Ranges & Stoves

Buying Guide: Kitchen Ranges and Stoves for Your Home

Whether you're remodeling your kitchen, selecting appliances for your new home or are replacing your oven, electing a kitchen stove or range can be overwhelming. How do you choose the best stove or range to suit your needs?

Sam's Club has a variety of stoves and kitchen ranges for sale at exclusive member prices, and we'll help you figure out exactly what makes sense for your home and lifestyle.

How to Buy a New Stove

The first step in buying a new stove is understanding the difference between a stove and a range. A stove is technically a standalone cooktop. A cooking range is a single unit made of a stove and an oven.

These days, everyone pretty much refers to a stove as a range, but it's an important distinction when you're actually purchasing these kitchen appliances.

Before you explore different stoves and ranges for sale, you should ask yourself the following:

• What is my budget?
• What fuel type do I want: gas or electric?
• Do I want knobs or digital controls?
• What features are important to me?
• What size do I need?
• Does it fit the style of my kitchen?
• Does it have the finish I want: stainless steel, glass, color?
• Is it self-cleaning?

How Much Do Stoves Typically Cost?

Stoves and ranges can vary widely in price, depending on what type you choose. The average cost of stoves and ranges are:

• Stand-alone stoves: $300 - $1,700
• Wall ovens: $700 - $3,500
• Electric Range: $360 - $1,800
• Gas Range: $400 - $2,100
• Dual Fuel Range: $1,000 - $5,000

What Types of Stoves Can I Choose From?

You may choose from electric stoves and ranges or gas stoves and ranges.

Benefits of Electric Stoves and Ranges

• Easier to clean
• Less expensive
• More stable cooking base
• Quick installation

Benefits of Gas Stoves and Ranges

• Faster heat-up
• More precise burners
• Lower long-run costs
• Even heat distribution

Benefits of Dual Fuel Stoves and Ranges

• The best of both worlds
• Gas Stovetop for fast and price cooking
• Electric oven for baking with fewer temperate fluctuations than oven gas

If your kitchen is already wired for an electric range or you're not the most skilled chef, an electric range is a great option. But if you're really into cooking and your home already uses natural gas, you may want to choose a gas or dual fuel range over electric.

Whichever you choose, we've got what you need at Sam's Club. You can select from our variety of fingerprint resistant stainless steel gas stoves, slide-in electric ranges and matching microwave ovens.

What to Know About Electric Stoves

What is smoothtop (glass-ceramic cooktop)?

Smoothtop, or glass-ceramic, cooktops are sleek electric stoves with four to six different heaters that glow when on. They are easy to clean since the surface is even and smooth, but they can be subject to scratches and cracks.

What is an electric coil cooktop?

Electric coil cooktops have metal heating elements that are coiled. They can be used with any type of cookware, however, they can become uneven, resulting in difficult cooking. They are slower to heat and can be harder to clean than smoothtop.

What should I know about electric ovens?

Electric ovens are very accurate and can provide more even baking than gas ovens. Some have double ovens, which is convenient if you like baking multiple items at once.

Electric convection ovens are a favorite with many professional bakers because they maintain balanced internal temperatures to ensure faster and more even results. Convection ovens also use less energy.

What is an induction cooktop?

Induction ranges work very differently than other ranges. Induction ranges use electromagnetic fields to transfer a current directly to magnetic cookware, causing the cookware to heat. Because of this, there's no glow, so you won't be able to see if it's on. These cooktops also require special "induction-compatible" cookware.

What to Know About Gas Stoves

What's a gas stove?

Gas stoves, sometimes called a burner stove, use natural or propane gas instead of electricity. They require connection via a gas line and use open flames rather than electrical heating elements. These gas burners will usually heat pans and pots much faster than electrical heating elements.

What's a gas oven?

Gas ovens are very efficient and adjust rather quickly, resulting in faster cook times. Gas ovens heat up much faster than electric ovens, but the gases sometimes fluctuate causing slightly different temperatures internally.

How do I install a gas stove?

To install a gas range, you need to make sure you have the appropriate connections such as a gas line with a range-quality valve and a grounded electrical outlet. Due to the dangers associated with gas, it's important to consult a professional to install a gas stove to avoid leaks.

What is the best gas range under $1000?

At Sam's Club, we have many gas ranges at a variety of price points. We have several great options under $1,000, and with us, you'll always get everyday low prices with your Sam's Club membership.

What to Know: Freestanding vs. Slide-In vs. Drop-In Ranges

There are three basic types of kitchen ranges: freestanding, slide-in and drop-in. These all have different features to consider.

Freestanding ranges are the easiest option if you're looking for a quick installation. They come with finished sides and a flat back, making them easy to fit between or at the edges of cabinets. Freestanding ranges are the most common option for homeowners.

Slide-in ranges are designed to fit into an available slot between cabinetry. While the sides of a slide-in range typically aren't finished, they do have the benefit of a built-in storage drawer.

Drop-in ranges are similar to slide-in ranges but instead of resting on the floor they are installed on top of a custom-built cabinet baseboard. Since these require custom cabinetry and specialized installation, they are often more expensive.

FAQ - Stoves and Ranges

What Are the Best Stove Brands?

There are many great stoves for sale, and Sam's Club carries a variety of top brands, including:

• LG
• NXR
• Samsung
• Thor Kitchen

How Big Are Stoves?

Stoves and ranges vary in sizes, depending on what type you buy. But the most common measurements are about 30 inches wide and 36 inches high (standard kitchen counter height).

You can often group gas ranges into two categories: standard and pro-style. Standard ranges are usually 30 inches in width, while pro-styles measure between 36 and 48 inches.

Smaller electric range ovens average 2 cu. ft. and larger ovens are approximately 4 cu. ft. or more.

Stoves and ranges are large appliances, so they are pretty heavy. The weight varies depending on the size and features, but you can expect them to be over 150 pounds.

Regardless of whether you choose gas or electric, you should always measure the available space in your kitchen so you can get an exact fit. When measuring, pay careful attention to:

• Height of range space from floor to top surface of the countertop
• Width of range space from side to side
• Depth of range space from the front edge of the countertop to back wall
• Range height from floor to top of cooking surface
• Width of range from edge to edge
• Depth from the front of range cooktop to back