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How much does it cost to run an aquarium?

At the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kilowatt-hour (July 2026), running an aquarium costs about $108 a year. Your own bill depends on your state's rate, which ranges from 12.72¢ to 48.00¢ across the country.

Assumption: 150 W at a 45% duty cycle, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — 591 kWh a year. A 55-gallon tank: heater, filter and light combined, averaged over a day.

Cost by state

Same appliance, same usage, 51 different prices. Sorted cheapest first.

Cutting the number down

• The heater is nearly all of it, and its runtime depends on the room. A tank in a cool room costs more to keep warm.
• Insulating the back and sides of the tank cuts heater runtime without changing the view.
• A lid limits evaporative heat loss, which is the main way an open tank sheds the warmth you paid for.

Questions

How many watts does an aquarium use?

About 150 W while running, though it cycles on and off, so average draw is 68 W.

How much does an aquarium cost per month?

About $9.02 a month at the U.S. average rate, or $108 a year.

Where is it cheapest to run?

Louisiana, at $75.21 a year, versus $284 in Hawaii — a spread of $209.