How Much Does It Cost to Run an Air Fryer?

Air fryer ratings vary with size and supply voltage. The Cosori Pro II, a 5.8-quart (5.5-litre) model for 120 V outlets in the US and Canada, is rated at 1,700 W. Philips's 6.2-litre Essential Airfryer XL, sold in 230 V countries, is rated at 2,000 W.

The rating is what the heater draws at full power, mainly while it warms up. Once the air reaches the set temperature, the thermostat switches the heater on and off. In Which? lab tests, an air fryer averaged about 400–750 W across four foods. We assume a 1,700 W air fryer averages about 35% of its rating, or about 0.6 kWh an hour.

A 30-minute session then uses about 0.3 kWh: about $0.05 in the US, £0.08 in the UK and €0.11 in Germany. Used for 30 minutes every day, that's about $1.64, £2.38 and €3.27 a month.

An oven has a much bigger space to heat, so it uses more energy for a small meal. In Which? lab tests, including preheating, an air fryer used 0.287 kWh to cook frozen chips against 0.863 kWh in a built-in electric oven, and 0.54 kWh for a whole roast chicken against 1.157 kWh.

Across the four foods tested, the air fryer used about a third to a half of the oven's energy. It was faster too: 23 minutes for the chips against 33 in the oven, and 53 minutes for the chicken against 76.

The saving shrinks when you cook for a crowd. An oven can cook several dishes or a large batch at once, while an air fryer may need two or three rounds. Which? says the oven may be the cheaper choice for a full roast dinner or for big batches.

An air fryer only saves money when it replaces the oven. Used alongside the oven, it adds to the bill.

Cooking time matters most. Longer cooks and higher temperatures keep the heater on for more of the time.

Preheating runs the heater at full power for a few minutes, so skip it when the recipe doesn't need it.

Dual-basket air fryers have a heater for each drawer. Running both uses more power than one, but it can save a second round of cooking.

In the US and Canada, a 1,700 W air fryer draws about 14 A from a 120 V outlet, close to the 15 A rating of a standard outlet. In 230 V countries, a 2,000 W model draws about 9 A. The voltage doesn't change the cost; the energy used does.

Because it uses less energy than an oven, an air fryer also puts less heat into the kitchen. That helps in hot weather and when the air conditioning is on.

Energy figures are from Which? lab tests and include preheating. Your air fryer's rating is on its base or label. In the calculator, set the time actually running to about 35% unless you've measured your own with a plug-in meter.

• Use the air fryer for small and medium portions, and the oven when you can fill it or cook several dishes at once.
• Don't overfill the basket: crowded food cooks unevenly and takes longer.
• Skip preheating unless the recipe calls for it.
• Cook foods that need the same temperature back to back, while the air fryer is still hot.
• When you buy, pick a size that suits your household. A basket that's too small means extra rounds; one that's too big heats empty space.

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