How do I work out what my own air fryer costs?

Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.

Does it cost more in some parts of the country?

Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Running costs

How much does it cost to run an air fryer?

About 23p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 20 minutes, 5 times a week, that’s about £20 a year.

NEA’s average cost per hour for a 1,400 W to 1,800 W air fryer, which allows for the thermostat switching the element on and off.

Verified: 23 October 2026 from Ofgem price cap rates

Work out yours

Your electricity price

Average power while in use

watts

Hours each time

Times a week

An hour

23p

A week

39p

A month

£1.69

A year

£20

77 kWh a year. Unit rate only: the standing charge is paid whether or not anything is switched on.

An air fryer is a small fan oven. It heats a much smaller space than a full oven and warms up in a few minutes, so for small portions it uses far less energy. Its thermostat switches the element on and off, so it uses less than its rating over an hour.

For a big batch that needs several rounds in an air fryer, a full oven cooking it all at once can work out about the same.

Ways to spend less

Skip the preheat if your recipe allows; small air fryers warm up quickly.
Cook in one batch rather than several where you can.

Compared with

Appliance	Typical cost	A year, used as shown
Air fryer	23p an hour	£20 (20 minutes, 5 times a week)
Electric oven	39p an hour	£81 (1 hour, 4 times a week)
Slow cooker	47p an 8-hour cook	£25 (one 8-hour cook a week)

At the Great Britain average electricity rate of 26.32p a kWh.

Common questions

How much does it cost to run an air fryer?: About 23p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 20 minutes, 5 times a week, that’s about £20 a year. NEA’s average cost per hour for a 1,400 W to 1,800 W air fryer, which allows for the thermostat switching the element on and off.
How do I work out what my own air fryer costs?: Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.
Does it cost more in some parts of the country?: Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Other appliances

Add up several appliances in the electricity cost calculator, or see what your own home uses with the smart meter analyser.