Want to have the perfect lighting for your dinner?
We bring to you the top four brands of smart dimmer switches that we use today. With these smart switches, you’ll have the full ability to control all of the lights in your home via your smartphone. And you’ll also have the power to connect them to other smart home devices too, like Alexa and Google assistant.
Below, we’ve outlined the best in our opinion 3-way smart dimmer switches for you to choose from. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump right into a specific section.
What is a 3-Way Smart Dimmer Switch?
Simply put, a 3-way smart dimmer switch has three terminals. With a 3-way dimmer switch, you can control the lights from two or more locations.
Like at either end of a hallway, or in a stairwell, or even in a large room where you have multiple access points. It’s quite simple to install too, needing just a few tools and a useful wiring diagram, you can add a custom light to any room in your house.
With so many smart lighting products available, including bulbs and plug-in switches on the market today, some can connect directly to your Wi-Fi network, while others connect to a smart-home hub using wireless technologies such as Z-Wave or Zigbee.
Automating your lights will not only make your life easier, but will also save on energy, cut down on costs, and even boost your home’s security. You can easily schedule lights as needed for your morning routine, and dim lights as a signal to get ready for bed.
Before You Get a 3-Way Smart Dimmer Switch
When buying your new 3-way smart dimmer switch, make sure to check the type of light bulbs you have. Some dimmers are not compatible with LED light bulbs and only support fluorescent, halogen or incandescent lights. So, heads-up!
Using LED lights with the incorrect dimmer may cause incomplete dimming, humming, or any other performance problems, and you don’t want that.
Also, find out whether or not you’ll require a neutral wire, as without it, the circuit can be broken whenever the switch is in the off position.
#1 Smart Dimmer Switch 3-Way — Lutron Caseta Wireless
When it comes to installation, one of the major benefits of the Lutron Caseta Wireless — the dimmers don’t require a neutral wire. But even if you have a neutral wire, you can still use the Lutron Caseta Wireless system, which is perfect for both older and newer homes of up to 2,500 square feet in size. And since the Lutron dimmers are also compatible with dimmable LEDs, halogen, and incandescent bulbs, there’s really no need to buy any special bulbs. Saving on money, and eliminating the stress of having to replace them.
It’s also worth to note that, Caseta Wireless dimmers work well when paired with Caseta Pico remotes. With the Pico remotes, you can turn any switch into a 3-way switch without having to rewire it. You can simply mount the Pico remote onto the wall or use a pedestal to place it on a table and enjoy simple multiple location control making it easy for you to dim the lights from anywhere in the house. It’s a great tool to use when watching a movie, so you don’t have to move from the couch to dim down the lights!
Also, if you already have a 3-way switch, and would like to use the Caseta smart switch dimmers, you can simply wire the circuit so that only one switch in the 3-way circuit is controlling the on/off function of the lights. On the other side of the circuit, you are going to remove the old switch, connect the wires in the junction box and install a wall-plate with the Caseta Pico remote instead of the old switch. It will look exactly the same as standard light switch on the other side of the circuit except no wiring is required whatsoever.
If you don’t have a neutral wire, make sure to check our take on Top 3 No Neutral Smart Switches.
#2 Smart Dimmer Switch 3-Way — Leviton WiFi Smart Dimmer
Leviton WiFi Smart dimmer works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Nest making a very compatible choice for your smart home.
Because the dimmer features Alexa-support, you can control your home lights with your voice, assuming you have an Echo. There’s no hub required! All you have to do is to replace your existing light switch. The Leviton app is also simple to use, as well as connecting the lights to the app. Just make sure to follow the instructions when putting the light switches into pairing mode when connecting it.
By using the voice control feature, you can schedule the lights to turn on or off whenever you want or create fun lighting scenes by asking Alexa or Google Assistant. Have your home greet you all brightly lit up when returning from work, or create the perfect ambiance for your date night. You also have the power to control up to 20 residences, 99 smart devices, 50 rooms, 50 scenes, 50 activities and schedules per account. How amazing is that?
Keep in mind, that Leviton smart dimmer does require a neutral wire. It may be important to take a picture of the existing wiring before pulling it out of the old switch so that you’re able to identify the wiring required. It’s also a good idea to mark the wires so that you know what goes where on the new switches .
#3 Smart Dimmer Switch 3-Way — GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus
With the GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus Smart Dimmer you can transform any home into a smart home. You can schedule, adjust and control the brightness of any dimmable light creating the perfect light to match your mood whenever you wish. While also being compatible with Alexa ( though it requires an Alexa supported Hub like Wink or SmartThings) allowing you full voice control from absolutely anywhere. Compared to other Z-Wave classic models, the in-wall Z-Wave Plus Smart Dimmer offers energy efficiency with a 250% faster processor, 50% more wireless range, and 400% more memory! For more information about the Z-Wave Plus technology and its benefits compared to the standard Z-Wave protocol check out our take on Z-Wave vs. Z-Wave Plus — What’s the Difference?.
Keep in mind that the GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus does require a neutral wire. Yet it’s easy to install. No need for extra wiring. Plus, you can use it in single- or multi-switch applications. You just need additional add-on switch for the other end of the 3-way setup, like GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus Smart Light Switch.
#4 Smart Dimmer Switch 3-Way — Honeywell Z-Wave Plus
With Honeywell Z-Wave Plus Smart Light Dimmer, you can manually control your lighting at the switch, just like any normal switch at home. Just tap the switch up to turn the lights on, down to turn them off, or hold in either direction to customize the brightness to your preference. This ensures that even if your hub is currently unavailable, or you don’t have access to your smartphone, anyone can still access the lights with no confusion. With a full-range range of dimming (0-100%), you’ll have the perfect lighting for any occasion.
You’ll also have the ability to control your lights from anywhere via any mobile device, computer or Z-Wave enabled remote through a Z-Wave certified gateway or hub.
Keep in mind that a neutral wire is required, though the installation process itself is quite simple, and should take no longer than 15 minutes. If you do need help with that, you can contact the tech support team for an added peace of mind.
Best 3-Way Smart Dimmer Switches — Our Thoughts
From the three options outlined above, it’s easy to see that Lutron Caseta Wireless is the best choice. It’s compatible with dimmable LEDs, incandescent, and halogen bulbs, its also easy to install, and simple to use. While also integrating with most smart-home systems, such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest, and IFTTT. Similarly to the Lutron Caseta Wireless, Leviton WiFi smart dimmer also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Nest. And it doesn’t require a hub, additionally, the Leviton app is also simple to navigate.
While the Honeywell Z-Wave Smart Dimmer switch comes at a more affordable price, it might be a nice budget-friendly solution for smart home lighting. As well as having the function of controlling your lights manually too, ensuring that you’ll be able to dim your lights without any type of hub or device.
I also like that the GE Enbrighten Z-Wave includes the Z-Wave Plus technology, offering a significantly increased range (up to 150m), 250% more bandwidth power, and a 50% improvement in battery life!
Last update on 2024-04-17 at 21:13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
