Is an air fryer cheaper to run than an oven?

Yes. An air fryer costs around £0.37-£0.47 per hour to run, while an electric oven costs £0.53-£0.92 per hour - roughly 50-70% less. Over a year, switching most cooking to an air fryer can save £100-£200 on energy bills.

How much does an air fryer cost to run per hour?

Around £0.37-£0.47 per hour at the 2026 energy price cap (26.32p/kWh) for a typical 1.4-1.8kW air fryer. A 30-minute cook costs £0.18-£0.24.

How much does an electric oven cost to run?

At 26.32p/kWh, a fan oven (2.0-2.5kW) costs £0.53-£0.65 per hour and a conventional oven (2.5-3.5kW) costs £0.65-£0.92 per hour. A 30-minute cook costs £0.26-£0.46.

Is it cheaper to use an air fryer than an oven for one person?

Yes. Air fryers heat a 4-6 litre chamber versus 60-70 litres in an oven, so they use much less energy for small meals - typically around half the kWh per cook for one or two portions.

Do air fryers use less electricity than ovens?

Yes. A smaller cooking space, a 3-5 minute preheat (vs 10-15 minutes for an oven) and faster cooking times mean an air fryer typically uses about half the electricity per cook.

Energy & Bills 2026

Air Fryer vs Oven: Which is Cheaper?

Cost per hour and per cook using UK energy price cap data.

Updated September 2026 · Money Meister · 4 min read

The Short Answer

Air fryers are significantly cheaper to run than ovens — typically 50-70% less expensive. An air fryer costs around £0.37–£0.47 per hour to run, while an electric oven costs £0.53–£0.92 per hour. A 30-minute cook is £0.18–£0.24 vs £0.26–£0.46.

Save £100–£200 a year by switching most cooking to an air fryer

The Real Cost Breakdown (2026 UK Energy Prices)

Based on the current UK energy price cap of approximately £0.2632 per kWh (October to December 2026), here's what each appliance actually costs:

Reference: Ofgem energy price cap. These figures use the current Ofgem cap of 26.32p per kWh, which applies to October to December 2026. Suppliers predict a further rise. See our January 2027 energy price cap guide for the current rate.

Appliance	Power (kW)	Cost per Hour	30 Min Cook
Air Fryer (Average)	1.4 - 1.8 kW	£0.37 - £0.47	£0.18 - £0.24
Electric Oven (Fan)	2.0 - 2.5 kW	£0.53 - £0.65	£0.26 - £0.33
Electric Oven (Conventional)	2.5 - 3.5 kW	£0.65 - £0.92	£0.33 - £0.46
Microwave (800W)	0.8 kW	£0.21	£0.11
Gas Oven	2.5 kW equivalent	£0.20 - £0.25	£0.10 - £0.13
Halogen Hob (Single Ring)	1.5 - 2.0 kW	£0.39 - £0.53	£0.20 - £0.26
Slow Cooker	0.15 - 0.2 kW	£0.04 - £0.05	£0.02 - £0.03

* Costs calculated at £0.2632/kWh (October to December 2026 price cap average)

Cost per cook

A 30-minute air fryer cook costs £0.18–£0.24; an electric oven costs £0.26–£0.46. Cook once a day and that difference is the £100–£200 saved per year.

Why Are Air Fryers So Much Cheaper?

1. Smaller Cooking Space = Less Energy

An air fryer heats 4-6 litres of space. A conventional oven heats 60-70 litres. Heating 10x less air means significantly less energy consumed.

2. Faster Preheating

Air fryers preheat in 3-5 minutes vs. 10-15 minutes for an oven. This alone saves 10 minutes of high-power consumption per cooking session.

3. More Efficient Heat Transfer

Rapid air circulation means food cooks faster at lower temperatures. A dish that takes 40 minutes in an oven might take only 25 minutes in an air fryer.

Real-World Savings: Annual Cost Comparison

Scenario: Family cooking 5 times per week

Assuming average 45-minute cooking sessions, 260 cooks per year

Electric Oven

£309

per year

Air Fryer

£109

per year

Annual Savings

£200

switching to air fryer

When an Oven is Still Better

Air fryers aren't always the answer. Use your oven when:

Cooking Large Volumes

A Sunday roast for 6 people, a full Christmas dinner, or batch cooking 10 portions—ovens win for capacity. Running an air fryer 3 times wastes more energy than one oven session.

Baking (Cakes, Bread, Pastry)

Even heat distribution is crucial for baking. While some air fryers have "bake" modes, ovens remain superior for delicate pastries, sourdough, and cakes that need consistent, gentle heat.

Dishes Requiring Low, Slow Heat

Casseroles, slow-roasted meats, and braises benefit from oven's ability to maintain steady low temperatures (120-150°C) for hours. Air fryers excel at high-heat, fast cooking.

You Have a Gas Oven

Gas ovens cost £0.20-£0.25 per hour to run—similar to or cheaper than air fryers. If you already have gas, the savings from switching are minimal (unless you're batch cooking small portions).

The Most Energy-Efficient Cooking Methods (Ranked)

Microwave (for reheating & some cooking)
£0.21/hour · Best for: Reheating, steaming veg, warming liquids
Slow Cooker (for stews & batch cooking)
£0.04/hour · 8-hour cook costs only £0.32 · Best for: Casseroles, pulled pork, soups
Air Fryer (for most everyday cooking)
£0.37-£0.47/hour · Best for: Chicken, chips, vegetables, fish, small roasts
4. Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot)
£0.24-£0.34/hour · Best for: Rice, beans, stews (faster than slow cooker)
5. Gas Hob
£0.15-£0.25/hour per ring · Best for: Boiling, frying, sautéing
6. Electric Hob
£0.39-£0.53/hour per ring · Best for: When you don't have gas
7. Electric Oven
£0.53-£0.92/hour · Best for: Large roasts, baking, batch cooking

Should You Buy an Air Fryer to Save Money?

Yes, if...

You have an electric oven (biggest savings)
You regularly cook for 1-4 people
You cook 3+ times per week
You mostly make: chicken, chips, vegetables, fish, frozen food

Payback Period Calculation

Average air fryer cost: £60-£120. If you save £200/year by replacing oven use, payback period is just 3-7 months. After that, pure savings.

Over 5 years, an air fryer can save £1,000+ in energy costs.

Maybe not, if...

You have a gas oven (savings are minimal)
You regularly cook for 5+ people
You mostly bake (cakes, bread, pastries)
You already use a microwave or slow cooker for most meals

Bonus Tip: Combine Methods for Maximum Savings

The most energy-efficient households use a mix of appliances strategically:

Microwave: Reheat leftovers, steam vegetables, warm milk
Slow Cooker: Sunday meal prep (stews, soups, pulled meat)
Air Fryer: Weeknight dinners (chicken, salmon, roasted veg)
Hob: Boiling pasta, stir-fries, sauces
Oven: Large roasts, baking, batch cooking for freezer

Want to calculate your exact energy costs? Use our Energy Cost Calculator to model your own appliances.

Sources: Ofgem — Energy Price Cap · Energy cost calculations based on the October to December 2026 price cap average of £0.2632/kWh.