Key takeaways
- Pick the size by household: about 3 to 4 liters for one or two people, 5 to 7 liters or a dual basket for families.
- Dual-zone models cook a main and a side at different settings and finish at the same time.
- Non-stick, dishwasher-safe baskets make cleaning quick.
In this article
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Before you spend money on air fryers, it helps to know which specs actually change how you use them every day. Here is our short, practical checklist for buying air fryers in the US.
What to check before you buy
- Pick the size by household: about 3 to 4 liters for one or two people, 5 to 7 liters or a dual basket for families.
- Dual-zone models cook a main and a side at different settings and finish at the same time.
- Non-stick, dishwasher-safe baskets make cleaning quick.
How much to spend
The air fryers we rate range from about $69 (COSORI Pro LE Air Fryer 5-Qt) to about $199 (Ninja Foodi DZ201 6-in-1 8-qt 2-Basket Air Fryer). A good single-basket air fryer costs little and cooks most family snacks well.
The mistake to avoid
Buying an oversized model for a small kitchen; it may never leave the cupboard.
Our shortlist
If you want to skip the research, these are the air fryers we would buy in the US:
- Ninja Foodi DZ201 6-in-1 8-qt 2-Basket Air Fryer ($129 – $199) – Check Price on Amazon
- Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer with ClearCook ($89 – $129) – Check Price on Amazon
- COSORI Pro LE Air Fryer 5-Qt ($69 – $99) – Check Price on Amazon
See every pick, with pros and cons, in Best Air Fryers (2026): What to Buy and What to Skip.
When to buy
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the right air fryers?
Pick the size by household: about 3 to 4 liters for one or two people, 5 to 7 liters or a dual basket for families. Dual-zone models cook a main and a side at different settings and finish at the same time.
How much should I spend on air fryers in the US?
The models we rate range from about $69 to about $199. A good single-basket air fryer costs little and cooks most family snacks well.
What is the biggest mistake when buying air fryers?
Buying an oversized model for a small kitchen; it may never leave the cupboard.
When should I buy air fryers in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.