💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Aquarium Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a aquarium costs about $13.42 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
1.8¢
at 50–300 W
Per day
$0.44
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$13.42
73 kWh
Per year
$161
876 kWh
Between the heater, filter, and lighting, a mid-size heated aquarium averages 50–150 watts continuously — comparable to a refrigerator over a month. Big reef tanks with pumps and intense lighting can triple that.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
1.8¢
Per day
$0.44
Per month
$13.42
Per year
$161
Uses 73 kWh/month at 18.4¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 1.2¢ | $9.05 | $109 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 1.3¢ | $9.48 | $114 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 1.3¢ | $9.78 | $117 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 1.4¢ | $9.92 | $119 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 1.4¢ | $9.92 | $119 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 1.4¢ | $9.92 | $119 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 1.4¢ | $10.00 | $120 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 1.4¢ | $10.29 | $124 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 1.4¢ | $10.29 | $124 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 1.4¢ | $10.36 | $124 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 1.4¢ | $10.51 | $126 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 1.4¢ | $10.58 | $127 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 1.5¢ | $10.73 | $129 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 1.5¢ | $10.80 | $130 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 1.5¢ | $10.94 | $131 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 1.5¢ | $10.94 | $131 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 1.5¢ | $11.02 | $132 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 1.5¢ | $11.02 | $132 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 1.5¢ | $11.09 | $133 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 1.5¢ | $11.09 | $133 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 1.6¢ | $11.45 | $138 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 1.6¢ | $11.53 | $138 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 1.6¢ | $11.82 | $142 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 1.6¢ | $11.82 | $142 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 1.6¢ | $11.82 | $142 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 1.6¢ | $11.89 | $143 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 1.6¢ | $11.97 | $144 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.26 | $147 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.26 | $147 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 1.7¢ | $12.40 | $149 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.8¢ | $12.84 | $154 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 1.8¢ | $13.28 | $159 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 1.9¢ | $14.15 | $170 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.0¢ | $14.23 | $171 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 2.0¢ | $14.37 | $173 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 2.2¢ | $15.76 | $189 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 2.2¢ | $15.91 | $191 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 2.2¢ | $16.05 | $193 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 2.3¢ | $17.00 | $204 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 2.4¢ | $17.44 | $209 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 2.5¢ | $18.17 | $218 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 2.5¢ | $18.53 | $223 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 2.7¢ | $19.92 | $239 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 2.7¢ | $19.99 | $240 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 2.8¢ | $20.57 | $247 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 2.9¢ | $20.87 | $251 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 2.9¢ | $21.01 | $252 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 2.9¢ | $21.52 | $258 |
| New York | 29.9 | 3.0¢ | $21.82 | $262 |
| California | 33.3 | 3.3¢ | $24.30 | $292 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 5.2¢ | $37.94 | $456 |
How to lower the cost
- Set water heaters to 120°F and fix dripping hot taps quickly — a drip is a slow leak of paid heat.
- Shorter showers and low-flow heads cut costs directly; hot water is usually a top-three energy use.
- Timers and covers transform pool, spa, and tank costs — stored heat and off-hours running are much cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a aquarium use?
A typical aquarium draws about 100 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 2.4 kWh per day, or 73 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a aquarium for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.8¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 1.2¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 5.2¢.
How much does a aquarium cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $13.42 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $9.05 in Idaho up to $37.94 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a aquarium use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 8% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.