Updated 11 October 2026
The best leopard gecko starter kit is usually one you put together yourself. Most all-in-one kits come with a tank that is too small for an adult, a red night bulb your gecko doesn't need and no thermostat. Buy a 36 x 18 x 18 inch enclosure (about 40 gallons), a heat source on a thermostat, a low-strength UVB light, three hides and supplements. That gives your gecko a home it can keep for life. If you want a single box to get started with a juvenile, the Exo Terra leopard gecko kit is the most complete, but plan to upgrade the tank.
Below is the full supplies checklist with our picks, then the all-in-one kits worth considering and what to add to them.
Leopard gecko supplies checklist
| Item | Why you need it | Our pick |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure, 36 x 18 x 18 in (40 gallon) or larger | Room for a warm side, a cool side and three hides | Front-opening glass terrarium or a 40 gallon breeder tank with screen lid |
| Heat source | A warm spot of about 90 to 95°F for digestion | An overhead halogen bulb in a dome, or a heat mat |
| Thermostat | Stops the heater overheating and burning your gecko | Dimming thermostat with probe |
| Low-strength UVB light | Helps with vitamin D3 and natural day-night rhythm | Arcadia ShadeDweller kit, or see our lighting guide |
| Digital thermometer and hygrometer | To check the warm side, cool side and humidity | Digital probe thermometer and hygrometer plus an infrared temperature gun |
| Three hides: warm, cool and humid | Somewhere safe at every temperature, plus a damp hide for shedding | Reptile caves and a humid hide (see our humidity guide) |
| Substrate | A safe floor that holds heat and is easy to clean | See our substrate guide |
| Calcium and multivitamin | Prevents metabolic bone disease | Repashy Calcium Plus or Zoo Med Repti Calcium |
| Live insects | Leopard geckos only eat live insects | See our food guide |
| Shallow water dish and feeding bowl | Fresh water at all times, and a dish that stops insects escaping | Shallow reptile dishes |
| Decor (optional) | Climbing and enrichment | Cork bark, flat rocks, or the Zoo Med Excavator clay for burrows |
The 36 x 18 x 18 inch minimum follows ReptiFiles' enclosure size guide, which argues against the 10 and 20 gallon tanks found in many older care sheets and kits. Bigger is fine, as long as you can keep the warm side warm.
How to set it up
- Put the heat source and warm hide at one end, and the cool hide and water dish at the other.
- Place the humid hide in the middle, lined with damp moss.
- Plug the heater into the thermostat and put the probe on the floor under the heat. Set it so the warm hide floor reads about 90 to 95°F.
- Mount the UVB on the warm side, over a mesh lid or inside the enclosure, and run it about 12 hours a day on a timer.
- Run the setup for a few days and check the temperatures before your gecko moves in. The cool side should sit in the 70s°F.
All-in-one leopard gecko kits
A kit can be a convenient start for a juvenile, but check what is missing. None of the kits below include a thermostat, and the tanks are smaller than an adult needs.
Exo Terra Leopard Gecko Kit
Exo Terra's kit is the most complete box set we've seen. It includes a glass terrarium, a heat mat, day and night lighting, a thermometer, substrate and supplements. It is a tidy way to start with a young gecko. The tank is on the small side for a fully grown leopard gecko, so expect to move up to a 36 inch enclosure within the first year. Add a thermostat for the heat mat on day one.
Exo Terra Glass Natural Terrarium
If you'd rather build your own kit, start here. Exo Terra's glass terrariums open at the front, which makes feeding and cleaning easier and is less stressful than reaching in from above. The raised base leaves room for a heat mat, and the mesh top takes a dome lamp and UVB. Choose the 36 x 18 x 18 inch size for an adult. The glass makes it heavy, so put it where it will stay.
Zoo Med Day and Night Desert Lighting Kit
This kit is a dual dome fixture with a daytime basking bulb and a red night bulb. The aluminium dome and ceramic sockets handle bulbs up to 100 watts. Use the basking bulb on a thermostat for daytime heat. We'd leave the red night bulb out: leopard geckos see red light, and they do best with real darkness at night. If your room drops below about 60°F overnight, use a heat mat or a ceramic heat emitter instead. The bulbs don't last long, so keep a spare.
Leopard gecko starter kit FAQ
What size tank does a leopard gecko need?
At least 36 x 18 x 18 inches, about 40 gallons, for one adult. A smaller tank is fine for a juvenile for a few months, but it is cheaper to buy the full-size enclosure first.
Are leopard gecko starter kits worth it?
They are convenient, but most come with a tank that is too small for an adult and no thermostat. Building your own setup from the checklist above usually costs about the same and lasts the gecko's whole life.
What do I need to buy before getting a leopard gecko?
An enclosure, a heat source with a thermostat, a UVB light, a thermometer, three hides (warm, cool and humid), substrate, calcium and vitamin supplements, a water dish and a supply of live insects. Set it all up and check the temperatures before your gecko arrives.
Do leopard geckos need a heat lamp or a heat mat?
Either works if it reaches about 90 to 95°F at the warm hide and runs on a thermostat. Many keepers now prefer an overhead halogen lamp in the day because it heats the gecko the way the sun does. A heat mat is useful for night heat in a cold room.
Do leopard geckos need UVB?
They can survive without it if they get vitamin D3 in their supplements. Many keepers and vets now recommend a low-strength UVB light, because it supports natural vitamin D3 production and a regular day and night cycle.
Next, read our leopard gecko care sheet for feeding, handling and health.