The 10 Best Air Fryers of 2026, Tested & Ranked

As a rule of thumb: 2–4L suits 1–2 people, 5–6L a family of 3–4, and 8L+ (usually dual-drawer) a family of 4+ or batch cooking. Dual-drawer models like our top pick let you cook a main and a side at once, which matters more than raw litres for family meals.

Usually, yes. A typical 1,800W air fryer running 20 minutes uses roughly 0.6kWh (about 15p at current UK rates), versus 1–1.5kWh for a full-size oven that also needs preheating. For small and medium portions the saving is significant; for very large roasts an oven can still win.

Dual-drawer models cook two foods at different settings and sync them to finish together, which is what makes them so good for family meals. Single-basket models are cheaper, smaller on the worktop, and simpler to clean. If you mostly cook for one or two, a good single basket like the COSORI is better value.

Most full-size models run 1,700–2,470W. Higher wattage generally means faster preheat and better crisping, but capacity matters more: a 2,400W dual-zone spread across 9.5L is not "hotter" than a 1,700W 4L single basket.

Compared with deep frying, substantially: air frying uses up to 80–90% less oil for similar textures. Compared with oven baking, it's nutritionally similar; the benefit is speed and energy use rather than health.

Scores come from our confidence-weighted model built on verified owner reviews, weighted by recency, volume and reviewer reliability. Brands can't pay for placement, and affiliate earnings have no input into scores. See our methodology page.