The best heat lamp for a bearded dragon is a pair of halogen flood bulbs in dome lamps with ceramic sockets, aimed at a stone basking spot of 108–113°F. About 90–100 W in total is enough for a 4×2×4 or 6×2×2 ft enclosure. Switch the heat off at night unless the room drops below about 65°F, and add a ceramic heat emitter only then. Never use a heat rock.
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Bearded dragon temperatures
| Zone | ReptiFiles | VCA (vets) |
|---|---|---|
| Basking surface | 108–113°F (42–45°C) | Warm end 90–100°F (air) |
| Cool end | 77–85°F surface | 75–80°F |
| Air gradient | 72–99°F | – |
| Night | 55–75°F | No extra heat needed if the cool end stays at 65–80°F |
ReptiFiles measures the basking surface with a temperature gun, which reads higher than the air temperature VCA gives for the warm end. The Royal Veterinary College care sheet is stricter at night and sets a floor of 20°C (68°F). If your home is cold at night, use the warmer figure. ReptiFiles says the basking surface doesn’t need to go above 122°F.
Heat sources compared
| Heat source | Gives light? | Use it for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halogen flood bulb | Yes | Daytime basking | Best basking heat |
| Incandescent basking spot | Yes | Daytime basking inside the enclosure | Good |
| Mercury vapor UVB lamp | Yes, plus UVB | Basking heat and UVB in one | Works, but can’t go on a thermostat |
| Ceramic heat emitter | No | Night heat in a cold room | Good as backup |
| Deep heat projector or heat panel | No | Background heat in large or tall enclosures | Good as backup |
| Heat mat under the tank | No | Extra warmth at one end | Only on a thermostat; weak for basking |
| Heat rock | No | – | Avoid: burn risk |
ReptiFiles calls incandescent or halogen flood bulbs the best source of basking heat, and calls heat mats an inefficient way to heat a basking spot. VCA’s vets say never to use hot rocks because they can burn your dragon. The RVC notes that mercury vapor lamps can’t be fitted to a thermostat. Our UVB light guide covers mercury vapor lamps as a UVB source.
What wattage heat lamp?
ReptiFiles says 90–100 W in total should reach basking temperature in a 4×2×4 or 6×2×2 ft enclosure, using at least two bulbs side by side so the whole body warms evenly. VCA advises choosing equipment to suit your enclosure rather than relying on a fixed bulb wattage, so treat the figure as a starting point.
- Too hot: lower the basking platform, or swap to a lower-wattage bulb.
- Too cool: raise the basking platform closer to the lamps, or use a higher-wattage bulb.
- Make the hot spot big enough. ReptiFiles says the basking area should be at least as large as your dragon’s whole body, including the tail.
How to set up the heat lamp
- Mount the lamps above the warm end. Put the dome lamps on or above the mesh, outside the enclosure, so your dragon can’t touch them. VCA and the RVC both say heat sources must be out of reach or guarded to prevent burns.
- Use ceramic sockets. High-wattage halogen bulbs need a dome lamp with a ceramic socket, according to ReptiFiles.
- Add a stone basking surface. A light-colored flat stone or slate under the lamps holds heat. Set its height so the top reads 108–113°F.
- Measure after 3 hours. ReptiFiles reads the basking surface with an infrared temperature gun after the lamps have run for about 3 hours, and checks the air with a digital probe thermometer. VCA adds that a temperature gun does not replace an air thermometer, so use both.
- Add a thermostat as a failsafe. ReptiFiles doesn’t use a thermostat to fine-tune basking bulbs, because on/off models make them flicker and dimming models cut their output. Instead, it puts the probe on the cool side, set to switch the lamps off if that end reaches 99°F.
- Put the lights on a timer. Run basking heat and UVB together for 12–14 hours a day.
The full build, from enclosure size to substrate, is in our enclosure setup checklist.
Does a bearded dragon need heat at night?
Usually not. VCA says to turn the lights off at night and let the enclosure cool, and that extra heat may not be needed if the cool end stays between 65°F and 80°F. ReptiFiles accepts nights down to the mid-50s°F when daytime temperatures are right, and says cooler nights can encourage morning basking.
If your room gets colder than that, add heat that gives no light, such as a ceramic heat emitter or deep heat projector, on a thermostat. Since the lights go off at night, don’t use a basking bulb or a colored “night” bulb for night heat. ReptiFiles warns that cold nights without enough daytime heat may bring on brumation or illness. Our care guide explains brumation.
Heating gear we would buy
- Basking bulb: Arcadia halogen basking lamp. A flood bulb for mounting over mesh. Buy two so you can run them side by side.
- Lamp fixture: Deep dome lamp with a ceramic socket. One per bulb, rated for the bulb’s wattage.
- Night heat: Zoo Med ReptiTherm ceramic heat emitter. Heat with no light, for a room that gets cold at night.
- Thermostat: Reptile thermostat with probe. For a ceramic heat emitter, or as a cool-side failsafe for the basking lamps.
- Temperature gun: Etekcity Lasergrip 774. The infrared gun ReptiFiles uses to check the basking surface.
Common heating mistakes
- A heat rock. VCA warns they can get dangerously hot and burn your dragon.
- One small bulb. It makes a hot spot smaller than the dragon. Use two bulbs side by side.
- Measuring only the air. An air thermometer can’t read the basking surface. ReptiFiles and VCA both say to use a temperature gun as well.
- A light left on all night. VCA says to turn the lights off at night. Use a ceramic heat emitter if you need night heat.
- Lamps inside the enclosure without a guard. Your dragon can climb up and burn itself.
Bearded dragon heat lamp FAQ
What wattage heat lamp does a bearded dragon need?
ReptiFiles says 90–100 W across two bulbs is usually enough for a 4×2×4 or 6×2×2 ft enclosure. Adjust the basking platform height or bulb wattage until the surface reads 108–113°F.
What temperature should a bearded dragon’s basking spot be?
108–113°F (42–45°C) on the basking surface, measured with an infrared temperature gun, according to ReptiFiles.
Do bearded dragons need a heat lamp at night?
Usually not. Turn the lights off at night. VCA says extra heat may not be needed if the cool end stays between 65°F and 80°F. In a colder room, use a ceramic heat emitter, which gives no light.
Is a ceramic heat emitter good for bearded dragons?
Yes, as night or background heat. It gives no light, so the enclosure stays dark at night, but it isn’t a substitute for a bright basking lamp during the day.
Are heat rocks safe for bearded dragons?
No. VCA advises against hot rocks because they can become dangerously hot and burn your dragon.
Does a heat lamp give UVB?
Ordinary halogen and incandescent bulbs don’t. Your dragon also needs a UVB tube, unless you use a mercury vapor lamp that gives both. See our UVB guide.
Sources
- ReptiFiles: Bearded dragon lighting, heating and humidity
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Bearded dragons, housing (Rich, Hess and Axelson, DVMs)
- Royal Veterinary College: Bearded dragon care
More guides: enclosure size and setup, UVB light, care, food and feeding schedule, substrate.