A range combines an oven and a cooktop. Typically, the oven and the cooktop will both use the same heat source, whether gas or electric. Professional-style ranges, however, offer the advantage of gas burners and an electric convection oven, called dual fuel. The same pros and cons of oven and cooktop features apply to ranges as well.

Your options include:

• Freestanding
• Slide-in
• Drop-in
  

Freestanding ranges sit in between cabinets. They typically have a bottom storage drawer and controls placed on the back of the unit. They are the least expensive option, but juice and crumbs can fall into the cracks between the range and the cabinets.