Running costs · price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026
How much does an air fryer cost to run?
At the current price cap of 26.11p per kWh, each meal in an air fryer costs about 31p. Used 2 times a week, that is £2.73 a month or £32.74 a year. The figures are based on Which? lab tests, which found an average of about 1.21 kWh per meal.
Prices checked against Ofgem on .
Per meal
31p
1.21 kWh
Per week
63p
2 meals
per year
£32.74
125 kWh
Unit rate
26.11p
per kWh, price cap
Air fryer running cost by how often you use it
At 26.11p per kWh and about 1.21 kWh per meal.
| Usage | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 meal a week | 31p | £1.36 | £16.37 |
| 2 meals a week | 63p | £2.73 | £32.74 |
| 3 meals a week | 94p | £4.09 | £49.11 |
| 4 meals a week | £1.26 | £5.46 | £65.47 |
| 5 meals a week | £1.57 | £6.82 | £81.84 |
| 7 meals a week | £2.20 | £9.55 | £114.58 |
| 10 meals a week | £3.15 | £13.64 | £163.68 |
| 14 meals a week | £4.41 | £19.10 | £229.16 |
Air fryer running cost by electricity price
Monthly and yearly cost at the same usage. Fixed deals vary, so check the unit rate on your bill.
| Tariff | Unit rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 price cap | 26.11p | £2.73 | £32.74 |
| 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap | 26.32p | £2.75 | £33.00 |
| A 20p per kWh fixed deal | 20p | £2.09 | £25.08 |
| A 24p per kWh fixed deal | 24p | £2.51 | £30.09 |
| A 30p per kWh fixed deal | 30p | £3.13 | £37.61 |
Each extra meal
One more meal a week adds about £16.37 to your yearly bill. Running fuller loads less often is the simplest way to cut the cost.
Air fryer or oven?
An electric oven uses about 1.53 kWh each time, around 40p, against 31p for an air fryer meal. The air fryer wins for small portions; for a family meal that needs two or three air fryer batches, the oven can work out cheaper.
From 1 October
The price cap changes to 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026. At the usage above, an air fryer would cost £33.00 a year, 26p more than now.
Guides and definitions
- Energy price cap explained: rates from 1 October 2026 and your bill (Guide)
- Is Economy 7 worth it? Hours, price cap and the night-use break-even (Guide)
- Standing charge vs unit rate: which energy tariff is cheaper for you? (Guide)
- Economy 7 (Economy 7 is an electricity tariff with seven cheaper off-peak hours, usually overnight, and a dearer daytime rate; Ofgem assumes 42% of use falls off-peak.)
- Typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) (Typical domestic consumption values are Ofgem's yearly usage figures for a typical home, 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas from 1 July 2026.)
- Energy price cap (The energy price cap is Ofgem’s limit on unit rates and standing charges for default tariffs; typical bill £1,723 from 1 October 2026.)
- Standing charge (A standing charge is the fixed daily amount on an energy bill, paid whatever you use; the capped average is 54.83p a day for electricity.)
Other appliances
- Washing machine (running costs)
- Dishwasher (running costs)
- Tumble dryer (running costs)
- Electric oven (running costs)
- Kettle (running costs)
- Fridge freezer (running costs)
- TV (running costs)
- Electric shower (running costs)
- Immersion heater (running costs)
- Electric heater (running costs)
Appliance running cost calculator · Use your own wattage and unit rate
Common questions
How much does it cost to run an air fryer per meal?
About 31p at 26.11p per kWh, using around 1.21 kWh.
How much does an air fryer cost to run a year?
About £32.74 if you use it 2 times a week, which is the usage Which? assumes for an average household.
How many kWh does an air fryer use?
Around 1.21 kWh per meal on average, or 125 kWh a year at 2 meals a week. Efficient models use less.
Sources and assumptions
- Prices use the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026: 26.11p per kWh, the average for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not covered by the cap.
- Energy use comes from Which? lab tests of typical models. Your own model may use more or less.
- The daily standing charge (57.19p a day) is paid whatever you use, so it is not included.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
- Which?: how much your appliances cost to run (26 August 2026)
These are estimates. Your bill depends on your tariff, your region and how you use the appliance.