A small air fryer could be your key to healthier cooking if you have a small kitchen or are a single-person household. Like the best air fryers, these compact appliances can cook food faster than the typical range, all while using less oil and hopefully boosting your overall health. Their compact size also means they won't take up much counter space, freeing up extra room for food prep and other appliances.
While I haven't personally reviewed any of the air fryers featured in this guide, I have tried out plenty of air fryers over the years. Myself and the reviews panel (Molly, Joanne and James) have awarded the Cosori Lite Smart Air Fryer as the best small air fryer for one person. While it is compact, it can cook enough fries, sausages and / or fish for up to 3 - 4 people. It also has a list price of under $100 making it a great entry-level choice too.
The best small air fryers for one person do typically cost between $60 and $120. At the higher end of the scale, premium features often include intuitive digital displays and extra cooking functions such as pre-heating, grilling, roasting, and baking. A good time to buy a small air fryer is during sales events such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. This will give you the best chance to score a new air fryer with those premium features you've been lusting after for so long. Read on to find out which of these compact countertop appliances made my shortlist.
I've put together this guide for you to help you find the absolute best small air fryer for one person. Whether it is for your compact kitchen or one of the kids are off to college, I hope this list goes some way in helping you to make a decision on your next method of cooking. All have been tried and tested by some members of our reviews panel so you'll be getting first-hand experience of their learnings.
The quick list
Below, we’ve provided an overview of the important details you need to know about each product immediately so you can buy quickly if you're in a hurry. If something catches your eye, use the links to delve deeper into the analysis provided for each product further down the page.
The best small air fryer overall
The Cosori Lite Air Fryer is the ultimate safe choice. Weighing just 9 lbs, the basket air fryer has a reasonably spacious four-quart drawer and 1500 Watts of power. If you cook for 3 to 4 people, you can count on crispy, tasty portions every time.
The best small air fryer on a budget
If you’re crunching numbers, you won’t need much persuasion to buy the Instant Vortex Slim. For just $119.99, the air fryer can air fry, broil, bake, roast, and reheat, helping you save money on your energy bills by using your stove or range less and less.
The best small toaster oven air fryer combo
Styled like a convection oven, the Cuisinart TOA-60 is compact, yet it can still cook delicious bacon, veggies, steak, fries, and chicken for 3 - 4 people. With retro dials rather than a digital display, the design will suit some more than others.
The best simple small air fryer
From the makers of the Nutribullet, the Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer is available for just under $50. It lacks some functionality compared to more premium small air fryers, but it’s very compact and will work just fine for one person or two at a stretch.
The best-designed small air fryer
The Cosori TurboBlaze Compact Air Fryer design is out to impress. It has a family-sized six-quart drawer and nine cooking functions. With 1725 Watts of power, it’s also incredibly quick to cook.
The best small air fryers for one person we recommend in 2024
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The best small air fryer overall
✅ You’re short on space: Weighing just 9 lbs, the Cosori Lite is a very compact air fryer, making it a good fit for smaller kitchens or cramped apartment counters.
✅ You are on a budget: This air fryer is often on sale for under $100 on Amazon, making it a budget-friendly way to cook with less oil.
✅ You’re busy: The best part about the Cosori Lite is that it’s incredibly easy to use. Plus, with 1500 watts of power, cooking through your food is incredibly quick, saving you extra time.
❌ You’re not a fan of fingerprints: As nice as the Cosori Lite has a sleek digital panel, if you have greasy hands, fingerprint marks quickly appear. You must use a wet cloth to wipe down the air fryer regularly.
❌ You are cooking for over four people: The four-quart tray provides just enough space for a portion for up to three to four people. Larger families will quickly run out of space.
❌ You want to grill or bake food: The air fryer has seven simple functions. There are no settings for you to grill, bake, dehydrate or reheat your food as on other similar small air fryers.
🔎 The Cosori Lite Smart Air Fryer may not be able to bake or grill, but when it comes to air frying, it crisps bacon, fries, and other products to perfection, proving itself to be a powerful and reliable appliance for any small kitchen. ★★★★½
The Cosori Lite Smart Air Fryer is an Amazon favorite, but does it meet expectations? We reckon so. Throughout our thorough testing process, the 1500-watt air fryer consistently put other well-respected small air fryers to shame, cooking food evenly and speedily. It also can cook for 3 - 4 people, making it suitable for small families.
Design: At a quick glance, it may appear that the compact, 9-lb air fryer can’t possibly handle the demands of a small family. However, the four-quart tray is surprisingly spacious. Cooking for a group larger than 3 - 4 people would be overambitious. It has a single-basket design, so unfortunately, you can't grill, bake, roast, or dehydrate.
Available in a range of muted gray, white, or green, the Cosori Lite offers a good choice of colors to suit your kitchen's aesthetic. The digital control panel displays the temperature and timer settings, and there are additional buttons to select from seven different functions (bacon, veggies, steak, fries, chicken, preheat, keep warm) or adjust the temperature and timer. Overall, it looks clean and modern, although the control panel does show up greasy fingerprint marks.
Performance: The Cosori Lite produced perfectly crispy results with fries, chicken tenders, and bacon, so long as the food was flipped partway through. Conveniently, it offers a preheat setting and a shake function to help fries cook evenly. All worked as intended; the fries were particularly fluffy, but there was little space to spread them in the tray.
Some excess oil may pool at the bottom of the tray when cooking fries. However, it's a breeze to clean, whether you prefer hand-washing or using the dishwasher for the basket and grill plate.
Price: At $111.98, the Cosori Lite isn't the most budget-friendly or expensive air fryer. However, it's just about right for the number of functions and space it offers. Budget models are available for half this price, although they'll lack the same functionality.
Read more: Cosori Lite Smart Air Fryer review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Sleek and compact but offers a spacious four-quart tray. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Crisps food to perfection quickly and quietly. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | Available for under $100 in Amazon sales. | ★★★★ |
"The COSORI Lite Air Fryer is so impressive, considering its price. It has power levels and features that you could expect of much more advanced models."
The best small air fryer on a budget
✅ You don’t have much space lengthways: This machine is slim, so it works well if you’ve got a narrow slot free on your kitchen countertop.
✅ You are a family: Our top pick, the Cosori Lite, is realistically only suitable for 3 - 4 people. On the other hand, this model can accommodate portions for a larger family in its spacious six-quart drawer.
✅ You are on a budget: This air fryer is often on sale, so you can often get a discount on the $111.99 list price. Even without the discount, it’s quite budget-friendly.
❌ You want something extremely compact: While the air fryer is slim and trim length-wise, the rest of the machine is quite chunky and will probably disappoint if you are looking for a truly compact air fryer.
❌ You hate making a mess: While the grill plate and basket are dishwasher-friendly, the rubber side holds are trickier to clean, making them prone to gathering grease and grime if you don’t stay on top of cleaning.
❌ You want to bake and grill: This air fryer only air fries, which is great if that’s all you need. However, if you want to grill, bake, or do other things, you need to look elsewhere.
🔎 The Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer is modern, family-sized, and, perhaps most importantly, easy on your budget. With 1700 watts of power and five different functions, it produces crispy portions with minimal oil. It’s also easy to clean, with dishwasher-friendly parts. ★★★★
Being on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice quality. The Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer is powerful and compact. It features 1700 watts of power, a spacious six-quart tray, and five functions, all for just $119.99.
Design: The Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer has a unique shape for an air fryer: it is narrow in width but long from front to back. This shape slots easily into a slim space on the countertop. Nevertheless, the six-quart basket is surprisingly family-sized; Instant claims it can fit a 4-lb chicken or a 2-lb bag of fries.
You may find that this Instant air fryer gives you a new lease of life in the kitchen, as it’s just so easy to use. You're shown a progress bar and a countdown clock after selecting a time, temperature, and cooking function. An attractive jingle also prompts you to shake the basket halfway through, which is key to getting evenly cooked food when using an air fryer.
Performance: The Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer performed well in our thorough testing process. In just a few minutes, it achieved evenly cooked asparagus, a crispy family-sized portion of thin-cut fries, great chicken nuggets, and super-crispy bacon rashers.
The pre-heat function crisps up food even more, although it’s a little too powerful sometimes, so you may need to shorten the cooking period.
Getting rid of any leftover grease is tricky by hand, but the basket and grill plate are dishwasher-friendly. The rubber side holds are the only parts that are hard to clean.
Price: The Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer costs $111.99, although it’s often on sale. Either way, it’s quite a bargain, considering that it offers various cooking functions and has 1700 watts of power.
Read more: Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Modern, sleek and intuitive to use. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Produces even results and crispy family-sized portions. | ★★★★ |
| Price | Great value considering the power and spacious capacity. | ★★★★★ |
"The Instant Slim Air Fryer features a long, slim drawer, so you can keep the capacity you need while making room for other appliances on your countertop or in your pantry. The power levels and resulting cooking performance are solidly good, too."
The best small toaster oven
✅ You fancy grilling, baking, and roasting: The Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Mini Oven has seven cooking settings, which can be used to cook, grill, or roast potatoes and even bake cakes.
✅ You want to save on your energy bills: With so many different cooking functions packed into one device, you can save money on your energy bills if you use your oven, microwave, and toaster less.
✅ You like retro designs: Rather than having a modern digital display, the TOA-60 sports a few retro-ish dials with silver rims. It’s an acquired taste, especially if you’re used to using mostly digital cooking appliances.
❌ You don’t fancy daily cleaning: Cuisinart recommends cleaning the TOA-60 daily, wiping down any grease using a damp cloth, and emptying the pull-out crumb tray after use.
❌ You hate puddles on the countertop: When cooking moist foods, the TOA-60 may leave a few condensation puddles behind. This is to be expected, but it can still be a pain to clean up.
❌ You don’t have much space: This model requires a space of 1.5 - 1.7 sq.ft., and it’s tricky to store it elsewhere because the machine weighs over 20 lbs.
🔎 The Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Mini Oven has an impressive seven different cooking functions, making it an excellent choice to save money on your monthly energy bills and get toasting, baking, grilling, and roasting all in one place. ★★★★
The Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Mini Oven is a versatile powerhouse that can take over the roles of your toaster, oven, and grill. Its stylish convection oven design offers seven functions in one compact appliance, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen.
Design: The Cuisinart TOA-60, which weighs 23 lbs, requires some elbow grease to set up. This is because it packs in an oven rack, a baking tray, and the standard air fryer tray.
Naturally, with all these different parts, the model is a bit on the larger side, too, which will either be a downside if you have a very small kitchen or a big plus if you're cooking for a family. Given its lack of maneuverability, it’ll need a permanent 1.5 - 1.7 sq. ft. Parking space on your counter.
The air fryer's matte charcoal steel exterior with glints of silver exudes a classic charm. While it lacks a digital display, the retro control dials allow you to select from seven cooking settings and set the temperature and timer. Its versatility is its most attractive feature; it can air fry, bake, toast, grill, make paninis or toasties, roast, or bake pizzas, offering a wide range of cooking possibilities.
Performance: The Cuisinart TOA-60 is a reliable performer, consistently delivering impressive results across various dishes, from bacon and chicken to nachos and even a full Victoria sponge cake. While it may produce some condensation when cooking moist foods, this is a minor trade-off for its excellent cooking performance, giving you the confidence that it can handle any dish you throw at it.
You’ll need to keep up with cleaning; Cuisinart recommends wiping away grease with a damp cloth and liquid soap after every use. There is a pull-out crumb tray.
Price: The Cuisinart TOA-60 costs $170 from Amazon. That makes it the most expensive small air fryer in our round-up and $60 - 70 more than the Cosori Lite and Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer. However, the TOA-60 has such a quality design that we reckon it’s a reasonable ask. The three-year warranty is also three times the standard.
Read more: Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Mini Oven review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Large, retro design which requires a permanent spot on your counter. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Great results for bacon, chicken, fries and even a Victoria sponge. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | A bit expensive but you get a three-year warranty and lower energy bills. | ★★★★ |
"Beautifully designed and easy to use, the Cuisinart TOA60 Air Fryer Mini Oven features multiple cooking settings and overall value for money."
The best simple small air fryer
✅ You have $50 to spare: Rather than purchasing a new pair of boots or denim jeans, you can spend $50 on a compact air fryer that will crisp your food quicker than a standard oven.
✅ You have very little countertop space: This air fryer is one of the most compact models we’ve reviewed. Weighing under 8 lbs, it’s also easy to store in the pantry when you need to make extra space for other activities.
✅ You are just one person: The 2.5-quart drawer of the air fryer has enough space to fit a portion of fries or veggies for one person living alone.
❌ You like digital controls: If you’re used to quickly tapping away on a digital display, you may get frustrated with using the Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer’s manual temperature and timer dials.
❌ You want the ultimate accuracy: The dials make it tricky to get your timings spot-on. You may accidentally burn your food, especially when you’re running a short blast.
❌ You are cooking for a family: If you are using the Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer to cook for a family, you'll quickly run out of space. Realistically, the drawer only has room for a side for one or two people.
🔎 The Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer is easy on the eyes, easy on the budget, and easy to use. Costing just $50, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t treat yourself to this air fryer if you’re only cooking for yourself, although don’t expect anything overly sophisticated. ★★★
From the creators of the Nutribullet blenders, the Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer is a straightforward and affordable solution for air frying. Its simplicity is its strength, making it a user-friendly option for those new to air frying.
Design: When something is labeled as ‘simple’ or ‘basic,’ to a certain extent, you need to have realistic expectations. As a simple air fryer, the Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer lacks the functionality you get with more premium air fryer models. It has one main cooking method (air frying), so it works only as intended.
The Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer lives up to its name, being truly compact with just a 2.5-quart drawer. If you live alone or in a small space like a dorm room, it’s the perfect fit. Weighing just 7.9 lbs, it's easy to store when not in use, and its sleek black design adds a touch of elegance to your kitchen.
The manual temperature dial has a good temperature range of 180 to 400 °F. There are also six pre-sets with suggested methods for cooking fries, vegetables, chicken wings, frozen chicken wings, fish, and poultry. The manual timer can also prevent food from overcooking.
Performance: The downside of using a manual dial is that getting your timings spot-on is tricky. If you only want to run the air fryer for five minutes, you may accidentally add on a few minutes. The drawer is also a bit cramped, limiting the portion sizes, but being non-stick, it is easy to clean. Everything our reviewer air-fried was tasty despite the model’s few limitations.
Price: The Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer costs $49.99 directly from Nutribullet. It’s hard to find an air fryer cheaper than that that still works a treat. You do miss out on the pleasure of grilling, baking, and so on, but that’s to be expected at this price point.
Read more: Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Easy to to use but a bit prone to inaccuracy. | ★★★ |
| Performance | Good at air frying but lacks space. | ★★★ |
| Price | Incredibly affordable but lacks some functionality. | ★★★★ |
"You might recognize the Magic Bullet name, as up until now, it's been the maker of budget blenders under Nutribullet. With the launch of this product, the brand tackles the budget cooking market too, thanks to the Magic Bullet air fryer. It's basic in every sense of the word, with the controls leaving a little to be desired. On the whole, though it's cheap and will suit those looking to snag a good deal."
The best designed small air fryer
✅ You have a busy schedule: If you don’t have much time to spare, the powerful Cosori TurboBlaze will be a handy addition to your kitchen. With 1725 watts, air fry is very fast and produces evenly-cooked food.
✅ You’re a family: It’s tricky to find a compact air fryer with enough space to fit portions for a small family, but with a six-quart tray, the TurboBlaze is fit for purpose.
✅ You have small children: The air fryer has a couple of good safety features to protect small children. When the basket is pulled out, the air fryer shuts off, and the exterior stays cool throughout the whole air frying process.
❌ You’re on a budget: The Cosori TurboBlaze costs $119.99, which is over double the cost of the Magic Bullet Compact Air Fryer. If you’re watching numbers, you may want to keep rifling for a smaller, budget-friendly model.
❌ You always burn food: If you’re already prone to burning food, you may find that the TurboBlaze is a bit of an enabler. Because it’s so powerful, it can easily burn food before you notice.
❌ You’re cooking for one: If you’re cooking portions for just one or two people, it’s not worth buying the Cosori TurboBlaze as lots of space will go to waste unless, of course, you’re a hobby chef.
🔎 The Cosori TurboBlaze Compact Air Fryer has safety features, a roomy six-quart drawer, and 1725 watts of power, making it one of the most sophisticated designs for hobby chefs and families. ★★★★½
If you want to cook healthy air-fried bacon and fries while still having enough countertop space for family food prep, the Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer should be a great choice.
Some smaller, budget air fryers simply can’t handle the demands of a family. However, this glossy air fryer strikes a good balance between saving space and consistently meeting the demands of a family.
Design: The Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer, accompanied by a handy recipe book, is designed for your convenience. Its matte-black exterior may not be flashy, but the sleek LED digital display with timer and temperature buttons and the function selection buttons make it easy to use. Whether preheating, reheating, drying, baking, proofing, warming, air frying, roasting, broiling, or cooking from frozen, this air fryer has you covered.
With a DC motor and 1725 Watts of power, the air fryer has the potential to cook food evenly and quickly. The six-quart drawer is also family-sized, fitting up to five salmon fillets and good family-sized portions of potatoes even when they're spread out.
When you pull out the drawer, the air fryer automatically shuts off, a thoughtful safety feature for families. Even during use, the exterior of the air fryer remains cool, providing an added layer of safety, especially if you have curious little ones around.
Performance: The model cooks powerfully, although this can be a double-edged sword if you’re not careful. It overcooked food a few times during our tests, so much so that our reviewer had to shave a few minutes off the recommended cooking times. Therefore, some mental mathematics is required for the perfect crisp.
The non-stick drawer is easily cleaned with soap and water or in the dishwasher.
Price: The Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer, available directly from Cosori, costs $119.99. That's over double the price of the Magic Bullet model we reviewed. However, it packs an impressive number of functions and is also very powerful, so it should be well worth it.
Read more: Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Well-designed, with generous features and lots of power. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Really good results but prone to burning food. | ★★★★ |
| Price | To be expected for such a powerful, family-sized model. | ★★★★ |
"The Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer is an effective 'all-rounder' - perfect for beginners and lovers of air fryers alike. Whether you’re experimenting with dehydrating your food, like mangoes, or looking to cook a fast and easy midweek meal, the Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer does exactly what you need, with minimal fuss."
How we test the best small air fryers for this guide
We like to test all of the products we feature in our buyers' guides, and the best air fryers for one person are no exception; our review panel has reviewed all.
We've delved deep into the world of air fryers for one person, spending at least two weeks with each one. Every specification has been meticulously fact-checked, and we've evaluated the ease of setup and cleaning. But what you want to know is how they perform. We've tested them with a diverse range of foods, from vegetables to fries and even cake, showcasing their versatility and adaptability.
Price and availability: We evaluate the air fryer's price, features, and durability to determine value. We also check availability in stores and online and review warranty and customer support.
First Impressions & Setup: We assess the air fryer's packaging and contents for protection and completeness and evaluate the clarity and ease of the setup process and user manual.
Design: We consider air fryer size and aesthetics for different kitchens, assess control panel design and programmable settings, and evaluate construction materials, portability, and adaptability.
Performance: We evaluate the air fryer's cooking efficiency, temperature control, and durability to ensure reliable performance and consistent results.
Care & Maintenance: We consider the air fryer's ease of cleaning and maintenance, including grease removal and surface cleaning, as well as its durability and long-term performance.
Read more about our in-depth testing process.
How to choose the best small air fryer for you
When choosing a small air fryer, there are a few important factors you’ll always want to keep at the back of your mind.
Size
If you’re considering small air fryers, you’ve likely already identified size as a key factor. However, there’s a significant difference between air fryers that can cook for one to two people and those that can cater to up to six—the more spacious the drawer, the less compact the air fryer. If you’re a family with limited space, a solution is to find a lightweight air fryer that can be stored in your pantry between uses. The crucial step is to measure your kitchen space before purchasing a small air fryer, ensuring you make an informed decision rather than relying on guesswork.
Wattage
The higher the wattage, the more powerful your small air fryer will be. This, in turn, means that you will experience faster cooking speeds. The main downside is that higher-wattage air fryers use more electricity, resulting in higher energy bills.
Cooking functions
Many buy an air fryer to create popular air-fryer dishes such as bacon and fries with minimal oil. However, they can also replace kitchen appliances such as a toaster, grill, or microwave. The more cooking functions a small air fryer has, the more expensive it is. If you’re new to air frying, you will also want to keep your eyes peeled for small air fryers with pre-set modes for items like fries, bacon, veggies, and chicken. These will provide the ideal temperature and timer settings, so you don’t have to do any mental mathematics.
Cleaning
Due to their size, most small air fryers require very little maintenance. The exterior can be wiped down using a wet cloth and a little dish soap. Air fryers with dishwasher-friendly parts are ideal if you don’t want to waste time hand-washing the basket. Otherwise, you may find yourself having to soak and scrub the tray after every use. Keeping the air fryer clean ensures it works safely and effectively and maintains longevity.
Price
Depending on the brand, size, features, and wattage, a small air fryer can cost between $60 and $120. At the lower end of that scale, you should expect basic air frying settings and a small capacity suitable for just one to two people. At the higher end of the scale, the air fryer might offer additional roasting, baking, and grilling cooking functions and spacious drawer-fitting portions for up to five or six people.
