7 min read · Reviewed 9 October 2026
Air fryer litres describe volume, not the flat space available for tonight’s food. The examples below compare one 5.2L basket, a 6L + 3L pair and two 4.75L drawers. Use them to picture the layout, then verify basket dimensions, appliance footprint and ventilation clearance for the exact Australian model.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare.
| Model | Cooking layout | Exterior dimensions, W × D × H | Practical use-case comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Air Fryer Max AF160 | One 5.2L basket, per the manufacturer specification table. | 27.5 × 33.5 × 37.5cm | One shared dish or side; compare the usable basket base against your usual portions. |
| Philips 3000 Series NA352/00 | 9L total, split into a 6L drawer and a 3L drawer. | Check the exact manufacturer specification sheet and required clearance. | A larger main dish plus a smaller side; the drawers are unequal. |
| Ninja DoubleStack SL400 (9.5L) | 9.5L total, split into two 4.75L stacked drawers. | 28.6 × 48.8 × 38.5cm | Two similarly sized components; narrower appliance width trades against depth and stacked access. |
Three real layouts, not three household-size promises
The AF160 specification table lists 5.2L in one basket. Philips’ NA352/00 splits 9L into 6L and 3L drawers. Ninja’s SL400 splits 9.5L into two 4.75L drawers. A total of 9L or 9.5L does not mean one basket of that size, and the number alone cannot tell you whether a whole ingredient will fit.
These are manufacturer specifications, not measured cooking tests. Household examples below are starting points rather than guaranteed portion counts. Whole-appliance dimensions do not include the additional clearance you may need for ventilation, drawer opening or serving.
For one person: keep it easy to live with
A compact single drawer can suit one person when most meals are a protein, a side or reheated leftovers. The advantage is not only a smaller appliance: a smaller basket is usually easier to carry to the sink and less awkward to store.
Think about your largest regular ingredient. If you often cook a long fillet, several skewers or a full layer of vegetables, check the basket’s internal shape before choosing the smallest model.
For two people: basket shape starts to matter
Two portions need enough base area to avoid constant stacking. A wide basket can be more useful than a deeper basket with the same advertised capacity, especially for crumbed food, vegetables or anything you want to brown evenly.
A medium single drawer is the simple option when both people eat the same meal. Dual drawers become more useful when you regularly need different temperatures or finish times.
For three or four people: plan the whole meal
Larger households should decide whether the air fryer is cooking one component or replacing more of the oven. A roomy single basket works well for one large batch. Two zones can handle protein and vegetables separately, but each zone may be narrower than expected.
If you would still need a second batch for most dinners, a larger model may save time. If you mainly use it for chips or one side dish, an oversized machine may just occupy more bench space.
Do not choose by litres alone
Manufacturers measure capacity differently, so compare internal basket dimensions where they are published. A square basket, a rounded basket and two narrow drawers can behave very differently even when the total capacity looks similar.
Also check the usable height. Tall capacity is helpful for some foods, but food crowded in layers may need more shaking or turning than food spread across a wider base.
Measure the space around it
Measure the appliance, the clearance recommended by its manufacturer and the extra depth needed to pull the drawer out safely. Check where hot air vents and where the basket will sit when you serve or clean it.
A model that stays on the bench should fit without blocking cupboards or the main preparation area. A model stored away should be light and compact enough that you will actually take it out.
A quick size decision
Choose compact when you normally cook one or two portions and value easy storage. Move up when you regularly cook three or four portions in one batch. Choose dual zones for genuinely different foods—not simply because two drawers sound more capable.
Before paying, inspect the exact model’s basket dimensions, included parts and clearance instructions on the manufacturer’s page. Those details are more reliable than a household-size label alone.
Use the examples to check your bench and meal
If the AF160’s single-basket format matches what you cook, compare its 27.5cm width and 33.5cm depth with your available surface before adding the manufacturer’s required clearance. For protein and vegetables at different settings, compare the unequal 6L + 3L Philips drawers with the equal 4.75L + 4.75L Ninja drawers.
The DoubleStack’s listed 28.6cm width is only part of the footprint: its 48.8cm depth may matter more on a shallow bench. Measure that depth and the space to pull out drawers rather than choosing from “space-saving” wording alone.
The official AF160 page contains conflicting marketing copy mentioning 3.8L; its model specification table lists 5.2L. We use the specification table here. If a retailer gives a different capacity, verify the AF160 model and manual before paying.
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