Your basking globe, UVB tube and any night heat run for hours every day, all year. This calculator works out what that adds to your power bill. Enter the wattages printed on your globes, how many hours they run and your electricity price, and see the cost per day, month and year.
For a typical bearded dragon setup it comes to roughly $120 to $200 a year, which matches the figure in our bearded dragon cost guide. Larger enclosures, extra night heat and multiple animals can push it much higher.
Reptile Enclosure Electricity Cost Calculator
What your basking lamp, UVB tube and night heat cost to run each year. Enter the wattages printed on your globes.
A dimming or on/off thermostat cuts power once the basking spot is hot. 50 to 70% is common. 100% means no thermostat.
T5 tubes: 24W (60cm), 39W (90cm), 54W (120cm).
Many species are fine with a night drop. Leave at 0 if you have none.
Cents per kWh, on your power bill. Most Australian plans are roughly 25c to 45c.
Running cost = watts x hours x thermostat on-time x your price per kWh. Heat mats and ceramic emitters on a thermostat use the same on-time setting. Does not include buying globes, thermostats or replacement UVB tubes.
How this calculator works
Running cost = watts x hours a day x on-time x your price per kWh x 365.
- On-time is the share of time a thermostat lets the heat source run at full power. A dimming or on/off thermostat cuts power once the basking spot reaches temperature, so 50 to 70% is common. With no thermostat, it is 100%, which is unsafe as well as more expensive.
- UVB tubes are not on a thermostat, so they use full power for every hour they are on.
- Electricity price is on your bill, in cents per kWh. Most Australian plans are roughly 25c to 45c.
The calculator does not include buying the equipment. UVB tubes also need replacing every 6 to 12 months, around $45 to $90 each, because their output fades long before they look dim.
Where the numbers come from
Every figure in this calculator comes from our own researched guides, which list their sources and are re-checked against current Australian prices. The main one is Bearded dragon cost in Australia. Related guides:
Prices last checked 13 October 2026. See how we research our prices.
Common questions
How much electricity does a bearded dragon setup use?
A 100W basking globe on a thermostat plus a 24W T5 UVB tube, both on for 12 hours, uses about 370 kWh a year. At 35c per kWh that is around $130 a year.
Does a thermostat save power?
Yes. Once the basking spot is at temperature, a thermostat dims or switches the globe off, so it might only draw full power 50 to 70% of the time. More importantly, it stops the enclosure overheating.
Do snakes and geckos cost less to run?
Usually. Many snakes and geckos use a heat mat or a low-watt globe and no high-output UVB, so running costs can be well under $100 a year per enclosure.
How often should I replace a UVB tube?
Every 6 to 12 months for most T5 tubes, even if it still glows. UVB output drops off long before visible light does, and low UVB can cause metabolic bone disease.