Range vs. stove vs. oven: What’s the difference?

The words range, stove and oven get thrown around interchangeably, but there are differences that are important to understand. When it comes to kitchen appliances, an oven is an enclosed cavity for baking, a stovetop or cooktop is an open, flat surface you cook on, and a range or stove is the standalone appliance with both. This guide will explore these common appliances in more depth and clear up the surrounding confusion.

Whirlpool® kitchen range and stove with outline

Range vs. stove: Are they the same?

As home cooking has evolved, most people no longer do most of their cooking using wood, fire or coal. Because of this, the terms used to describe appliances have changed—and the appliances themselves have diversified.

What is a range?

A kitchen range, like these models from Whirlpool, combines an oven and a stovetop and has a source of fuel which is either gas or electricity. It’s an all-in-one cooking solution which makes it a common kitchen appliance found in many American homes. Ranges are space-efficient, and with the combination of an oven and a cooktop it is easy to do all of your cooking, such as sautéing, searing, basting, and roasting, in one place.

Learn more about the differences between slide-in and freestanding ranges.

Range technology has come a long way over the years. Select Whirlpool^® Ranges offer innovative features, like Air Cooking technology, which lets you create delicious, crispy meals for the whole family with settings like Air Baking, Air Roast, Air Reheat and more.

What is a stove?

Historically, stoves consisted of a cavity for burning wood or coal and were used to heat homes. Today, most people use the term "stove" to mean the well-known modern kitchen appliance that combines an oven and a cooktop in one.

Today's stoves (or ranges) almost always use gas or electricity for fuel and are used exclusively for preparing food.

What is the difference between a range and a stove?

If you call a range a stove, people will generally know what you mean. In modern times, the terms stove and range are often used interchangeably to describe the familiar appliance that has an oven cavity for baking and a cooktop above for heating pots and pans.

A stove or range is an appliance that combines both an oven and a stovetop. Strictly speaking though, stoves existed before the modern kitchen range to heat homes and aren’t always used for food preparation.

Whirlpool® kitchen range and wall oven with outline

Range vs. oven: Which is which?

A range is a two-in-one appliance with the oven and the cooktop combined. A wall oven is its own cooking appliance that can be built into your wall space and placed separately from your cooktop.

What is an oven?

An oven is a heated, enclosed space used for cooking food. More specifically, it is the sealed area that is used for baking and roasting, broiling and even air frying. Historically, ovens tended to be fueled by wood or coal, but are most commonly electric, or gas today and are available in conventional or convection styles. Ovens can be included as part of a range or they can be separate appliances. But the word oven refers to the enclosed cooking space, not the cooktop.

What is a range oven?

If you’ve heard the term range oven, it likely refers to a standard range. Appliance manufacturers often don’t use this term because it combines two unique things: a range and an oven. A range combines an oven, sometimes more than one, and a stovetop, while an oven is either a part of a range or a separate appliance completely. Our freestanding double range ovens, for example, are made to fit almost any kitchen configuration.

Whirlpool® kitchen range and oven with outline

Range oven vs. wall oven: What are the pros and cons?

There are certainly pros and cons to each option and it all comes down to your cooking habits, your space, and your budget. Whirlpool^® Wall Ovens are easier to install and most wall ovens are placed around eye-level to help minimize bending, kneeling, or crouching as you insert or remove heavy food items. Learn more about the types of Whirlpool^® Wall Ovens. However, a range can offer a bit more aesthetic value and style than a traditional wall oven/cooktop. The wall oven-cooktop combo is most likely going to cost more. In the end, choosing the best option comes down to finding the appliances that can make life in the kitchen easier for you.