Leopard Gecko Temperature & Humidity Guide
Last updated: · Reviewed against sources listed below
The right leopard gecko temperature is a warm surface of about 90–95°F, a cool side of 70–77°F and nights of 65–75°F, with humidity around 30–40% and a humid hide for shedding. Check your readings with the tool above.
Your readings
| Reading | Yours | Target | Status |
|---|
This is our temperature and humidity checker, preset for leopard geckos.
Leopard Gecko temperature and humidity chart
| Zone | Target range | How to measure |
|---|---|---|
| Basking spot | 90–95°F32–35°C | Infrared thermometer on the surface |
| Cool side | 70–77°F21–25°C | Digital probe at floor level |
| Night low | 65–75°F18–24°C | Digital probe, after lights out |
| Humidity | 30–40% | Digital hygrometer at animal level |
Why belly heat matters
In the wild, leopard geckos shelter under warm rocks and in burrows. They absorb heat from the ground as well as from above, which helps them digest food. That is why the temperature of the warm-side floor, especially inside the warm hide, is the key number for leopard geckos.
If the warm side is too cool, digestion slows and your gecko may refuse food or regurgitate. If it is too hot and there is no cool retreat, your gecko can overheat.
How to measure
- Warm surface: place a digital thermometer probe on the floor inside the warm hide, or use an infrared thermometer on the surface.
- Cool side: a second probe on the floor of the cool hide.
- Humidity: a digital hygrometer in the open enclosure, plus a quick check that the humid hide is damp.
Leopard geckos are most active in the evening, so check night temperatures after lights out as well.
Humidity and shedding
Leopard geckos are desert animals, so overall humidity of about 30–40% is right. The humid hide provides the higher humidity they need to shed. A healthy gecko sheds in one piece every few weeks when young and every month or two as an adult, and usually eats the shed.
Stuck shed on toes, the tail tip or around the eyes is the most common sign that humidity is too low. Keep the humid hide damp, and soak your gecko briefly in lukewarm water if shed is stuck. Never pull at shed that has not loosened.
UVB and lighting
Leopard geckos are crepuscular, meaning they are active at dawn and dusk. They can live without UVB if you dust insects with calcium plus vitamin D3, but low-level UVB with plenty of shade lets them make their own D3 and may improve wellbeing. If you add UVB, reduce the D3 in your supplement schedule. Keep a regular day–night cycle of about 12 hours of light.
Signs your gecko is too hot or too cold
- Too cold: sluggish, not eating, spending all its time pressed to the warm spot, regurgitating meals.
- Too hot: always in the cool hide, gaping, restless at the glass during the day.
See a reptile vet if your gecko is losing weight, has repeated stuck shed around the eyes, has swollen limbs or a soft jaw, or seems weak even with correct temperatures.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a leopard gecko tank be?
Aim for a warm surface of about 90–95°F under the heat source, a cool side of 70–77°F and nights of 65–75°F. Measure the floor inside the hides, because that is where your gecko spends most of its time. Run every heat source on a thermostat.
Do leopard geckos need heat at night?
Usually not. Night temperatures down to about 65°F are fine. If your room gets colder, use a heat source that gives no light, such as a heat mat or ceramic heat emitter, on a thermostat. Avoid bulbs that give off light at night, which disturb the gecko’s natural rhythm.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Leopard Geckos: Care
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Management and Husbandry of Reptiles
- Baines F. et al. (2016). How much UV-B does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 4(1): 42–63
- ReptiFiles — Leopard Gecko Temperatures & Humidity
- Arcadia Reptile — ShadeDweller UVB lamps (low-output UVB for crepuscular species)
Where sources disagree we show the range they share. See our sources and methodology for how every number is checked.