Every compact range gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Ranges are grouped by cooktop fuel, gas (including dual fuel) and electric (including induction), and use the same scale in both groups except for cooking power, which has its own scale for each fuel.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Oven capacity | oven cubic feet per foot of range width | 25% |
| Cooking power | strongest burner (gas, BTU) or element (electric, W) | 25% |
| Features | convection, self-clean, sealed or smooth cooktop, storage drawer, oven light and timer | 20% |
| Value | price per cubic foot of oven | 20% |
| Warranty | whole-range warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Oven capacity, burner and element ratings, features and warranty come from the maker’s spec page or manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Figures that a listing doesn’t give are left blank rather than guessed. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Oven capacity is the oven’s cubic feet per foot of range width, so a 20 in and a 24 in range are judged on how well each uses its width. 1.0 cu ft per foot (2 cu ft in a 24 in range, 1.67 cu ft in a 20 in) scores zero and 1.8 cu ft per foot (3.6 cu ft in a 24 in range) full marks.
Cooking power is the strongest burner or element. For gas ranges, 8,000 BTU scores zero and 18,000 BTU full marks. For electric and induction ranges, 1,200 W scores zero and 3,000 W full marks, using the rated output rather than any short boost setting.
Features is 35% for a convection oven, 15% for a self-cleaning cycle, 15% for an easy-clean cooktop (sealed gas burners, smooth glass or induction), 10% for a storage drawer, 10% for an oven light and 15% for a timer.
Value is the current price divided by the oven capacity, in dollars per cubic foot, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $1,000 per cu ft scores zero and $250 per cu ft full marks.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty on the whole range: no warranty scores zero and 3 years full marks, so the common 1-year warranty earns a third.
What isn’t scored
Total burner or element output, the number of burners, the broiler’s position, air fry modes, ignition type, the electrical hookup, a propane kit in the box, weight and release date are listed but not scored. A longer warranty on a single part, such as the burners, isn’t counted.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Features score neutral only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.