Updated 17 October 2026
The best heat lamp for a leopard gecko is a halogen flood bulb in a dome fixture on a dimming thermostat, set so the basking spot under it reads 90 to 95°F. For a 40 gallon tank that is usually a 50 to 75 watt bulb. Turn it off at night. If your room drops below about 60°F, add night heat that gives off no light, such as a heat mat or ceramic heat emitter. Leopard geckos can survive without UVB if you dust their food with vitamin D3, but a low-strength UVB tube such as the Arcadia ShadeDweller is now recommended by most reptile vets and care guides. Run the halogen and UVB together on a timer for about 12 hours a day.
Below is what each light does, the bulbs and wattages we recommend, how to set up UVB safely, and which bulbs to avoid.
What lights does a leopard gecko need?
| Light | Needed? | What it does | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halogen heat lamp | Yes, or a heat mat | Warms the basking spot to 90 to 95°F and lights the tank in the day | Zoo Med Repti Halogen |
| UVB tube | Recommended | Lets your gecko make its own vitamin D3 and gives a natural day cycle | Arcadia ShadeDweller ProT5 kit |
| Night heat with no light | Only if the room gets below 60°F | Keeps the tank warm at night without disturbing sleep | Ceramic heat emitter or a heat mat |
| Dimming thermostat | Yes, for any heat lamp | Holds the basking spot at a steady temperature so it can't overheat | Dimming thermostat with probe |
| Timer | Yes | Switches the lights on and off at the same time every day | Digital plug-in timer |
Best heat lamp for a leopard gecko
In the wild, leopard geckos warm up on rocks and under ground heated by the sun. A halogen bulb is the closest match. It gives off visible light and the same short-wave infrared as sunlight, which warms your gecko's body more deeply than a heat mat does from below.
| Bulb | Light | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall: halogen flood bulb | White light | Daytime basking heat | Zoo Med Repti Halogen or Arcadia Halogen Heat Lamp |
| Best for night heat: ceramic heat emitter | None | Night heat in cold rooms, or extra heat in a big tank | Check price on Amazon |
| Premium night heat: Arcadia Deep Heat Projector | None | Gentle infrared heat at night that reaches further than a ceramic emitter | Check price on Amazon |
Put the bulb in a dome fixture with a ceramic socket, such as a Zoo Med Deep Dome, rated for the bulb's wattage. Mount it over the warm end, above the mesh lid or inside the enclosure behind a bulb guard so your gecko can't touch it.
What wattage heat lamp for a leopard gecko?
The right wattage depends on your tank size, the height of the lamp and how warm your room is. Start with this guide, then let a dimming thermostat fine-tune it.
| Tank | Halogen bulb |
|---|---|
| 20 gallon long (30 x 12 in) | 40 to 50 W |
| 40 gallon (36 x 18 in) | 50 to 75 W |
| 4 x 2 ft enclosure or larger | 75 to 100 W |
Measure the basking spot with an infrared temperature gun: 90 to 95°F on the surface under the lamp, falling to 70 to 77°F at the cool end. If the spot is too hot even with the thermostat, raise the lamp or drop to a lower wattage. If it never gets warm enough, go up a size. Our tank and habitat guide has the full temperature plan.
Should a leopard gecko have a heat lamp on at night?
No. Turn all lights off at night. Leopard geckos are most active at dusk and in the dark, and in the wild the temperature drops at night. A night-time drop to the high 60s°F is healthy (see our temperature chart). Only add night heat if your room falls below about 60°F, and use a source that gives off no light: a heat mat on a thermostat, a ceramic heat emitter or a deep heat projector.
Do leopard geckos need UVB?
Leopard geckos can live without UVB if you dust every meal with calcium and vitamin D3, which is how they were kept for decades. But research and vet advice have moved on. Leopard geckos are out at dawn and dusk when there is still some UVB in daylight, and a 2013 study found that leopard geckos given low-level UVB had much higher vitamin D3 levels than geckos without it. Most current care guides, including ReptiFiles, now recommend it. UVB also gives a clear day and night cycle, which helps appetite and behaviour.
If you add UVB, you can use plain calcium for most meals and calcium with D3 about once a week. Our leopard gecko calcium powder guide has the full dusting schedule with and without UVB.
Best UVB light for a leopard gecko and how to set it up
| UVB light | Why we like it | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall: Arcadia ShadeDweller ProT5 kit | Made for geckos and other dusk-active reptiles, low output, and comes with the fitting and reflector | Check price on Amazon |
| Best for taller tanks: Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO 5.0 | A little stronger, for enclosures where the lamp sits 12 inches or more above the basking spot | Check price on Amazon |
- Length: about half to two thirds of the tank length, so there is a shaded cool end.
- Position: on the warm side, next to the heat lamp, so your gecko gets light and heat in the same place like it would in the sun.
- Distance: follow the maker's guide for your bulb. Mesh lids block a third to a half of the UVB, so a lamp above the mesh can sit closer than one inside.
- Shade: keep a hide on the warm side and the cool side so your gecko can always get out of the light.
- Replace: UVB output fades long before the bulb looks dim. Replace T5 tubes every 12 months.
Leopard gecko light schedule
| Season | Lights on |
|---|---|
| Spring and summer | 13 to 14 hours |
| Autumn and winter | 10 to 12 hours |
Plug the halogen and UVB into the same timer so they come on and go off together. A steady 12 hours all year is fine too, if you don't plan to breed your geckos.
Lights to avoid
| Light | Why |
|---|---|
| Red, blue or purple "night" bulbs | Leopard geckos can see them, so they disturb sleep. Use a light-free heater at night instead |
| Heat lamp with no thermostat | The basking spot can climb well over 100°F and burn your gecko |
| Strong desert UVB (10% or 12%) | Made for bearded dragons and too strong for a leopard gecko in a small tank |
| Compact coil UVB bulbs | Narrow beam and short life. A T5 tube covers the warm side evenly |
| Heat rocks | Known for hot spots and belly burns |
Lighting for albino leopard geckos
Albino morphs such as Tremper, Bell and Rainwater have light-sensitive eyes. They can still have UVB, but use the lowest-output tube, mount it a little further away and give plenty of shade and cover on the warm side. If your albino gecko squints or hides all day under the lights, move the UVB further away or shorten the day.
Leopard gecko heat lamp and UVB FAQ
Do leopard geckos need a heat lamp?
They need a warm spot of 90 to 95°F. A halogen heat lamp on a dimming thermostat is the best way to give it during the day. A heat mat on a thermostat also works, and many keepers use both.
Do leopard geckos need UVB?
They can survive without it if you dust their food with vitamin D3, but low-level UVB is now recommended. It lets them make their own vitamin D3 and gives a natural day and night cycle. A ShadeDweller or 5% T5 tube over the warm side is enough.
Should a leopard gecko heat lamp be on at night?
No. Turn it off at night. Leopard geckos need darkness, and a drop to the high 60s°F is healthy. If your room gets colder than about 60°F, use a heat mat or ceramic heat emitter, which give off no light.
What wattage heat lamp does a leopard gecko need?
Usually 40 to 50 watts for a 20 gallon tank, 50 to 75 watts for a 40 gallon and 75 to 100 watts for a 4 x 2 foot enclosure. Use a dimming thermostat so the basking spot stays at 90 to 95°F.
Is a ceramic heat emitter good for leopard geckos?
Yes, for night heat or extra warmth in a cold room, because it gives off no light. For daytime basking a halogen bulb is better, because it heats more like the sun and also lights the tank.
Are red lights bad for leopard geckos?
Yes. Leopard geckos can see red light, so a red bulb left on at night disturbs their sleep. Use a ceramic heat emitter, deep heat projector or heat mat for night heat instead.
Setting up a new tank? See our leopard gecko starter kit checklist for everything else you need.