6-burner 36" rangetop would be my choice of the two. For a couple reasons. The cooktop surface area is reduced by the cooktop knobs. The rangetop surface is free of knobs, which is also easier to use - who wants to reach toward splattering pans to turn a knob on the same surface. Rangetop is better that way. In addition, the cooktop needs a specific counter cutout, and if you have to replace that cooktop in the future, it will be hard to find a cooktop that will fit into that exact cutout - we have seen that dilemma on this forum. A rangetop does not need a specific cutout, but instead fits between the two base cabinets and counter the way a range would. It can be swapped out for a new one easily if need be.

Regarding the hood, yes, 6 burners in a rangetop will require a good hood, and good ductwork to the outside. I don't think the 1-burner difference between the cooktop vs the rangetop means you can drop the hood cfms by much. In addition, the hood of course needs to be 36" wide, but ideally the hood should be 6" wider than the cooktop so would be 42" wide in an ideal setup, but many people do not have the upper space to do that.

Edited to add: look into hoods by Best/Broan, and make sure you get one with baffle filters, not mesh filters. In addition, don't get the flat hoods which look cool but don't work that well. A "canopy" or "pyramid" hood works best. You may want to look at hoods on the Costco website - they have good deals on good hoods, but they come and go, so you have to be on the lookout for the good hoods that pop up there.

Rangetop all the way!

I prefer the knobs on the cooktop rather than the vertical surface so small kids can't reach them, and you aren't bumping them when standing at the cooktop. I don't think the extra 6th burner helps since with a crowd you usually would have a larger pan making the 6th burner useless.

I have a GE Monogram 6-burner rangetop and I love it. I don't use all the burners but it's a great landing surface for anything hot from the oven. No little ones to worry about with knobs on the front. I also think a range top is made more sturdily than a cooktop. JMHO.

I did a cooktop to have an extra drawer below and regret it. Having the knobs on the same surface as the burners makes keeping them clean a challenge. It would be much easier keeping a range top’s knobs clean.

“so small kids can't reach them, and you aren't bumping them when standing at the cooktop.”

If your kids are going to be turning the knobs, and aren’t going to heed their parents’ warning anout that, they’ll do it regardless if the knobs are 3” higher. Millions and millions of ranges in kitchens all around the world, and there aren’t those millions of kids living with them burning down the house. The bumping issue is not an issue either.

“I don't think the extra 6th burner helps since with a crowd you usually would have a larger pan making the 6th burner useless.”

This statement makes no sense. A cooktop with several inches in length and depth that are lost to the knobs is more crowded. That is geometry. A rangetop will allow spacing between burners that would not ”make the 6th burner useless”. I advise you to go to a store with 36” rangetops on display, and bring a couple of your favorite pots and pans with you, and see how they fit.

Also range tops have a continuous surface so it's easy to slide pots and pans across.

I like the 5 top.

In the standard rangetop configuration you always have a large pot / pan hanging over the edge of "something" if you center it. I find the 12" squares of workspace prohibitive as I don't tend to use the back burner (short arms) so I am crowded into the front burners and is using a large saucepan or stockpot it sits larger than a single burner.

With the center burner arrangement, I would find it much easier to have 3 things going, and allow one of them to be oversized.

I’ve had a Venta-hood over 6 burner and it didn’t do the job. Now I have a Best hood liner with wood surround over 6 burner plus griddle and it is just great. Make sure you get the proper hood size for whichever cooktop you choose - the appliance people will know.

Rangetop with front knobs. You will love the extra space that a 36" gives you!

A cooktop requires a wall oven. Both appliances require room in your kitchen so many people choose a range for space reasons. Other people don’t like bending down to get things in and out of the oven portion, so they prefer a wall unit. As for the cooktop part, most new ones have griddles designed to be “slide-able”. Six burners are better than five no matter which you choose if you do large meals.

IMO 36" will handle 6 burners I have a 6 burner all gas range 36" and I run a catering biz from my home and often there are smaller pots even when cooking for large groups. As for the hood IMO vent-a-hood still makes one of the best .I always wonder why people do cooktops or range tops I like a freestanding all gas range and wall ovens it gives me the choice of electric or gas baking which BTW is quite different ans some things just so much better in a gas oven As for a griddle save the money and go get one that spans 2 burners it cost $25.

Honestly, I think its somewhat of a wash as far as surface space is concerned. On one you have knobs taking up space, on the other, you have six burners crammed in close (although with 6 burners you’ll have more usable landing space but not necessarily be able to utilize all of them for cooking depending on the pans you use). The six burner one will have the same problem you’re dealing with now…..feeling overcrowded. I think the 5 burner allows more space in between pans. I have a 48” Wolf range with 6 burners and griddle and no matter how you slice it, large pans are squished in and touch one another. Bottom line for me would be those knobs on the top of the 5 burner would be an absolute no go….just another thing to clean….but I do like the configuration of the 5 burner better as it appears to allow more space in between pans.

I would look for a 5 burner with knobs in front rather than on top.

Here is how a 10” pan and a 12” pan look in a space that’s 36” (marked off in red). Now imagine the cutting board space is another burner. As it stands now, the pans are totally squished and overlap, so an additional burner will only make it worse. I guess it all depends on how you cook and what type of pans you use. Medium sized sauce pots would work ok, but decent size sauté pans are definitely an issue when considering space.

We chose a 36" rangetop. For me it was a no-brainer. More cooking surface, more burners. The kid thing isn't an issue. I have had a range since having kids and they never touch the knobs. This is more parenting than anything IMO.

We're doing a tract build, and the cooktop came with a 300 CMF hood while the rangetop came with a 600 CFM vent-a-hood. So even a tract builder recognizes that the rangetop is a more powerful unit.

@niday this is exactly the advice I was looking for! I cook almost entirely with larger size pans/pots. Thanks for the pictures also 5 burner cooktop it is! Now GE cafe vs Bosch appliances lines (I have to have matching appliances it is a pet peeve of mine)

Just wanted to add that the configuration of the 5 burner you posted is definitely not optimal if you use large sauté pans or very large pots. I think they will overlap in the corners…I would find that SUPER frustrating! And most of us tend to use the bottom right burner the most, so you might be fighting with that every day. So…..just say “NO” to top knobs!

“The six burner one will have the same problem you’re dealing with now…..feeling overcrowded.”

@Nidnay - I agree with your posts 99.9% of the time, but not on this comment. It has not been the case in my experience even with my very large Le Creuset dutch oven and my 12” fry pan at the same time.

I still recommend strongly that the OP go to a store with 6-burner rangetops on display, bring a couple of her favorite pots and pans, and see what configuration works for her. Do not be embarrassed to do this; it’s an expensive purchase and people do this frequently. Similarly, when shopping for a fridge I recommend people bring their jugs and their platters they frequently put in the fridge, and see how the various fridges fit those.

@Nidnay are you suggesting the OP get a 5 burner rangetop not a 5 burner cooktop? I don't know if you can find a 5 burner rangetop.Cooktops by definition have the controls on top. You will have more space on a 6 burner rangetop than a 5 burner cooktop so I'm a bit confused as to why it would feel more crowded. It would also bug me to have my high powered burner in the middle, as that would mean it would be a tight fit with a large stock pot and any other pan.

I agree with @Shannon_WI. Take your pots and pans to a store and test it out before you decide.

@Shannon_WI….99.9% is not bad :)

I think it truly depends on ones specific pans and how they cook (and their personal need for space :) ).

For me, if I’m sautéing or seering, I always head for the right front burner first, and usually leave the one directly left of it empty. It’s just too much congestion for the way I cook. Several pots that simply sit on the stove braising or heating etc. is not so much of an issue. It’s when I’m actively cooking that space becomes a problem for me. I don’t like my pans all crowded or the handles overlapping other pans or getting in the way. Just two nights ago we had dinner guests and I was seering steaks and sautéing veggies in several pans and it felt completely claustrophobic…I was wishing I could elongate my stovetop several feet to give me more space between pans!

Completely agree with you that the op should pack up her pots and pans and go to a place where she can test things out….thats the only way she’ll know for sure!

Looking at the way the tops are arranged, you can have 3 large diameter pots on the range top, but only one on the cooktop. Wide cookware on the center cooktop burner will block larger cookware on all of the other burners. The cooktop center burner is the highest BTU, but you only have the one. Because cooktops are generally not as deep as range tops, you may have issues with even moderately size cookware on two of the front and back burners. You may be unable to use something like a two burner griddle on the cooktop because of the placement of the front knobs.

You might look at NGM8657UC - it looks like the knobs are in a better position - but be aware that it has 9 set points for flame size per burner. The BTUs on each burner is less than either of the other two. That might be ok for me but maybe not you - the only burner I turn all the way up is the baby simmer anyway.

Here is the BTU configuration for each in case that’s a factor for you…

Wolf 5 burner is the easiest to clean I've ever experienced. A solid stainless steel surface below the removeable grates.

My tip: if you are on LP (propare), check the BTU ratings for the cooktops, at least for Bosch. There was no difference in the LP numbers between the different lines. Save yourself some money and go with the 500 series.