Air Fryer Conversion Calculator
Turn any oven recipe into an air fryer recipe in seconds. Our free Air Fryer Conversion Calculator applies the 25-degree rule — drop the temperature and cut the cook time — so your food comes out crisp without burning. Enter your oven settings below and get an instant air fryer conversion.
Enter your oven settings
Your results
How to use this calculator
Read the temperature and cook time straight from your recipe — most recipes list oven settings like "400°F for 20 minutes." Enter the oven temperature, choose °F or °C to match your recipe, and type the oven cook time in minutes. Flip the frozen toggle if you're starting from frozen.
Your air fryer temperature and a cook-time range appear instantly — no button press needed. Start checking doneness at the low end of the time range, shake the basket or flip the food halfway, and add a few minutes if it's not quite done.
How it works
An air fryer is essentially a small, high-powered convection oven. A fan circulates hot air rapidly around the food, which transfers heat far more efficiently than the still air in a conventional oven. Because of that, food cooks faster — and the outside can burn before the inside is done if you keep the same temperature.
This calculator applies the widely used 25-degree rule: subtract 25°F (15°C) from the oven temperature, rounded to the nearest 5 so it matches real air fryer dial settings. Cook time is cut to about 75–80% of the oven time and shown as a range, because different foods and basket sizes vary. The result is an estimate — always check that food is fully cooked, especially meat.
Quick tips
- Preheat your air fryer for 3–5 minutes for more even results.
- Shake or flip halfway through the cook time so everything browns evenly.
- Dense foods vary. Thick cuts of meat, bone-in chicken, and large roasts can run long — use a food thermometer and don't rely on the timer alone.
- Don't overcrowd. Leave space around food for the hot air to circulate.
Frequently asked questions
Why 25 degrees lower?
An air fryer is a small, fan-powered convection oven. Hot air circulates directly around the food at high speed, transferring heat far more efficiently than a still oven. Lowering the temperature by 25°F (15°C) keeps the outside from burning before the inside is done.
How much shorter is the cook time?
About 20 to 25 percent shorter than the oven time, so a 20-minute oven recipe typically takes 15 to 16 minutes in the air fryer. Start checking at the low end of the range — you can always add a few more minutes.
Do I need to preheat an air fryer?
Most air fryers heat up in 3 to 5 minutes, much faster than a full-size oven. A quick preheat still gives more even results, especially for frozen foods and baked goods.
Can I convert any oven recipe?
Most roasted, baked, and fried-style oven recipes convert well — vegetables, chicken pieces, fries, and reheats are ideal. Very dense items, large roasts, and delicate baked goods like soufflés vary more, so check doneness early and use a thermometer for meat.
What about frozen foods?
Cooking from frozen typically needs about 50 percent more time than the converted fresh time. This calculator applies that automatically when you turn on the frozen toggle — just check for doneness and shake the basket halfway.