An air fryer uses about 0.3 to 0.6 kWh in a 20-minute session at full rated power, which is roughly 5 to 10 cents at the US average residential price. That range comes from four current US models in the table below, from the 900 W Chefman RJ38-2T to the 1,725 W Cosori TurboBlaze CAF-DC601-KUS, priced at the 18.16 ¢/kWh US residential average the EIA reported for August 2026. Real use is often lower because the heater cycles once it reaches temperature.
To work it out for your own appliance: divide the rated watts by 1,000, multiply by the hours it runs (preheat and every batch included), then multiply by the price per kWh on your bill.
Air fryer electricity formula
The US Department of Energy uses the same wattage-times-hours method to estimate appliance energy use. Total time means preheat plus all batches, not just the time printed on one recipe.
Electricity use and cost per cook for four US air fryers
The power ratings below are the manufacturers’ published figures for four 120-volt US basket models we have reviewed. Energy and cost are our arithmetic: a 20-minute session at full rated power, priced at 18.16 ¢/kWh (EIA, US residential average for August 2026). They are upper estimates, not measurements; we have not metered these units ourselves.
| Exact model | Capacity | Rated power | Max kWh, 20 min | ≈ Cost per 20-min cook | ≈ 20 cooks a month | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chefman RJ38-2T | 2 qt | 900 W | 0.30 kWh | 5¢ | 6.0 kWh ≈ $1.09 | Review · See price |
| Chefman RJ38-4TW-BLACK (window) | 4 qt | 1,500 W | 0.50 kWh | 9¢ | 10.0 kWh ≈ $1.82 | Review · See price |
| Ninja AF101 | 4 qt | 1,550 W | 0.52 kWh | 9¢ | 10.3 kWh ≈ $1.88 | Review · See price |
| Cosori TurboBlaze CAF-DC601-KUS | 6 qt | 1,725 W | 0.58 kWh | 10¢ | 11.5 kWh ≈ $2.09 | Review · See price |
What the numbers show:
- The basket size matters more than the brand. The 6-qt model’s 20-minute maximum is about twice the 2-qt model’s (0.58 vs 0.30 kWh), but the two 4-qt models are within 0.02 kWh of each other.
- The monthly total is small; the batches are what add up. Twenty 20-minute cooks a month come to roughly $1 to $2 at the national average. Three batches for one meal triple that meal’s figure.
- Your rate decides the dollar figure. US residential prices vary widely by state and plan. At 30 ¢/kWh the 1,725 W row becomes about 17¢ per cook; at 12 ¢/kWh about 7¢. Replace 18.16 with the price on your bill.
For amps, circuit headroom and why watts alone do not rank speed, see air fryer wattage explained. To see how capacity and footprint change with the basket, see the size guide.
Does an air fryer use full power the whole time?
Usually not. The rating is the appliance’s maximum or nominal power. Once the set temperature is reached, the thermostat switches or modulates the heater, while the fan and controls keep drawing a smaller amount. How much it cycles depends on:
- set temperature and mode;
- food quantity and starting temperature;
- preheating;
- drawer or door opening;
- room temperature and supply voltage;
- the thermostat and control design.
That is why rated-wattage math is good for budgeting and comparison but is not a laboratory measurement.
Air fryer vs oven electricity usage
An air fryer often uses less energy for a small meal because it heats a smaller chamber and may finish sooner. A fair comparison counts the whole job:
| Include | Air fryer | Oven |
|---|---|---|
| Preheat | None or short, depending on model and recipe | Often longer, but not always required |
| Cooking time | All batches added together | One or more trays in the same cycle |
| Rated or measured power | Exact model on the rating label | Whole appliance, not one element’s label |
| Food quantity | Same finished portions | Same finished portions |
| Other food | Separate appliance if needed | Food cooked at the same time in the oven |
Example at 18.16 ¢/kWh: a 1,500 W air fryer for 25 minutes is a 0.625 kWh maximum, about 11¢. A 2,500 W oven element for 45 minutes is 1.875 kWh by the same method, about 34¢. But if the air fryer needs three 25-minute batches, it also reaches 1.875 kWh. Thermostat cycling lowers both real figures. The air fryer vs oven comparison covers speed and capacity as well as energy.
When the air fryer is likely to save energy
- One or two portions fit in a single basket load.
- The alternative is heating a large, cold oven for one small tray.
- The air fryer needs little or no separate preheat.
- The food finishes materially faster.
- You are not running another appliance for the rest of the meal.
When an oven can compete
- A broad tray cooks the entire family meal in one cycle.
- The oven is already hot for another dish.
- The air fryer needs several consecutive batches.
- The oven is small or efficient, or used in a suitable convection mode.
- The air fryer is oversized and runs mostly empty.
How to measure actual air fryer consumption
- Use a plug-in energy meter explicitly rated for the appliance’s power and your 120 V outlet.
- Reset its kWh reading.
- Measure a complete normal session, including preheat and batches.
- Repeat the same meal at least three times.
- Average the readings and multiply by your price per kWh.
Do not use a meter with a current rating below the appliance load, and do not chain adaptors or power strips. Many manuals ask for the fryer to be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
Reduce electricity without compromising food safety
- Choose a basket that fits the usual batch rather than heating empty space.
- Skip preheating only when the manual or recipe permits it.
- Prepare food before switching the appliance on.
- Avoid repeated drawer opening; use a window when the design has one.
- Keep the air inlet, exhaust, basket and heating area clean as instructed.
- Cook a useful load without crowding so badly that time or batches increase.
- Stop when food is safely cooked rather than extending a preset blindly.
Enter your own wattage, time and rate in the air fryer running cost calculator.
The bottom line
Air fryers draw a lot of power while heating but usually for a short time. For four current US models, a 20-minute cook is at most 0.30 to 0.58 kWh, about 5 to 10 cents at the August 2026 US residential average. Calculate kWh from rated power and total session length, then compare the same finished meal. Small single-batch jobs often favor the air fryer; large multi-batch jobs can favor an oven.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does an air fryer use per cook?
Multiply rated watts divided by 1,000 by cooking hours. For a 20-minute session at full power, the four US models above range from 0.30 kWh (900 W Chefman RJ38-2T) to 0.58 kWh (1,725 W Cosori TurboBlaze CAF-DC601-KUS). Thermostat cycling usually makes the measured figure lower.
How much does it cost to run an air fryer?
At the 18.16 ¢/kWh US residential average the EIA reported for August 2026, a 20-minute cook costs about 5¢ (900 W) to 10¢ (1,725 W) at full rated power. Use the price per kWh on your own bill, because state and plan rates differ widely.
How much does an air fryer add to the monthly electric bill?
Twenty 20-minute cooks a month come to about 6 to 11.5 kWh for the models above, roughly $1.09 to $2.09 at the national average. More batches or longer cooks raise it in proportion.
How much does it cost to run a 1,500-watt air fryer for an hour?
At full power for an hour, 1,500 watts is 1.5 kWh, which is about 27¢ at 18.16 ¢/kWh. Most cooks are shorter, and the heater cycles, so a real hour of cooking usually costs less.
Is an air fryer cheaper to run than an oven?
Often for a small meal, because it heats a smaller chamber and may cook faster, but not always. A large load that needs several air fryer batches can use as much or more energy than one efficient oven cycle.
Does preheating waste electricity?
Unnecessary preheating adds energy, but a short required preheat can improve results and avoid recooking. Follow the recipe and manual instead of automatically adding a long preheat.
How can I reduce air fryer electricity use?
Cook an appropriate load without severe crowding, avoid unnecessary preheat, minimize drawer opening, keep the appliance clean, use the shortest safe time and choose a basket size that fits the batch.
Sources and method
Clara Bennett updated this guide on November 8, 2026. Power ratings are the manufacturers’ published figures, checked on October 28, 2026 for the Chefman models and October 24, 2026 for the Ninja AF101 and Cosori CAF-DC601-KUS. The price is the US residential average revenue per kWh for August 2026 from the EIA Electricity Monthly Update released October 23, 2026. kWh and cost are calculated from those figures at full rated power. This is specification-led guidance: we have not bought or metered these appliances, and we do not assign scores.
- US Energy Information Administration: Electricity Monthly Update, End Use (data for August 2026)
- US Department of Energy: Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use
- Chefman Compact Air Fryer 2 Quart (RJ38-2T) product page
- Chefman TurboFry Touch Easy-View 4 Quart (RJ38-4TW-BLACK) product page
- Ninja AF101C product specifications (1,550 W, 120 V, 60 Hz)
- Cosori CAF-DC601-KUS manual (power rating)
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About the Author
Clara Bennett
I write practical, model-specific air fryer reviews and comparisons. I focus on usable capacity, household fit, cleaning, materials, day-to-day ownership and value so you can choose the right appliance with fewer surprises.
Read my full profile and review method