If you are a pet lover or you rear baby chicks, turkeys, goats, or lambs on your farm, keeping them warm and comfortable in bitterly cold temperatures is extremely important.
A heat lamp provides your pets and baby animals with the perfect level of heating so they can enjoy a cozy habitat.
Safe and Effective Infrared Heat Lamps
An infrared heat lamp or heat emitter is highly effective at providing safe heating for your pets, in an animal pen, chicken coop, reptile terrarium, or their favorite sleeping area.
Once you install the heat lamp into a suitable light socket or a heat clamp fixture, your baby chicks, goats, lambs, reptiles, spiders, cat or dog will stay super warm on a bitter winter’s night or a chilly spring morning.
Incredibly versatile, a heat lamp can be used for your personal use or in your grow tent to encourage your plants to thrive.
The 7 Best Heat Lamps
- BYB Heat Lamp (Our Top Pick)
- Aiicioo Heat Lamp
- Zacro Heat Lamp
- OMAYKEY Ceramic Heat Lamp 2-pack
- theBlueStone Ceramic Heat Lamp
- Fluker’s Ceramic Heat Lamp for Reptiles
- Zoo Med Aquatic Turtle Heat Lamp
Our Top Pick for the Best Heat Lamp
Our top pick for the best heat lamp is the BYB Heat Lamp. We highly recommend this impressive heat lamp for any pet lover or people who are raising baby chicks or goats.
BYB is widely known as the lighting experts and their dedication to creating quality products means their smart energy-efficient long-lasting ceramic infrared heat emitter is safe to use for your pet. Whatever type of animals you are caring for, they will have a warm and comfortable environment to snuggle down into during the bitter winter season.
How to Choose the Best Heat Lamp
Types of Heat Lamps
There are two types of heat lamps. Some heat lamps provide both heat and light like the Zoo Med Dual Lighting Combo Heat Lamp which is ideal for creating a natural sun-like environment for your pet to bask underneath.
If you have reptiles, amphibians, baby chicks, or you are getting ready for goat kidding season, a heat lamp that only produces infrared heat, like the BYB Heat Lamp, will create a snug patch of warmth without a glaring light that interrupts their natural sleep patterns.
Wattage
The wattage power of the heating element will be 60, 75, 100 or 250 watts. A heat lamp should provide the right amount of heating for your pet; no more than 250 watts.
It should not be too hot especially if you are rearing baby animals or you have a small pet enclosure to heat. So 60, 75 or even 100 watts is ideal for baby chicks and ducks, depending on the size of the enclosure and age of the bird.
Also, you need to make sure that the heat lamp is suspended far enough away from your pets or farm animals, so they do not come in contact with the lamp.
Maintaining the right body heat for baby animals who cannot generate or maintain body heat for the first few weeks of life, is extremely important. The following Pet Ratio Temperature Guide and Wattage/Temperature Guide shows you the best heating temperatures for your animals. Also, using a digital thermometer will help you to get the right temperature.
Pet Ratio Temperature Guide
- One – 95 degrees
- Two – 90 degrees
- Three – 85 degrees
- Four – 80 degrees
- Five – 75 degrees
- Six + – 70 degrees
Wattage/Temperature Guide
- 25 watts: 62.5°F to 66°F
- 50 watts: 62.5°F to 71.5°F
- 75 watts: 62.5°F to 75°F
- 100 watts: 62.5°F to 78.5°F
- 150 watts: 62.5°F to 84°F
- 200+ watts: 62.5°F to 89.5°F
Superior Infrared Heating
Heat lamps operate like regular incandescent lamps but produce superior infrared radiated heat and are long-lasting up to 9,000-15,000 hours or longer. These bulbs also provide fast and stable heating and are highly energy efficient which will save you on heating bills.
Color
Most heat lamp bulbs come in black, white or red depending on whether they are incandescent, halogen, or ceramic. A black ceramic bulb can produce more heat than a white ceramic bulb but it will ultimately depend on the quality of the element.
Generally speaking, black lamps are mostly used for reptiles and white bulbs for other animals like baby chicks. A red infrared bulb can also help to improve blood circulation and egg production in chickens or provide a soft comforting glow when caring for baby chicks.
Socket
As most heat lamp emitter bulbs are made from solid ceramic, it is best to use a porcelain socket rather than a plastic one. Porcelain sockets are able to withstand high temperatures which prevent any overheating that can damage the bulb or create fumes.
Best Heat Lamp Reviews
1. BYB Heat Lamp
Whether you keep reptiles, chickens, goats, or have elderly pets, the BYB Heat Lamp will provide the cozy warmth they need in the cold winter months.
This lightweight, portable heat lamp is very simple to use, just plug it to a suitable socket and your animals will be able to bask under its comforting warmth.
Highly versatile, the 100-watt waterproof element can be used in a 30-40 gallon high-humidity terrarium or tank, brooder, chicken coop, egg incubator, a dog house or above a cat bed. You can even use it for personal use or as a natural greenhouse heater to help plants grow better and faster.
The lamp emitter is made from anti-crack high-purity pottery clay and produces powerful muscle-penetrating heat but with no bright glaring light to disturb your pet’s natural sleep patterns. As the lamp has a large circular emitter, it directs fast and effective infrared heat to penetrate the scales and skin tissue, promoting health and healing by increasing blood circulation and the ambient air in a terrarium.
The BYB heat lamp is 99.9% energy efficient as it uses a Ni-Cr Alloy resistance wire that ensures 24 hrs of constant heating and a 10,000-hour life span. It must be attached to a 110-120V E26 porcelain socket (E26 socket). To avoid scalding, please wait at least 1 hour for the emitter to cool down before turning it off.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Ideal for a wide range of animals
- Perfect for reptiles, amphibians, pets, chickens, goats, peacocks
- Anti-crack high-purity pottery clay
- Waterproof design is safe to use in humid terrariums
- Can be used in a greenhouse
- 99.9% energy efficient
- Ni-Cr Alloy resistance wire bring 24 hrs constant heating and 10000+ hrs life span
- Does not emit any light
- Large circular emitter directs heat to increase basking area
- Fast and effective infrared heat
Cons
- Can get a bit hot for baby animals in a small area
- May release a slight smell when it’s turned on
- For use only with an E26 porcelain socket
2. Aiicioo Heat Lamp
Create a natural warm sun-like environment for your baby chicks, reptiles, spiders, cat or dog with the Aiicioo Heat Lamp.
The 60-watt 100% high efficiency infrared radiant heat emitter creates a natural sun-like atmosphere and an instant 24-hour uniform temperature pattern.
As the heat lamp is made from high-purity anti-crack pottery clay, it is specially designed to work in high humidity terrariums. Its flat-faced design also ensures better efficiency up to 10,000 hours.
Especially ideal for baby animals, the long-wave heat is gentle but still strong enough to penetrate the scales and skin tissue, promoting health and healing, and increasing the ambient air in a 10-gallon terrarium. The emitter does not produce any glaring light, it will not disturb the normal sleeping patterns of your animals.
The heat lamp must be attached to a compatible AC 110-120-volt porcelain
incandescent socket to ensure that is does not overheat.
Aiicioo offers a 1-year guarantee on the heat lamp.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Excellent price
- Ideal for reptiles, pets, and baby chicks
- No glaring light
- 100% high efficiency and effective long-wave infrared radiant heat
- Flat-faced design also ensures better lighting efficiency up to 10,000 hours
- Creates a natural sun-like atmosphere
- Fast 24-hour uniform temperature pattern
- High-purity anti-crack pottery clay
- Specially designed for high humidity terrariums
- Increases the ambient air temperature in the terrarium
- Strong but gentle heat is perfect for baby chicks
- Ideal for daily use
- 1-year guarantee
Cons
- The temperature may not be high enough for larger outside cages
- Only generates a small amount of radiated heat to about 4 to 5 inches
3. Zacro Heat Lamp
Once you install the powerful Zacro Heat Lamp in your reptile’s terrarium, your pets will have a snug and nurturing environment night and day.
As well as being the perfect heating solution for a snake, chameleon, or a bearded dragon, you can also use the heat lamp for birds, a hamster, or your elderly cat.
The 100-watt flat-faced black ceramic emitter has a 99% thermally efficient infrared element that radiates fast, stable 24-hour heating and lasts for a super long time up to 9,000 or 15,000 hours.
As the lamp emits no light, your pet will enjoy an uninterrupted day or night sleeping schedule. Its small 4.7 x 3.2 x 3.2-inch size is perfect for a small tank or a pet’s sleeping area. To provide safe and effective heating, make sure that the heating lamp is placed far enough away from your pet that they do not touch the lamp.
Zacro also includes a bonus digital thermometer that has Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures. The heat lamp has to be used with a ceramic E27 11- volt socket because a plastic socket may melt the lamp holder or even cause the lamp to explode.
The heat lamp also comes with an LR44 Battery for the thermometer. Zacro offers an 18-month warranty on the heat lamp.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Excellent price
- Perfect 24-hour heat source for all types of reptiles, amphibians, birds, hamsters or other small animals
- Infrared emitted not only works for heat-preservation, but also for healthcare
- 99% high thermal efficient infrared element
- Flat-faced design is more efficient and longer lasting than conical design
- Radiates fast, stable, and long-lasting heating up to 9,000 or 15,000 hours
- Non-lighting heater lamp will not disturb an animal’s sleep pattern
- Small size
- Solid black ceramic design
- Ideal for a humid environment
- Bonus digital thermometer has Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures
- Comes with an LR44 Battery for the thermometer
- 18-month warranty
Cons
- Must be used with an E27 ceramic socket not a plastic e27 socket or it can melt the socket
- May not provide enough heat over a larger area
4. OMAYKEY Ceramic Heat Lamp 2-pack
The ultra effective OMAYKEY Heat Lamp 2-pack provides fast heating for your pets or baby animals during the bitterly cold winter months.
Your lizard, turtle, snake, chameleon, bearded dragon or baby chicks will enjoy basking under the warming heat of the highly efficient 75-watt infrared element that is long-lasting up to 9,000 or 15,000 hours.
As the element does not emit any light, your pets will be able to maintain their normal sleeping patterns. This two-pack gives you great versatility. Use one heat lamp for your pets and use the other one in your grow tent to cultivate thriving plants.
The compact 3.94 x 2.95-inch heating lamp is made from solid, durable white ceramic. It is simple to install, just screw it into a standard porcelain E27 AC 90-120V socket inside a 40-gallon tank or a similar sized pet enclosure. Always make sure that you only use it with a porcelain socket as a plastic socket can melt.
The heat lamp is also available in black ceramic and with a thermometer.
OMAYKEY offers a 100% money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty on the heat lamp.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Very affordable price
- Solid, durable white ceramic
- Compact design
- Highly energy efficient and effective infrared element
- Long-lasting heat up to 9000-15,000 hours
- Emits no light
- 24-hour heat source is great for reptiles and amphibians or baby chicks
- Can be used for plants in a grow tent
- Simple to install
- Available in black ceramic and with a bonus thermometer
- 100% money-back guarantee
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- A bit smaller than the advertised picture
- Must be used with a porcelain socket, because the plastic socket can melt
5. theBlueStone Ceramic Heat Lamp
Are you a reptile enthusiast? The theBlueStone Heat Lamp is specifically designed for a snake or lizards’ unique environment.
As reptiles and amphibians have a poikilotherm system that constantly changes their body temperature to the surrounding environment, the heat lamp will provide your baby or sick reptiles with the right level of heating in winter temperatures.
Its 99% thermally-efficient 250-watt infrared heat emitter produces between 0.75-1000 microwaves and raises the temperature to 62.5 to 89.5° Fahrenheit, to create a quick and stable heating source in a big tank. The heat emitter does not produce any light so it will not interrupt their normal sleeping habits.
Featuring a durable black ceramic design, the large 23.5 x 15.5 x 15.5-inch lamp is suitable for a wet environment but not for water tanks. It needs to be used with a 110-120 volt porcelain socket. You can also use this heat lamp for birds, chickens or other types of pets.
TheBlueStone also makes a mini 50-watt bulb that is just right for smaller pet tanks.
The heat lamp is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Specifically designed for reptiles
- Can be used for birds, chickens or other types of pets
- Super-sized 250-watt bulb
- Ideal for a larger reptile tank
- Solid black ceramic
- 99% thermally-efficient 250-watt infrared heating emitter
- Quick and stable 24-hour heating source
- Emits no light
- Long lifespan up to 20,000 hours
- Suitable for a wet environment
- Also available in a mini 50-watt bulb
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Can take a while to heat up
- Can give off a slight burning smell if used with a plastic fixture
- Not designed for a small area or water tanks
6. Fluker’s Ceramic Heat Lamp for Reptiles
If you have bearded dragons or green tree frogs, the Fluker’s Heat Lamp will keep their terrarium at the optimal cozy temperature so they can thrive.
Your pet may be susceptible to digestive problems, infections or breeding behavior if their environment is inadequate. The Fluker’s 100-watt ceramic emitter is the perfect 24-hour heating solution for your unique desert or tropical pet.
Its large, durable white ceramic circular emitter directs the appropriate amount of super warm radiated infrared heat into your pet’s living area, and its element lasts up to an amazing 25,000 hours. Once you install it in your pet’s tank, you will soon find your reptile basking underneath its comforting warmth. As the element provides heat without bright, blinding light, your pet will enjoy its normal sleeping patterns.
The heat lamp is very easy to set up. You can either plug the lamp to a suitable porcelain socket or use the Flukers Repta-Clamp lamp with a dimmable switch which is sold separately. A standard “light timer” is available at hardware stores and can be used to turn off the heat emitter in the evening and back on again in the morning to create a more natural environment.
The heat lamp comes in a 1-pack and a 2-pack.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Perfect for tropical or desert reptiles or amphibians
- Large durable 100-watt white ceramic heat emitter
- Ideal for heating a 40-gallon tank
- Amazingly long-lasting 250,000 heating element
- 24 hour super warm efficient infrared heat
- Emits no light
- Establishes an appropriate environmental temperature range for reptiles
- Easy to install to a suitable porcelain socket
- Designed for use with Fluker’s Repta-Clamp Lamp with a dimmable switch
- Can be used with a standard “light timer”
- Available in a 1-pack or two pack
Cons
- Not ideal for larger tanks
7. Zoo Med Aquatic Turtle Heat Lamp
Your aquatic turtles or other water-based pets will love basking under the Zoo Med Heat Lamp.
This all-in-one dual lighting/heat lamp combo offers you maximum 24-hour day and night heating and lighting convenience. Your turtle will enjoy a natural daylight environment and snug warmth throughout the bitter winter season.
The included splashproof polished aluminum 6 x 6 x 7.5-inch deep dome light fixture increases light and heat output by up to 30%, so it is very energy efficient.
Easy to install, the heat lamp comes with its own metal hanging stand. Its user-friendly design includes a ceramic socket that accommodates both incandescent and fluorescent lamps up to 100 watts, and a 6-foot cord with an in-line on/off switch.
Zoo Med has your pet’s safety in mind as the extra-long dome design extends well beyond the lamp’s face to prevent the lamp from sticking out and stops your pet from making accidental contact with the bulb.
The heat lamp comes with a Turtle Tuff long-lasting 2,500 hour 50-watt halogen basking lamp.
Zoo Med offers a 1-year warranty on the heat lamp combo.
Pros
- High quality
- Excellent value for money
- Very affordable price
- All-in-one dual lighting and heating combo
- Perfect for all aquatic turtles
- Polished aluminum mini deep dome interior increases light and heat output by up to 30%
- Highly energy efficient
- Extra-long deep-dome design
- Bonus Turtle Tuff 50 watt halogen basking lamp
- Suitable for a 20-gallon tank
- Long-lasting 2500-hour bulb
- Ceramic screw socket accommodates both incandescent and fluorescent reptile lamps up to 100 watts
- 6-foot power cord with an in-line on/off switch
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- No dimmable switch
- Metal handing stand is not very strong
- Not to be used with a plastic socket
Our Top Pick for the Best Heat Lamp
Our top pick for the best heat lamp is the BYB Heat Lamp. We highly recommend this impressive heat lamp for any pet lover or people who are raising baby chicks or goats.
BYB is widely known as the lighting experts and their dedication to creating quality products means their smart energy-efficient long-lasting ceramic infrared heat emitter is safe to use for your pet. Whatever type of animals you are caring for, they will have a warm and comfortable environment to snuggle down into during the bitter winter season.
