Energy and running costs
What an Air Fryer Costs to Run per Year
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
An air fryer used five times a week costs at most £23.95 a year to run at the UK price cap, or $16.66 at the US average rate. The same cooks in an electric oven come to £70.48 or $49.03. That is based on the median recipe in our set, which cooks for 11 minutes.
Key findings
- One cook of the median recipe costs 9.2p (6.4¢) in the air fryer and 27.1p (18.9¢) in the oven.
- At five cooks a week the difference is £46.53 or $32.37 a year.
- Daily use costs at most £33.53 or $23.33 a year.
- These are upper limits for both appliances. The yearly saving on a real bill is smaller, and it disappears if the air fryer needs several batches where the oven needs one tray.
- 2 cooks a week£9.58
- 3 cooks a week£14.37
- 5 cooks a week£23.95
- 7 cooks a week£33.53
- 10 cooks a week£47.90
Yearly cost by how often you cook
| Cooks per week | Air fryer (UK) | Oven (UK) | Difference (UK) | Air fryer (US) | Oven (US) | Difference (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | £9.58 | £28.19 | £18.61 | $6.66 | $19.61 | $12.95 |
| 3 | £14.37 | £42.29 | £27.92 | $10.00 | $29.42 | $19.42 |
| 5 | £23.95 | £70.48 | £46.53 | $16.66 | $49.03 | $32.37 |
| 7 | £33.53 | £98.68 | £65.15 | $23.33 | $68.65 | $45.32 |
| 10 | £47.90 | £140.97 | £93.07 | $33.32 | $98.07 | $64.74 |
How to read the saving
The difference column is the most you could save by moving those cooks from an electric oven to an air fryer. It assumes one basket replaces one oven load every time.
Households that cook for four or more will batch more often, and each extra batch narrows the gap. Households of one or two are the ones most likely to see something close to the table.
How these figures were worked out
Energy is calculated, not metered: rated wattage multiplied by minutes of use. The air fryer is taken as 1,500 W with a 3-minute preheat. The oven is taken as 2,400 W with a 12-minute preheat. These are the default figures in our running cost calculator.
Air fryer minutes come from the recipe page. Oven minutes are the air fryer minutes divided by 0.8, which is the site's standard conversion (an air fryer takes about 80% of the oven time).
Prices are 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026) and 18.31¢ per kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, July 2026). Standing charges and taxes other than those already in the unit rate are left out, because they do not change with how you cook.
Both appliances switch their element off and on once they reach temperature, so every figure here is an upper limit. The gap between the two is a fair guide; the absolute numbers on your bill will be lower. Check the rating plate on your own appliances and your own tariff, then use the calculator for a figure that fits your kitchen.
The cook time is the median of the 304 recipes on the site.
Sources
- Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p per kWh, GB average, Direct Debit)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (18.31 cents per kWh, U.S. residential average, July 2026)
You may quote these figures with a link to this page. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page and we will correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an air fryer cost to run per year?
At most £23.95 at the UK price cap or $16.66 at the US average rate, for five 11-minute cooks a week with a 1,500 W model.
How much can an air fryer save a year?
Up to £46.53 or $32.37 a year at five cooks a week, compared with an electric oven. That is an upper limit and assumes one basket replaces one oven load.
How much does an air fryer cost per month?
About £2.00 or $1.39 a month at five cooks a week, as an upper limit.