How much does an air fryer cost to run?
A 1.5kW air fryer running flat out for 20 minutes uses 0.5 kWh, which costs about 13p at the Ofgem cap rate of 26.32p/kWh. In practice the element cycles once it reaches temperature, so a typical 20-minute cook is often closer to 9.2p. In our worked example below, the same portion in a 2.5kW fan oven, including the preheat, costs about three times as much.
Prices last checked: 26 September 2026 · Source: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 · Great Britain average, standard variable tariff, paid by Direct Debit
Air fryer cost per cooking session
| Cook | Air fryer | Energy (full power) | Cost at full power | If element is on 70% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reheat leftovers, 8 min | 1.5 kW | 0.2 kWh | 5.3p | 3.7p |
| Chips, 20 min | 1.5 kW | 0.5 kWh | 13p | 9.2p |
| Chicken thighs, 25 min | 1.7 kW | 0.71 kWh | 19p | 13p |
| Dual-basket meal, 30 min | 2.4 kW | 1.2 kWh | 32p | 22p |
Air fryer vs electric oven: when is it really cheaper?
An electric oven is typically rated somewhere around 2–3.5kW. It has to heat a much larger box, usually with a preheat, and it loses heat each time the door opens. For a portion of chips, the comparison looks like this:
| Appliance | Time | Example energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air fryer, 1.5 kW, 70% after warm-up | 20 min | 0.35 kWh | 9.2p |
| Fan oven, 2.5 kW, 10 min preheat + 25 min cook at about 60% after preheat | 35 min | 1.04 kWh | 27p |
The air fryer wins clearly for small portions. The picture changes when you cook a lot at once. If a family meal needs three rounds in the air fryer, or a traybake fills the oven, the oven's cost is spread over more food and the gap narrows or closes. See the electric oven page for more on oven costs.
Making each cook cheaper
- Skip the preheat when the recipe allows. Many air fryers heat up in a couple of minutes, so a separate preheat adds little except cost.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. Overloaded food cooks unevenly and takes longer, so you pay for extra minutes.
- Cook back-to-back. A second batch straight after the first starts with a warm basket.
- Use it instead of the oven, not as well as it. The saving only happens if the oven stays off.
Mistakes when comparing costs
- Using the full wattage for the whole cook. That overstates the cost for most sessions.
- Comparing one air-fryer basket with a full oven. Compare the same amount of food.
- Forgetting the microwave. For reheating, a microwave is often the cheapest option of all.
Limits of this estimate
The duty cycle figures are assumptions. Real ones depend on the model, the temperature and the food. Costs use the Ofgem cap average unit rate (Great Britain, Direct Debit, standard variable tariff).
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air fryer cost per hour?
For a 1.5kW model at full power, about 39p. With the element cycling, the average is lower. Most cooks are much shorter than an hour anyway.
Is an air fryer cheaper than a microwave?
Usually not for reheating. Microwaves are typically rated around 800–1,000W and reheat in a few minutes. Air fryers win for food you want crisp.
Does a bigger air fryer cost more to run?
Per minute at full power, yes, because it has a higher wattage. But if it lets you cook everything in one go instead of two batches, it can cost less per meal.