Is an Air Fryer Cheaper to Run Than an Oven? The Maths for UK Bills

Air fryers are often sold as a way to cut energy bills. The saving is real for many meals, but it comes from three specific things: a smaller space to heat, little or no preheating, and shorter cooking times. It is not magic, and it depends on what you cook.

Here is how to work it out for your own kitchen in a few minutes, using numbers from your appliance and your energy bill.

The formula

Electricity is billed per kilowatt-hour (kWh). To estimate a cooking session: power in kilowatts × time in hours × your unit rate in pence = cost in pence.

Find the power rating (in watts) on the appliance label or manual and divide by 1,000 to get kW. Your unit rate is on your energy bill or app; under the UK price cap it has generally been in the mid-20s pence per kWh in recent periods, but it changes every quarter and varies by region and payment method.

Tip: The rated power is the maximum. Thermostats switch the element on and off once the temperature is reached, so real usage is usually somewhat lower than this worst-case figure — for both appliances.

A worked example: chicken thighs and chips

These are example figures to show the maths. Replace them with your own appliance ratings, times and unit rate.

• Air fryer: 1.5 kW × (20 ÷ 60) hours = 0.5 kWh. At 25p/kWh: about 12.5p (maximum).
• Electric oven: 2.2 kW × (45 ÷ 60) hours (10 min preheat + 35 min cooking) = 1.65 kWh. At 25p/kWh: about 41p (maximum).
• Difference per meal in this example: about 28p. Cooked four times a week, that is roughly £1.10 a week, or around £58 a year.

When the oven still makes sense

Capacity is the catch. A typical single-drawer air fryer holds enough for two or three people. If you have to cook in two or three batches, the time — and the energy — adds up, and the oven may cost the same or less.

Large items such as a whole roast, a tray bake for six or several dishes cooked at the same temperature at once are usually more efficient in a full oven. Batch-cooking several meals in one oven session is another good way to cut the cost per portion.

Other cheap ways to cook

The air fryer is not the only low-energy option in a UK kitchen.

• Microwave: very efficient for reheating and steaming vegetables because it heats the food, not the air.
• Slow cooker: low wattage over a long time; good for cheaper cuts of meat and stews.
• Hob with a lid on the pan: boils water faster and uses less energy than an uncovered pan.
• Kettle first: boiling water in the kettle and then transferring it to the pan is usually quicker than heating it on an electric hob.

Is it worth buying one to save money?

Divide the price of the air fryer by your estimated weekly saving to see how long it takes to pay for itself. Using the example above, a £60 air fryer saving about £1.10 a week would take roughly a year. If you rarely use the oven for small meals, the payback will be slower.

For many households the bigger benefit is convenience: faster weeknight meals, crisp results with little oil and less washing up.

General information only. Check product labels and manufacturer instructions before you start.