Air fryer vs oven
Compare two cooking sessions using your own power and cooking-time assumptions.
Reference: Ofgem GB average Direct Debit rate, 1 October–31 December 2026: 26.32p/kWh. Checked 8 November 2026. Use your own bill; regional and payment-method rates differ, and Northern Ireland has a separate market. Annual costs hold the entered rate constant; they are not a forecast. Standing charges are excluded. For time-of-use tariffs, calculate each rate's consumption separately and add the costs.
Your estimated running cost
273.8 kWh per year · 26.32p per kWh
Annual difference: £86.46. A costs less.
Compare equivalent meals and portion sizes. Thermostat cycling and preheating can change actual use.
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Home Cost Wise - User-entered estimate, not a bill or product test. Rates and usage can change. Source and method: www.homecostwise.co.uk/methodology/
Worked example: A week of equivalent cooking tasks
These fixed teaching inputs are separate from the editable calculator above and are not current tariff or product claims.
- Inputs
- A: 1,500W for 20 minutes; B: 2,000W for 30 minutes. Seven meals per week, with equivalent portions and all required stages included.
- The working
- A uses 0.5kWh per meal and 3.5kWh in seven meals. B uses 1kWh per meal and 7kWh in seven meals.
- The result
- At 25p/kWh, the week costs £0.88 for A and £1.75 for B. Continuing for 365/7 weeks gives £45.63 and £91.25 respectively. These times are assumptions, not a product performance claim.
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How this calculator works
Annual kWh for each appliance = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per meal × meals per week × 365 ÷ 7. Use equivalent portions and include preheating where applicable. Rated power is an approximation, not measured consumption.
Cost in pounds = energy in kWh × electricity rate in pence ÷ 100. Monthly costs are annual costs divided by 12; daily costs are divided by 365. These are averages over a year. Calculations retain precision until display rounding.
Get a more useful estimate
Read our step-by-step guide to measuring appliance electricity before treating a nameplate rating as a measured average.
Start with the rate on your bill and energy information for your exact model. A plug-in energy monitor can help measure suitable plug-in appliances; follow its safety instructions and power limits. Do not apply full-power wattage for 24 hours to a cycling fridge or freezer.
What is excluded?
The day/night comparison includes the standing charges you enter; appliance-only tools exclude them. Gas, water, detergent, maintenance, discounts and purchase costs are excluded unless the tool explicitly asks for a purchase premium. Usage and tariffs can change. The reference tariff covers Great Britain and does not represent Northern Ireland or every contract.
Read our sources and assumptions →Common questions
Is an air fryer always cheaper to run than an oven?
It depends on input power, total cooking time and the food you need to cook. Include preheating and every batch needed for the same portions. This calculator compares the numbers you enter; it does not claim that every air fryer beats every oven.
Does the calculation include preheating and thermostat cycling?
Include preheating in the entered duration if it is part of your cooking session. The watts-and-time method assumes constant input. Actual thermostat cycling can change consumption; use a measured complete-session kWh figure when available.