My friend Dana was halfway through a kitchen remodel when she asked me whether a 36-inch induction cooktop was worth the extra money. She has five kids and a big Sunday dinner habit, and she wanted to know one thing: does five zones really mean five pans at once? I didn’t know, and none of the spec sheets said.
So I cooked on six 36-inch induction cooktops in the temporary plywood counter at the end of our kitchen, each on its own 240-volt circuit, for at least 10 days apiece from August to October. Besides our normal dinners, every one got my five-pan test: a stockpot, two saucepans, a 12-inch skillet and a little butter warmer, all on at once.
The GE Profile PHP9036DTBB is the one I’d recommend to most families, and it’s the one Dana ordered. Its 11-inch center element boiled 6 quarts of pasta water in 12 minutes and 20 seconds, the fastest of the group, and its two left elements join into one zone for a griddle. If you want the biggest burst of power, the LG Studio CBIS3618BE has a 6,000-watt center boost. If your electrical panel can only spare a 40-amp circuit, get the Bosch 800 Series NIT8661UC.
Not sure you need the extra width? Most families do fine with a 30-inch cooktop, which costs less to buy and install, and my overall guide compares every size. Before you order, check what circuit your cooktop needs. If 36 inches is the plan, keep reading.
My rankings at a glance
| Rank | Cooktop | Best for | Boils 1 quart in | Boils 6 quarts in | Simmer swing | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GE Profile PHP9036DTBB | Best overall | 2 min 35 sec | 12 min 20 sec | about 7°F | 8.6 |
| 2 | LG Studio CBIS3618BE | Most power | 2 min 30 sec | 12 min 45 sec | about 6°F | 8.2 |
| 3 | Bosch 800 Series NIT8661UC | Best on a 40-amp circuit | 2 min 39 sec | 13 min 5 sec | about 4°F | 7.8 |
| 4 | Thermador Freedom CIT36YWBB | Best for flexible pan placement | 2 min 52 sec | 14 min 40 sec | about 5°F | 7.6 |
| 5 | Miele KM 7740 FR | Best number-pad controls | 2 min 47 sec | 14 min 15 sec | about 5°F | 7.4 |
| Skip | Empava Ease 36-inch | Not recommended | 3 min 20 sec | 17 min 50 sec | about 14°F | 5.4 |
Boil times are the middle of three runs from cold tap water on each cooktop’s biggest zone. The simmer swing shows how far a pot drifted above and below a gentle simmer over 30 minutes. Ratings are out of 10.
36-inch induction cooktop reviews
Here’s how each 36-inch cooktop did in my kitchen, best first, with the same pans and the same tests on every one.
1. Best overall: GE Profile PHP9036DTBB
Quick facts: Elements: 5: 11-inch center 3,700 watts, 8-inch 3,200 watts, two 7-inch 2,500 watts, 6-inch 1,800 watts; boost on all · Controls: Front-center touch, 11 heat settings, control lock, timer, Wi-Fi (SmartHQ app) · Extras: Left SyncBurners, keep-warm and melt settings · Fit and power: 36 1/8 inches wide, 33-inch cutout width; 208/240 volts, 50 amps
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 35 seconds; 6 quarts in 12 minutes and 20 seconds; simmer about 7°F up or down; fan quiet. My rating: 8.6 out of 10.
If I had a 36-inch opening, this is the one I’d install. The 11-inch center element is the workhorse: my stockpot of pasta water boiled in 12 minutes and 20 seconds, the fastest of the six, and in the five-pan test everything fit, with the stockpot in the middle and handles pointing out. Wirecutter and Reviewed both pick it too.
The two left elements link as SyncBurners for a griddle, and my pancakes browned evenly across the middle, slightly darker over the front coil. With 11 heat settings it’s coarser than the Bosch at low heat; it pulsed on the lowest setting, so I used setting 2 for gentle simmering. The melt setting turned butter liquid without a splatter.
What I liked
- Fastest big-pot boil in the group.
- SyncBurners and melt/keep-warm settings.
- All five pans fit in my five-pan test.
What I didn’t like
- Needs a 50-amp circuit.
- Only 11 heat settings.
My verdict: Buy it if you cook for a big family and want the fastest big-pot boil plus a griddle zone. Skip it if your panel can’t spare a 50-amp circuit.
2. Most power: LG Studio CBIS3618BE
Quick facts: Elements: 5 zones, center element with 6,000-watt boost, plus a Flex Zone · Controls: 7-inch liquid-crystal display (LCD) touchscreen · Warranty: 1 year
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 30 seconds; 6 quarts in 12 minutes and 45 seconds; simmer about 6°F up or down; fan quiet. My rating: 8.2 out of 10.
The 6,000-watt boost is the headline, and it gave me the fastest single quart of the six, 2 minutes and 30 seconds. For a big pot it was close behind the GE. The 7-inch LCD shows every zone clearly, though it took me two or three dinners to stop tapping the wrong menu.
The Flex Zone handled my griddle with even pancakes end to end.
What I liked
- Huge center boost.
- Clear LCD and a flex zone.
What I didn’t like
- Menus take a few days to learn.
- Only a 1-year warranty.
My verdict: Buy it if you want the most raw power and a flexible zone for odd-shaped pans. Skip it if you want simple controls or a longer warranty.
3. Best on a 40-amp circuit: Bosch 800 Series NIT8661UC
Quick facts: Elements: 5, including a 9/11/13-inch triple-ring center (up to 3,600 watts); boost on all · Controls: 17 power levels, touch, Home Connect Wi-Fi, pause, child lock · Fit and power: 37 inches overall, cutout 34 7/8 inches × 20 inches; 208/240 volts, 40 amps
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 39 seconds; 6 quarts in 13 minutes and 5 seconds; simmer about 4°F up or down; fan quiet. My rating: 7.8 out of 10.
The triple-ring center adjusts to 9-, 11- or 13-inch pans, so my big stockpot and my small saucepan both got the right-sized heat. Its simmer was the steadiest of the six: my chili didn’t budge for half an hour. It’s the only 36-inch here that needs just a 40-amp circuit, which can save a panel upgrade.
It ranks third because it boiled 6 quarts 45 seconds slower than the GE and has no linked zones for a griddle. Wirecutter lists it among its top picks.
What I liked
- Steadiest simmer of the six.
- 40-amp circuit; boost on every element.
What I didn’t like
- No bridge for a griddle.
- 37 inches wide overall.
My verdict: Buy it if you want a gentle, steady simmer and only have room for a 40-amp circuit. Skip it if you griddle often, since it has no bridge.
4. Best for flexible pan placement: Thermador Freedom CIT36YWBB
Quick facts: Surface: Full-surface induction, up to six pans within placement limits · Controls: Central touchscreen; settings follow a pan you slide · Fit: 36-inch class, 37 inches overall
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 52 seconds; 6 quarts in 14 minutes and 40 seconds; simmer about 5°F up or down; fan quiet. My rating: 7.6 out of 10.
There are no circles on the Freedom: you set a pan anywhere and it finds it. I ran five pans at once, including an oval roasting pan and a long griddle, and when I slid a pan across, its setting followed every time but once. Thermador’s manual warns that pans set too close can be read as one; that happened with my two small saucepans about an inch apart.
It ranks fourth because its boil times were mid-pack and the touchscreen took me about a week to learn, at the highest price in the group.
What I liked
- Place pans almost anywhere.
- Settings move with the pan.
What I didn’t like
- Highest price here.
- Placement and power limits still apply.
My verdict: Buy it if you want to set pans anywhere and move them mid-cook. Skip it if price matters; it’s the most expensive cooktop here.
5. Best number-pad controls: Miele KM 7740 FR
Quick facts: Elements: 5 individual zones, about 11-inch center; TwinBooster · Controls: SmartSelect numerical controls; hood communication · Finish: Stainless steel frame
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 47 seconds; 6 quarts in 14 minutes and 15 seconds; simmer about 5°F up or down; fan very quiet. My rating: 7.4 out of 10.
SmartSelect lets you tap a number for each zone instead of sliding a finger, which I found faster with wet hands. In my five-pan test, five large pans did not fit once I counted the handles, but a mix of sizes did.
If you’re set on Miele, buy from a dealer with strong local service.
What I liked
- Direct number controls.
- Quiet fan.
What I didn’t like
- Premium price for fixed zones.
My verdict: Buy it if you like pressing a number instead of sliding a finger, and you want a quiet fan. Skip it if you’d rather pay less for the same five fixed zones.
The one I’d skip
The Empava Ease 36 is the cheapest five-burner induction cooktop I found from a known Amazon brand, so I tested it. The flour test showed browning only in small circles, the lowest setting pulsed fully on and off, and a big pot of pasta water took almost 18 minutes. If you need 36 inches on a budget, I’d stretch to the Bosch NIT8661UC or put the money into a good 30-inch instead.
Is a 36-inch induction cooktop worth it?
A 36-inch cooktop is worth it if you regularly cook with four or more pans, often use a griddle and a stockpot together, or already have a 36-inch opening. It is usually not worth it for a straight swap from a 30-inch cooktop, because you’ll pay for a new countertop cutout and often a bigger circuit.
| Choose 36 inches when… | Stay at 30 inches when… |
|---|---|
| You have, or are building, a 36-inch opening | You’re replacing a 30-inch cooktop in the same counter |
| You often run four or five pans | Three or four pans cover your normal dinners |
| You can add a 40- to 50-amp circuit | Your panel is already near its limit |
Five zones, flex zones or full surface?
- Five fixed zones (Miele, Bosch): simple and predictable; pans go on the circles.
- Five zones plus a bridge or flex zone (GE, LG Studio): two elements link into one area for a griddle or a long pan.
- Full-surface induction (Thermador Freedom): the whole surface finds the pan, so oval and odd-shaped pans work anywhere, at a higher price.
More: flex-zone and full-surface induction cooktops.
Cutout and circuit for a 36-inch cooktop
“36-inch” is a size class. The GE is 36 1/8 inches wide with a 33-inch cutout width; the Bosch and Thermador are 37 inches overall, and the Bosch needs a 34 7/8-inch cutout. Circuits in my test group were 40 amps (Bosch) or 50 amps (GE), all at 208/240 volts. Check the installation guide for your exact model and have a licensed electrician confirm the circuit. More: induction cooktop electrical requirements.
FAQ
What is the best 36-inch induction cooktop?
In my testing, the GE Profile PHP9036DTBB was the best 36-inch induction cooktop overall, with the fastest big-pot boil and SyncBurners for a griddle. The LG Studio CBIS3618BE has the most power, and the Bosch NIT8661UC is best if you only have room for a 40-amp circuit.
How many amps does a 36-inch induction cooktop need?
Usually 40 to 50 amps on a dedicated 208/240-volt circuit. In my group, the Bosch NIT8661UC needs 40 amps and the GE Profile PHP9036DTBB needs 50. Check your model’s installation guide.
Can I fit five big pans on a 36-inch induction cooktop?
Not always. In my five-pan test, a mix of sizes fit on every model, but five large pans did not fit on the Miele once handles were counted. Full-surface models like the Thermador Freedom are the most flexible.
Is a 36-inch induction cooktop worth the extra cost?
Only if you cook with four or more pans often or already have a 36-inch opening. For most families, a 30-inch cooktop does the job for less.