Air fryers have become one of the UK's most popular kitchen appliances, with millions sold since energy prices spiked in 2022. The main appeal? They're marketed as far cheaper to run than a conventional oven. But how much do they actually cost, and how much do you really save? We've done the maths.
Quick Answer: Air Fryer Running Costs
Based on the UK average electricity rate of approximately 24.5p per kWh:
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Cooking Time (chicken portions) | Cost Per Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air fryer (small, 2–4L) | 1,000 – 1,500W | 20 – 25 minutes | 8p – 15p |
| Air fryer (large, 5–8L) | 1,500 – 2,000W | 20 – 25 minutes | 12p – 20p |
| Electric oven | 2,000 – 2,500W | 35 – 45 minutes | 29p – 46p |
| Gas oven | ~2.5 kW gas equivalent | 35 – 45 minutes | 10p – 16p |
Key takeaway: An air fryer costs approximately 50–70% less than an electric oven per cooking session. However, it only saves about £0.15–£0.30 per meal compared to an electric oven. If you cook with an air fryer instead of an electric oven 5 times per week, you'll save approximately £40–£75 per year.
Air Fryer vs Oven: Detailed Cost Comparison
The savings come from two factors: lower wattage and shorter cooking times. Air fryers cook faster because they're smaller (less air to heat) and circulate hot air more aggressively.
| Meal Example | Air Fryer Cost | Electric Oven Cost | Saving Per Meal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chips (frozen, 400g) | 7p – 10p (15 min) | 24p – 31p (25 min + preheat) | 14p – 24p |
| Chicken breast (2 pcs) | 12p – 16p (22 min) | 32p – 41p (35 min + preheat) | 20p – 25p |
| Fish fingers (10 pcs) | 6p – 9p (12 min) | 22p – 29p (20 min + preheat) | 16p – 20p |
| Roast vegetables | 14p – 18p (25 min) | 37p – 46p (40 min + preheat) | 23p – 28p |
| Baked potato (2) | 10p – 14p (35 min) | 41p – 51p (60 min + preheat) | 31p – 37p |
Why Air Fryers Use Less Energy
Three factors make air fryers more efficient than conventional ovens:
- Smaller cavity: An air fryer heats 2–8 litres of space vs 60–80 litres in an oven. Less air to heat means less energy wasted.
- No preheating: Most air fryers reach cooking temperature in 2–3 minutes vs 10–15 minutes for an oven. You save the energy of preheating an empty oven.
- Faster cooking: Intense circulating hot air cooks food 20–30% faster than a conventional oven, reducing total running time.
However, air fryers have a key limitation: capacity. If you're cooking for 4+ people, you may need to run multiple batches in an air fryer, which can eliminate or reduce the energy savings compared to cooking everything at once in an oven.
Annual Savings: Air Fryer vs Electric Oven
Assuming you replace electric oven use with air fryer use 5 times per week, with an average saving of 20p per session:
- Weekly saving: 5 × 20p = £1.00
- Monthly saving: £4.33
- Annual saving: £52
With air fryers costing £40–£150, a mid-range model pays for itself within 1–2 years through electricity savings alone.
Air Fryer vs Gas Oven
If you have a gas oven, the savings from an air fryer are much smaller — or may not exist at all:
- Gas oven cost per use: approximately 10p–16p (gas is 6.5p/kWh vs 24.5p/kWh for electricity)
- Air fryer cost per use: approximately 8p–20p
- Saving per meal: £0 – £0.06
If you have a gas oven, an air fryer won't save you significant money on energy. Its benefits are convenience and speed rather than cost savings.
Air Fryer vs Other Cooking Methods
| Cooking Method | Typical Cost Per Meal | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Microwave | 2p – 6p | Reheating, ready meals, vegetables |
| Slow cooker | 5p – 15p | Stews, casseroles, batch cooking |
| Air fryer | 8p – 20p | Chips, meat, roasted veg, baking |
| Electric hob | 15p – 30p | Boiling, frying, sautéing |
| Electric oven | 29p – 50p | Roasts, baking, large meals |
The microwave remains the cheapest cooking method for suitable foods. A slow cooker is excellent for batch cooking at very low cost. The air fryer sits between these and the oven — more versatile than a microwave but cheaper than an oven.
Tips to Maximise Air Fryer Savings
- Don't preheat unless necessary — most foods don't need preheating in an air fryer. Just add food and start.
- Cook full baskets — a half-empty air fryer wastes energy heating air. Fill the basket (without overcrowding) for maximum efficiency.
- Use it instead of the oven, not alongside it — the savings only exist if it replaces oven use, not supplements it.
- Cook multiple items together — dual-drawer air fryers let you cook two things at different temperatures simultaneously.
- Don't open the drawer repeatedly — each time you open it, hot air escapes and the element must reheat. Check food minimally.
- Match size to household — a 2-person household doesn't need an 8L air fryer (which uses more power). Choose appropriately.
- Consider a combi air fryer/microwave — these combine microwave speed with air fryer crispness at lower overall energy use.
Calculate Your Exact Costs
Use our free energy cost calculator to calculate your air fryer's running cost. Check the wattage on the label (usually 1,200–2,000W), enter your typical cooking time in hours (e.g., 0.33 for 20 minutes), and see the exact cost per use.