Smeg Stove Tops Reviewed: The Best Smeg Hobs for UK Kitchens in 2026

A Smeg stove top is one of the few kitchen purchases where almost everything that matters is settled on paper before you order: the cut-out your worktop has to be cut to, the electrical supply the hob demands, and whether the pans already in your cupboard will work on it. Smeg — the Italian appliance maker based in Guastalla — sells its built-in cooking surfaces in the UK as hobs, and the range splits into five-burner gas hobs on glass bases, 60cm induction hobs, compact domino induction modules, and stainless-steel gas models with heavy cast-iron pan supports. Prices run from a few hundred pounds for a straightforward gas hob to well over a thousand for a large induction surface.

This guide is desk research: manufacturer datasheets, UK retailer listings and aggregated owner feedback rather than a lab test. It compares the models UK buyers actually see on the shelf in 2026, explains how gas, induction and ceramic Smeg hobs differ in practice, sets out realistic price bands and running costs at current energy rates, and flags the installation rules you cannot ignore — starting with the Gas Safe requirement on any gas model.

Smeg Stove Top, Hob or Cooktop? Getting the Terminology Straight

Searchers arrive at this category from three directions, and Smeg sells into all three:

• UK — “hob”: the built-in cooking surface set into a worktop. This is the only word Smeg’s UK catalogue uses, per the product navigation on smeguk.com.
• US — “cooktop”: the same built-in appliance, sold into American kitchens under that name.
• US — “range” or “stove”: a freestanding cooker, where the cooking surface and the oven are one unit. If you are shopping for a “stove top” in the American sense of the word, you are looking at a completely different appliance class from the hobs here.

The practical consequence of the terminology gap is not just vocabulary. A US review will quote dimensions in inches, describe a different regulatory framework, and assume a different electrical supply; UK models must be installed to UK rules, and the appliance you buy here is built for that. When you read up on a Smeg hob, make sure the source is describing the UK specification.

Quick Picks: Three Smeg Hobs Worth Checking

Prices are hedged approximations checked in early 2026 across AO, Currys, John Lewis and Appliances Direct, and they move with promotions.

One warning before you use those codes to order anything: Smeg rotates model codes fairly regularly, so a hob reviewed last year may have been superseded by the time you read about it. Treat every code in this guide — SIM631WLDR, PV175CN and SIM332D included — as a starting point to look up live on smeguk.com, not as a guaranteed current listing.

How these are ranked

Five criteria separate a good Smeg hob from a disappointing one, and all five are on the datasheet:

1. Price per zone — a 60cm four-zone induction hob at around £550–£850 is around £140–£210 a zone; a two-zone domino at roughly £300–£550 costs more per zone but takes up far less worktop.
2. Boost kW — the short-term power a zone can deliver when you need a pan of water boiling fast. It says more about real-world speed than the steady-state rating.
3. Cut-out size (W×D in mm) — taken from the Smeg datasheet for the exact model. It decides whether the hob fits your worktop and your base units.
4. Warranty length — the length of cover Smeg UK attaches to that model, which varies by product and by promotion.
5. Control type — touch controls on induction glass, rotary dials on most gas models. It is a daily-use decision, not a cosmetic one.

How to Choose a Smeg Hob

Gas, induction or ceramic — what actually differs

Gas puts a visible flame under the pan. Heat changes the instant you turn the dial, you can char a pepper directly over the burner, and cast-iron pan supports take any pan you own. The trade-offs are lower energy efficiency than induction, burner caps and pan supports that need regular scrubbing, and an installation that must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. On larger Smeg gas models you will typically find a dedicated wok burner — a higher-output central burner shaped for a curved wok base — alongside four standard burners.

Induction heats the pan itself by magnetic field rather than the glass. A cooking zone only becomes hot where a suitable pan sits on it, which is why an induction surface is quicker to respond and easier to wipe down than gas, and why spills do not bake on around the edge of a burner. The mechanism also dictates the one limitation that catches buyers out: the base of the pan has to be magnetic for the zone to detect it. The fridge-magnet test is the reliable check — and note that so-called “ferrous only” advice is too strict, because composite-base pans with a magnetic steel layer in the sandwich work perfectly well. Smeg’s own cookware guidance sets out the same rule.

Ceramic hobs use electric elements under a glass surface. They are slower to respond than either of the above and are less common in Smeg’s current line-up, but the glass finish is the same easy-clean black surface you get with induction.

If you see “flex zones” or “flex cooking zones” used in a listing or review, be careful. Brands use different names for the bridging function that lets two zones heat as one, and Smeg uses its own feature name on individual models. Match the wording on the smeguk.com listing for the specific model you are buying rather than assuming every Smeg induction hob has it.

The design families — and why the name matters less than you think

Smeg groups its appliances into families, and you will come across Classic, Linea and Dolce Stil Novo while browsing. Before you build a kitchen scheme around one of those names, check which families actually contain hobs in the 2026 UK catalogue — the collections span fridges, small appliances and cooking products, and it is a mistake to assume a family that offers a fridge also offers a matching hob. Retro-style design, the 1950s-influenced aesthetic Smeg is best known for, is primarily seen on its fridges and small appliances; confirm whether any current UK hob sits in the Victoria or Portofino families before you name them in a kitchen plan.

What matters more than the collection badge is the finish — black ceramic glass or brushed stainless steel — and whether the control styling suits the rest of the room.

Four questions to settle before you order

• What cut-out does it need? Take the figure from the Smeg datasheet for the exact model code. Cut-outs differ between a 30cm domino, a 60cm hob and a 75cm hob, and a worktop cut cannot easily be undone.
• What is the total connected load? Quoted in kW on the datasheet, and it determines your circuit (see the installation section below).
• Which control type? Touch sliders on induction glass, rotary dials on most gas hobs.
• How long is the warranty? Confirm the term for that model at the point of purchase.

Smeg SIM631WLDR — Best All-Rounder

Who it’s for: the majority of UK kitchens — a 60cm gap, a normal family workload, and a buyer who wants one appliance to do everything competently.

What it is: a 60cm induction hob with four cooking zones on a black glass surface. Four zones on 60cm means the standard layout: two larger zones at the front, two smaller at the back, all controlled from the glass. Every zone has a boost setting, which is worth checking per model because boost power is the single best predictor of how quickly a big pan of water comes up.

Standout strength: it is the value pick of the range. Against a comparable Neff induction hob it typically costs less for the same four-zone induction format, and induction’s wipe-clean glass — no pan supports, no burner caps, no baked-on rings around a flame — makes the daily clean a genuine five-second job.

Honest caveat: induction is unforgiving of the wrong pans. If your cookware is aluminium or copper without a magnetic base layer, the zones will not detect it on this hob, full stop. It also needs the electrical supply sorted before installation, and as with all Smeg codes, confirm SIM631WLDR is the live model before ordering.

Verdict: the sensible default Smeg stove top for a UK family kitchen — fast, easy to live with, and priced keenly against the German competition.

Where to buy: AO, Currys, John Lewis and Appliances Direct all typically stock Smeg induction hobs at this size, at around £550–£850 depending on promotion.

Smeg PV175CN — Best Gas Hob

Who it’s for: anyone who wants to see the flame, adjust heat instantly, and slide a wok or a cast-iron pan across the surface without worrying about pan bases.

What it is: a 75cm five-burner gas hob. That extra width over a 60cm model buys you five burners rather than four, including the larger, higher-output wok burner — the ring that makes stir-frying possible at domestic power levels — plus cast-iron pan supports across the full surface.

Standout strength: precise, immediate flame control, which is what gas buyers are paying for, combined with the build quality of cast-iron supports that stay put when you move a heavy pan.

Honest caveat: three things. First, a 75cm hob is wider than a standard 600mm base unit, so the cabinet run and the cut-out both need checking before you commit. Second, installation is legally a Gas Safe job. Third, whether you want a 90cm gas hob is a question worth answering on smeguk.com rather than assuming — confirm the widest gas model in the current UK range before you budget for a 90cm price bracket, because wider hobs cost more and demand a larger cut-out. LPG conversion is also model-specific: a kit may or may not be available for the exact code you buy, so check the individual listing rather than generalising from the range.

Verdict: the best Smeg gas hob for most buyers — a five-burner, wok-capable surface with the control that only a flame gives you.

Where to buy: AO, Currys, John Lewis and Appliances Direct, typically £450–£750.

Smeg SIM332D — Best Domino

Who it’s for: small kitchens, galley layouts, and anyone building a mixed-fuel worktop where a two-zone induction module sits alongside a gas hob or a separate wok burner.

What it is: a 30cm domino induction hob with two zones. The domino format is the modular end of Smeg’s range: at 30cm wide it takes half the worktop of a full-size hob, and because it is a separate unit it can be sited independently of a main hob — giving you a dedicated induction zone for a stockpot while the gas hob handles everything else, or a second cooking position on the other side of the kitchen.

Standout strength: flexibility. Pairing a domino induction module with a gas hob lets you combine instant flame control with induction’s speed and easy cleaning on one worktop, and the small footprint means it can go where a 60cm hob simply will not.

Honest caveat: two zones is a real limit. A large roast dinner plus sides needs more burners than this, so it works best as a second surface rather than the only one. Each cut-out is separate, and each module needs its own supply, so the electrical planning is more involved than for a single hob.

Verdict: the pick for compact kitchens and mixed-fuel worktops, and the cheapest way into a Smeg induction surface.

Where to buy: AO, Currys, John Lewis and Appliances Direct, roughly £300–£550.

What a Smeg Hob Costs to Run

Manufacturers quote a total connected load in kW on the datasheet. That is the maximum the hob draws if every zone runs flat out at once — not what you will actually use, but it is the figure that sets your electricity cost ceiling and your circuit requirement.

Take a 60cm four-zone induction hob with a total connected load in the region of 7.4 kW, which is typical for that format; confirm the exact figure on your model’s Smeg spec PDF. At 7.4 kW it draws 7.4 kWh for every hour all four zones run at maximum. Ofgem’s price cap sets the unit rate, and the rate in force for Q1 2026 applies to your bill — check the published figure for your region and payment method, but at an electricity unit rate of around 25p per kWh, running that hob flat out for a full hour would cost in the region of £1.85. No household cooks with four zones at maximum for an hour; a single zone on a simmer draws a small fraction of the total, so the realistic hourly cost is a small slice of that ceiling.

Gas works the same way but on a different tariff. A Smeg gas hob’s datasheet lists a kW rating per burner rather than one total load, and Ofgem’s capped gas unit rate is substantially lower per kWh than the capped electricity rate. Multiply each burner’s kW rating by your capped gas rate to estimate its cost per hour, then add the standing charge.

The one purchase decision that follows from this: a hob with a high total connected load needs the circuit to support it, and a circuit that cannot support it will either trip or force the hob to throttle back. That is the subject of the next section.

Installation, Wiring and UK Safety Rules

Electrical supply — what to confirm per model

The mechanics behind those numbers matter. A 13A plug tops out at roughly 3 kW, so a hob whose total connected load exceeds that cannot deliver full power from a plug — attempt it and you are looking at a tripped circuit or permanently reduced performance. A 32A hardwired circuit supports about 7.4 kW, which is why it is the standard route for a full-size four-zone induction hob. A qualified electrician should confirm the final circuit requirement for your specific kitchen.

Gas safety and flame failure

Every burner on a new Smeg gas hob carries a flame failure device, which shuts off the gas supply if the flame is extinguished. That is not optional in the UK: the Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 and the harmonised standard BS EN 30-1-1 require it. Without one, a pan boiled over onto a lit burner could leave gas flowing into the room.

Installation and use of gas appliances in the UK is governed by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, which is why any gas hob — including a like-for-like swap — must be fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The Gas Safe Register’s consumer guidance at gassaferegister.co.uk explains how to check an engineer’s registration and what the rules require of them.

Indoor use only

Almost every Smeg hob is certified for indoor domestic use only. If your interest is alfresco cooking, these are the wrong appliances entirely — a portable gas stove from Decathlon or Go Outdoors, or a proper outdoor gas barbecue, is the route to take. A Smeg hob belongs in a kitchen, and ideally a well-ventilated one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a stove top the same as a hob? For the built-in appliance, yes — “hob” is the term Smeg’s UK catalogue uses, and “stove top” is the American phrasing for the same thing. Where the two diverge is the freestanding “range” or “stove”, which is a cooker with the oven and cooking surface in one unit. If you are buying a built-in surface to drop into a worktop, you are buying a hob.

Does a Smeg gas hob come with an LPG conversion kit? It varies by model, so this is not something to assume from the range as a whole. LPG kits are offered on some Smeg gas hobs and not others, and availability can change with the model code. Check the individual smeguk.com listing or the retailer’s product page for the exact code before you buy, particularly if your property is off the mains gas grid.

What cut-out size does a Smeg hob need? The cut-out is quoted in millimetres (width × depth) on the datasheet for each model, and it is always smaller than the hob’s overall width because the glass or steel frame overlaps the worktop edge. A 30cm domino, a 60cm hob and a 75cm hob each need a different cut-out, and individual models within a size can differ too. Order against the datasheet figure for your code, never against the size class.

Can a Smeg induction hob run from a 13A plug? Only if the model’s datasheet lists a plug-in mode, and be aware of what it means: a 13A supply caps the hob at roughly 3 kW, so full-power use of several zones at once is not possible. A full-size four-zone induction hob with a total connected load around 7.4 kW normally needs a dedicated hardwired circuit, commonly 32A, to perform as designed. Your electrician confirms the final requirement.

What warranty term does Smeg UK give on the glass on its hobs? Warranty length is set per model and is stated in the documentation supplied with the appliance and on the product page at the point of sale, so confirm the term for your exact code before ordering rather than relying on a figure quoted for a different model. It is also worth reading the exclusions: the glass surface is a working surface, so accidental impact damage is not a manufacturing fault and is not covered as one.

Do I need a Gas Safe engineer even for a like-for-like swap? Yes. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 cover work on gas appliances, and disconnecting and reconnecting a gas hob is gas work regardless of whether the new model is identical to the old one. Budget for the engineer’s time as part of the purchase, and check their registration on the Gas Safe Register before booking.

Can a Smeg hob be fitted above an oven or over a drawer? It can, but the minimum clearances and ventilation requirements come from the installation instructions for that specific model, not from a general rule of thumb. An oven below a hob needs a ventilated shelf and the correct separation, and a drawer below needs enough clearance that stored items do not foul the underside. Read the instructions before the joiner cuts the worktop — this is one of the few mistakes that cannot be reversed cheaply.

The Bottom Line

Match the hob to the kitchen you have, not the one on the showroom floor. For most UK buyers that means the SIM631WLDR and its four induction zones at around £550–£850; for flame control and wok cooking, the 75cm five-burner PV175CN at typically £450–£750; for tight worktops and mixed-fuel layouts, the two-zone SIM332D at roughly £300–£550. Confirm the live model code, the cut-out dimensions and the total connected load on smeguk.com or the retailer’s datasheet before you order, book a Gas Safe engineer for any gas model, and have your electrician confirm the circuit. Do that, and the installation is simply a matter of cutting the worktop once.