How much does it cost to run an air fryer?
We've pre-filled an typical air fryer below. Set your electricity rate and adjust the hours to match how you use yours — the cost updates instantly.
Typical power 1,500W
Usual range 1,200–1,800W
Category Kitchen
An air fryer draws a lot of watts — as much as a space heater — but only for fifteen or twenty minutes at a time, and it heats a tiny space instead of a whole oven cavity. That combination makes it one of the cheapest ways to cook a small meal.
For one or two portions it routinely beats firing up the full electric oven, which has to heat a much bigger box.
What drives the cost of running an air fryer
- High wattage, but short cook times keep each session inexpensive.
- It heats a small basket, so very little energy is wasted compared with a full oven.
- Back-to-back batches add up if you're cooking for a crowd.
How to cut it
- Use it instead of the oven for small portions — that's the saving, every time.
- Don't bother preheating for most foods.
- Cook in one full basket rather than several small back-to-back rounds.