How much does it cost to run an air fryer?
An air fryer costs about 16¢ per hour, 6.5¢ a day, $1.97 a month and $24 a year at typical use (24 minutes a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Air fryers draw 1,200-1,800 W but cycle once at temperature; a 20-minute cook uses about 0.25-0.4 kWh.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact (2-4 qt) | 1,200 | 13¢ | 5.2¢ | $1.58 | $19 |
| Standard (5-6 qt) | 1,500 | 16¢ | 6.5¢ | $1.97 | $24 |
| Dual basket | 1,700 | 18¢ | 7.3¢ | $2.23 | $27 |
At 24 minutes a day and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.90 | 16¢ | $4.93 | $59 |
| 2 hours | 1.80 | 32¢ | $9.86 | $118 |
| 4 hours | 3.60 | 65¢ | $19.71 | $237 |
| 8 hours | 7.20 | $1.30 | $39.43 | $473 |
| 12 hours | 10.80 | $1.94 | $59.14 | $710 |
| 24 hours | 21.60 | $3.89 | $118 | $1,419 |
Cost to run an air fryer in every state
The same air fryer costs $16 a year in North Dakota and $57 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 11¢ | $1.35 | $16 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 11¢ | $1.39 | $17 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 12¢ | $1.41 | $17 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 12¢ | $1.42 | $17 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 12¢ | $1.46 | $18 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 12¢ | $1.46 | $18 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 12¢ | $1.47 | $18 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 12¢ | $1.49 | $18 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 12¢ | $1.50 | $18 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 12¢ | $1.52 | $18 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 13¢ | $1.53 | $18 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 13¢ | $1.53 | $18 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 13¢ | $1.54 | $18 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 13¢ | $1.55 | $19 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 13¢ | $1.55 | $19 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 13¢ | $1.56 | $19 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 13¢ | $1.62 | $19 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 13¢ | $1.62 | $19 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 14¢ | $1.65 | $20 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 14¢ | $1.66 | $20 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 14¢ | $1.68 | $20 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 14¢ | $1.69 | $20 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 14¢ | $1.69 | $20 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 14¢ | $1.70 | $20 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 14¢ | $1.70 | $20 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 14¢ | $1.71 | $21 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 14¢ | $1.75 | $21 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 15¢ | $1.78 | $21 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 15¢ | $1.80 | $22 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 15¢ | $1.81 | $22 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 15¢ | $1.82 | $22 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 15¢ | $1.86 | $22 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 16¢ | $1.95 | $23 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 16¢ | $2.00 | $24 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 17¢ | $2.05 | $25 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 17¢ | $2.06 | $25 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 19¢ | $2.27 | $27 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 19¢ | $2.30 | $28 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 19¢ | $2.31 | $28 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 21¢ | $2.61 | $31 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 21¢ | $2.61 | $31 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 22¢ | $2.65 | $32 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 24¢ | $2.92 | $35 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 24¢ | $2.94 | $35 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 25¢ | $3.07 | $37 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 26¢ | $3.11 | $37 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 26¢ | $3.21 | $38 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 26¢ | $3.21 | $39 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 27¢ | $3.33 | $40 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 30¢ | $3.61 | $43 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 39¢ | $4.77 | $57 |
How to cut the cost
- Skip or shorten preheat; most foods need only 2-3 minutes.
- Cook in a single layer with space for airflow so you don't need second batches.
- Use it instead of the full oven for small batches to save about 50-70% per meal.
- Clean the basket and heating element area so airflow stays strong.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Keep the basket clean so airflow and cook times stay efficient.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air fryer | 1,500 | 24 minutes a day | $1.97 | $24 |
| Toaster oven | 1,300 | 18 minutes a day | $1.62 | $19 |
| Electric oven | 3,000 | 3 hour of bakings a week | $3.75 | $45 |
| Ninja Foodi multi-cooker | 1,400 | 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $1.36 | $16 |
| Microwave | 1,200 | 15 minutes a day | $1.90 | $23 |
| Electric stove burner | 1,500 | 1 hour a day | $4.93 | $59 |
| Electric kettle | 1,500 | 6 minutes a day | $0.82 | $10 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an air fryer per hour?
An air fryer drawing 1,500 watts uses 0.90 kWh per hour while running (60% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 16¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 11¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 39¢.
How much does it cost to run an air fryer per month?
At typical use (24 minutes a day), an air fryer costs about $1.97 a month and $24 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does an air fryer use?
Most air fryers use 800 to 1,800 watts, depending on the setting (compact (2-4 qt) 1,200 W, standard (5-6 qt) 1,500 W, dual basket 1,700 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an air fryer use?
About 0.36 kWh a day and 131 kWh a year at typical use (24 minutes a day).
Does an air fryer use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 131 kWh a year it's a small share (1.3%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run an air fryer or a toaster oven?
At typical use, an air fryer costs about $24 a year versus $19 for a toaster oven. So the toaster oven is cheaper by about $4 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an air fryer?
- Skip or shorten preheat; most foods need only 2-3 minutes.
- Cook in a single layer with space for airflow so you don't need second batches.
- Use it instead of the full oven for small batches to save about 50-70% per meal.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.