Air Fryer vs Oven Calculator
Enter both prices, per-meal energy use and your electricity price.
Payback period
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Enter values above
Annual running saving
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Saving per meal
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Air fryer cost per year
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Oven cost per year
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Net saving over 5 years
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Worked example
With the default inputs shown below, this calculator returns the following results:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Air fryer price ($) | 120 |
| Oven price ($) | 1000 |
| Air fryer energy per meal (kWh) | 0.8 |
| Oven energy per meal (kWh) | 2.0 |
| Electricity price ($/kWh) | 0.17 |
| Meals cooked per week | 7 |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Payback period | 11.9 years |
| Annual running saving | $74.26 |
| Saving per meal | $0.20 |
| Air fryer cost per year | $49.50 |
| Oven cost per year | $123.76 |
| Net saving over 5 years | -$508.72 |
Values shown are produced by this page in your browser; change any input to update them.
How to use the Air Fryer vs Oven Calculator
- Air fryer price ($) — default 120
- Oven price ($) — default 1000
- Air fryer energy per meal (kWh) — default 0.8
- Oven energy per meal (kWh) — default 2.0
- Electricity price ($/kWh) — default 0.17
- Meals cooked per week — default 7
- Press Calculate to update the results instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Usually yes. An air fryer heats a much smaller cavity, so it draws far less energy per meal — typically 0.6–1.0 kWh against 1.5–2.5 kWh for a full-size oven. The gap depends on the oven type (fan ovens are more efficient than non-fan) and how full the oven is.
Because the upfront price difference is divided by a fairly small annual saving. A $900 gap with a $60-a-year saving takes 15 years. The case is much stronger if you are choosing between appliances anyway — then compare only the running costs.
The energy figures you enter should be for one “meal session”. A full oven costs roughly the same whether you cook one portion or four, so batch cooking shifts the advantage back towards the oven.