An air fryer time calculator converts a cooking time written for one appliance into the equivalent time for another. For an oven recipe, multiply the time by 0.8 and reduce the temperature by 25°F (15°C); a 30-minute bake becomes 24 minutes.
This page covers the time conversion factors for every appliance pair, the full time chart, the three conditions that change the result, and how to calibrate the figure to your own unit.
Convert cooking time between appliances, with the check-early point worked out
What are the time conversion factors?
There are six factors in regular use. Each applies to the appliance you are converting from.
| From | To air fryer | Time factor |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional oven | Air fryer | × 0.8 |
| Convection / fan oven | Air fryer | × 0.9 |
| Toaster oven | Air fryer | × 0.8 |
| Microwave | Air fryer | × 3 (approximate) |
| Deep fryer | Air fryer | × 3 (approximate) |
| Grill / broil | Air fryer | × 1.5 |
Reversing any conversion uses the reciprocal, not the same percentage. The inverse of 0.8 is 1.25, so an air fryer recipe converted back to an oven gains 25% of its time, not 20%.
Oven to air fryer time chart
| Oven time | Air fryer time | Check at |
|---|---|---|
| 10 min | 8 min | 6 min |
| 15 min | 12 min | 8 min |
| 20 min | 16 min | 11 min |
| 25 min | 20 min | 14 min |
| 30 min | 24 min | 17 min |
| 35 min | 28 min | 20 min |
| 40 min | 32 min | 22 min |
| 45 min | 36 min | 25 min |
| 50 min | 40 min | 28 min |
| 60 min | 48 min | 34 min |
What changes the converted time?
Three conditions, in order of effect.
Basket load. The converted time assumes a single loose layer. A basket more than two-thirds full adds 15–20% or requires a second batch.
Wattage. Units under 1,400W add roughly 10%; units above 1,700W subtract roughly 5%.
Starting temperature. Food straight from the refrigerator adds 2–3 minutes per 20 minutes of cook time compared with food rested at room temperature.
How do you calibrate the calculator to your own unit?
Record the actual finish time the first time you convert any recipe, then compare it with the calculated figure. If your unit consistently runs 10% long or short, apply that offset to every future conversion. Consumer air fryers vary enough between models that a personal offset is more accurate than any general rule.
Time or temperature — which matters more?
Temperature, because it determines whether the surface cooks at the same rate as the centre. Getting the time wrong produces food that is underdone or overdone uniformly, which is recoverable. Getting the temperature wrong produces food that is burnt outside and raw inside, which is not.
Related conversions and adjacent topics
Time is half the conversion; temperature is the other half. The 25°F (15°C) and 20% rule covers why changing only one produces a predictable failure rather than a smaller error.
The air fryer time calculator applies this factor to any duration and shows the check-early point alongside it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert oven time to air fryer time?
Multiply by 0.8. Thirty minutes becomes 24 minutes.
Is the reverse conversion 20% as well?
No, it is 25%. The inverse of 0.8 is 1.25, so converting in both directions with 20% will not return the original time.
Does the time change for a convection oven?
Yes — use 0.9 rather than 0.8, because a convection oven already circulates air.
Do I need to change the temperature too?
Yes. Time and temperature convert together; changing only one produces a predictable failure.