How much does it cost to run a heated aquarium?
A heated aquarium averages about 100 watts over a full day as it cycles on and off. That works out to about 2.40 kWh per day, costing about $0.47 per day, $14.18 per month, and $170.03 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A heated aquarium's cost comes mainly from the heater cycling to hold temperature, plus continuous filtration and lighting. Tank size and room temperature drive most of the variation — a tank in a cool room runs its heater far more.
Cost at different daily usage
Same heated aquarium at 100 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h/day | 0.60 kWh | $0.12 | $3.55 | $42.51 |
| 12 h/day | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 | $85.02 |
| 18 h/day | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.64 | $127.52 |
| 24 h/day | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 | $170.03 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 24 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 50 W | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 |
| Typical | 100 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 |
| High-draw model | 300 W | 7.20 kWh | $1.40 | $42.54 |
Cost by state
A heated aquarium at 100 W for 24 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.40 | $12.25 | $146.91 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.68 | $20.62 | $247.29 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.37 | $11.13 | $133.41 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.34 | $10.49 | $125.79 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.80 | $24.29 | $291.27 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.39 | $11.81 | $141.56 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.66 | $20.00 | $239.76 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.47 | $14.16 | $169.77 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.61 | $18.56 | $222.50 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.36 | $11.08 | $132.89 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.38 | $11.57 | $138.76 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $1.25 | $37.99 | $455.52 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.30 | $9.02 | $108.19 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.57 | $17.42 | $208.93 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.44 | $13.26 | $158.99 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.34 | $10.33 | $123.87 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.36 | $11.05 | $132.54 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.36 | $10.94 | $131.22 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.34 | $10.34 | $123.95 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.69 | $20.92 | $250.80 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.52 | $15.90 | $190.71 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.69 | $21.05 | $252.46 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.53 | $16.08 | $192.81 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.41 | $12.38 | $148.48 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.39 | $11.81 | $141.56 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.33 | $9.99 | $119.84 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.35 | $10.72 | $128.51 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.33 | $9.93 | $119.05 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.33 | $9.94 | $119.14 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.66 | $19.97 | $239.41 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.56 | $17.00 | $203.85 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.34 | $10.32 | $123.69 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.72 | $21.87 | $262.19 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.36 | $11.02 | $132.19 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.33 | $9.94 | $119.22 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.47 | $14.26 | $171.00 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.32 | $9.77 | $117.21 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.39 | $11.89 | $142.53 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.52 | $15.74 | $188.78 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.71 | $21.52 | $258.07 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.39 | $11.82 | $141.74 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.38 | $11.49 | $137.79 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.35 | $10.57 | $126.76 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.39 | $12.01 | $144.01 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.31 | $9.47 | $113.53 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.60 | $18.18 | $218.04 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.42 | $12.87 | $154.26 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.36 | $10.92 | $130.96 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.40 | $12.27 | $147.17 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.47 | $14.42 | $172.92 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.36 | $10.81 | $129.65 |
How to cut the cost
- Site the tank away from drafts and exterior walls.
- Use a lid to reduce evaporative heat loss.
- Switch lighting to LED and run it on a timer rather than all day.
- Insulate the back and sides of the tank if the room is cold.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How much does a fish tank cost to run?
Mostly heating and filtration, running continuously. Larger tanks and cooler rooms increase cost significantly.
How do you calculate what a heated aquarium costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a heated aquarium: 100 W × 24 h ÷ 1,000 = 2.40 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.47 per day.
How many watts does a heated aquarium use?
Typically 100 watts, with most models falling between 50 and 300 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.