Types of Stoves: A Buyer's Guide

The main types of stoves are gas, electric coil, electric smooth-top, induction, and dual fuel, each heating cookware differently. Choose the right type of stove by considering your cooking style, budget, kitchen wiring, and preferred features such as size and finish.

So, you're shopping for a new stove. Where do you even start? A stove is one of those appliances you don't think about until the old one gives out, and then suddenly you're comparing gas burners to induction cooktops with no idea what any of it means. 

There are four main types of stoves: gas, electric, induction, and dual fuel, with electric further split into coil and smooth-top styles. Each type of stove heats your cookware differently, so the right pick for your kitchen comes down to your cooking style, your budget, and how your kitchen is wired or piped for gas.

This stove buying guide from Surplus Furniture breaks down every type of stove and cooktop on the market today, so you can shop for brand-name, affordable, premium furniture and appliances with real confidence.

What's the Difference Between a Stove, a Range, and a Cooktop?

In everyday conversation, stove and range are used interchangeably, and that's perfectly fine when you're shopping. Technically, though, a range combines a cooktop and an oven cavity into one appliance, whereas a cooktop is a standalone appliance without a built-in oven and is often paired with a separate wall oven elsewhere in the kitchen. 

When this guide talks about types of stoves, we mainly refer to ranges: the all-in-one appliances most Canadian kitchens rely on every day.

Types of Stoves by Fuel Source 

Most home cooks sort the different types of stoves by fuel source first. Here's how each one works.

Gas Stoves

Gas stoves connect to a dedicated gas line, whether that's natural gas or propane, to power the gas burners on the cooktop surface and the gas oven below. Residential gas burners typically span from under 1,000 BTU on a simmer burner up to 18,000–20,000+ BTU on a power burner, with most everyday burners falling in the 5,000–15,000 BTU range, enough for everything from a gentle simmer to a hard boil.

Because gas heat comes from an open flame, gas stoves offer instant heat adjustments. Turn the knob and the flame responds right away, which is why home cooks who like to flame-grill, char, or sear tend to prefer gas heat. Gas ovens also tend to preheat faster than electric ovens, a small but handy perk on a busy weeknight. 

The trade-off is upkeep: cleaning gas stoves means regularly wiping down the burner caps to keep the flame even.

Electric Stoves

Electric stoves like Moffat White’s swap the open flame for heated metal coils or heating elements, and most fall into one of two styles: coil and smooth-top.

Coil Stovetops 

Coil stovetops like this model, also from Moffat White, use the classic heated metal coils many of us grew up with, exposed spiral burners sitting right on top of the range. 

Electric coil elements are generally the most budget-friendly electric option and still deliver steady, consistent heat, though the exposed coils require a bit more scrubbing to keep clean.

Smooth-Top (Ceramic Glass) Electric Cooktops 

Smooth-top electric cooktops, also called electric radiant or radiant electric models, hide the same type of heating elements underneath a flat ceramic glass surface. That gives you a cooktop surface that wipes clean in seconds and a sleeker look overall. 

Many electric cooktops in this category offer dual or even triple elements, so you can match burner size to whatever pot or pan is on the stove.

Among the types of electric stoves on the market, smooth-top electric ranges are the most popular pick for anyone who wants the simplicity of electric heat without exposed coils. 

Induction Stoves

Induction stoves and induction cooktops skip heating elements altogether. An induction cooktop uses electromagnetic energy to heat cookware directly, so the cooktop surface itself stays cool to the touch even when a pan is on it. 

That translates into fast boiling, ultra-precise, repeatable temperature settings, and a surface that cools down rapidly once you turn off the burner, which is great for safety in a busy kitchen.

The catch with induction cooking is that it only works with magnetic cookware, like cast iron or certain types of stainless steel. If your current pots and pans aren't magnetic, budget for new ones alongside your induction range. 

Induction stoves are also widely praised for their energy efficiency, since less heat escapes into the surrounding air than with gas or standard electric heating elements. 

For verified efficiency numbers on any specific model, check the EnerGuide label rather than relying on general claims.

Dual Fuel Stoves

Dual-fuel stoves, sometimes called dual-fuel ranges, combine gas cooktops with an electric oven. You get the responsive gas heat and instant heat adjustments of an open flame on top, plus the consistent heat of an electric oven for baking and roasting. 

Because dual-fuel ranges require both a gas line and an electrical outlet, installation is a bit more involved, and they're generally considered a premium option for serious home cooks.

Types of Stoves by Style

Beyond fuel source, stoves also come in two installation styles that affect your kitchen layout more than your cooking.

Freestanding Stoves

Freestanding stoves sit between cabinets, with controls on a backguard at the back of the unit. 

This is a style choice, not a fuel choice, so freestanding stoves come in gas, electric, and induction versions alike, and they generally just need under-counter cabinet space on either side rather than a tight built-in fit.

Slide-In Stoves 

Slide-in stoves, sometimes called slide-in ranges, fit flush between cabinets or into a kitchen island for a more built-in look. 

Controls sit on the front of the unit rather than on a backguard, making slide-in stoves a popular choice for kitchens with an island layout or a cooking style that favours a seamless, streamlined finish.

Commercial-Style Stoves and Ranges

If you love to cook and want the feel of a professional kitchen at home, commercial-style stoves and commercial-style ranges are worth a look. 

A commercial-style cooktop can reach up to 20,000 BTUs on its highest burner, noticeably hotter than a standard gas range, and these units are available in widths up to 60 inches for kitchens with the room to spare. 

Commercial-style stoves typically feature robust knobs and handles built for daily heavy use, and many include extra burners or griddle inserts right on the cooktop surface for restaurant-inspired form and function at home. 

Because of their size and BTU output, a commercial-style range installation often requires a dedicated ventilation system to handle the increased heat and smoke.

Comparison Table: Types of Stoves at a Glance 

What to Consider When Comparing Types of Stoves

Once you know the different stove kinds available, a few practical factors will narrow down your options.

Energy Efficiency 

Every stove sold in Canada must display an EnerGuide label. The lower the kWh-per-year rating, the better the energy efficiency, regardless of the types of cooktops you're comparing.

Additional Features 

Many stoves across all fuel types now include convection, in which a fan circulates hot air through the oven cavity to bake more quickly and evenly than a standard oven.

Optimal Sizing 

Standard cooktops usually run 30 inches wide, though larger households or commercial-style fans might prefer a 36-inch model for extra cooking surface. If you bake often, a double-oven range or a wall oven with two stacked ovens can suit larger households better than a single-oven range.

Finish and Cooking Surface Cleanup 

Finish affects both looks and cleanup. Glass cooktops and smooth-top electric ranges wipe clean fast, while cast-iron and sheet-iron finishes on gas ranges hold up to heavy daily use but need a bit more scrubbing.

Self-Cleaning Options 

Self-cleaning models use high heat or steam to burn off leftover food, cutting down on grease buildup and smoke, a handy feature regardless of your stove's fuel type.

Quick Tips for Shopping Stove Types 

Shopping for a new stove comes down to four practical checks: your space, your needs, your fuel type, and your style preferences. 

1. Check your space: Measure your current unit and the surrounding cabinetry before you shop.

2. Consider your needs: Think about how often you cook, bake, and entertain to decide which features matter most.

3. Decide on a fuel type: Choose between gas, electric, induction, or dual-fuel based on your cooking style. Still weighing gas against electric specifically? Our Gas vs. Electric Stove guide breaks that comparison down in more detail.

4. Look at aesthetics: Narrow down finish and installation style (freestanding or slide-in) last. 

FAQs About Different Kinds of Stoves 

What are the four types of stoves? 

The four main types of stoves are gas, electric, induction, and dual fuel. Electric stovetops are further divided into coil and smooth-top styles, giving you five practical options for your kitchen.

Which is better, induction or electric cooktops? 

Induction cooktops heat faster, offer more precise temperature control, and use energy more efficiently, but require magnetic cookware. Standard electric cooktops cost less upfront and work with any flat-bottomed pot or pan.

What are the different types of stovetops? 

Types of stove tops include gas burners, electric coil, electric smooth-top or ceramic glass, and induction cooktops. Each type of cookware heats differently, so the best type of stove top depends on your cooking style and budget.

Key Takeaways 

• Stoves come in five core types: gas, electric coil, electric smooth-top, induction, and dual fuel

• Gas stoves give instant heat adjustments; induction stoves give the fastest, most energy-efficient heat

• Electric stoves need a 240-volt outlet; gas and dual fuel stoves need a dedicated gas line

• Freestanding and slide-in are style choices, available across every fuel type

• Commercial-style ranges offer higher BTUs and extra burners for serious home cooks

• Compare stove types side-by-side before deciding on size, finish, and features

Shop Every Type of Stove at Surplus Furniture

Whichever types of stoves suit your kitchen best, Surplus Furniture makes it easy to shop smart for affordable, brand-name furniture and appliances. With 30+ stores across Canada, you can buy from any of our locations and pick up closer to home. 

Take advantage of on-the-spot financing with no payments for a year, enjoy same-day delivery on in-stock ranges, and shop with confidence knowing our iSave Best Price Guarantee has you covered. 

Find a store near you or browse our full range selection online today.