If you're shopping for an air fryer, it can be hard to know where to start. Deciding how much capacity you need can help narrow down the options. Your desired capacity will depend on how many people you want to cook for, the size of your kitchen, and whether you're looking for a single-basket option or one that can cook two different foods simultaneously. While it's a good idea to choose the model with the greatest surface area you can, many 4-quart air fryers can still hold their own against larger models. At this size, you can still cook for about two people. The best options in this range excel at cooking fried foods, such as onion rings and wings, and offer impressive versatility.
We've tested more than 35 air fryers, 10 of which have a capacity of about 4 quarts. Below is our recommendation for the best 4-quart air fryer, along with a few great picks at lower prices. To provide you with more options, and since capacity doesn't directly relate to the device's countertop footprint, we've included options slightly above or below the 4-quart range.
If you want more to consider, check out our recommendations for the best air fryers, the best small air fryers, or the best 6-quart air fryers. Alternatively, if you're looking for another way to heat food fast, check out our picks for the best countertop microwaves and the best small microwaves.
Quick Look
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Best 4-Quart Air Fryer
Air Frying8.1Cooking Speed8.7Size7.7Measured Capacity5.1 qt (4.9 L)Cooking Versatility8.3See all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypeCeramicThe best 4-quart air fryer we've tested is the Ninja Pro AF141. This compact model offers solid performance without taking up too much counter space. It makes good-quality fried food, cooking each batch mostly evenly, so you end up with sides, meals, and snacks that are mainly crispy and well-browned with just a few mushy or overcooked pieces. Moreover, this air fryer delivers results fast; you won't have to wait long for it to preheat, heat back up after adding food, or finish cooking.
What truly sets this air fryer apart from other small models, however, is its versatility. Unlike most options in this size range, this one has a wide range of temperature settings and fan speeds. Combined with its ability to maintain a stable temperature throughout cooking cycles, these features help ensure good results for a variety of recipes and cooking methods. The control panel has programs for 'Air Fry,' 'Roast,' 'Reheat,' and 'Dehydrate.' One minor downside is the lack of a shake or preheat reminder; you'll need to monitor its progress to determine when to add food and when to shake or flip it for the best results.
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Best Budget 4-Quart Air Fryer
Air Frying7.7Cooking Speed8.3Size7.5Measured Capacity4.2 qt (4.0 L)Cooking Versatility8.1See all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypeCeramicIf you're looking for the best budget 4-quart air fryer, consider the Ninja AF101. It has a lot in common with the Ninja Pro AF141. For example, it features the same 'Air Fry,' 'Roast,' 'Reheat,' and 'Dehydrate' programs and similarly lacks preheat and shake reminders. Of course, as you might expect, the lower price point comes with a few trade-offs compared to our top pick. Despite being larger overall, its tall, cylindrical design leaves less room inside. It has a smaller capacity and less cooking surface area, so it's more difficult to spread food out in a single layer for the best results. While it still delivers decent French fries, chicken tenders, and cauliflower, it leaves more of your food undercooked or burnt.
That said, this air fryer cooks impressively fast. While it can't quite match its pricier stablemate in this regard, it still delivers results faster than most budget models. It's almost as versatile, too, and offers decent temperature stability, making it a good choice for a variety of recipes. If frying quality is your top priority, check out the Gotham Steel Air Fryer. While it's advertised as a 4-quart unit, its measured capacity is just 2.7 quarts. Despite this, the Gotham performs pretty well compared to other small models. It can't match the Ninja's versatility, but it makes slightly better-quality fried food, works fairly quickly, and won't take up too much counter space.
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Best Cheap 4-Quart Air Fryer
Air Frying7.2Cooking Speed8.1Size7.7Measured Capacity5.2 qt (4.9 L)Cooking Versatility5.6See all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypePTFEThe best cheap 4-quart air fryer we've tested is the Chefman TurboFry RJ38-5-T. This air fryer makes decent-quality fried food, especially considering its size and wallet-friendly price point. It cooks more of your food to a crispy golden brown than the Ninja AF101, leaving just a small portion of each batch under- or overcooked. Its cooking speed is very good, too, though it takes a while to recover its heat after you open the drawer to add food.
Compared to our picks above, however, this model lacks versatility. It has a very narrow temperature range, its fan is fixed at one speed, and it doesn't maintain a very stable temperature. This makes it a less-than-ideal choice for alternate cooking methods, like baking. This is reflected in its programs; you won't find an option to roast or reheat. Instead, there are a handful of cooking presets for various foods, like meat and fish. Overall, this air fryer is a great choice if you want an affordable option and mainly plan to cook air fryer favorites, like onion rings, chicken, or veggies; it even includes a shake reminder to help ensure your food cooks evenly.
Notable Mentions
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T-fal Easy Fry XL:
The T-fal Easy Fry XL is a 4.4-quart air fryer, mainly available in the Canadian market. It can't compete with the speed or versatility of the Ninja Pro AF141, but it excels at making crispy fries and other air fryer favorites. In fact, it slightly outperforms all our main picks in this regard.
See our review -
Philips Airfryer 2000 series 4.2L NA220/00:
The Philips Airfryer 2000 Series 4.2L NA220/00 is a 4.5-quart air fryer. It produces good-quality fried food but cooks more slowly than the Ninja Pro AF141. It's not as versatile either and takes up more space, despite having a smaller capacity.
See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the top 4-quart air fryers for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our air fryer reviews in this size range. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no air fryer is perfect, many are good enough to please almost everyone, and smaller differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.