With that in mind, we researched dozens of dimmer switches, considering functionality, design, brightness range, ease of installation, and smart home features. Our best overall pick is the Lutron Maestro LED+ Dimmer Switch, thanks to its versatile design and convenient tap controls, including a handy fade-to-off feature. Here are the best dimmer switches. The Lutron Maestro LED+ Dimmer caters to different needs and preferences, is compatible with single-pole or multi-location dimming applications, and offers 250 different brightness levels. Its flexible, user-friendly, and adaptable design earns it the top spot on our list. This dimmer switch is a standout largely thanks to its intuitive controls. A rocker along the side allows you to change the brightness level of the light, but the dimmer also relies on tap controls to let you do more beyond adjusting the brightness range. One tap will set your lighting to your last-used brightness or turn your lights off, while a double tap will bring your lighting to maximum brightness. If you don’t want to turn the light off instantaneously, press and hold the switch to activate the fade-to-off feature. With this feature, you can program how long it takes the light to shut down, ranging from 10 to 60 seconds. This dimmer switch is compatible with LED and CFL light bulbs of up to 150 watts or incandescent and halogen light bulbs up to 600 watts. Unfortunately, you’ll have to buy the wallplate separately. On the plus side, you can trust this dimmer will look great on your walls, thanks to its low-profile design and availability in an array of colors. Price at time of publish: $42 The GE dimmer switch actually comes with two different knobs—white and light almond—to match common fixture colors and removable tabs for multi-gang installation. The knob rotates to turn your light on and off (there’s no push option). However, some users report experiencing flickering when dimming certain bulbs to low levels. Price at time of publish: $10 This dimmer switch is incredibly easy to use. The rocker turns lights on/off to your favorite light level, and the small slider on the side dims and brightens the light. As for installation, it takes as little as 15 minutes (no neutral wire required), and it even comes in several colors to match your home’s other switches. Price at time of publish: $33 The Contour dimmer has a smooth-sliding knob, and it comes in a wide range of colors to match your decor. It doesn’t require a neutral wire, making it easier to install in homes of all ages, and the brand’s patented technology allows you to optimize the dim range of your bulb to prevent flickering. Price at time of publish: $25 You can only install the Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch in single-pole applications, and it does require a neutral wire, so it may not work in older homes. Thanks to its smart functionality, the switch can be put on an automatic schedule, and there’s even a “gentle off” feature that gradually fades the lights, giving you time to get into bed or leave the room. Price at time of publish: $23 The WeMo Dimmer offers a variety of useful features, including Night Mode, which automatically uses a lower brightness setting during certain times—like when you go to the bathroom at night. It also has an Away Mode, which turns lights on and off randomly to make it appear like you’re home. It’s fairly easy to install, but keep in mind that this switch requires a neutral wire, which older homes may lack. Price at time of publish: $40 Because it’s wireless, this product is solely compatible with Philips Hue smart light bulbs. You can use this switch to dim, brighten, and turn on and off up to 10 Hue lights at a time. The battery-powered unit will last a minimum of two years and offers even more smart functionality when connected to a Hue Bridge. Price at time of publish: $28 With this dimmer switch, you can turn your lights on and off via the app from anywhere via the compatible app—and it doesn’t even require you to set up a separate hub. It’s also compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings to control your lights with voice commands. You can turn the light on or off by clicking the button on the switch, too. You can set timers for when the lights go on and off, and it even has a handy sunrise and sunset simulation feature, which allows you to set your light to turn on and gradually increase in brightness in the morning or gradually decrease in brightness until it turns off at night. Price at time of publish: $37
Control
While manual dimmer adjustment (in the form of a sliding lever) gives way to remote-control and app-controlled options, some people prefer the reliability of using a wall-mounted switch. However, today’s LED dimmer switches make it possible to turn the lights up or down from the comfort of your couch, and that’s a convenience you may ultimately want. Whether you choose a wall-mounted slider or a remote-controlled system, dimmer switches allow you to create the ideal atmosphere for work, play, and rest. “During the day, dimmers can be increased to 50 percent or more to add a layer of ambient lighting to any natural light that you may have coming into the room,” says Johnson. “In the evenings, particularly in any areas where you may be working (i.e. cooking dinner for the kiddos), we recommend keeping the dimmers at 100 percent to maximize the amount of light coming from your fixtures to brighten the room and help avoid any unnecessary eye strain. Overnight, we recommend keeping dimmers on their lowest setting to act as a night light in the common areas of your home.”
Smart Home Features
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, who is a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. While researching products for the article, she spoke to Joel Worthington, President of Mr. Electric, for insights on buying and installing dimmer switches in your home. Based on his guidance, she selected switches that were compatible with a wide range of bulb types. Whenever possible, she also prioritized products that could be used in both single-pole and 3-way applications and didn’t require a neutral wire—both of which offer more versatility in installation. The basics steps to installing a dimmer switch are as follows: – Turn off the circuit breaker to the switch and light fixture that you’ll be working on, and use a voltage detector to ensure power has been cut before touching any wires. – Remove the switch plate cover and the old switch, detaching the circuit wires. – To install a single-pole switch, connect the green ground wire to a green or exposed copper wire in the wall box, twisting ends together with a wire connector nut. Connect each dimmer wire (black) to the house wires separately. These wires could be black, white with black markings, or red. Tighten the ends together with wire nut(s). – Put the new switch back into the electrical box, and then turn the circuit breaker back on to test the switch. “Installing a dimmer switch is easy but requires a little bit of forethought,” explains Worthington. “Before ejecting your current light switches, do your homework. Not all bulbs can be dimmed, including many CFLs and LEDs—so be sure to check bulb boxes for specifications before purchasing. In addition, ceiling fans require special dimmer switches to prevent current fluctuations from damaging the motor.” Emma Phelps offered additional assistance with this article by connecting with Bryan Johnson, CEO of Shades of Light, to learn more about the benefits of installing dimmer switches and the aesthetics they offer to elevate a home.
