6 Best Large Air Fryers of 2026, Lab-Tested by Experts
We measured the baskets of these top-scoring models to make sure they can handle big batches
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.
Air fryers do a great job of cooking frozen fries and other crispy foods. They’re good at reheating meals, too. But they can do a lot more than that, especially when you have a lot of space to work with. Large air fryers, which we categorize as models with a measured capacity of 5 quarts or more, can cook full meals for multiple people; crisp up a big batch of wings, fries, or veggies for a party; and even roast a whole bird. And if you have pans that fit your air fryer, you can bake cookies, brownies, and other sweet treats.
To determine which air fryers qualify as large, we don’t just go by the manufacturer’s description. In Consumer Reports’ tests of 89 air fryers, we’ve noticed that the advertised capacity is often less than the actual measured capacity.
We test a wide range of air fryers in our labs, and many large-capacity air fryers receive impressive scores in our evaluations of how easy their controls are to use, how easy they are to clean, and how much noise they make. We’ve rounded up the six very best large air fryers from our tests that you can buy right now.
If you’re searching for a smaller appliance—one that cooks well for one or two people—see our picks of the best small air fryers. CR members can get all the specs for the full lineup of air fryers we’ve tested by exploring our comprehensive air fryer ratings, which you can filter by price, size, and other features. To learn more about the different types of air fryers and how we test them in CR’s labs, see our air fryer buying guide.
If you’re short on counter space, you might want to consider one of several other appliances that have air-frying capability in addition to other features.
Measured capacity: 5 quarts
Dimensions: 11x11x14 inches (HxWxD)
The top-scoring, CR Recommended Amazon Basics AFT0003B-UL air fryer impressed our testers. It aces our ease of cleaning and noise tests, and its controls are easy to use. It earns just a so-so score for convenience, however. That’s an evaluation of handy extra features that an air fryer comes with. Bear in mind, though, in our tests, where we set the air fryer to 350° F, we measured the temperature at 384° F, so you may want to keep an eye on your food to avoid overcooking.
Measured capacity: 5.6 quarts
Dimensions: 12x10x19 inches (HxWxD)
The engineers in our air fryer lab found the Cuisinart CompactMax AIR-210 especially easy to clean after we air-fried batches of french fries and chicken nuggets. It also includes helpful convenience features such as roast, bake, keep warm, and “max crisp.” Unlike many air fryers, its basket has a ceramic nonstick coating instead of PTFE. This air fryer comes with a three-year warranty.
Measured capacity: 5.2 quarts
Dimensions: 13x12x16 inches (HxWxD)
The Instant Vortex Plus 140-3089-01 has a clear window, making it easy to monitor your food without pulling out the basket. It earns a top-notch rating for its digital controls, and this dishwasher-safe fryer also delivers strong performance in our noise and cleaning tests. It comes with programmed and customizable settings, “odor erase” technology to help keep its basket fresh, and a one-year warranty.
Measured capacity: 7.1 quarts
Dimensions: 13x12x16 inches (HxWxD)
The NuWave Brio Plus 37401 has a massive 7.1-quart capacity, so it can fit a good amount of food, which is ideal if you’re preparing a meal for a crowd. It excels in our assessment of its controls and for ease of cleaning, and it’s almost as quiet as air fryers get. Its digital controls are also near the top of the machine and angled upward, so it’s a little easier to use them without stooping down. NuWave claims this air fryer is nontoxic and free of PFAS, a class of chemicals found in nonstick coatings that have been linked to numerous health problems. This air fryer’s basket has a ceramic nonstick coating.
Measured capacity: 5 quarts
Dimensions: 9x17x19 inches (HxWxD)
The T-fal Infrared Surface XXL EY4218U0 is impressively wide, at 17 inches, so you’ll be able to cook full meals in it, but it’ll take up a lot of space on your countertop. This air fryer is exceptionally easy to clean, plus its controls are easy to use, and it operates fairly quietly. In addition to roasting, broiling, reheating, toasting, baking, and dehydrating, it has dedicated settings for fresh and frozen pizza.
Measured capacity: 5 quarts
Dimensions: 10x15x21 inches (HxWxD)
At 22 pounds, the Typhur Dome AF03 is a heavy air fryer, so you may want to just leave it on the countertop if you have space. It’s also the priciest air fryer in our ratings. It may not have the most intuitive controls, according to our tests, but it’s easy to clean—with a dishwasher-safe basket—and it receives an excellent score in our noise tests. It has a self-cleaning function to remove oil and stains, and you can adjust your settings and monitor cooking in the Typhur app.
BEST TIME TO BUY:
