Range Hood Store and Rustic Kitchen and Bath.

Thank you for checking out our comparison between high-end range brands for 2024! We hope this will help you find the right high-end range for your kitchen. Be sure to follow all of our social media channels for updates from Appliance Educator!

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