How much does it cost to run an aquarium?
An aquarium costs about 0.9¢ per hour, 21¢ a day, $6.39 a month and $77 a year at typical use (24 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Watts are total heater, filter and light ratings. The heater cycles and the light runs about 8 hours, so a heated 29-gallon tank averages about 50 W, roughly 400 kWh a year. Reef tanks with pumps and lighting use far more.
Calculate your cost
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 gal | 65 | 0.4¢ | 10¢ | $3.08 | $37 |
| 29 gal | 135 | 0.9¢ | 21¢ | $6.39 | $77 |
| 55 gal | 260 | 1.7¢ | 40¢ | $12.30 | $148 |
| 75 gal | 375 | 2.4¢ | 58¢ | $17.74 | $213 |
| 125 gal | 600 | 3.9¢ | 93¢ | $28.39 | $341 |
At 24 hours a day and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.05 | 0.9¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| 2 hours | 0.10 | 1.7¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| 4 hours | 0.19 | 3.5¢ | $1.06 | $13 |
| 8 hours | 0.39 | 7.0¢ | $2.13 | $26 |
| 12 hours | 0.58 | 10¢ | $3.19 | $38 |
| 24 hours | 1.17 | 21¢ | $6.39 | $77 |
Cost to run an aquarium in every state
The same aquarium costs $52 a year in North Dakota and $185 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.37 | $52 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.49 | $54 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.57 | $55 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.61 | $55 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.73 | $57 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.74 | $57 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.77 | $57 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.81 | $58 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.86 | $58 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.91 | $59 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.94 | $59 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.95 | $59 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.97 | $60 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.01 | $60 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.02 | $60 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.04 | $60 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.24 | $63 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.24 | $63 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.36 | $64 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.37 | $64 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.44 | $65 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.46 | $66 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.47 | $66 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.50 | $66 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.50 | $66 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.55 | $67 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.67 | $68 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.76 | $69 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.84 | $70 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.85 | $70 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.89 | $71 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.8¢ | $6.01 | $72 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.32 | $76 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.48 | $78 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.65 | $80 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.67 | $80 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 1.0¢ | $7.35 | $88 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 1.0¢ | $7.47 | $90 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 1.0¢ | $7.47 | $90 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.2¢ | $8.44 | $101 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.2¢ | $8.45 | $101 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.2¢ | $8.59 | $103 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 1.3¢ | $9.47 | $114 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 1.3¢ | $9.53 | $114 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.4¢ | $9.94 | $119 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.4¢ | $10.08 | $121 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.4¢ | $10.39 | $125 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.4¢ | $10.41 | $125 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.5¢ | $10.80 | $130 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.6¢ | $11.71 | $141 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 2.1¢ | $15.45 | $185 |
How to cut the cost
- Put the lights on a timer for 6-8 hours a day.
- Keep the room warm and the tank away from windows and drafts; the heater is usually the biggest load.
- Add a glass lid to cut evaporation heat loss 20-30%.
- Use LED lighting instead of fluorescent.
- Set the heater to 76°F instead of 80°F for most community tropical fish.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses about half the power of fluorescent fixtures.
See options on AmazonReduces evaporation and heater run time.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquarium | 135 | 24 hours a day | $6.39 | $77 |
| Aquarium heater | 100 | 24 hours a day | $3.94 | $47 |
| Pond pump | 100 | 24 hours a day for 7 months a year | $13.14 | $92 |
| Reptile heat lamp | 100 | 12 hours a day | $6.57 | $79 |
| Under-tank heater | 20 | 24 hours a day | $1.84 | $22 |
| Heated pet bed | 6 | 24 hours a day for 7 months a year | $0.79 | $6 |
| Pet water fountain | 2 | 24 hours a day | $0.26 | $3 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an aquarium per hour?
An aquarium drawing 135 watts uses 0.05 kWh per hour while running (36% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.9¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.6¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 2.1¢.
How much does it cost to run an aquarium per month?
At typical use (24 hours a day), an aquarium costs about $6.39 a month and $77 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does an aquarium use?
Most aquariums use 30 to 1,000 watts, depending on the setting (10 gal 65 W, 29 gal 135 W, 55 gal 260 W, 75 gal 375 W, 125 gal 600 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an aquarium use?
About 1.17 kWh a day and 426 kWh a year at typical use (24 hours a day).
Does an aquarium use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: 426 kWh a year is about 4% of the average U.S. home's yearly use.
Is it cheaper to run an aquarium or an aquarium heater?
At typical use, an aquarium costs about $77 a year versus $47 for an aquarium heater. So the aquarium heater is cheaper by about $29 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an aquarium?
- Put the lights on a timer for 6-8 hours a day.
- Keep the room warm and the tank away from windows and drafts; the heater is usually the biggest load.
- Add a glass lid to cut evaporation heat loss 20-30%.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.