Air fryer vs oven cost calculator

Compare what an air fryer and an electric oven cost to cook the same meal in the UK, and see what you would save over a week and a year at 26.32p/kWh.

By Matthew Smart · Rates correct as of 5 October 2026

How to use it

1Enter the air fryer’s wattage (1,500–2,100W is typical) and how long a meal takes in it.
2Enter your oven’s wattage (2,100–2,500W for a single electric oven) and the total time including preheating.
3Set how many of those meals you cook in a week.

Air fryer vs oven cost calculator

An air fryer wins on cost because it is smaller and needs almost no preheating — not because it is more efficient per watt. Enter your own figures to see the gap for the meals you actually cook.

Air fryer power(W)

Air fryer cooking time(minutes)

Oven power(W)

Oven time including preheat(minutes)

Meals per week(meals)

Your electricity rate(p/kWh)

Pre-filled with the Ofgem Energy Price Cap unit rate for 1 October – 31 December 2026. Change it to the rate on your own bill.

Your estimate

Air fryer, per meal0.50 kWh per meal: 13.2p
Oven, per meal1.23 kWh per meal: 32.2p
Saved per meal: 19.1p
Saved per week5 meals a week: 95.4p
Saved per year: £49.61

Assumes the air fryer draws 1500W for 20 minutes and the oven 2100W for 35 minutes including preheating, at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem Energy Price Cap, 1 October – 31 December 2026). Both appliances cycle their elements in real use, so these are upper estimates. Rates correct as of 5 October 2026.

Where the comparison stops

Both figures assume the appliance draws its full rated power for the whole time. In reality both cycle their elements once up to temperature, so both numbers are on the high side — but the oven cycles over a much bigger cavity, so the gap between them is real. If you cook for a large family in one oven load, the oven can work out cheaper per portion. The calculator does not account for a gas oven, which is priced per kWh of gas rather than electricity.

Rates correct as of 5 October 2026. Updated each time the price cap changes.

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