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Best air fryers: budget to family size Amazon picks 2026

Air fryer basket capacity (2 to 8 quarts), heating element wattage (1200 to 1800 watts), preset cooking programs, whether the unit has a digital display or an analog dial, basket dishwasher compatibility, preheat time and footprint on the counter determine which air fryers suit a single serving, a couple or a family of four cooking chicken thighs, frozen fries and vegetables.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated 4 picks


The short answer

Cosori Pro II 5.8-Quart Air Fryer at $80 is the best air fryer for most homes: the 5.8-quart square basket fits a whole chicken or four chicken breasts in one layer, the 1750-watt element preheats in under 3 minutes, and the dishwasher-safe basket and divider require no hand washing.

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Quick picks

How we chose

Air fryers are evaluated by basket capacity, wattage, preset programs, preheat time, basket dishwasher compatibility, display type, noise level and footprint. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed
01
Best budget air fryer
Chefman Chefman TurboFry 3.7-Quart Air Fryer

Chefman TurboFry 3.7-Quart Air Fryer

Brand: Chefman

Best for

Individuals and couples who want a compact, affordable air fryer with no digital screen, where Chefman TurboFry uses an analog temperature dial (200 to 400 degrees F) and a manual 60-minute timer rather than a touchscreen, which keeps the price low and the controls simple with no preset programs to navigate.

Skip if

A basket larger than 3.7 quarts is needed. Chefman TurboFry at $40 holds enough food for one to two servings. For a family of three to four, the Cosori Pro II at 5.8 quarts or the Ninja AF101 at 4 quarts provides significantly more basket capacity at a higher price.

Chefman TurboFry uses a single analog temperature dial and a mechanical timer that clicks when done. The basket and the inner basket divider both detach for dishwasher cleaning. The heating coil and fan are in the top of the unit. No digital display means no programming required. The 3.7-quart round basket fits a 3-pound bag of frozen fries in two batches.

Chefman is a US small appliance brand established in 2011, producing affordable kitchen appliances including air fryers, waffle makers and electric kettles.

At $40, Chefman TurboFry is the best value compact air fryer for individuals and couples on a tight budget in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Chefman TurboFry 3.7-Quart Air Fryer
Capacity3.7 quarts
Wattage1400 watts
ControlsAnalog dial (200 to 400 F, 60-min timer)
BasketDishwasher safe
Price$40

Specs from Chefman TurboFry air fryer 3.7 quart analog dial 1400 watt basket dishwasher safe, preheat fries Amazon search

02
Best mid-range air fryer
Cosori Cosori Pro II Air Fryer

Cosori Pro II Air Fryer

Brand: Cosori

Best for

Families of three to four who want a large-capacity digital air fryer with cooking presets, where Cosori Pro II has a 5.8-quart square basket (not round) that fits more food per batch than a round basket of the same stated capacity, and 12 preset programs cover chicken, steak, seafood, vegetables, fries and desserts.

Skip if

A simple analog control is preferred over a digital touch screen. Cosori Pro II at $80 uses a digital touch panel with 12 presets. For a lower-cost air fryer with just a dial and timer, the Chefman TurboFry at $40 provides the same air frying function with analog controls.

Cosori Pro II uses a square inner basket that provides more usable cooking area than a round basket of the same listed capacity. A perforated basket divider is included for separating two foods in one cook cycle. The basket and divider are both dishwasher safe. Preheat takes under 3 minutes at 400 degrees F. The 1750-watt coil reaches 400 degrees in the first cycle without a separate preheat step if the preheat function is skipped.

Cosori is a California-based kitchen appliance brand established in 2016, producing air fryers, food dehydrators and sous vide tools.

At $80, Cosori Pro II is the best value large-capacity digital air fryer for families in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Cosori Pro II Air Fryer
Capacity5.8 quarts
Wattage1750 watts
Presets12 preset programs
DisplayDigital touch panel
Price$80

Specs from Cosori Pro II air fryer 5.8 quart 1750 watt 12 presets digital touch screen, dishwasher safe square basket Amazon search

03
Best compact digital air fryer
Ninja Ninja AF101 Air Fryer

Ninja AF101 Air Fryer

Brand: Ninja

Best for

Individuals and couples who want a Ninja-branded digital air fryer with a compact footprint, where Ninja AF101 has a 4-quart round basket, four cooking presets (air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate) and a digital display that fits under standard cabinet height while still producing a 4-pound serving of fries in a single batch.

Skip if

A 5 or more quart basket is needed for cooking full chicken thighs or a full pound of wings in one layer. Ninja AF101 at 4 quarts holds one to three servings. For larger family cooking, the Ninja DZ201 dual zone at 8 quarts or the Cosori Pro II at 5.8 quarts provides more basket space.

Ninja AF101 uses a crisper plate that sits inside the 4-quart round basket and elevates food off the basket floor for air circulation on all sides. The digital display shows temperature and time. Four presets control the standard cooking modes. The basket and crisper plate are both dishwasher safe. The temperature range is 105 to 400 degrees F, and the dehydrate function runs at the lower end of that range.

Ninja is a US small appliance brand under SharkNinja established in 2009, producing blenders, pressure cookers and air fryers.

At $80, Ninja AF101 is the best value compact digital air fryer for small households who want the Ninja brand in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Capacity4 quarts
Wattage1550 watts
Presets4 (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate)
DisplayDigital
Price$80

Specs from Ninja AF101 air fryer 4 quart 1550 watt digital 4 presets crisper plate, dishwasher safe compact Amazon search

04
Best dual zone family air fryer
Ninja Ninja Foodi DZ201 Dual Zone Air Fryer

Ninja Foodi DZ201 Dual Zone Air Fryer

Brand: Ninja

Best for

Families of four or more who want to cook two different foods simultaneously at different temperatures and have them finish at the same time, where Ninja DZ201 has two independent 4-quart baskets with separate heating elements so chicken wings at 400 degrees and broccoli at 350 degrees can cook in the same unit and the Smart Finish function staggers the start times to match the finish times.

Skip if

Only one food is cooked per batch. Ninja DZ201 at $130 costs significantly more than the Cosori Pro II at $80. The dual zone function is the reason for the price difference. For single-food batches in a large single basket, the Cosori Pro II at 5.8 quarts provides comparable capacity at lower cost.

Ninja DZ201 uses two separate 4-quart baskets, each with its own heating element and fan controlled independently. The Match Cook function copies the settings from one basket to the other. The Smart Finish function calculates the start delay needed for both baskets to finish cooking at the same time even when they have different cook times. Both baskets and crisper plates are dishwasher safe.

Ninja is a US small appliance brand under SharkNinja established in 2009, producing blenders, pressure cookers and air fryers.

At $130, Ninja DZ201 is the best value dual zone air fryer for cooking two foods simultaneously in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Ninja Foodi DZ201 Dual Zone Air Fryer
Capacity8 quarts total (two 4-quart baskets)
Wattage2400 watts
ZonesTwo independent heating zones
Smart FinishYes (staggers start for simultaneous finish)
Price$130

Specs from Ninja DZ201 dual zone air fryer 8 quart two baskets sync finish smart finish, independent zones Amazon search

Air fryer comparison

Product Capacity Wattage Display Price
Chefman TurboFry 3.7 qt 1400 W Analog dial $40
Cosori Pro II 5.8 qt 1750 W Digital touch $80
Ninja AF101 4 qt 1550 W Digital $80
Ninja DZ201 Dual Zone 8 qt (2x4) 2400 W Digital $130

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification
Chefman Chefman TurboFry 3.7-Quart Air Fryer
Chefman TurboFry 3.7-Quart Air Fryer
Cosori Cosori Pro II Air Fryer
Cosori Pro II Air Fryer
Ninja Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Ninja Ninja Foodi DZ201 Dual Zone Air Fryer
Ninja Foodi DZ201 Dual Zone Air Fryer
Our verdictBest budget air fryerBest mid-range air fryerBest compact digital air fryerBest dual zone family air fryer
Capacity3.7 quarts5.8 quarts4 quarts8 quarts total (two 4-quart baskets)
Wattage1400 watts1750 watts1550 watts2400 watts
ControlsAnalog dial (200 to 400 F, 60-min timer)Not listedNot listedNot listed
BasketDishwasher safeNot listedNot listedNot listed
Price$40$80$80$130
PresetsNot listed12 preset programs4 (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate)Not listed
DisplayNot listedDigital touch panelDigitalNot listed
ZonesNot listedNot listedNot listedTwo independent heating zones
Smart FinishNot listedNot listedNot listedYes (staggers start for simultaneous finish)
BuyCheck priceCheck priceCheck priceCheck price

Questions people ask

What size air fryer do I need?

Air fryer capacity is listed in quarts and refers to the interior basket volume. As a general rule: a 2-quart air fryer serves one person (enough for a single chicken breast or a small serving of fries), a 3 to 4-quart air fryer serves one to two people, a 5 to 6-quart air fryer serves three to four people and an 8-quart or larger air fryer serves four to six people or allows large batches for meal prep. Keep in mind that the stated quart capacity includes the full interior volume including the space above the food, so the usable cooking area is typically 60 to 75 percent of the listed quart volume. Square baskets use more of their stated capacity than round baskets because the corners add usable cooking area.

Are air fryers actually healthier than deep frying?

Air fryers produce food with significantly less fat than deep fryers. A deep fryer submerges food in 350 to 375 degree oil, which the food absorbs during frying. An air fryer circulates hot air around food at 350 to 400 degrees, using 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil sprayed on the food rather than a full bath of oil. Research published in the journal Nutrients in 2019 found that air-fried French fries contained significantly less fat than deep-fried fries. The difference in calorie count depends on how much oil is used. With no added oil, air-fried food has essentially the same fat content as baked food. With a light spray of oil, the food has more browning and a crispier texture than baking at the same temperature.

Can I put aluminum foil or parchment paper in an air fryer?

Parchment paper can be used in an air fryer if it is weighted down by food placed on top of it before the air fryer is turned on. Without food on top, parchment paper can be pulled up into the heating element by the fan airflow and cause a fire. Perforated parchment liners sold specifically for air fryers are the safest option as the perforations allow airflow while the liner sits flat in the basket. Aluminum foil can be used in an air fryer in the same way, weighted down by food, but it should not cover all the basket holes because the airflow circulation under the food is what creates the crisp texture. Covering all the basket holes with solid foil defeats the purpose of the air fryer and results in the same texture as baking in a conventional oven.

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