To convert a convection oven recipe to an air fryer, reduce the temperature by 10°F (5°C) and reduce the cooking time by 10%. A convection recipe at 400°F for 30 minutes becomes 390°F for 27 minutes in the air fryer.
Looking for conventional oven (no fan)? That conversion is larger — reduce by 25°F (-5°C) and 20% time. Use the oven to air fryer calculator instead.
Enter your recipe settings to get the converted values
Recipe Details
Converted Settings
Cooking Tips
Why These Settings?
What is the Convection Oven to Air Fryer conversion chart?
| Convection temp | Air fryer temp | Convection time | Air fryer time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300°F / 150°C | 290°F / 145°C | 10 min | 9 min |
| 325°F / 165°C | 315°F / 160°C | 15 min | 13 min |
| 350°F / 180°C | 340°F / 170°C | 20 min | 18 min |
| 375°F / 190°C | 365°F / 185°C | 25 min | 22 min |
| 400°F / 200°C | 390°F / 195°C | 30 min | 27 min |
| 425°F / 220°C | 415°F / 210°C | 40 min | 36 min |
| 450°F / 230°C | 440°F / 225°C | 50 min | 45 min |
The gap is small because these two appliances work the same way. Both use a heating element and a fan; an air fryer simply runs the fan faster in a much smaller cavity. That is why the conversion here is 10°F (-10°C) and 10%, while the conventional oven conversion is 25°F (-5°C) and 20% — a conventional oven has no fan at all, so the difference in heat transfer is far larger.
Is an air fryer just a small convection oven?
Functionally, close to it. Both circulate heated air with a fan. The differences that matter for conversion are fan speed, which is typically two to three times higher in an air fryer, and cavity volume, which is often a twentieth of an oven's. Higher velocity in a smaller space means faster surface drying and browning at the same dial setting.
Why is the convection conversion smaller than the oven conversion?
Because most of the work has already been done. The 25°F (-5°C) reduction from a conventional oven exists to compensate for adding forced air circulation. A convection oven already has it, so only the residual difference in fan speed and cavity size remains — worth about 10°F (-10°C) and 10% of the time.
Does the convection auto-adjust setting change this?
Yes, and it is a common source of error. Many ovens with a "convection bake" or "convection auto" mode already subtract 25°F (-5°C) internally from the temperature you set. If yours does, your recipe's stated temperature is not the temperature in the cavity. Check your manual, and if auto-adjust is active, convert from the recipe's original conventional temperature instead.
When should you use the air fryer instead of convection?
Use the air fryer for anything under about 2 lb (900 g) that needs a crisp surface — fries, wings, breaded items, roasted vegetables in a single layer. Use convection for larger volumes, anything that needs even heat across multiple trays, and baked goods that rise. The air fryer's advantage disappears as soon as the basket is crowded.
Does basket capacity change the conversion?
More than temperature does. A convection oven can hold three trays; an air fryer basket holds one loose layer. If your convection recipe fills a full sheet pan, it will not convert into a single basket load — split it into two batches at the converted settings, or add 15–20% to the time and shake at the halfway point.
Related conversions and adjacent topics
Temperature and time convert together, never separately. The same rule set covers every appliance pair on this site, and the methodology page sets out where it comes from and the seven conditions under which it stops holding.
Every figure above is built into the oven to air fryer conversion calculator, which applies both adjustments together so you do not have to work them out separately.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is 350°F (175°C) convection in an air fryer?
340°F, or about 170°C. Reduce convection temperatures by 10°F (6°C), or 5°C, and reduce the time by 10%.
Do I still need to preheat?
Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes for anything needing a crisp exterior. It matters less coming from convection than from a conventional oven, because both appliances recover heat quickly.
Can I convert a convection roast recipe to an air fryer?
Only if the cut fits with air clearance around it — roughly 3–4 lb (1.4–1.8 kg) maximum in a large basket. Beyond that the exterior finishes long before the centre, and a convection oven is the better appliance.
What if my recipe says "convection" but not the temperature type?
Assume the stated temperature is the true cavity temperature and apply the 10°F (-10°C) reduction. If the result browns too fast on the first attempt, your oven has auto-adjust active — convert from the conventional figure next time.
Is convection to air fryer the same as fan oven to air fryer?
Effectively yes. A UK fan oven is a convection oven. The one difference is that fan ovens are usually specified in Celsius and already run 20°C below the conventional equivalent — see the fan oven conversion page.