- Freestanding ranges are standalone ranges that fit anywhere in the kitchen, including between two cabinets or walls, and are equipped with side panels and a front panel. A slide-in range doesn't have side panels and needs to be installed between two cabinets so that you can't see the open sides.
- A slide-in range has a contoured top that hangs over a countertop slightly to prevent food from slipping down between the sides. The freestanding range doesn't have a contoured stovetop; its top is flush with the sides. If you want to replace a freestanding range that was installed between two cabinets, you need to replace it with a slide-in that will fit snuggly in the opening.
- The controls on a freestanding range are located on the extended back panel, but some have burner controls on the front and oven and clock controls on the back panel. The slide-in ranges have the controls on the side of the stovetop or on the front panel. If you have an area where the backsplash meets the top of the back panel on a freestanding model, you will have a bare wall without a backsplash if you replace the freestanding range with a slide-in because the range doesn't have an extended back panel.
- If the area where the freestanding range is located will accommodate a slide-in range, you need to examine the cost difference between the two models. Slide-in ranges can cost about $150 to $200 more than a freestanding unit.
Model Differences
Range-Top Design
Range Controls
Cost Difference
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