Air fryers have quickly become one of the most talked‑about kitchen appliances in the UK. They promise healthier meals, faster cooking, and — crucially — lower energy bills. But with electricity prices fluctuating and households watching every penny, the real question is: how much does it actually cost to run an air fryer for 15 minutes?
This article breaks down the numbers, compares air fryers to ovens, and explores whether investing in a low‑energy model is worth it.
⚡ The Basics: Wattage and UK Electricity Prices
Every electrical appliance has a wattage rating — essentially how much energy it consumes per hour. Air fryers typically range between 1,200 watts (1.2 kWh/hour) for smaller models and 2,000–2,500 watts (2.0–2.5 kWh/hour) for larger, dual‑basket or oven‑style units.
UK households currently pay around 28–29p per kWh on standard tariffs. That means:
- A small 1,200W air fryer costs about £0.09 per 15 minutes.
- A medium 1,600W air fryer costs about £0.12 per 15 minutes.
- A large 2,000W air fryer costs about £0.15 per 15 minutes.
- A 2,500W air fryer oven costs about £0.19 per 15 minutes.
By comparison, a conventional electric oven often uses 3,000W (3 kWh/hour), costing around £0.22 per 15 minutes.
👉 Straight away, you can see that air fryers are cheaper to run, especially for short cooking cycles.
🍟 Why Air Fryers Are More Efficient Than Ovens
It’s not just about wattage. Air fryers save money because of how they cook:
- No preheating required: Ovens often waste 10–15 minutes heating up before you even start cooking. Air fryers reach temperature almost instantly.
- Faster cooking times: Circulating hot air cooks food evenly and quickly. Chips, chicken, or veg often take 20 minutes in an oven but only 12–15 minutes in an air fryer.
- Smaller cooking space: You’re heating a compact chamber, not a full oven cavity. Less wasted energy.
- Versatility: Air fryers can roast, bake, grill, and reheat — often replacing multiple appliances.
For everyday meals, this efficiency translates into real savings.
📊 Cost Comparison: Air Fryer vs Oven
| Appliance | Wattage | Cost per 15 mins | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Air Fryer | 1.2 kWh | £0.09 | £0.34 |
| Medium Air Fryer | 1.6 kWh | £0.12 | £0.42 |
| Large Air Fryer | 2.0 kWh | £0.15 | £0.53 |
| Air Fryer Oven | 2.5 kWh | £0.19 | £0.66 |
| Electric Oven | 3.0 kWh | £0.22 | £0.79 |
This table shows why air fryers are popular during the UK’s cost‑of‑living squeeze. Even at the higher end, they’re cheaper than ovens for the same cooking time.
🏠 Real Household Scenarios
Let’s put this into context:
- Family of four cooking chips three times a week
- Oven: 30 minutes each time = £0.44 per meal, £1.32 per week.
- Air fryer: 15 minutes each time = £0.15 per meal, £0.45 per week.
- Annual saving: ~£45.
- Single person reheating leftovers daily
- Oven: 20 minutes each time = £0.29 per day, ~£106 per year.
- Air fryer: 10 minutes each time = £0.09 per day, ~£33 per year.
- Annual saving: ~£73.
- Batch cooking chicken twice a week
- Oven: 45 minutes = £0.66 per session, £1.32 per week.
- Air fryer: 25 minutes = £0.32 per session, £0.64 per week.
- Annual saving: ~£35.
👉 Across different scenarios, the savings add up. For many households, switching to an air fryer can shave £50–£100 off annual electricity bills.
🗣 Author Insight
I’ll be honest — I wanted to write this article because I kept hearing people say, “Air fryers are cheap to run!” but nobody ever explained how cheap. Was it pennies? Pounds? Somewhere in between? So I grabbed a calculator, did the maths, and realised it’s actually less than the cost of a Freddo bar for most meals.
And here’s the jokey bit: I also wanted an excuse to justify why my air fryer is permanently hogging counter space. Now I can say, “It’s saving us money!” instead of admitting I just like crispy chips at midnight.
For official, trusted UK advice on reducing energy use, the Energy Saving Trust has clear, practical guidance on saving electricity at home.
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk
🌍 Eco Impact and Practical Tips
Air fryers aren’t just cheaper — they’re greener too. By reducing cooking times and wasted energy, they lower your household’s carbon footprint.
Tips to maximise efficiency:
- Cook during off‑peak hours if you’re on Economy 7 tariffs.
- Batch cook meals to reduce repeated cycles.
- Avoid overloading the basket — it increases cooking time.
- Choose the right size: don’t buy a dual‑basket if you only cook for one or two people.
🛒 Recommended Low‑Energy Air Fryers (Amazon UK)
If you’re ready to invest, here are some efficient models available on Amazon UK:
- Ninja AF100UK 3.8L Air Fryer – compact, 1,500W, ideal for small households.
- Tower T17021 4.3L Air Fryer – budget‑friendly, 1,500W, energy‑efficient.
- COSORI Lite 3.8L Smart Air Fryer – app‑controlled, 1,500W, sleek design.
- Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer 7.6L – dual basket, 1,700W, efficient for batch cooking.
These models balance cooking capacity with energy efficiency, making them excellent picks for UK households looking to cut costs.
More Clever Kitchen Reads 🍳✨
If you enjoyed learning how much an air fryer really costs to run, you’ll love diving into our other smart kitchen guides. They’re packed with practical hacks and a touch of fun:
- Lazy or Genius? 7 Smart Kitchen Hacks So Clever They Feel Like Cheating — discover shortcuts that save time, energy, and effort without compromising results.
- Wake Up to Boiled Kettles & Bacon Smells – Build a Fully Automated Morning Routine With Smart Kitchen Tech — explore how smart gadgets can transform your mornings into effortless routines.
Together, these articles build a bigger picture of how UK households can save money, cut energy use, and still enjoy the comforts of modern living.
✅ Final Verdict
Running an air fryer for 15 minutes in the UK costs under 20p, compared to ~22p for an oven. That difference may sound small, but across weeks and months it adds up to meaningful savings.
- Budget‑conscious households benefit most from small or medium air fryers, which keep costs under 12p per cycle.
- Families may prefer larger dual‑basket models, which still save money compared to ovens.
- Eco‑minded households appreciate the reduced energy waste and faster cooking times.
Over a year, the savings can easily reach £100+, while also cutting cooking times and reducing food waste. For UK households watching their bills, investing in a low‑energy air fryer is a smart move.
🛒 Recommended Low‑Energy Air Fryers Recap
- Ninja AF100UK 3.8L Air Fryer – compact, 1,500W, ideal for small households.
- Tower T17021 4.3L Air Fryer – budget‑friendly, 1,500W, energy‑efficient.
- COSORI Lite 3.8L Smart Air Fryer – app‑controlled, 1,500W, sleek design.
- Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer 7.6L – dual basket, 1,700W, efficient for batch cooking.
Cook smarter and save energy with our Smart Kitchen & Appliances Hub covering low-energy kettles, air fryers, and clever kitchen gadgets for affordable meals.
Written by Andy M. — testing small upgrades that make UK homes, cheaper, and easier to run.