After testing, we’ve added six dimmer models to the competition and other great in-wall smart switches and dimmers section.
People might take light switches for granted because they are so boring (but not to us!).However, smart switches are more convenient and add a bit of glamour, allowing you to control the lighting throughout the house via an app or voice command – whether you’re at the office, on vacation, or in bed for the night.We recommend the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220 because it’s easy to use, affordable, you can install multiple in your home, and it’s designed to support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT.
Installing a dimmer switch requires tools and confidence in handling wires.It’s not complicated, but some people might be better off hiring help.
Smart switches are bulky due to the addition of electronics.Confirm the size of the switch box.If your box is crowded with wires, choose a switch that uses terminals instead of wires.
Older houses may not have a neutral wire (usually white) in the switch box; if you don’t have a neutral wire, be sure to use a switch you don’t need.
Never pair smart bulbs with smart dimmers.Most are not compatible, so will flicker, flicker, strobe, or buzz.
This reliable, affordable dimmer switch uses Wi-Fi so no hub is required and is easy to use in both the switch and the app.
The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220 connects directly to your home Wi-Fi network, includes three buttons (for dimming and on/off), and looks great on the wall.The app allows you to create automatic schedules and control switch groups.It also lets you program the dimmer to respond to how you touch it — for example, a long press or double tap can instantly turn a switch on or off, instruct it to fade in and off, or tell it to go to a preferred Preset dimming level.The dimmer isn’t available in a three-way configuration, but the company offers a 3-way KS230 dimmer kit with a 3-way HS210 switch, as well as the single-pole Kasa Smart Wi-Fi light switch HS200.
This traditional rocker dimmer is reliable and inexpensive.The companion app has some quirks, but the Switch works well with Wi-Fi and is also compatible with some smart platforms.
The Monoprice Stitch Smart In-Wall On/Off Light Switch with Dimmer also features built-in Wi-Fi.It’s a great option for anyone who wants reliable and inexpensive but doesn’t like the three-button layout of the Kasa Smart HS220 dimmer.We prefer the Kasa app and some of the extras it offers, but the Stitch is easy to operate, allows scheduling based on various conditions (including weather), and works with multiple smart home platforms.If you don’t need dimming, we also recommend the slightly cheaper Monoprice Stitch Smart In-Wall On/Off Light Switch.
This traditional joystick works with all Z-Wave hubs including SmartThings, Ring, Wink, Vivint, Honeywell and HomeSeer.It’s also the easiest to use of the Z-Wave models we’ve tested.
If you already have a smart home that supports Z-Wave devices, choose the Enbrighten In-Wave Z-Wave Smart Dimmer.It requires a Z-Wave smart home hub and is compatible with many of the most popular hub models, including those from SmartThings, Ring, Wink, Vivint, Honeywell, and HomeSeer.It’s also the easiest-to-use and cheapest Z-Wave dimmer we’ve tested, offering remote control, custom scenes, and scheduled usage so you can turn your lights on and off at set times of day.
In addition to connecting via a reliable network, this model is suitable for many smart home devices, does not require a neutral wire for installation, and has an easy-to-use multi-button keypad.
The Lutron Caséta Wireless In-Wall Smart Dimmer uses the proprietary Clear Connect wireless network, which is especially useful if you have Wi-Fi dead spots in your home.The app lets you easily create rooms, scenes, and automatic schedules, though it’s more expensive than our other picks, and specifically doesn’t have the ability to turn your lights on to the previously used settings.What makes the Lutron Caséta dimmer stand out is that it doesn’t require the installation of a neutral wire (which is often lacking in older homes), and it works with many popular smart home systems.Caséta does require a hub; we prefer the Lutron Caséta Smart Bridge.Unless you already own a compatible hub, we recommend purchasing a starter kit that includes one.
Plug-in smart sockets enable smart functions such as scheduling, remote control and voice commands in non-smart devices such as lamps, fans or Christmas lights.
After testing several new smart LED bulbs and testing our existing options for a long time, we now recommend the Wyze bulb color.
This reliable, affordable dimmer switch uses Wi-Fi so no hub is required and is easy to use in both the switch and the app.
This traditional rocker dimmer is reliable and inexpensive.The companion app has some quirks, but the Switch works well with Wi-Fi and is also compatible with some smart platforms.
This traditional joystick works with all Z-Wave hubs including SmartThings, Ring, Wink, Vivint, Honeywell and HomeSeer.It’s also the easiest to use of the Z-Wave models we’ve tested.
In addition to connecting via a reliable network, this model is suitable for many smart home devices, does not require a neutral wire for installation, and has an easy-to-use multi-button keypad.
When I first started testing smart home devices over 20 years ago, the only smart home device at the time was the X10.I’ve been covering smart home devices for Wirecutter since 2016, and I’ve got everything from smart light bulbs, smart plugs, and water leak sensors to smart video doorbells, indoor security cameras, and security systems.I also write technical articles for The New York Times, Wired, and Men’s Health, among others.
Although I tested each switch myself for hours, my husband, a licensed electrician, did every installation.He has installed thousands of switches and was able to help me assess the build quality of each installation and each switch; it also made swapping out switches 10 times faster than I could do.If you’re new or unfamiliar with wiring, it’s best to have a professional do it.
No one likes to enter a dark house.Smart lighting allows you to turn your lights on and off almost anywhere using your smartphone, as well as use an app to set timer-like schedules so your lights automatically turn on and off based on the time of day, among other variables.There are plenty of smart lighting options (such as bulbs and plug-in switches), but an in-wall smart light switch is a more permanent fixture that lets you control one or more lights on a circuit.
Most smart switches are easy to replace (although you should hire an electrician if you’re not used to turning off the power and fiddling around inside the wall).Smart dimmers can help you save on electricity bills because you often set light levels lower than full on.
Most wireless switches connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network, but some require a smart home hub or proprietary bridge to set up a separate wireless network.In-wall wireless switches can control one or more lights at a time and can often be integrated with other smart devices.So you can trigger your lights with motion sensors, smart locks, cameras, and even your voice.
When you’re working with modern LED lighting and dimmers (smart or regular), one problem that often comes up is humming or flickering, which can be maddening — especially since these switches can be very expensive.We spoke to Lutron’s director of building science, Brent Protzman, who explained that LED bulbs are more prone to problems.”The behavior of the electronic drivers within the LED lights is fast and immediate to daily fluctuations in the home’s electricity supply,” he said.”Some LED bulbs may also emit an audible hum due to the vibration of their components, and the level of vibration (hum) depends on the design of the LED.” So if you experience hum when using a new switch , before tearing off the switch (and hair), try changing the bulb for a better fit.Or check the dimmer on the company’s website or tech support before buying to confirm that the dimmer is compatible with your bulb or fixture.
We’ve been following reviews and roundups of in-wall smart dimmers and switches for years.For the model we’re going to consider testing, it needs to be wireless and designed to be wall mounted.All dimmers are switches too, we prefer dimmers as they are better for setting moods and saving power.We consider all the following features:
Prices for these switches vary widely, but most are $20 to $100, and the dimmer and Alexa-integrated models are at the higher end of the range.
My husband is a licensed electrician who installed every model.Some switches have wires attached; others only have terminals.They are equally easy to install.However, if you have a tight wall mount, consider buying a switch with terminals, as this will help limit the wiring you need to cram into the switch box.
Because of the extra technology built into it, the wireless switch that goes into the wall is bulkier than a regular light switch.That doesn’t mean you’ll need to get out a handsaw, but it does install a little harder than your average light switch swap.Most of the models we reviewed for this guide require a neutral wire.If you have an older switch, this wire may not be in the existing box.If this is the case, you’ll have to buy a switch that doesn’t require a neutral wire or hire an electrician to rewire the entire switch configuration (you might also consider placing a fully wireless in-wall switch in that location).
Even with the larger switch body and wiring requirements, my in-house electrician only takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete each installation.This includes turning off power to the circuit breaker and removing the old switch.
We tested each switch separately for at least two weeks (most of them longer, some years) using the same LED bulbs (our runner-up, the Feit Electric 60 W equivalent daylight dimmable A19 bulb).All switches allow you to turn the lights on and off remotely, as well as set schedules using each device’s respective smartphone app.Dimmer adds the option to trigger connected lights to dim at a certain time of day.All models we tested turned the lights on and off without delay when we actually touched the switches and used the app controls (except where noted in the competition).
To test remote functionality and features, we used the app on iPhone SE, iPad, and Samsung Galaxy J7 running Android Oreo whenever possible.We also used the Amazon Echo Dot, Echo Plus, and Echo Show, as well as HomePod Minis and Google Mini, when testing voice-command-compatible devices.
Wirecutter takes security and privacy seriously and investigates as much as possible about how the companies whose products we recommend handle customer data.As part of our review process for in-wall smart switches, we looked at all the security and data privacy practices behind our choices.We also contacted the companies that produced our top picks to answer an extensive questionnaire (see Privacy and Security: Our Top Picks Comparison).
All of our options require a password to use their companion app.However, none of them offer two-factor authentication, a general system that gives you a pretty good idea of who you are when you log in by sending your phone a verification code needed to log into an app.
Data sharing is a bigger issue, but it’s often what makes these devices work better.For example, a company might share your smartphone’s location to trigger smart light switches based on sunrise and sunset times.If you’re not interested in these types of features, you can turn off location sharing in your smartphone’s settings.All the companies we selected stated that they never share data for marketing purposes.However, if you choose to connect to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, or IFTTT, you must follow their rules.(Apple says HomeKit limits data collection, isn’t used for targeted advertising, and asks users before allowing data to be shared.)
Wirecutter tests all of its options over time, including tracking any hardware and software events that may arise.If we discover any privacy or security concerns with any of the models we choose, we will report them here and update or change our recommendations as necessary.
This reliable, affordable dimmer switch uses Wi-Fi so no hub is required and is easy to use in both the switch and the app.
After more than a year of long-term testing, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer HS220 is still the best smart dimmer.It’s reliable, easy to use, and affordable enough that you can reasonably install smart dimmers all over the house.The Kasa app is one of the friendliest we’ve tested, with clear controls for presets, schedules, and timers.It was also responsive in our tests, allowing you to combine the Switch with other Kasa devices like smart plugs and smart bulbs, and set up integrations with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT.
The Kasa Smart HS220 is a standard unipolar dimmer (meaning it can only control one circuit from one location) and we found it to be very simple to use – just what you want from a light switch.No need to try to figure out what the buttons do, and no need to root around iOS or Android apps.The actual switch has three buttons: one large button for on/off and two small buttons for adjusting the dimming.(In addition to single-pole dimmers, TP-Link also manufactures the single-pole Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch HS200, 3-Way KS230 Dimmer Kit, and 3-Way HS210 Switch.)
When the switch is pressed, a thin LED light on top of the dimmer button will briefly illuminate to show the dimming level; it will then turn off after a few seconds.When turned off, the HS220 has a faint circular LED in the center of the large button, which is bright enough to be seen in a dark room but won’t keep you awake at night.You can dim the switch on or off by going into the app or calling Alexa or Google Assistant (“Alexa, dim the mudroom to 25%”).The Kasa Smart HS220 remembers the dimming level, so if you turn off the light when it’s dimmed to 50%, for example, the next time it fires, the switch will turn on to the previous setting (unless you’ve scheduled it to do otherwise).
The Kasa app also allows for a level of customization we haven’t seen anywhere else at this price.It includes options to set the dimming fade speed on and off, as well as how long you want the fade to last (four preset speeds range from moments to seconds).These controls are useful; for example, you might want to flip a switch and leave the room without having to fumble in the dark.The app also gives you the option to program a custom action for the switch depending on whether you double-tap the switch or long-press it, so it instantly turns on and off, fades out, or goes to a preset dimming level.For example, we set up a double tap to turn the light on to 50%, and a long press to fade it out after a full minute.
One thing we really like is the dimming calibration feature (you can find it at the bottom of the device settings menu in the Kasa app).If you’ve ever used smart switches to dim your lights and thought they didn’t look dim enough, or if you’ve experienced flickering, this is how you solved your problem.Open Settings and drag your finger across the dimmer bar to find the lowest level the bulb will light on.When done, click Test.The lights will then go from the lowest setting to the brightest.The process should be smooth without any flickering.If you see flickering, you may need to adjust the levels, or if the bulb is not compatible, you may need to replace the bulb.
We tested the HS220 at various dimming levels using Android and iOS apps, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.We also combined it with the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch HS200, which lets us turn on multiple lights with a single tap or voice command in the app.We also created an Alexa routine to trigger a Kasa switch when someone approaches our Arlo Video Doorbell (our doorbell of choice), and we paired it with IFTTT to turn on when someone walks past our Wyze Cam v3 (outdoor camera) .In all our tests it worked flawlessly and was responsive.
Confusingly, Kasa has confirmed that retailers are selling multiple versions of this dimmer model, with some users reporting that one version produces a slight creaking noise when the stick is physically operated.It’s not uncommon for companies to update their hardware without notice.If you encounter this problem and are bothered by it, we recommend that you return the dimmer to the retailer or contact Kasa directly, who offer a two-year warranty.
The Kasa Smart HS220 supports up to 300 watts of power, while our other picks can support twice as much.Why is this power important?This may be okay if you use low wattage LED bulbs (the equivalent of a 75 watt LED bulb consumes about 10 watts) or a lamp with only two or three incandescent bulbs.But if you wish to use the same switch to control multiple high power lights, you should verify that it can support your needs.
Like many of the switches and dimmers on our list, the HS220 requires a neutral wire.This means it can be a problem installing it in homes with old electrical wiring (homes built before 2011 don’t need to have a neutral wire for the switch).If you have an older house or aren’t sure if it has a neutral wire, we recommend our upgrade pick, the Lutron Caséta Wireless In-Wall Smart Dimmer.
This traditional rocker dimmer is reliable and inexpensive.The companion app has some quirks, but the Switch works well with Wi-Fi and is also compatible with some smart platforms.
If our top pick is sold out, or you prefer a traditional rocker-style switch, we recommend the single-pole Monoprice Stitch Smart In-Wall On/Off Light Switch With Dimmer.It also connects directly to Wi-Fi without the need for a hub, and works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.Stitch is easy to set up and control, but it doesn’t offer as much customization as Kasa.Additionally, we ran into a few app quirks that pushed it below our top picks.