How to Choose a Hob: 2026 UK Buying Guide
Choosing a hob shouldn't require a degree in thermodynamics, but you'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Between induction zones, flame failure devices, and vented glass-ceramic surfaces, the jargon gets thick fast. This guide cuts through it.
We're Go Assist Appliances, a Bournemouth family business backed by the Go Assist Ltd engineer network, 17 years and counting of fixing, installing, and occasionally rescuing cooking appliances across UK homes since 2009. We've seen what breaks, what lasts, and what features people actually use versus what sits ignored for a decade. This is that knowledge written down.
We'll cover the five decisions that genuinely matter, the marketing fluff you can ignore, and how to match hob size to your household without overthinking it. By the end, you'll know exactly what you need.
The Five Things That Actually Matter
1. Fuel Type: Gas, Ceramic, or Induction
Gas hobs give you instant visual heat control and work during power cuts. They're the choice for anyone who learned to cook on gas or uses a wok regularly. The flame spreads heat up the sides of pans in a way electric zones simply can't replicate. Modern gas hobs include flame failure devices as standard, if the flame goes out, the gas cuts automatically. Look for cast iron pan supports over enamelled ones; they're heavier, more stable, and last longer.
Ceramic hobs use electric elements beneath a smooth glass surface. They're easier to wipe down than gas and sit flush with worktops. Heat control is slower than gas, zones take time to warm up and cool down, but they're cheaper to buy and install if you don't have a gas supply. Residual heat indicators are essential; they tell you when a zone is still hot enough to burn you.
Induction hobs heat the pan directly using electromagnetic fields, not the surface. They're the fastest, most energy-efficient option and stay relatively cool to touch. You'll need induction-compatible pans (a magnet should stick to the base). They're pricier upfront, but running costs are lower, and they offer precise temperature control that rivals gas. If you're renovating or have young children, induction makes a lot of sense.
2. Size and Configuration
Standard widths are 60cm (four burners/zones), 75cm (five burners), and 90cm (six burners). Your choice depends on cutout size and cooking habits, not kitchen size. A 60cm hob serves most households perfectly well. Go wider if you regularly cook multiple pots simultaneously or entertain often. Measure your existing cutout before you shop, retrofitting a larger hob often means worktop surgery.
Burner layout matters more than total number. Check you've got at least one high-output burner (rapid or wok burner on gas; 2.5kW+ zone on electric). If you cook Asian food, a central wok burner with 3.5kW+ output is worth having. But don't pay extra for six burners if four would do, you're just creating more surface to clean.
3. Control Type
Gas hobs use rotary knobs. Simple, reliable, repairable. Front-mounted knobs are easier to reach but get splattered; side-mounted stay cleaner but require a lean-in. That's your only real choice here.
Electric and induction hobs offer touch controls or knobs. Touch controls look slick and wipe clean easily, but they can be finicky with wet hands and less intuitive for anyone used to twisting a dial. Slider controls, where you drag your finger along a bar to adjust heat, divide opinion. Some love them; others find them imprecise. If possible, try before you buy, or at least watch a video of the interface in action.
4. Surface Material
For gas: gas-on-glass (black ceramic glass with burners on top) looks modern and wipes clean but shows every smudge and scratch. Gas-on-metal (stainless steel) is more forgiving, tougher, and cheaper. Unless aesthetics are important, stainless steel is the pragmatic choice.
For electric: all ceramic and induction hobs use toughened glass. Quality varies, cheaper models chip more easily and may discolour around zones over time. This is one area where brand reputation correlates with longevity.
5. Safety Features
Essential: flame failure device on gas (cuts gas if flame extinguishes), residual heat indicators on ceramic/induction (shows when zones are still hot), auto shut-off on induction (turns off if no pan detected or timer expires). These should be standard, not optional extras.
Useful if you have children: control lock (prevents accidental activation). Less critical for most adults living alone or with older kids.
Three Things Marketing Will Oversell You
1. Booster Functions
Induction hobs often tout a "booster" or "power" function that briefly increases zone output. It boils water 30 seconds faster. That's it. Nice to have, not worth £100 extra.
2. Bridge Zones and Flexi-Zones
These let you combine two zones into one large cooking area for griddles or fish kettles. Sounds transformative. In reality, unless you regularly cook oversized items, you'll use it twice a year. If you do use a griddle weekly, fine, otherwise, standard zones suffice.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity and App Control
Some premium hobs connect to your phone. You can preheat remotely or receive timer alerts. Useful? Marginally, if you're already 10 steps into a recipe in another room. Essential? Not remotely. Save your money.
Sizing for Your Household
60cm hob (4 burners/zones): Handles 1-4 people comfortably. You can cook a full roast dinner, two pans of veg, one for potatoes, one for gravy or sauce. This is the default choice for good reason.
75cm hob (5 burners): For households that cook elaborate meals regularly or have 5+ people. That extra burner is the difference between keeping something warm while you finish the rest versus playing Tetris with pans.
90cm hob (6 burners): Semi-professional territory. You're either a serious home cook, you entertain constantly, or you've got a large family. Unless you're nodding vigorously, stick with 60cm or 75cm.
Forget "future-proofing." Buy for how you cook now, not some imaginary dinner party habit you'll develop. Hobs last 10-15 years; your cooking habits might not.
Energy Rating Reality Check
Since 2021, hobs display an A, G energy label. The catch: gas hobs can't score higher than D due to combustion inefficiency, even though gas remains cheaper per kWh than electricity in most UK regions.
Rough annual costs for typical household use (1 hour daily at mixed settings, 2024 energy prices):
- Gas hob: £40, £55/year
- Ceramic hob: £65, £85/year
- Induction hob: £45, £60/year
Induction is the most efficient electric option, but gas still edges it on running cost. That said, if you're installing new and don't have gas supply, the installation cost of running a new gas line (£500, £1,500+) obliterates any running-cost advantage for years.
Don't choose fuel type based on energy labels alone. Choose based on how you cook, what's already plumbed, and upfront budget. The annual cost difference is rarely more than a tenner either way.
Reliability Signals
Brand matters less than you'd think for hobs, they're relatively simple appliances, but some patterns hold:
- Hotpoint and Whirlpool (same parent company) deliver solid mid-range reliability. Parts remain available years later, which matters when a control board fails.
- Indesit sits a tier below in build quality but also price. Acceptable if budget's tight; expect a shorter lifespan.
- Premium brands charge extra for features and finish, not necessarily longevity. A £800 hob won't last twice as long as a £400 one.
Check warranty length. Manufacturer warranties on our hobs are typically 1-2 years. Longer is better, but focus on the manufacturer's UK service network. A five-year warranty from a brand with no UK parts distributor is worthless.
Look for models that have been on the market a while. Established SKUs have known failure modes and available spares. Brand-new releases are beta tests you're paying for.
Our Picks from Current Stock
Hotpoint PAN642IXH (£197): Best budget gas option, 60cm stainless steel with four burners including a rapid burner and flame failure device. No-nonsense workhorse.
Hotpoint FTGHG641DHBK (£465): If you want gas-on-glass aesthetics, this delivers, 60cm black glass, cast iron supports, Direct Flame Technology for better flame distribution.
Hotpoint FTGHG751DHBK (£409): 75cm five-burner gas-on-glass for larger households, actually £56 cheaper than the 60cm model currently, making it exceptional value if you've got the cutout space.
Hotpoint PHC961TSIXH (£389): 90cm six-burner including wok burner on stainless steel, for serious home cooks who need the real estate and high-output heat.
All include manufacturer warranty and our 14-day free returns policy. Need installation or advice? Our engineer network is here, no automated chatbots, just people who've actually fitted a few thousand hobs.
Ready to Choose?
Browse our current hob range, or if you're still weighing up options, give us a ring. We're a UK family business based in Bournemouth, and we've been doing this since 2009. We'd rather you bought the right hob once than the wrong one twice.
This guide was last updated on 09 April 2026. Prices and stock states change daily, check the linked product pages for the current position. Got a question an engineer should answer? Drop us a line.
