24 products from trusted UK retailers
Black range cookers bring a bold, smart centrepiece to the kitchen and hide the splashes of everyday cooking far better than a pale finish. Choose from electric models with ceramic or induction hobs, plus a couple of dual fuel cookers with a gas hob, in widths of 90cm, 100cm and 110cm from Belling and Stoves.
They suit busy family kitchens, keen bakers and anyone who wants the classic range look without the cream. Set on induction already? Our induction range cookers narrow it down by hob, or compare every width in our 100cm electric range cookers.
A range cooker is the first thing anyone notices when they walk into the kitchen, so the colour matters more than it would on a built-in oven. Black is the colour that works almost anywhere. It looks sharp against white shaker units, warm next to oak worktops and right at home in a dark, moody kitchen with brass taps.
It's a practical choice as well. Splashes of gravy, a dusting of flour and the odd greasy fingerprint show up far less on a black range cooker than on cream or white. That makes it a favourite with busy families who cook every night and don't want to polish the front after every meal.
And it ages well. Bold colours come and go, but black has been a steady choice for range cookers for decades. If you're likely to sell the house in a few years, it's the safe pick for buyers as well as for you.
Every model in the grid above comes from Belling or Stoves through Electrical Discount UK. Here's how the ranges compare. Prices move with the retailer, so we've given rough bands rather than exact figures.
| Range | Widths in black | Hob | Ovens | Total capacity (litres) | Warranty | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belling Farmhouse E and Ei | 90cm, 100cm, 110cm | 5-zone ceramic or induction | Two fan ovens plus a grill | 174 to 194 | 3 years | Around £1,000 to £1,600 |
| Belling Cookcentre E and Ei | 90cm, 100cm, 110cm | 5-zone ceramic or induction | Two fan ovens plus a grill | 174 to 194 | 3 years | Around £1,200 to £1,700 |
| Belling Cookcentre DF | 100cm, 110cm | 7-burner gas with a wok burner | Two electric ovens plus a grill | 157 | 3 years | Around £1,200 to £1,300 |
| Stoves Richmond Ei | 90cm, 100cm, 110cm | 5-zone induction with a bridge zone | Three (90cm) or four ovens | 174 to 202 | 3 years on most, check the S1000EiMK2 | Around £2,300 to £3,000 |
| Stoves Richmond ZLS | 100cm, 110cm | Zoneless induction | Four ovens | 196 | 3 years | Around £4,900 to £5,000 |
All of them are A rated for energy and every oven cavity is lined with enamel. So the real decisions come down to width, the type of hob, how many ovens you'll use and how much you want to spend.
Not every black finish is the same. It's good to know which one you're getting before you order.
Most of our black range cookers have a black enamel body. Enamel is glass fused onto steel at a high temperature, which gives a hard, glossy surface that shrugs off heat and wipes clean easily. It's the traditional finish on a range and it keeps its colour for years.
Matt black has become popular in the last few years, mostly on more expensive brands such as Rangemaster, Bertazzoni and Smeg. It looks soft and modern, with no glare under kitchen spotlights. The catch is that a matt surface can show greasy fingerprints and needs a gentler cleaning routine.
Then there's the hob. Electric models have a black glass top, so the whole cooker reads as one dark block. Dual fuel models have enamel around the burners with heavy cast iron pan supports on top.
The trim changes the look more than you'd think. The Belling Farmhouse pairs its black body with a chrome rail, chrome knobs and chrome handles, which gives it that classic country range look. The Belling Cookcentre is plainer and more modern, with a cleaner handle and a flatter front. The Stoves Richmond sits between the two, with a stainless steel trim on some models and a traditional rail.
If you love the look of brass, some premium brands sell black ranges with antique brass handles and knobs. We don't stock those at the moment, but chrome on black remains the most popular pairing in UK kitchens.
The hob type shapes the price of a black range cooker more than anything else. It also changes how you cook every day.
A ceramic hob heats an element under the glass, which then warms the pan. It works with any flat-bottomed pan you already own, so there's nothing new to buy. The trade-off is speed. Zones take longer to heat up and stay warm after you switch off, although residual heat lights warn you when a zone is still hot.
A ceramic range cooker is the best value way into a black range. The Belling Farmhouse 90E, 100E and 110cm models plus the Cookcentre 90E, 100E and 110E all use a 5-zone ceramic glass top. Find more in our ceramic hob range cookers, in every colour.
An induction hob heats the pan itself through a magnetic field, so the glass around it stays much cooler. Water boils fast and the heat drops the moment you turn a zone down, which feels a lot like cooking on gas. Spills don't bake on either, so the glass keeps its shine with a quick wipe.
You'll need magnetic cookware. If a fridge magnet sticks firmly to the base of a pan, it will work. Cast iron and most stainless steel are fine, while plain aluminium, copper and glass won't heat.
Most induction models here let you join two zones into one long cooking area for a griddle or fish kettle. Belling calls this Link+ and Stoves calls it a bridge. The Richmond ZLS from Stoves goes further with a zoneless FreedomFLEX hob that finds the pan wherever you put it.
Every induction range cooker in the grid is all electric, so there's no gas to worry about. See all our induction range cookers to compare other colours and widths.
Prefer a real flame? A dual fuel range cooker puts a gas hob on top of electric ovens, which is why so many keen cooks swear by them. You get instant heat you can see on the hob plus the even, steady heat of an electric fan oven for baking.
The Belling Cookcentre 100DF and 110DF both have a 7-burner gas hob, including a powerful 4kW wok burner for stir fries. Heavy cast iron pan supports sit over the burners. Lift them off to clean underneath and wash them in warm soapy water.
A black dual fuel range cooker has to be connected by a Gas Safe engineer, so allow for that in your budget. Check where your gas supply comes into the kitchen as well, since the connection usually sits behind the cooker. Our dual fuel range cookers list every model with a gas hob that we stock.
Range cookers come in three common widths and we stock black models in all of them. Measure your gap at worktop height before you choose, as the exact dimensions vary a little between brands.
A 90cm range cooker is the most popular size in the UK. It slots into a standard kitchen without a full redesign and gives you two or three ovens plus a 5-zone hob. Most measure 896mm to 900mm wide and about 600mm deep. Have a look at our 90cm electric range cookers for the full choice.
Step up to 100cm and you'll usually gain a wider main oven and more space between the hob zones. The models we stock at this width are 996mm to 1000mm wide. It's a nice middle ground for families who cook big Sunday lunches.
The 110cm models are the largest we stock, at around 1096mm wide. They have room for a big roasting tin in the main oven plus a second oven for puddings and sides. If your kitchen can take one, our 110cm electric range cookers show what the extra width buys you.
Check the number of ovens first, then the capacity of each cavity in litres. Manufacturers often quote a gross figure and a smaller usable one, so compare like with like.
The Belling Farmhouse and Cookcentre ranges have two fan ovens plus a separate grill. You can roast in the main oven and bake in the second at a different temperature, then grill the toppings without either oven losing heat. For most households that's plenty.
The Richmond from Stoves adds more. The 90cm model has three ovens and the 100cm and 110cm models have four. The Quad Oven layout includes a multifunction main oven, a tall fan oven, a conventional oven with the grill and a dedicated slow cook oven on some models. If you batch bake or regularly feed six or more, that extra oven earns its keep.
Nearly all our black range cookers now include an air fry setting with its own tray. It crisps chips, wings and roast potatoes in the oven using little or no oil, which saves buying a separate air fryer for the worktop.
Look out for a programmable timer, child lock and a warming zone too. These details vary from model to model, so check the specs on each product page.
Black enamel is tough, but a little care keeps it looking new. The aim is to stop marks rather than scrub them off later.
Inside, the enamel oven linings wipe clean once they've cooled. Some brands use catalytic liners instead. Catalytic panels soak up grease while the oven is hot, so they need less cleaning, but they can't be scrubbed and wear out over time. Every model in our black range uses easy-clean enamel, which is simple to look after with warm soapy water.
For a deeper clean, take out the shelves and racks, soak them in the sink and wipe the oven door glass with a non-abrasive cleaner. Always follow the cleaning guide in the manufacturer's manual.
Getting the dimensions right saves a lot of hassle on delivery day. Grab a tape measure and note these down before you order your range cooker.
The product page for each range cooker in the grid lists its exact dimensions, oven capacity and installation needs. If you're swapping an old cooker for a wider one, you may need to trim a base unit, so ask your fitter to measure too.
Every black range cooker we stock carries an A energy rating for its ovens. The energy rating covers each oven separately, so cooking a weeknight dinner in the smaller second oven uses less power than heating the big main oven. It's a good habit to get into with any range cooker that has two or more ovens.
Induction is the most efficient way to cook on a hob because the heat goes straight into the pan. Fan ovens also cook at a slightly lower temperature than conventional ones, so dropping the dial a little can trim your bills over a year. The slow cook oven on some Stoves models runs gently for hours without heating the whole kitchen.
A range cooker is big, heavy and needs its own power supply. A little planning before you order makes delivery day much easier.
Measure the route in from the front door to the kitchen, including door frames, tight corners and stairs. Most range cookers are delivered in one piece and weigh far more than a standard cooker.
An electric range cooker needs a dedicated cooker circuit and a cooker switch, wired by a qualified electrician. It can't go into a normal plug socket. Electrical Safety First has plain guidance on using kitchen appliances safely and finding a registered electrician.
A dual fuel model needs both an electrical supply and a gas connection fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The installation guide for each cooker lists the side clearances, the height above the hob for a cooker hood and any splashback it needs.
Belling makes most of our black range cookers. The Belling Farmhouse is the traditional choice, with chrome details and a country kitchen feel. You can read more about the Farmhouse 90E on Belling's website or browse the full series in our Belling Farmhouse range cookers. The Belling Cookcentre takes the same ovens and dresses them in a more modern style. Every Belling here comes with a 3 year parts and labour warranty once you register it.
Stoves sits a step higher, with three or four ovens, touch controls on some induction hobs and the zoneless ZLS models at the top. Most carry a 3 year warranty too, though the Richmond S1000EiMK2 lists 1 year, so check the warranty on each product page. Our Stoves range cookers collect every Richmond we sell.
A Smeg induction model in black does come in and out of stock now and then, so it won't always show in the grid above.
Belling and Stoves are what our retailer carries right now, but they're not the only names you'll see. Rangemaster is one of the best known range cooker brands in the UK, with classic and modern styles in black, often with gas, dual fuel and induction options in each series. Leisure is its sister brand and tends to cost less, with ranges such as the Cuisinemaster and Cookmaster in black and anthracite.
Bertazzoni is an Italian family firm that makes stylish dual fuel and induction ranges, including black models in its Master and Professional series. Smeg's Victoria and Portofino designs bring a retro or Italian look. These brands usually cost more than our Belling models. If you want the look for less, a Belling Farmhouse or Cookcentre is a sensible place to start.
If black range cookers feel too dark for your space, a soft ivory shade is the classic country choice and pairs beautifully with wooden worktops. Take a look at our cream range cookers. For a professional, chef-style look, our stainless steel range cookers are easy to keep clean. Many Belling and Stoves models also come in anthracite, a soft charcoal grey that sits halfway between the two. Every Belling we stock sits in our Belling range cookers, in each colour they make.
Keeping it black? Which? has a helpful guide to buying a range cooker that's worth reading alongside the specs above.
Gloss black enamel hides everyday splashes well, but you may see the odd fingerprint on the doors and chrome. A soft, damp cloth followed by a dry microfibre cloth clears them quickly. Matt black finishes on premium brands tend to show greasy marks more easily.
Not at all, as black enamel and black glass are both easy to wipe clean. They also hide light stains better than cream. The main thing is to avoid abrasive cleaners, which can dull the finish over time.
A ceramic range cooker such as the Farmhouse 90E from Belling is usually the lowest priced black range cooker we stock. Induction versions cost a few hundred pounds more. The Stoves Richmond models sit higher again.
If you love cooking on a flame, yes. A dual fuel range cooker gives you a responsive gas hob with a wok burner for stir fries plus electric fan ovens that bake evenly. You'll need a gas supply and a Gas Safe engineer to connect it.
Sadly not, because it draws far more power than a socket can handle. Your electrician will run a separate circuit with its own switch, using the rating in the manual.
It can, because a 90cm black range cooker fits a gap only 30cm wider than a standard cooker. Pairing it with pale units and worktops keeps the room feeling light.
Only if your current pans aren't magnetic. Test each base with a magnet from the fridge and keep the ones it grabs hold of. Most new pan sets say induction ready on the box.
