Black Friday Air Fryer Deals: A Calm UK Buying Plan

When people search black friday air fryer deals, they’re usually trying to do one of two things:

Get a solid air fryer for less than the usual price.
Pick the right model quickly, without buying twice.

This guide is UK-focused, brand-agnostic, and built to keep the decision calm. The goal isn’t to stop you buying. It’s to help you buy the right thing, at the right price, without a rush-tax.

The simple rule

Key Point

An air fryer ‘deal’ only counts if it’s the right type and size for you, at a lower total cost than its recent normal price. If the discount changes your plan, pause first.

Step 1: Choose the Type Before You Look at Deals

open cookbook on a kitchen counter — choose the type first then let the discount serve the plan

Air fryers are sold like one category, but the day-to-day experience is different depending on the shape and layout. Pick your type first and the shopping becomes simple.

Single basket

Best for: smaller kitchens, quick meals, simple routines.
Watch-outs: you may end up cooking in batches for bigger meals.

Dual drawer

Best for: cooking two foods at once (chips in one drawer, veg in the other).
Watch-outs: takes more counter space; each drawer can be smaller than you expect.

Air fryer oven / multi-cooker style

Best for: a mini-oven feel with trays and shelves.
Watch-outs: bigger footprint; cleaning can be fiddlier.

Quick practical check: measure the space where it will live, including height under cupboards. If it doesn’t fit neatly, it becomes a cupboard item. Cupboard items are rarely bargains.

Step 2: Choose a Size That Matches Your Real Life

clean kitchen counter with chopping boards — capacity matters most when you want one batch not three

Capacity is where most Black Friday air fryer regret happens. The discount looks great, but the basket is too small for how you actually cook.

A calm capacity shortcut

Cooking for one: a small-to-medium basket can be enough if you mostly do quick portions.
Cooking for two: you’ll usually want more room so you’re not doing batches.
Cooking for a family: a larger basket or dual drawer tends to reduce batch cooking.

Better than litres: if you can find them, basket dimensions and “real food photos” in reviews are more helpful than a headline litre number.

The hidden cost of a too-small basket

Key Point

If an air fryer forces you to cook in two or three batches, it doesn’t just cost time. It often increases takeaway spending on the nights you can’t be bothered.

Step 3: A Quick Running-Cost Check (So You Don’t Buy a ‘Deal’ That Feels Expensive to Use)

close up of an electricity meter — a quick kwh check keeps the decision realistic

Many people buy an air fryer because they hope it will be quicker and cheaper than heating the whole oven for a small meal. That can be true, but the real cost depends on your usage, your electricity tariff, and how long you run it.

The simplest estimate

Convert watts to kilowatts: kW = watts ÷ 1,000
Estimate cook time in hours
Cost ≈ kW × hours × your price per kWh

If you want a UK reference point for how and why air fryers can reduce energy use for smaller portions, Energy Saving Trust has guidance on efficient cooking and using smaller appliances where suitable: Energy Saving Trust.

Don’t over-optimise this. You’re not doing an energy audit. You’re just checking the story makes sense: “will I use this often enough for it to earn its space?”

Step 4: How to Tell if a Black Friday Air Fryer Deal Is Real

blank price tags hanging on strings — ignore the badge and compare against what it sold for recently

Black Friday discounts are noisy. Make them boring with three checks.

Check A: Match the exact model number

Air fryers come in multiple versions that look similar (different coatings, accessories, presets, or internal layouts). If you can’t confirm the model number, treat the “deal” as unverified.

Check B: Verify the price drop against recent normal pricing

A “was £199” label is only useful if it reflects a recent real selling price. A quick price-history check helps you see whether the deal is a genuine low or just a typical promotion.

For an official UK view on clear pricing (including how businesses should present fees and ‘drip pricing’), the Competition and Markets Authority has guidance here: CMA guidance on clear and accurate prices.

Check C: Compare total cost, not just the headline

delivery charges (some retailers add them late)
accessories you actually need (liners, racks, extra trays)
bundles that quietly inflate the price

Step 5: Decide With the Hours Worked Test

If you only do one thing before buying, do this. It cuts through hype fast.

Quick Check

Is this air fryer deal worth your time?

Use the total you’ll pay (including delivery). If it’s still worth the hours, you can buy with a clear head.

Total cost (£) Your take-home pay per hour (£)

That air fryer costs you

0.0 hours

If you buy it weekly

That’s 0.0 hours of take-home time every week.

This is a personal decision tool. It doesn’t judge you. It makes the trade-off visible.

Once you see the time cost, ask two calm questions:

Will it save me time? (midweek dinners, fewer takeaways, less oven time)
Will I actually use it? (counter space, cleaning, noise, routine)

This is the idea behind 118M8’s “Clock it” (Wait game): convert a price into hours so you can choose what truly matters, without guilt.

Common Air Fryer Deal Traps (And Simple Fixes)

person holding a bank card while shopping online — fast checkout is great but it can skip the thinking step

Trap 1: Buying for “capacity” but getting narrow space

Some baskets are deep but narrow, which makes it hard to lay food in a single layer. That matters more than a big litre number.

Fix: look for basket dimensions and photos of the inside. If you can’t find them, read reviews that mention portion sizes.

Trap 2: A bundle that looks generous but adds clutter

Extra racks, baking pans and liners can be useful, but bundles are often designed to increase the spend.

Fix: only pay extra for accessories you can name a use for in the next seven days.

Trap 3: “More presets” instead of better results

Presets can be handy, but you’ll still end up using a few favourites. Build quality, ease of cleaning and basket layout usually matter more.

Trap 4: The cheap price that comes with awkward returns

Kitchen appliances are annoying to return if the process is unclear or costly.

Fix: check the returns window and method before you buy. Citizens Advice has a clear overview of UK consumer rights and returns: Citizens Advice consumer help.

Where UK Shoppers Usually Look for Black Friday Air Fryer Deals

Retailer deal hubs change every year, but UK shoppers often start with a few familiar stores. These links are here as starting points, not recommendations:

Currys
Argos
AO air fryers
Amazon UK (check seller details if it’s a marketplace listing)

If you’re planning a bigger set of purchases, it helps to keep your overall list in one place. Start with our category hub: Black Friday guides.

A Quick Checklist Before You Click Buy

Type: basket, dual drawer, or oven style matches how you cook
Size: it fits your portions and your counter
Model number: confirmed
Price history: verified against recent normal pricing
Total cost: includes delivery and only the accessories you’ll use
Running cost: you’ve done a quick kWh estimate and it feels sensible
Time cost: you’ve checked the hours and it still feels worth it
Returns: you understand the policy before purchase

How 118M8 Helps You Buy Calmly on Black Friday

118M8 is a mobile spending companion built to help you make better choices without judgement.

Clock it: convert an air fryer price into hours worked so the trade-off feels real
Sleep on it: set a 24-hour reminder so tomorrow-you gets a vote
Choose it: use the Number Generator game for a neutral pause if you’re stuck
Spot it: for 118 118 Money credit card customers, see spending trends so Black Friday doesn’t quietly spill into December

If you want to see the app before deal season gets loud, here’s the overview: 118M8 app overview.

Black Friday Air Fryer Deals FAQs

Are Black Friday air fryer deals actually worth it in the UK?

Some are. The best deals are on a model you already chose (right type and size), with a genuine price drop compared with recent selling prices, and a total cost (including delivery and any accessories you truly need) that still fits your budget.

What size air fryer should I buy?

Choose based on who you cook for and how much batch cooking you can tolerate. If you hate cooking in batches, prioritise a larger basket or dual drawers. If you usually cook one portion at a time, a simpler single-basket model can be enough and takes less space.

Is a dual-drawer air fryer always better than a single basket?

No. Dual drawers are great for cooking two foods at once, but they take more counter space and can be less convenient if you mostly cook one item. If you mainly want one big batch of chips, veg, or chicken, a single larger basket can be simpler.

How do I know if the discount is real?

Match the exact model number, then compare the deal price against recent normal prices using a price-history tool. Finally, compare total cost (delivery, bundles, memberships) because headline discounts can hide extra fees.

Are air fryers cheaper to run than ovens?

Often, yes, for smaller portions because they heat a smaller space and can cook faster. Your true cost depends on wattage, how long you run it, and your electricity tariff, so use a quick kWh calculation to estimate what each cook costs.

Can I return an air fryer I bought online during Black Friday?

Often yes, but it depends on the retailer and whether the item is faulty or simply unwanted. Online purchases usually have a cancellation window, but you still need to follow the retailer’s process and keep packaging until you’re sure.

Stock images by Kelsey Todd via Unsplash.