6 Best Air Fryers for One Person in 2025

Cooking for one can often feel like a challenge, particularly when searching for the right kitchen appliance.

Many air fryers are designed for larger families, which leaves solo cooks with oversized units that waste energy and occupy valuable counter space.

If you are looking for the best air fryer for one person, you need something compact, efficient, and user-friendly that doesn’t sacrifice performance.

We have analyzed over 50 models to identify options that deliver consistent results, effortless cleanup, and a compact footprint, making them perfect for small apartments, dorms, or anyone cooking solo.

1. Best Budget Friendly: Elite Gourmet 1.1 Qt. Air Fryer

The Elite Gourmet EAF-1121X provides the most budget-conscious entry into air frying, offering a straightforward solution for single servings. This air fryer features a 1.1 Qt capacity that is ideal for small snacks or meal components.

Key features include 1000W power, a temperature range of 176–395°F, and a maximum 30-minute timer.

It focuses on simplicity, utilizing simple dial controls for intuitive operation, addressing the common pain point of overly complicated kitchen gadgets.

Performance-wise, it tackles small batches like chicken tenders or fries, cooking faster and safer than traditional oil frying.

The unit is extremely compact and has a cool-touch handle. Its value lies in being one of the most accessible ways to experience air frying without a significant investment.

2. Best for Quick Meals: MIRASTON 2.6QT Personal Mini Air Fryer

The MIRASTON 2.6QT Personal Mini Air Fryer is a speedy and stylish choice, perfect for quick meals for one person or even two.

It offers a generous 2.6-quart capacity, giving you more flexibility for slightly larger portions compared to the 1.1 Qt models.

Its sleek, compact design ensures it doesn’t take up much counter space, making it ideal for apartments, offices, or dorms.

This air fryer excels at fast cooking performance and often requires no preheating, quickly transforming leftovers or frozen foods into crispy meals using temperatures up to 400°F. Cleanup is incredibly easy due to its dishwasher-safe non-stick basket.

While it uses manual dial controls for time and temperature, similar to the Elite Gourmet EAF-1121X, it represents a solid step up in capacity and design appeal.

3. Best Overall: COSORI Air Fryer 2.1 QT, Small Mini

Hailed as potentially the best overall choice for solo users, the COSORI 2.1 QT Air Fryer offers impressive versatility in a small footprint.

This unit features 4-in-1 functions, including Air Fry, Reheat, Roast, and Bake, designed specifically for dorm-friendly cooking and simple meals.

Its ultra-light build, weighing just 4.87 lbs, makes it exceptionally easy to move and handle, which is a major benefit for those with limited mobility or space.

The COSORI excels at reheating leftovers, effectively restoring crispiness to items like pizza or fries. With a 2.1-quart capacity and 900W power, it heats faster than larger units.

Users also benefit from access to 30 in-app recipes via the VeSync app, adding guidance and inspiration to the cooking process.

4. Best for Beginners: Instant Vortex 2QT Mini Air Fryer

From the reputable Instant Pot makers, the Instant Vortex 2QT Mini Air Fryer is an ideal starting point for beginners learning air frying.

It is a compact unit perfect for 1-2 servings, packing 4-in-1 functionality (Air fry, bake, roast, reheat).

A standout feature is the EvenCrisp™ technology, which ensures consistent airflow to deliver perfectly golden and crispy results every single time, simplifying the learning curve for newcomers.

The mini air fryer boasts fast preheating, going from frozen to crispy food in minutes. Its one-touch smart programs for common foods like roasted veggies or wings remove guesswork.

The temperature range of 120°F to 400°F offers good versatility, and the cleanup is easy as the basket and tray are dishwasher-safe.

5. Best for Dorms: Small Compact Air Fryer, 2.1QT

This 2.1QT Small Compact Air Fryer is designed for the dorm room demographic and small spaces, prioritizing essential functions and portability.

It is highly portable, weighing less than 5 pounds, making it easy to put away or take along for RV trips or office use.

Despite its size, it provides the core 4-in-1 functions (Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat) necessary for simple snacks and meals.

Operation uses an integrated timer and adjustable digital temperature control (120–400°F), which provides more control than manual dials.

The 2.1QT capacity is suitable for single servings, supporting healthy cooking goals with the claim of using up to 98% less oil. This model finds its niche as a highly portable, no-frills digital air fryer for environments that are truly space-constrained.

6. Best Compact: 2.1Qt Small Air Fryer – Compact Digital

This 2.1Qt Small Air Fryer earns its title as one of the best compact options by delivering a feature-rich digital experience in a small design.

Powered by 1000W, it provides fast and crispy results with little to no oil, ideal for guilt-free single servings.

The unit boasts 7 preset menus and a useful shake reminder, which simplifies cooking common items for novices and busy individuals.

Its performance is enhanced by adjustable time and a temperature range of 120°F to 400°F, allowing for fine-tuning beyond the included presets.

Designed explicitly for 1-2 servings, its size is perfect for maximizing functionality in RVs, dorms, or apartments while minimizing the countertop footprint. The premium non-stick basket ensures food easily slides out, making cleanup simple.