Best Air Fryer Under £50 UK

£25 – £50|Updated 2026-06-17|5 products reviewed

You don't need to spend a fortune to get crispy chips and golden chicken at home. The best budget air fryers under £50 in the UK deliver surprisingly good results for small households and students. We've compared capacity, wattage and ease of cleaning across the most popular models on Amazon UK.

What to Look For

  1. 1At this price, expect 2–4L capacity — ideal for 1-2 people but tight for a full family meal.
  2. 2Look for at least 1200W power for proper crisping — anything less struggles with frozen chips.
  3. 3Manual dial controls are standard under £50; digital displays appear closer to the £50 mark from brands like Cosori.
  4. 4Check basket shape — square baskets fit more food than round ones at the same listed capacity.
  5. 5Dishwasher-safe baskets save real time; some budget models still require hand washing.

Our Top Picks

1
TowerTop Pick

Tower T17023 Vortx 2L Compact Air Fryer

Capacity2L
Power1000W
ControlsManual dial
Weight2.64 kg

Pros

  • Very compact footprint suits small kitchens
  • 30-minute timer with auto shut-off
  • 1000W with good heat circulation for its size
  • Removable non-stick basket is easy to clean

Cons

  • 2L capacity only suits 1 person realistically
  • Manual dial controls with no digital display

Best overall under £50 — compact, reliable and consistently one of the top sellers on Amazon UK.

2
CosoriBest Value

Cosori Lite 3.8L Air Fryer

Capacity3.8L
Power1500W
ControlsDigital touchscreen
Presets7

Pros

  • 3.8L square basket fits more than most sub-£50 rivals
  • Digital touchscreen with 7 presets
  • Shake reminder function for even cooking
  • Dishwasher-safe basket

Cons

  • Often hovers right at the £50 boundary
  • Fan can be audible in open-plan kitchens

Best value at the £50 mark — digital touchscreen and a usable 3.8L capacity rare at this price.

3
Tower

Tower T17025 Vortx 4L Air Fryer

Capacity4L
Power1400W
ControlsManual dial
Temperature80–200°C

Pros

  • 4L capacity is generous for this price bracket
  • Adjustable temperature up to 200°C
  • 30-minute timer with auto shut-off
  • Lightweight at under 4 kg

Cons

  • Manual controls only — no digital presets
  • Round basket wastes some internal space

Largest capacity under £50 — handles meals for two comfortably with the Tower Vortx airflow system.

4
Pro Breeze

Pro Breeze 4.2L Air Fryer

Capacity4.2L
Power1400W
ControlsManual dial
Timer60 minutes

Pros

  • 4.2L capacity at a budget price
  • 60-minute timer suits longer cooks like whole chicken pieces
  • Non-stick coating cleans easily
  • Compact enough for most UK kitchen worktops

Cons

  • Brand less well-known than Tower or Cosori
  • Basket handle can feel flimsy

Solid mid-range budget option with a slightly larger basket and simple operation.

5
SalterBudget Pick

Salter EK2817 Compact 2L Air Fryer

Capacity2L
Power1000W
ControlsManual dial
Weight2.5 kg

Pros

  • Often priced well under £30
  • Salter is a recognised and trusted UK brand
  • Very lightweight and easy to store
  • Simple to use with basic dial controls

Cons

  • 2L is genuinely small — one portion at a time
  • Lower wattage means slower crisping than rivals

Ultra-affordable entry point from a trusted UK kitchenware brand — ideal for trying air frying without commitment.

Editor's Note

Tower and Cosori dominate the sub-£50 bracket on Amazon UK, with Tower often discounted during Prime Day and Black Friday. If you're buying for a university kitchen, prioritise compact footprint over stated litre capacity — worktop space in UK rental kitchens is notoriously tight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cheap air fryers worth it UK?
Yes — budget air fryers under £50 from brands like Tower and Cosori consistently score 4+ stars on Amazon UK. They cook frozen food and fresh vegetables well, though they lack the capacity and preset programmes of pricier models.
What size air fryer do I need for 2 people UK?
A 2–3.5L air fryer is enough for two people. Most meals for two — chicken breasts, chips, roasted veg — fit comfortably without needing to cook in batches.
Do air fryers use a lot of electricity UK?
No. A typical 1400W air fryer running for 20 minutes uses roughly 0.47 kWh, costing about 15p at current UK energy rates. That's significantly less than heating a full oven for the same meal.
Can you cook frozen chips in a budget air fryer?
Absolutely. Frozen oven chips are one of the most popular air fryer uses. Set to 180–200°C for 12–18 minutes, shaking halfway. Results are crispier than a conventional oven with no preheating needed.
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