The 7 Best Dimmer Switches of 2024

Best Overall

Lutron Maestro LED+ Dimmer Switch

$33 At Amazon $35 At Home Depot $43 At Walmart

The Lutron Maestro LED+ Dimmer features convenient tap controls with a large rocker for adjusting the illumination level. Plus, it's compatible with most types of bulbs, and it’s even rated to work with multiple types of bulbs on one circuit. It’s user-friendly, flexible, and available in a variety of colors to match your decor, which is why we recommend it for the vast majority of applications that call for a dimmer switch.

This switch uses a combination of tap controls with a physical rocker switch, which makes it very easy to use. Tapping the switch turns the circuit on and off, while the large rocker raises and lowers the illumination level. This is a huge improvement over traditional rocker dimmer switches that usually have a small slider to dim and brighten the lights, and it’s perfect for applications that call for frequent adjustments to the illumination level.

Lutron specifies that they tested this switch with thousands of bulbs from dozens of brands to assure a high level of compatibility, and it’s also rated to work with different kinds of bulbs on the same circuit. That means you can use this switch to control a mixture of incandescent, CFL (compact fluorescent lamp), and LED lights without any annoying buzzing or flickering.

This is primarily a single pole switch, which means it’s easiest to use in a configuration where it doesn’t share control of the lights with any other switches. It is possible to use in 3-way installations with a mechanical switch, but that takes a little extra work. It requires different wiring from a traditional dimmer switch, so you’ll have to discard your preexisting knowledge and pay close attention to the instructions if you’re familiar with how 3-way wiring is supposed to work. The hidden benefit is that this switch is actually designed for multi-location dimming in up to 10 locations if you use Maestro Companion dimmer switches instead of traditional dimmer or mechanical switches.

_{Switch Style: Rocker, Tap | Operating Voltage: 120V | Circuit Type: Single pole, 3-way/multi location (with Maestro Companion) | Mounting Type: Wall mount}

Best for LED Lights

Cloudy Bay In-Wall Dimmer Switch

$14 At Amazon $25 At Walmart View On Cloudybaylighting.com

The Cloudy Bay in Wall Dimmer Switch for LED Lights is a toggle switch with a small dimming slider, and it functions in both single pole and 3-way installations. The dimming slider is a little on the small side, but it doesn’t get in the way of the switch. It’s fully compatible with all Cloudy Bay LED light fixtures right out of the box, and it also includes a trim dial that allows you to adjust it to work well with other fixtures and dimmable LED bulbs. It comes with everything you need to complete the installation, including screws, wire nuts, and even a decorative wall plate.

This dimmer switch works with compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs in addition to LEDs, but we recommend it for LEDs in particular due to the inclusion of the trim dial that allows you to fine-tune the dimming functionality. If you find that your bulbs flicker or buzz after installation, the trim dial allows you to adjust the bulbs to the minimum illumination level you’re interested in, and then tweak it until the flickering or buzzing goes away. It does require more work than most dimmer switches, but it’s worth it for the high degree of LED compatibility.

_{Switch Style: Toggle | Operating Voltage: 120V | Circuit Type: 3-way}

Best Smart

Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch HS220

$20 At Amazon $21 At Home Depot $20 At Walmart

If you already have a smart home, or you’re in the process of setting one up, this smart dimmer switch from Kasa will make an excellent addition. Installation is simplified by detailed interactive instructions in the Kasa app, it works with several smart home ecosystems, and it connects directly to your wireless network so you don’t need to worry about buying and setting up a separate hub.

The Kasa app works with both Android and iPhone, and it allows you to operate the switch remotely as long as you have internet access, so you technically don’t even need anything but this switch and your phone to get started. It does work with both Alexa and Google Home though, so you can operate the switch with voice commands if you have a compatible smart speaker. Smart home integration also lets you include the switch in daily routines, like turning the lights on or adjusting the illumination level at dusk.

The Kasa app walks you through installation, including the wiring process, which simplifies things even if you don’t have a lot of experience. It’s important to note that this switch does require a neutral wire though, so you will need to check if your home is up to code if it was built prior to 1985. It doesn’t work with Apple HomeKit either, but the Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch KS220 is essentially the same device with HomeKit support.

_{Switch Style: Push button | Operating Voltage: 110V | Circuit Type: Single pole}

Best 3-Way

Legrand 3-Way Light Dimmer

$22 At Amazon $22 At Home Depot $35 At Lowe's

This high wattage Legrand switch is ideal for 3-way lighting setups. It’s rated to work with loads up to 700W, works with both incandescent and halogen bulbs, and it doesn’t need to be derated when installed in a multi-gang application. That means it’s capable of operating at full capacity regardless of whether it's installed in its own wall box or in a multi-gang box setup. It doesn’t work with either LED or CFL bulbs, so it isn’t the right choice if you don’t plan on using either incandescent or halogen lighting.

This is a rocker switch with a large dimming slider, so it’s very easy to use. The large rocker switch has an attractive modern look, while the slider is one of the largest you’ll find paired with a rocker. The slider allows you to set your preferred illumination level, and then the lights will turn on at that level when you switch them off and on. Since it’s a physical slider, your selected illumination level remains even if the power in your home is interrupted.

One unique thing about this switch is that it comes with a color kit that includes three faceplates. That allows you to switch between white, light almond, and ivory without replacing the entire switch. Red, gray, black, dark bronze, and nickel faceplates are also available separately, so this switch gives you a lot of customization options.

_{Switch Style: Rocker | Operating Voltage: 120V | Circuit Type: 3-way}

Best 4-Way

Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer Kit

$95 At Amazon $59 At Home Depot $60 At Ace Hardware

There are no 4-way dimmer switches, but this kit from Leviton is functionally what you’re looking for if your goal is to operate and dim your lights from three or more locations. The reason 4-way dimmers aren’t possible with traditional switches is due to the way that light switch circuits work, and this kit gets around that problem by not using a traditional light switch circuit. Instead, it uses a primary switch, a companion switch, and a plug-in bridge unit that allows them to connect wirelessly.

By adding additional Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer Companion switches, you can set up virtual 3-way, 4-way, or even 5-way control over your lights. The primary switch has to be wired to the lights like a traditional dimmer, but the companion switch can be placed anywhere and doesn’t need to be connected to the main switch by physical wires. The connection is achieved wirelessly through your Wi-Fi network, so you do need to have Wi-Fi to use this kit. It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, so you can also use it to operate and dim your lights through an app on your phone or voice commands.

_{Switch Style: Rocker | Operating Voltage: 120V | Circuit Type: 3-way}

Best Rocker

Lutron Diva LED+ Dimmer Switch

$30 At Amazon $29 At Home Depot $30 At Lowe's

This understated rocker switch from Lutron doesn’t broadcast the fact that it’s also a dimmer switch. At first glance, it looks a lot like any standard Lutron rocker, allowing you to match all the switches in your home without giving up on dimmer functionality. Installation options include both single-pole and 3-way, so you can use it by itself or in conjunction with another switch.

Dimming is provided by a discrete vertical slider that sits next to the rocker, allowing you to set your desired illumination level. When you switch on the lights with the rocker, they turn on to that level of illumination. The dimmer is small and can be a little difficult to operate compared to a slide or dial dimmer, so this switch is best for applications where you don’t need to adjust the dimming level as much.

This is a very versatile dimmer, as it works with incandescent bulbs, LEDs, and compact fluorescent lights. It also includes a trim lever, which allows you to set the low end dimming range to work with your bulbs and avoid problems like flickering or buzzing. It works well with most bulbs, but Lutron does provide a compatibility tool to check if it has been tested with your brand to help ensure compatibility.

_{Switch Style: Rocker | Operating Voltage: 120V | Circuit Type: Single pole or 3-way}

Best Slide

Leviton SureSlide Slide Dimmer

$52 At Amazon $20 At Home Depot $19 At Walmart

The SureSlide from Leviton is a slide dimmer first and a light switch second, which is why it’s our favorite slide dimmer switch. Dimming is provided by a large sliding bar that’s easy to operate. It also includes a toggle switch, so you can set your desired dimming level, turn the lights off, and then return directly to your chosen illumination setting the next time you turn the lights on. It works with a variety of bulb types, including compact fluorescent, LED, and incandescent, and you can also install it in both single-pole and 3-way configurations.

The large sliding bar makes this switch very easy to use, and provides a full range of adjustment between off and full illumination. The dimming range is narrower with some LEDs, but compatible LEDs operate well with a full range of dimming and no humming or flickering. It’s important to note that it does have a toggle switch to set what type of bulbs you’re using, and selecting the wrong kind of bulbs will result in a low dimming range or other issues. It doesn’t come with a face plate, so make sure to pick up a compatible Decora Plus wallplate to complete the installation.

_{Switch Style: Slide | Operating Voltage: 120V | Circuit Type: 1-way}