I researched 78 different air fryers from the top 5 selling brands on Amazon to find out how much energy they use.
Fun Fact: An average 6 quart air fryer use as much electricty as an average 1.8 cubic foot microwave.
Key Findings About Air Fryer Power Consumption
- Air fryer wattage varies by the type and size of the unit.
- The average single-basket air fryer uses 1604 watts and has a 6-quart capacity.
- Mini air fryers, those with about 2-quarts of capacity, use 1173 watts on average.
- On average, dual-basket air fryers have 8-quarts of capacity and use 1,720 watts.
Table of Contents
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What Are The Different Types of Air Fryers?
There are two common types of air fryers on the market.
- Basket-style air fryers are the most common type of air fryer. They come with either a removable single basket or dual-baskets that slide into the appliance and come in a wide range of sizes and styles.
- Toaster oven-style air fryers look like a traditional toaster oven and have a door that opens in front. They typically have more cooking capacity than basket-style air fryers and can cook a wider variety of foods.
Average Air Fryer Wattage
When it comes to applaince power consumption, air fryers are generally quite efficient because their small form factor allows them to heat up quickly and the increased air circulation helps food to cook faster, both important factors in reducing energy use.
How many watts an air fryer consumes depends largely on the type of air fryer, its capacity, and how long it will be in use.
Single basket air fryers will use 1604 watts of power on average. While large dual-basket air fryers draw 1720 watts on average.
Mini air fryers have the lowest power consumption using 1173 watts on average.
Counter top ovens that offer an air fryer feature use 1743 watts on average, which is pretty close to that of dual basket units.
| Air Fryer type | Average Watts | Average Amps Used | Average Capacity | Unique Air Fryer Models |
| Single Basket | 1604 | 13.4 | 6 | 42 |
| Dual Basket | 1720 | 14.3 | 8 | 8 |
| Mini Basket | 1173 | 9.8 | 2 | 11 |
| Oven | 1743 | 14.5 | 15 | 6 |
What Is The Best Wattage For An Air Fryer?
Aside from mini air fryers, most single and dual-basket air fryers use between 1600 and 1750 watts on average, which isn’t a big difference in terms of energy use considering the small amount of time an air fryer is typically being used.
Because there is a small difference in power consumption, I recommend choosing your air fryer based on your cooking needs rather than how much electricity it consumes.
Dual-basket air fryers have on average 8 quarts of capacity, which is good if you need to prepare a large amount of food at once. Or if you need to cook food at different temperatures.
Single basket air fryers, which have 6 quarts of capacity on average, are suitable for cooking for 1-3 people.
Mini basket air fryers have on average 2 quarts of capacity and are best when cooking for one person.
How Many Amps Does An Air Fryer Use?
Similar to an air fryer’s wattage, the larger the capacity of the air fryer the higher the amperage.
Single basket air fryers will use 13.4 amps of current on average. While large dual-basket air fryers draw 14.3 amps on average.
Mini air fryers, use 9.8 amps. And ovens with air fryer feature use 14.5 amps on average.
| Air Fryer type | Average Amps Used |
| Single Basket | 13.4 |
| Dual Basket | 14.3 |
| Mini Basket | 9.8 |
| Oven | 14.5 |
Where To Find Your Air Fryer’s Wattage
Check the manufacture’s label or contact the directly to find how many watts your air fryer is rated for.
For example, the label on my Cosori air fryer shows that it is rated up to 1,700 watts.
How Measure Air Fryer Wattage and Amperage
The easiest way to measure how many watts an air fryer uses is to plug it into an electricity usage meter, they’re inexpensive and super easy to use.
Just plug your air fryer into the meter and plug the meter into your wall outlet. You’ll be able to see how many watts, volts, and amps your air fryer is using in real-time and track electricity consumption over time.
Example: Measuring an air fryer’s wattage and amperage.
I plugged my Cosori 5.8 quart single-basket air fryer, model CP358-AF into my electricity usage meter turned the unit on to preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the unit used 1,558 watts which works out to 13 amps.
How Much Electricity Does An Air Fryer Use?
Calculating the electricity used by an air fryer is fairly simple. You’ll need to know the wattage of the air fryer and how long it will be in use.
To calculate the energy consumption in watt-hours, use the following formula:
Power consumption (in watt-hours) = Wattage of air fryer x Time used (in hours)
For example, if you have a 1700-watt air fryer and you use it for 1 hour, the power consumption would be:
1700 watts x 1 hour = 1700 watt-hours
To convert watt-hours to kilowatt-hours, divide by 1000:
1700 watt-hours / 1000 = 1.7 kilowatt-hours
Using the 1,558-watts I got when I measured the electricity consumption of my air fryer as an example and 1-hour for how long it will be used in a day means my air fryer would consume 1.6 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Keep in mind that the actual power consumption of an air fryer will depend on a variety of factors, including the temperature at which it is cooking, the amount of food being cooked, and the efficiency of the appliance. However, this formula provides a good estimate of the energy consumption of an air fryer.
What Is The Most Energy Efficient Air Fryer?
Of the 78 air fryers I was able to locate power consumption data for, Ultrean’s single basket 9 Quart Air Fryer uses the lowest amount of watts per quart of capacity with 194.4 watts/quart of capacity (1,750 watts / 9 quarts = 194.4 watts/quart).
Ninja’s 10-quart dual-basket DZ550 model uses even less watts/quart than Ultrean’s efficient single-basket model, consuming 169-watts/quart on average (1,690 watts / 10 quarts = 169 watts/quart).
In the mini category, Cosori’s 900W, 2.1-Quart Mini Air Fryer offer the best energy efficiency.
How Many Watts Does a Ninja Air Fryer Use?
There are 5 models of Ninja air fryers available for sale in the U.S. which on average use 1,744 watts.
| Brand & Size | Average Watts |
| Ninja (Overall) | 1744 |
| 5.5 | 1750 |
| 6 | 1760 |
| 8 | 1760 |
| 10 | 1690 |
How Many Watts Does an Instant Vortex Air Fryer Use?
Instant Vortex has 19 air fryers to choose from with overall average watts of 1,611. As expected smaller units use less electricity.
| Brand & Size | Average of Wattage |
| Instant Vortex (Overall) | 1611 |
| 2 | 1300 |
| 4 | 1500 |
| 5.7 | 1700 |
| 6 | 1700 |
| 8 | 1700 |
| 9 | 1700 |
| 10 | 1500 |
| 19 | 1800 |
How Many Watts Does a Gourmia Air Fryer Use?
Gourmia has thirty-five models air fryers available which on average use 1,481 watts.
| Brand & Size | Average of Wattage |
| Gourmia (Overall) | 1481 |
| 2 | 1200 |
| 2.2 | 1140 |
| 3.5 | 1350 |
| 4 | 1275 |
| 5 | 1500 |
| 6 | 1633 |
| 7 | 1660 |
| 8 | 1700 |
How Many Watts Does a Cosori Air Fryer Use?
Cosori has nine different models of air fryers which use on average 1,606 watts.
| Brand & Size | Average of Wattage |
| Cosori (Overall) | 1606 |
| 2.1 | 900 |
| 4 | 1500 |
| 5 | 1500 |
| 5.8 | 1700 |
| 6.8 | 1750 |
| 7 | 1800 |
| 13 | 1800 |
| 26 | 1800 |
How Many Watts Do Ultrean Air Fryers Use?
Ultrean offers eight models of air fryers which use 1,656 watts on average.
| Brand & Size | Average of Wattage |
| Ultrean (Overall) | 1656 |
| 4.2 | 1500 |
| 4.5 | 1500 |
| 6 | 1700 |
| 8 | 1700 |
| 9 | 1750 |
| 12.5 | 1700 |
FAQ’s About Air Fryers
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What are the benefits of using an air fryer?
Air fryers offer several benefits, including:
1. Healthier cooking: Air fryers use hot air instead of oil to cook food, which can result in healthier meals with less fat and fewer calories.
2. Time savings: Air fryers can cook food faster than traditional ovens.
3. Convenience: Air fryers are easy to use and require little to no preheating time.
4. Versatility: Air fryers can be used to cook a wide variety of foods, including meats, vegetables, and desserts. -
What are some common mistakes to avoid when using an air fryer
Common mistakes to avoid when using an air fryer include overfilling the basket, using too much oil, not preheating it before cooking, and not shaking the basket during cooking to ensure and even cook.
It’s important to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow the recommended cooking times and temperatures for each type of food.
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Do I need to use oil when cooking in an air fryer?
No, oil is not always necessary when cooking in an air fryer. Air fryers use hot air instead of an oil bath like a deep fryer to cook food, which makes it come out crispy and flavorful without submerging it in oil.
However, adding a little spray of oil to coat the food can enhance the crispness and texture of some foods.
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Can air fryers cook different types of food besides fried food?
Yes, air fryers can be used to cook a wide variety of foods, including meats, vegetables, and desserts. Air fryers can bake, grill, roast, and even reheat food. Personally, I like to reheat pizza in mine.
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How do you clean an air fryer?
To clean an air fryer, wait for the appliance to cool down and unplug it from the electrical outlet. Use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe down the inside and outside of the appliance.
The removable parts, such as the basket and tray, can usually be washed with soap and water or in a dishwasher.
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Is 1,500 watts enough for an air fryer?
Our data shows that 1,500-watts is the typical wattage of air fryers with 4 to 5 quarts of capacity. All of the brands we looked at for this article offer units in the 1,500 watt and 4-5 quart capacity with the exception of Ninja
Wrap Up
Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance, but how many watts do they actually use?
After researching 78 different air fryers from top-selling brands on Amazon, here are the key findings about their power consumption. The wattage of an air fryer varies based on its type and size.
On average, single-basket air fryers with a 6-quart capacity use around 1604 watts, while mini air fryers with a 2-quart capacity use about 1173 watts.
Dual-basket air fryers, with an average capacity of 8 quarts, consume approximately 1720 watts.
It’s important to note that air fryers are generally quite efficient due to their small form factor, which allows them to heat up quickly and cook food faster.
When choosing an air fryer, consider your cooking needs rather than focusing solely on electricity consumption. The recommended wattage depends on the size of your household and the type of dishes you plan to prepare.
