United States Kitchen
How much does it cost to run an air fryer?
An air fryer is a small fan oven. It draws 1,200 to 1,800 watts, reaches temperature in a couple of minutes and then cycles its element about 60% of the time, so a 20 minute cook uses roughly 0.3 kWh.
A 1.5 kW air fryer costs about 16 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 20 minutes a day cycling 60% of the time comes to about 5.4 cents a day, $1.64 a month and $19.70 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.30 kWh a day, 9.0 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 1.5 kW air fryer costs about 16 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 20 minutes a day cycling 60% of the time comes to about 5.4 cents a day, $1.64 a month and $19.70 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 1.5 kW air fryer running 20 minutes a day, drawing full power 60% of the time it is switched on (the rest of the time a thermostat or sensor has it idle). Published typical ratings run from 1,200 to 1,800 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run an air fryer in every state
Same 1.5 kW air fryer, 20 minutes a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 11 cents | 3.8 cents | $1.15 | $13.80 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 12 cents | 3.8 cents | $1.16 | $13.96 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 12 cents | 4 cents | $1.20 | $14.44 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 12 cents | 4 cents | $1.20 | $14.44 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 12 cents | 4 cents | $1.21 | $14.50 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 12 cents | 4 cents | $1.21 | $14.56 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 12 cents | 4 cents | $1.22 | $14.69 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 12 cents | 4.1 cents | $1.25 | $14.97 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 13 cents | 4.3 cents | $1.30 | $15.59 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 13 cents | 4.3 cents | $1.30 | $15.65 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 13 cents | 4.3 cents | $1.30 | $15.65 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 13 cents | 4.3 cents | $1.32 | $15.87 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 13 cents | 4.4 cents | $1.34 | $16.08 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 13 cents | 4.4 cents | $1.35 | $16.22 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 13 cents | 4.5 cents | $1.36 | $16.26 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 14 cents | 4.5 cents | $1.36 | $16.33 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 14 cents | 4.5 cents | $1.37 | $16.43 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 14 cents | 4.6 cents | $1.40 | $16.78 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 14 cents | 4.6 cents | $1.41 | $16.89 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 14 cents | 4.7 cents | $1.42 | $17.10 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 14 cents | 4.7 cents | $1.44 | $17.25 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 14 cents | 4.7 cents | $1.44 | $17.26 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 14 cents | 4.7 cents | $1.44 | $17.27 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 14 cents | 4.8 cents | $1.45 | $17.38 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 15 cents | 4.8 cents | $1.47 | $17.69 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 15 cents | 4.9 cents | $1.48 | $17.71 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 15 cents | 4.9 cents | $1.49 | $17.91 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 15 cents | 5.1 cents | $1.54 | $18.46 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 15 cents | 5.1 cents | $1.54 | $18.51 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 15 cents | 5.1 cents | $1.55 | $18.63 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 15 cents | 5.1 cents | $1.55 | $18.66 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 16 cents | 5.2 cents | $1.59 | $19.14 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 17 cents | 5.6 cents | $1.69 | $20.29 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 17 cents | 5.7 cents | $1.75 | $20.96 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 17 cents | 5.8 cents | $1.75 | $21.02 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 17 cents | 5.8 cents | $1.75 | $21.06 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 19 cents | 6.4 cents | $1.93 | $23.21 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 20 cents | 6.5 cents | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 21 cents | 6.8 cents | $2.08 | $24.94 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 21 cents | 7.1 cents | $2.16 | $25.86 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 22 cents | 7.3 cents | $2.22 | $26.59 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 22 cents | 7.3 cents | $2.22 | $26.70 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 23 cents | 7.7 cents | $2.35 | $28.18 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 25 cents | 8.2 cents | $2.50 | $29.98 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 25 cents | 8.4 cents | $2.55 | $30.57 |
| New York | 28.65c | 26 cents | 8.5 cents | $2.59 | $31.08 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 26 cents | 8.7 cents | $2.66 | $31.90 |
| California | 29.75c | 27 cents | 8.8 cents | $2.69 | $32.27 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 27 cents | 9.1 cents | $2.76 | $33.06 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 29 cents | 9.5 cents | $2.90 | $34.83 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 42 cents | 14 cents | $4.27 | $51.18 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How an air fryer uses electricity
Because the cooking chamber is small, there is far less air to heat and the food is done faster. That is where the saving over a full size oven comes from, not from a more efficient element.
For a large roast or several trays, the full oven wins. The air fryer advantage is strongest for one or two portions.
Ways to cut the cost
- Do not pre-heat unless the recipe needs a crisp start.
- Cook in a single layer so you do not have to run a second batch.
Questions people ask
How much does an air fryer cost to run?
About 0.3 kWh for 20 minutes at 1,500 watts and 60% duty. At 18 cents that is about 5 cents, at 26p about 8p.
Is an air fryer cheaper to run than an oven?
For small portions, yes, typically by half or more, because it heats a small chamber and cooks faster.
Other kitchen costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.