Best Small Air Fryer UK: 6 Compact Models Compared

Best Small Air Fryer UK: 6 Compact Models Compared
Lisa Norberg
7 October, 2026

Best small air fryer: the quick answer

The Tower Compact 1.5L Air Fryer is the best small air fryer for one person. TechRadar names it its “Best small air fryer for one person”. It has a 1.5-litre capacity, 900W of power and four cooking functions: air fry, roast, grill and bake.

For two people, or for anyone who wants to cook more than a very small portion, the Ninja Pro AF140UK is the more flexible choice. Its 4.7-litre basket, four preset functions, digital timer, dishwasher-safe parts and two-year guarantee give a small household more room to cook.

Choose 1.5–2.3 litres for very small portions and limited worktop space. A model around 4–5 litres is more practical when you want fewer cooking batches.

Top 6 small air fryers in the UK

These are expert picks covering one-person cooking, small kitchens, budget buying, baking and a more flexible small-household option.

Model Capacity Best for Price or guide price
Tower Compact 1.5L 1.5 litres One person and very limited worktop space Under £35 at Amazon when TechRadar published its guide
Quest 2.3L Small Air Fryer 2.3 litres One or two people on a budget £28.99 at Argos
Tower T17023 2.2 litres Small kitchens About £45 in the Expert Reviews guide
Ninja AF100UK Not stated Compact cooking with several functions £79.99 at John Lewis; out of stock online
Ninja AF160UK Not stated Baking in a small air fryer £99.99 in Olive Magazine’s guide
Ninja Pro AF140UK 4.7 litres One or two people wanting flexibility £89.99 at Currys

Prices and stock can change; the figures above are the listed or guide prices attached to the linked sources.

Best small air fryer for one person

Choose the Tower Compact 1.5L. TechRadar gives it the one-person category win and says its basket holds up to five chicken wings. The publication describes 1.5 litres as about the smallest capacity that can still produce evenly cooked results without repeated batches.

Its 900W power and four functions cover air frying, roasting, grilling and baking. TechRadar recorded a price below £35 at Amazon when its guide was published.

This format suits one small portion, a snack or a side dish. If you regularly cook a full meal for two, a larger single-basket model is likely to be more convenient.

Best small air fryer for two people

The Ninja Pro AF140UK gives two people more cooking room. Its 4.7-litre single basket is larger than the mini models. Currys lists four preset functions, a digital timer, dishwasher-safe parts and a two-year guarantee, with a listed price of £89.99 reduced from £99.99.

Ninja lists the AF140UK at £79.99, reduced from £99.99. Argos lists it at £109.99, while John Lewis lists the AF140 Air Fryer PRO at £99.00. The model therefore sits above the cheapest compact air fryers but offers more flexibility for everyday portions.

Best budget compact air fryer

Choose the Quest 2.3L Small Air Fryer if the lowest listed price is your priority. Argos lists it at £28.99 and describes it as suitable for one or two people. It has a 1,000W output, an 80–200°C temperature range and a timer of up to 60 minutes.

The manual temperature and timer controls are straightforward. Its non-stick basket and dishwasher-safe accessory simplify cleaning, while its dimensions are 28.5 × 23 × 30cm. The Tower T17023 2.2L is another compact option: Expert Reviews names it “Best for small kitchens” in its budget guide and gave it a guide price of about £45.

Small air fryer size guide: 1.5L, 2.3L or 4.7L?

Choose 1.5–2.3 litres for one person or small portions, and around 4 litres or more for two people and fewer batches.

Capacity Best suited to What to expect
1.5 litres One person Very compact; the Tower Compact holds up to five chicken wings
2–2.3 litres One person or small portions for two More room than the smallest format while remaining compact
About 4 litres One or two people More flexibility for portions and complete meals
4.7 litres Small households wanting flexibility More space, a single basket and four functions on the Ninja Pro

Capacity is the internal volume, but usable cooking surface also matters. A narrow, deep basket may not hold food in one layer as easily as a wider basket, so a larger litre figure does not always mean more convenient cooking.

Small air fryer alternatives from Ninja, Argos, Tesco and ASDA

The following retailer listings show the compact options with a stated capacity and price:

Retailer Model Capacity Price
Argos Quest Small Air Fryer 2.3 litres £28.99
Argos Ninja Pro AF140UK 4.7 litres £109.99
Tesco Marketplace Daewoo Air Fryer 2 litres £39.99
ASDA Tower Air Fryer 2L Manual 2 litres £33.00

The ASDA Tower listing is marked unavailable. It has temperature control up to 200°C and a 30-minute timer. The Tesco Daewoo model has a timer and temperature control.

The Ninja AF100UK is Olive Magazine’s “super-compact air fryer” pick, with a guide price of £69 in its October 2025 guide. John Lewis lists it at £79.99, although it is out of stock online, and specifies air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate functions. John Lewis’s product listing also states that it can use up to 75% less fat than traditional frying, measured against hand-cut chips fried in oil.

Is a compact air fryer worth buying?

Yes, if you usually cook small portions and have limited worktop space. A small air fryer can handle a single serving, snack or side dish without taking up the space of a large dual-basket machine.

The trade-off is basket space. TechRadar’s five-chicken-wing limit for the Tower Compact 1.5L shows why the smallest models can require multiple rounds. If you cook for two people regularly, a 4–4.7-litre model is likely to be more convenient, even though it occupies more space.

Before buying, compare the appliance’s external dimensions with your worktop and consider whether manual controls or features such as a digital timer, presets and dishwasher-safe parts suit your cooking.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best small air fryer to buy?

For one person, the Tower Compact 1.5L is the strongest choice: TechRadar names it the best small air fryer for one person.

What size air fryer is best for 1 to 2 people?

A 1.5–2.3-litre air fryer suits small portions, while around 4 litres gives one or two people more flexibility and fewer batches.

Is it worth getting a small air fryer?

It is worth considering if you cook for one, prepare small portions or need to save worktop space. Choose a larger model if you want to cook a full meal for two.

What is the best small air fryer for one person in the UK?

The Tower Compact 1.5L Air Fryer is TechRadar’s named one-person winner. It has a 1.5-litre capacity and 900W power.

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