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APPLIANCE COMPARISON · OCT–DEC 2026

Air fryer vs electric oven: which costs less to run?

At 26.32p per kWh, an air fryer costs about 15p per meal and an electric oven about 21p per use, so the electric oven costs 35% more.

Last updated 11 October 2026GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT

AIR FRYER · CHEAPER

15pper meal, 0.58 kWh

ELECTRIC OVEN

21pper use, 0.79 kWh

DIFFERENCE

5.4pper use at 26.32p per kWh

Side by side

Air fryer and electric oven running costsTypical figures at 26.32p per kWh (GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT). Running costs exclude the standing charge.
MeasureAir fryerElectric oven
Power or energy use1,750 W0.79 kWh per use
One typical use1 meal, 20 minutes1 use
Cost per use15p (0.58 kWh)21p (0.79 kWh)
Assumed use a week4 meals5 uses
Cost a year at that use£32£54

Usage assumptions: Air fryer: Four 20-minute meals a week at full rated power.Electric oven: Five uses a week, each counted as one energy-label cycle of about an hour.These are illustrations, not measured averages.

What the difference means for cooking a meal

An air fryer heats a small drawer, so a 20-minute meal uses less electricity than an hour-long oven cycle. The saving only holds when the food fits: cooking several batches in an air fryer can cost more than one oven load, and fan mode makes the oven cheaper than conventional mode.

Work out your own costs

Each appliance page has a calculator: enter your own wattage or energy label figure, how long you use it, and your region or unit rate.

Air fryer calculator Electric oven calculator

Unit rates vary by region: this period they run from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Electricity prices per kWh →

Questions

Is an air fryer cheaper to run than an electric oven?

Yes, per use as we measure it. At 26.32p per kWh, an air fryer costs about 15p per meal and an electric oven about 21p per use, so the electric oven costs 35% more. An air fryer heats a small drawer, so a 20-minute meal uses less electricity than an hour-long oven cycle. The saving only holds when the food fits: cooking several batches in an air fryer can cost more than one oven load, and fan mode makes the oven cheaper than conventional mode.

How much do they cost a year?

At the usage each page assumes, about £32 a year for an air fryer and £54 for an electric oven (October–December 2026 GB average rate). For an air fryer: four 20-minute meals a week at full rated power. For an electric oven: five uses a week, each counted as one energy-label cycle of about an hour.

Does where I live change which is cheaper?

No. Both run on electricity, so a higher or lower unit rate changes both costs in the same proportion. The cheaper appliance stays cheaper; only the pence change. Your region, tariff and how long you run each appliance change the actual amounts.

About these figures

Running cost is energy used × unit rate. Costs at full power assume the appliance draws its full rating the whole time; thermostats and programmes often switch elements on and off, so real use can be lower. Power ratings and energy label figures are examples from the sources below, not a measured UK average.

More comparisons

Sources

  1. Tower Vortx 6 litre digital air fryer T17169GRY ↗1,700 W, 6 litre air fryer.
  2. Ninja air fryer 4.7L AF110UK ↗1,750 W, 4.7 litre air fryer.
  3. Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer AF300UK ↗2,400 W, 7.6 litre dual-drawer air fryer.
  4. Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer air fryer AF500UK ↗2,470 W, 10.4 litre air fryer.
  5. EPREL product fiche: Bosch HQA534BS3B oven ↗0.94 kWh per cycle conventional, 0.69 kWh fan-forced, 71 litres, class A+.
  6. EPREL product fiche: Indesit IO 253 X UK oven ↗0.79 kWh per cycle fan-forced, 66 litres.
  7. EPREL product fiche: Samsung NV7B4430ZAB oven ↗1.05 kWh per cycle conventional, 0.71 kWh fan-forced, 76 litres.
  8. Bosch HQA534BS3B specification sheet (PDF) ↗2,800 W connection rating.
  9. Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average electricity unit rate and VAT basis, October–December 2026.

Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →