🏠 Household
How Much Does a Reptile Heat Lamp / Terrarium Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a reptile heat lamp / terrarium costs about $6.71 per month at typical usage — 12 hours/day.
Per hour
1.8¢
at 50–250 W
Per day
$0.22
12 hours/day
Per month
$6.71
36 kWh
Per year
$80.59
438 kWh
Reptile setups combine heat lamps, ceramic emitters, UVB tubes, and mats running half the day or more — commonly 50–250 watts in aggregate. A large terrarium can quietly cost more per month than the family refrigerator.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
1.8¢
Per day
$0.22
Per month
$6.71
Per year
$80.59
Uses 36 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¢ | $4.52 | $54.31 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 1.3¢ | $4.74 | $56.94 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 1.3¢ | $4.89 | $58.69 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 1.4¢ | $4.96 | $59.57 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 1.4¢ | $4.96 | $59.57 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 1.4¢ | $4.96 | $59.57 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 1.4¢ | $5.00 | $60.01 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 1.4¢ | $5.14 | $61.76 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 1.4¢ | $5.14 | $61.76 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 1.4¢ | $5.18 | $62.20 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 1.4¢ | $5.25 | $63.07 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 1.4¢ | $5.29 | $63.51 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 1.5¢ | $5.36 | $64.39 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 1.5¢ | $5.40 | $64.82 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 1.5¢ | $5.47 | $65.70 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 1.5¢ | $5.47 | $65.70 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 1.5¢ | $5.51 | $66.14 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 1.5¢ | $5.51 | $66.14 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 1.5¢ | $5.54 | $66.58 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 1.5¢ | $5.54 | $66.58 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 1.6¢ | $5.73 | $68.77 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 1.6¢ | $5.76 | $69.20 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 1.6¢ | $5.91 | $70.96 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 1.6¢ | $5.91 | $70.96 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 1.6¢ | $5.91 | $70.96 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 1.6¢ | $5.95 | $71.39 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 1.6¢ | $5.98 | $71.83 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 1.7¢ | $6.13 | $73.58 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 1.7¢ | $6.13 | $73.58 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 1.7¢ | $6.20 | $74.46 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.8¢ | $6.42 | $77.09 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 1.8¢ | $6.64 | $79.72 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 1.9¢ | $7.08 | $84.97 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.0¢ | $7.11 | $85.41 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 2.0¢ | $7.19 | $86.29 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 2.2¢ | $7.88 | $94.61 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 2.2¢ | $7.95 | $95.48 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 2.2¢ | $8.03 | $96.36 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 2.3¢ | $8.50 | $102 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 2.4¢ | $8.72 | $105 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 2.5¢ | $9.08 | $109 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 2.5¢ | $9.27 | $111 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 2.7¢ | $9.96 | $120 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 2.7¢ | $10.00 | $120 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 2.8¢ | $10.29 | $124 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 2.9¢ | $10.43 | $125 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 2.9¢ | $10.51 | $126 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 2.9¢ | $10.76 | $129 |
| New York | 29.9 | 3.0¢ | $10.91 | $131 |
| California | 33.3 | 3.3¢ | $12.15 | $146 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 5.2¢ | $18.97 | $228 |
How to lower the cost
- Always-on devices are the quiet budget line: audit anything that runs 24/7.
- Auto modes with sensors (purifiers, dehumidifiers) cut runtime dramatically versus always-on.
- A smart plug with energy monitoring answers “what does this actually use?” for $10.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a reptile heat lamp / terrarium use?
A typical reptile heat lamp / terrarium draws about 100 watts in use. At 12 hours/day, that works out to roughly 1.2 kWh per day, or 36 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a reptile heat lamp / terrarium 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 reptile heat lamp / terrarium cost to run per month?
With typical usage (12 hours/day), expect about $6.71 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $4.52 in Idaho up to $18.97 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a reptile heat lamp / terrarium use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 4% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.