Heat Lamp Wattage Calculator

Lamp power from enclosure size and target basking temperature.

Enclosure volume (gallons)

Target basking temp (°F)

Room temperature (°F)

Material (0-2)

Tab to move between fields

Calculated watts

Recommended bulb (W)75

Basking surface (°F)106

Cool side est. (°F)76

Monthly electricity ($)$4.32

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Enclosure volume (gallons), Target basking temp (°F), and Room temperature (°F).
Set Material (0-2).
Review the Calculated watts result.
Use Recommended bulb (W) and Basking surface (°F) to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Target basking temp (°F)

Enclosure volume (gallons): Approximate enclosure volume in gallons.
Target basking temp (°F): Desired surface temperature at the basking spot in °F.
Room temperature (°F): Ambient room temperature where the enclosure is kept.
Material (0-2): 0 = glass, 1 = screen-top glass (most heat loss), 2 = PVC/wood (best insulation).

Calculated watts: Estimated wattage needed based on thermal model.
Recommended bulb (W): Next standard bulb wattage available.
Basking surface (°F): Estimated surface temperature at the basking spot.
Cool side est. (°F): Estimated temperature on the cool side of the enclosure.
Monthly electricity ($): Estimated monthly electricity cost (12 hrs/day, $0.16/kWh).

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Enclosure volume (gallons) = 40, Target basking temp (°F) = 100, Room temperature (°F) = 72, Material (0-2) = 0 = 4 input(s) provided
Calculate Calculated watts
Calculated watts = enclosureVolumeGal * deltaTempF * insulationCoeff
73 = 73
Calculate Recommended bulb
Recommended bulb
75 = 75
Calculate Basking surface
Basking surface
106 = 106