Updated: January 06, 2026

If you’ve ever looked at your air fryer’s wattage label and thought, do air fryers use a lot of electricity, you’re asking the right question—just not in the way most people answer it.

Because the honest answer isn’t “yes” or “no.” It’s: it depends on how long you run it, how much food you cook, and whether you end up doing multiple batches. A high wattage number can still mean a low cost if the cook is short.

Energy Saving Trust explains it simply: an air fryer works like a small fan oven, and because it’s small, it’s often cheaper to run than a full oven for the same meal. But “for the same meal” is doing a lot of work there—and this article shows you exactly how to check your real cost.

Common pattern: people panic because they see “1700W” and assume it’s expensive, then forget their oven can be on much longer (plus preheating) for the same food.

Quick mini-check: your 30-second cost estimate

You can estimate cost without any apps or calculators. You need just two numbers:

1. Your air fryer wattage (on the label or manual)

2. Your electricity price (per kWh on your bill)

Then use this:

• kWh used = (Watts ÷ 1000) × (minutes ÷ 60)

• Cost = kWh used × your price per kWh

Example (typical quick cook)

• Air fryer: 1500W (1.5 kW)

• Time: 20 minutes (20 ÷ 60 = 0.333 hours)

• Energy: 1.5 × 0.333 = 0.5 kWh

• If your price is 0.20 per kWh → 0.5 × 0.20 = 0.10 (10 cents)

So if you’re asking do air fryers use a lot of electricity, the first reality check is: short cooks are usually cheap—even at higher wattage.

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Why wattage looks scary (but doesn’t equal cost)

Wattage is the maximum draw, not the final bill.

• Watts tell you how much power it can pull right now.

• kWh tells you how much energy you used over time (what you pay for).

Air fryers also cycle the heating element on and off once they reach temperature, so they’re not always pulling max watts every second. Your conservative estimate using the label is still useful—but it’s usually an overestimate, not an underestimate.

Do air fryers use a lot of electricity compared to an oven?

Often, no—especially for small meals.

USDA’s food safety guidance describes air fryers as essentially countertop convection ovens and notes they cook faster and consume less energy than conventional ovens. Energy Saving Trust also points out they’re often cheaper to run than an oven for the same meal because they’re smaller. 

But there’s a catch: batching can erase the advantage.

The fair comparison rule

When you compare air fryer vs oven electricity, keep the comparison fair:

• Same food

• Same total quantity

• Same “doneness” target

If your oven can cook all of it in one go, but your air fryer needs three batches, the “air fryer is always cheaper” claim can fall apart.

The 3 situations that decide your real electricity use

If you want the most practical answer to do air fryers use a lot of electricity, you need to know which of these situations matches your kitchen.

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Situation 1: Small batch (air fryer wins most of the time)

Examples:

• fries for one or two people

• a few chicken thighs

• roasted broccoli for a quick side

Why it wins:

• short cook time

• small space heats fast

• less wasted heat

Situation 2: Medium meal (air fryer usually competitive)

Examples:

• dinner for two

• one main + one side (separate batches or a divider)

It can still be efficient—but you need to watch:

• how many batches you’re doing

• whether you’re running it much longer than you think

Situation 3: Family tray / meal prep (oven often wins on workflow)

Examples:

• two trays of nuggets

• big sheet-pan meal for four+

• multiple dishes at once

Even if the air fryer is efficient per minute, repeating cycles can push total energy up—and it definitely pushes your time up.

A simple way to measure “real” air fryer electricity (no guessing)

If you want a real number—not an estimate—use one of these:

Option A: Use a plug-in energy meter

A small plug-in meter can show:

• kWh used per cook

• total cost if you enter your rate

This is the fastest way to settle the question do air fryers use a lot of electricity in your home, because it measures your actual cooking pattern.

Option B: Use your label wattage + your typical cook time

If you don’t want extra gadgets, do this:

1. Write down your most common cook time (example: 16 minutes)

2. Use the formula once

3. Save the result as your “per cook” estimate

Then multiply by your weekly use.

What makes electricity use go up (even if your air fryer is “efficient”)

These are the hidden cost multipliers.

More batches than you admit

If you cook wings in three rounds, your electricity use is basically:

• “one cook” × 3

That doesn’t automatically mean it’s expensive—just that the total goes up fast.

Preheating (small, but real)

Some people preheat every time. Preheating isn’t “wrong,” but it adds minutes.
If your preheat is 3–5 minutes and you cook multiple short items, preheating can become a meaningful chunk of the total runtime.

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Overcrowding that turns crisping into steaming

Here’s the irony: overcrowding feels like it should save energy because you “cook more at once.” But overcrowding can:

• slow cooking

• reduce browning

• force you to cook longer

• make you run extra “fix” cycles

So the basket pile-up can raise energy use and still give worse results.

4 common mistakes people make when judging air fryer electricity

Mistake 1: Looking at watts and guessing the cost

Watts aren’t the bill. Time is the bill.

If you only remember one thing from this article, remember that.

Mistake 2: Comparing one air fryer batch to one full oven tray

That comparison is unfair. Compare equal food quantities.

Mistake 3: Assuming “air fryer = cheap” even when you cook in 3–4 batches

Batching can still be worth it for crispness—but it changes the cost math.

Mistake 4: Plugging it into a cheap extension lead or overloaded power strip

This isn’t a cost issue—it’s a safety issue—but it’s common.

London Fire Brigade warns that power-hungry appliances can overload extension leads and you should be mindful not to overload them. If your air fryer plug or extension feels hot, that’s not “normal.”

“Okay, but how much does it cost per use?”

A realistic way to think about it is cost per a 15–25 minute cook, since that’s the range many air fryer meals fall into.

For many homes, that often works out to roughly a few cents to a small amount per cook—depending on your electricity rate and your air fryer’s wattage.

Your number will depend on:

• wattage (often 1000–1800W)

• time

• your local kWh price

If you do a lot of short cooks, the total usually stays low. If you do long cooks plus repeated batches, it can add up.

That’s why the best answer to do air fryers use a lot of electricity is a personal one—and you can calculate it in under a minute.

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What to do now (use this once, then stop worrying)

Do this today and you’ll have your real answer:

1. Find your wattage

   • Check the label under the unit or in the manual (e.g., 1400W, 1700W).

2. Pick your most common cook

   • Example: “frozen fries, 18 minutes.”

3. Calculate your kWh

   • (Watts ÷ 1000) × (minutes ÷ 60)

4. Multiply by your kWh price

   • Use the number on your bill (or your provider’s rate).

5. Decide if batching changes the story

   • If you do 2–3 batches often, multiply the cost by that number.

This is the fastest way to answer do air fryers use a lot of electricity without relying on generic averages.

When to stop using or replace your air fryer (electricity + safety red flags)

Stop using it and unplug it if you notice:

• burning electrical smell (not food smell)

• sparking or crackling

• damaged cord or plug

• repeated breaker trips

• plug, outlet, or extension lead getting hot

Also: if you’re forced to use an extension lead, make sure it’s rated appropriately and not overloaded—power-hungry appliances can overload extensions. When in doubt, plug the air fryer directly into a wall outlet.

Safety note

This is general information, not electrical advice for your specific home. If you suspect an electrical fault or your circuit trips repeatedly, stop using the appliance and consult a qualified professional.

Quick recap

• Do air fryers use a lot of electricity? Usually not for short cooks, but the real driver is total runtime.

• They’re often cheaper to run than a full oven for the same meal because they’re smaller and cook faster.

• Batching and long runtimes are what raise the cost.

• The 30-second formula tells you your real number—no guessing needed.

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Guides

Sources (optional)

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/air-fryer-oven-microwave-hob-slow-cooker-cheaper-cooking/

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/air-fryers-and-food-safety

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/electrical-items/cables-fuses-and-leads/