Side-by-side running cost
Air Fryer vs Microwave: Which Costs Less to Run?
The short answer
Per hour of use, a microwave ($0.20/hr) costs about 54% less to run than an air fryer ($0.22/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (30 minutes a day vs 15 minutes a day), that’s $3.34 vs $1.53 a month.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Air Fryer
- Typical power
- 1,500W
- Per hour
- $0.22
- Per month
- $3.34
- Per year
- $40.10
- Typical use
- 30 minutes a day
Microwave
- Typical power
- 1,100W
- Per hour
- $0.20
- Per month
- $1.53
- Per year
- $18.38
- Typical use
- 15 minutes a day
Air Fryer vs Microwave in the 10 largest states
Monthly cost at typical use and each state’s average residential rate.
| State | Air Fryer | Microwave | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $6.13 | $2.81 | $3.32 |
| Texas | $2.90 | $1.33 | $1.57 |
| Florida | $2.74 | $1.26 | $1.49 |
| New York | $5.46 | $2.50 | $2.96 |
| Pennsylvania | $3.96 | $1.82 | $2.15 |
| Illinois | $3.51 | $1.61 | $1.90 |
| Ohio | $3.55 | $1.63 | $1.92 |
| Georgia | $2.97 | $1.36 | $1.61 |
| North Carolina | $2.77 | $1.27 | $1.50 |
| Michigan | $4.21 | $1.93 | $2.28 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is an air fryer cheaper to run than a microwave?
Per hour of use, a microwave ($0.20/hr) costs about 54% less to run than an air fryer ($0.22/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (30 minutes a day vs 15 minutes a day), that’s $3.34 vs $1.53 a month.
How much power does an air fryer use compared with a microwave?
An air fryer typically draws 1,500W, while a microwave draws about 1,100W.
More comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).