Air fryers have made the evil of deep-fried food healthy for the majority of people around the world. It’s no wonder everyone wants to get their hands on one. You can typically find air fryers that run on both 120-volt and 240-volt circuits. If you’re wondering how many amps an air fryer uses, it will typically use between 6.67 amps and 15 amps of current on a 120-volt circuit, whereas this falls to 3.33 to 7.5 amps on a 240-volt circuit.
An air fryer will only work when you have a steady supply of electricity, which means you will need some form of backup during a power outage. A Jackery Solar generator is a reliable option that can run your air fryer and most of your household appliances without any problem. These solar generators can be used both indoors and outdoors, which makes them incredibly versatile as well.
Key Takeaways
- A typical household air fryer uses between 6.67 and 15 amps on a 120-volt circuit, which translates to 3.33 to 7.5 amps on a 240-volt circuit.
- They consume anywhere between 800-2000W of electricity, but the true requirement will depend on which mode you use and the temperature you’re cooking at.
- Adding an optimal amount of food to the air fryer and not using it at very high temperatures are a few ways to reduce your electricity bills when using an air fryer.
- Jackery Solar Generators are a versatile option to consider if you’re planning on switching to a more sustainable form of energy for your home.
How Many Amps Does an Air Fryer Use?
As the introduction mentioned, air fryers are available in 120-volt and 240-volt compatible options, allowing you to choose the right one based on your home's electrical system. A 120-volt air fryer will use anywhere between 6.67 and 15 amps of power, which translates to about 3.33 to 7.5 amps on a 240-volt circuit.
How many amps an air fryer uses will depend on a few key factors, including the appliance’s wattage, the temperature settings you use it on, and the quantity of food you cook in the air fryer. However, to understand these factors better, you will need to thoroughly understand a few key terms, including amps, watts, and volts. You can also read about these in our detailed guide on the topic. Let’s take a quick look at what these terms mean.
Amp (Amperes): Amps, which is short for amperes, is used to refer to the intensity of the electric current flowing through a circuit or the amount of electrons flowing through a circuit at any given point in time. It is denoted by the letter ‘A’ and can be calculated using the formula mentioned below:
Amps = Watts / Volts
Watts (Wattage): The wattage of an appliance refers to the amount of power it must consume for it to operate or to work, and this is denoted by the letter ‘W.’ It can be calculated using the following formula:
Watts = Volts x Amps
Volts (Voltage): Volts, which are short for voltage, refer to the pressure required to push current through a wire. It’s denoted by the letter ‘V’ and is calculated using the following formula:
Volts = Watts / Amps
The US typically has two electrical systems, 120 volts and 240 volts.
Running Wattage: The running wattage refers to the continuous power output required to keep an air fryer or any other appliance running. The formula to calculate this is:
Running Watts = Volts x Running Amps
How Many Amps Does an Air Fryer Use?
When you’re in the market for an air fryer, you’ll find that they come in different sizes (small, medium, and large) and types (basket-style, toaster-oven, multi-cooker, and countertop). Each consumes different amounts of electricity, particularly when categorized based on size.
The table below offers a detailed breakdown of these different air fryers, helping you understand what kind of electrical system you’ll need to run one safely in your kitchen.
Air Fryer Types |
Air Fryer Wattage |
Actual Energy Usage (Running Watts) |
Amps (= Watts / 120 Volts) |
Amps (= Watts / 240 Volts) |
Small Air Fryer |
1000-1300W |
1000-1300W |
8.3-10.8A |
/ |
Medium-Sized Air Fryer |
1300-1600W |
1300-1600W |
10.8-13.3A |
/ |
Large Air Fryer |
1600-2000W |
1600-2000W |
13.3-16.6A |
6.6-8.3A |
Countertop Air Fryer |
800-1800W |
800-1800W |
6.6-15A |
3.3-7.5A |
Toaster-Oven Air Fryer |
1600-2000W |
1600-2000W |
13.3-16.6A |
6.6-8.3A |
Multicooker Air Fryer |
1200-1600W |
1200-1600W |
10-13.3A |
5-6.6A |
How Many Amps Does an Air Fryer Draw on Startup?
Unlike many other appliances, an air fryer doesn’t require any additional wattage to get it running from idle. As a result, it doesn’t have a startup wattage. In other words, its startup and running wattage are the same. On average, an air fryer will consume between 800-2000W of power, depending on its size, the temperature or mode you use it in, and how much food you add to its tray. In this detailed guide, you can get more detailed information about how many watts an air fryer uses.
Startup Watts vs. Running Watts
An appliance’s startup watts refer to the amount of additional electricity needed to start running the appliance from idle. While this applies to some appliances, air fryers don’t require any additional startup wattage. On the other hand, running watts refer to the amount of electricity needed to keep the appliance running.
Take the example of a medium-sized air fryer running on a 120V system that consumes about 13A. Here’s how you can calculate its running wattage:
Running Wattage = Voltage x Running Amps = 120 x 13A = 1560W.
Note: The startup wattage will be the same as the air fryer’s running wattage.
Startup Amps vs. Running Amps
Just like an air fryer's startup and running wattage, the startup and running amps are the same. The initial spike needed to start the air fryer from idle isn’t needed.
How to Calculate Your Air Fryer’s Amps
When you purchase an air fryer, you will have to consider how many amps it needs to run, whether it needs a 120—or 240-volt circuit, and the capacity of the circuit breaker you use. To help you make the right decision, there are three main ways to check the amperage of an air fryer. These methods are described below.
Method 1: Check the Manufacturer Details or the Energy Star Rating
Every appliance comes with a set of details that the manufacturer provides on a label. These typically state the device’s wattage, the voltage it requires, and how many amps it needs to run. You can refer to these details to find out or calculate the amps of your air fryer. However, if these details are not provided on the air fryer itself, they will be available on the product’s packaging.
Additionally, if the air fryer you want to purchase is an energy-efficient model, it will also have an Energy Star rating, which will provide you with information about its electrical consumption.
Method 2: Determine the Amps From the Wattage
Another method you can use to calculate the amperage of your air fryer is to divide the appliance’s wattage by its voltage. As mentioned above, you can find this information in the manufacturer’s details on the product or its packaging. The formula to calculate the amps is as follows:
Amps = Watts / Volts
So, if you have an air fryer with a wattage of 1600W running on a 120V system, its amperage will be as follows:
1600 / 120 = 13.3A
Method 3: Use a Power Meter
Another way to get an accurate reading of your air fryer’s amperage is to use a power meter, a device used to measure the amount of electricity consumed by an appliance. To do this, you’ll need to plug the power meter into the socket into which you plug the air fryer and then connect the air fryer to it. The power meter will then give you an accurate reading of how much energy your air fryer consumes.
Tips to Save Your Electricity Bill
An air fryer is an appliance with a high wattage, meaning it will consume a lot more electricity. Add to this other high-wattage appliances in your house, such as a dishwasher, a washer-dryer, and so on, and you’ll need to find ways to minimize your electricity bill so you can comfortably manage your budget. Here are a few ways you can do so:
- Always preheat your air fryer before using it, but ensure you do it for a minimum amount of time.
- If possible, opt for an air fryer that runs at 240 volts, as this will have a lower amperage draw than a 120-volt option.
- Extended cooking times will increase your electricity consumption. One of the ways to reduce your cooking time is to thaw any frozen foods beforehand so you can minimize the amount of time they spend inside the air fryer.
- Avoid overloading the air fryer as this will reduce its efficiency and result in longer cooking times to ensure all your food is well cooked.
- Consider using a renewable source of electricity, such as solar energy, to reduce your electricity bills. You can even refer to our appliance wattage chart to decide which solar generator will serve your needs best based on the number of appliances you have.
Solar Generators for Air Fryers
If you plan on switching to solar power and no longer want to rely on the electrical grid for your power supply, then you might consider Jackery, which manufactures solar generators, solar panels, and portable power stations. The Jackery Solar Generators are a seamless combination of the Jackery Portable Power Stations and the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.
When you place the solar panels under direct sunlight, they absorb solar energy from the sun’s rays and convert them into DC electricity. This is passed through the pure sine wave inverter in the portable power station to convert it to AC electricity.
These solar generators are highly portable, with solar panels and a portable power station that are easy to move around, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. They can also run 99% of your household appliances, including a microwave, oven, electric grill, and air fryer.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is an expandable solar generator with a decent capacity to run most household appliances, including a small air fryer. It is designed to be highly portable, allowing you to carry it with you even if you’re camping outdoors. You can also charge it via ultra-fast solar charging or a wall adapter. The highlight of these solar generators is that they’re fume-free and whisper-quiet, which makes them ideal and safe for indoor use.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is yet another expandable solar generator with more capacity than the previous model. This allows you to run 99% of your household appliances, including medium—to high-wattage air fryers. It’s also highly portable, with foldable solar panels and a portable power station with a handle and two wheels. Its versatility also allows you to use it outdoors and indoors to run most of your kitchen or other appliances, including an air fryer, coffee maker, or portable refrigerator.
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Double Kit (6000W/240V/4kWh)
The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Double Kit (6000W/240V/4kWh) is a large-capacity solar generator designed to run appliances connecting to a 240V electrical system. This makes it the perfect option if you’ve got a 240V air fryer and other bigger appliances like dishwashers and washer-dryers. Its portable design makes it perfectly safe to use indoors without worrying about harmful emissions or high noise levels.
Jackery Products |
Capacity & Output Watts |
Air Fryer Running Time |
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus |
Capacity: 1264.64Wh Rated Output: 2000W |
Small Air Fryer (1000W) = 1H Electric Cooker (900W) = 1.1H TV (60W) = 17.9H Laptop (65W) = 16.5H Drone (100W) = 10.7H |
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus |
Capacity: 2042.8Wh Rated Output: 3000W |
Small Air Fryer (1000W) = 1.7H Medium-Sized Air Fryer (1500W) = 1.1H Portable Air Conditioner (1150W) = 1.5H Laptop (65W) = 26.7H Smartphone (29) = 59.8H |
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Double Kit (6000W/240V/4kWh) |
Capacity: 4085.6Wh Rated Output: 6000W
|
Small Air Fryer (1000W) = 3.4H Medium-Sized Air Fryer (1500W) = 2.3H Large Air Fryer (2000W) = 1.7H Electric Grill (850W) = 4H Microwave (960W) = 3.6H |
FAQs About Air Fryer Amps
Do air fryers use a lot of power?
Air fryers typically use between 1000-2000W, with the average household air fryer consuming about 1500W.
How many amps does a Ninja Air Fryer use?
A Ninja Air Fryer uses anywhere between 12-15 amps, depending on the model and wattage.
Does an air fryer need a 20 amp outlet?
Some large air fryers run on an amperage close to the 20-amp limit, so a 20-amp outlet is ideal for them.
Does an air fryer need a dedicated circuit?
Generally, it’s ideal to run a household or countertop air fryer on its dedicated circuit.
Conclusion
The health benefits of cooking with an air fryer quickly make it a kitchen staple worldwide. Suppose you’re planning on purchasing a new air fryer. In that case, you should familiarize yourself with its electrical consumption and how many amps the air fryer uses so you can decide if it requires a dedicated outlet.
To summarize, most air fryers consume between 6 and 15 amps of electricity, depending on whether they run on a 120—or 240-volt system. If you live in a place that’s prone to power outages for any reason, you should also consider opting for a reliable power backup option, such as Jackery Solar Generators. These are safe to use indoors, reliable, and incredibly versatile, making them the ideal option for domestic use.
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