Cooktops Pro’s and Con’s

Cooktop Pro’s

Many cooktops need a smaller cutout on your countertops. In small kitchen or space constricted kitchen this can be a huge benefit.
Because there is usually no oven under a cooktop the cook is not exposed to any extra heat that might escape from the oven while cooking.
Cooktop controls come in a wide variety. Have kids and don’t want knobs on the front where they can be bumped into? You can easily find a cooktop with the knobs on the top of the unit. Don’t want knobs at all? Many cooktops have push button digital controls.
If burner configuration or flexibility is important to you some cooktops come with more flexable burner layouts. This mostly applies to the newer induction cooktop options.
If there is more than one person cooking a cooktop and separate oven could make things easier as access to the oven is not blocked by the person standing at the cooktop.

In a very small kitchen it might be easier to find a single larger space for a full size range than a space for both the cooktop and the oven.
If you are the type of cook that transfers pans between the cooktop and the oven a lot then it would be easier and simpler to have a range and have both locations close together.
Depending on the final setup of the kitchen you may need to set up two venting locations. One over the cooktop and one near the ovens for any fumes or smoke that might come from there.
A full size range can be cheaper to buy and install than a cooktop / wall oven combination if money is an issue.