Best Dimmer Switch
Chances are if you feel the welcoming ambiance of an attractively lit room, the reason it is so aesthetically pleasing is that most of those lights are on a dimmer switch. A dimmer switch allows you to create all kinds of warmth, tone and settings for your room. A room with dimmer switches gives the same space flexibility in its look. For example, perhaps you have your kids do their homework at the dining room table. For that scenario, you want nice full bright lights. Of course, if later that week you were having friends over for a dinner party, you certainly wouldn’t want the same bright lights glaring down on them. So instead you dim a few of them, light the candles on the table and you have a completely different tone to the very same room. But aside from the look, a dimmer switch can achieve, there are some other reasons to make this low-cost investment.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 | 
Lutron Ariadni |
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| #2 | 
Kasa Smart HS220 |
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| #3 | 
Leviton DWVAA-1BW |
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| #4 | 
LUTRON Diva CL Dimmers |
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| #5 | 
Maxxima Dimmer Electrical Switch |
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When you are using the dimmer, you are lowering the amount of power that your electrical system is sending to the bulb. The more power that is sent, the more energy that is used. So that means when using the dimmer function of your switch, therefore using less energy, you are saving money. Dimming the amount of energy you send to a bulb will also extend the life of a light bulb. That means bulbs on dimmers last longer than those that aren’t on one. This is because delivering less power to the bulb reduces the stress on both incandescent and halogen bulb filaments, extending the life of that bulb. Using less power will not just save on electricity, it will help save the planet! That’s because as you use less power, the pollution from the power plants will go down, and as your bulbs last longer that means fewer bulbs in landfills. Using dimmers is also good for your health. There have been scientific studies that show dimming lights in the evening helps break the negative effect light bulbs have on your sleep cycle. Also, dimmed bulbs are using a lower color temperature which is more healthy for your neurological system.
Do you still need reasons for getting some dimmers? How about these?
Have you ever been professionally photographed? A good photo is all about the lighting. Having dimmers in your house is not only going to make the room look better, but it is also going to make you look better too! When a bulb gets dimmed it goes from a harsh white to a warmer, more inviting tone that will soften the appearance of your hair and skin.
For sure you want to buy dimmers now, but you imagine they are difficult to install and cost a fortune. Luckily you are wrong! Most dimmers are super easy to install on your own and don’t require a professional electrician. You simply turn off the power breaker at your main electrical panel, remove your standard switch and replace it with your new dimmer. The same three wires you disconnected from your old switch attach to the new switch in the same configuration. All of these great reasons will cost you on average around $10. $10! Even super sophisticated, electronic dimmers don’t cost more than $25. So you see the benefit to the environment, your health, the ambiance of your house and your pocket. The next question is in which room are dimmers most useful?
Places to use dimmer switches:
- Hallways – Hallways are an ideal place for dimmer switches so you can have a low light for night time movement. You neither have to worry about waking someone up with a bright light or crashing into a wall due to darkness.
- Bathroom – Having the ability to dim the lights in your bathroom is helpful both in the morning and at night. In the morning you should not have super bright lights hitting your eyes while you are still adjusting to waking up. At night time having the lights turned down lower is also helpful for transitioning into sleeping mode. Dimmers can also create a relaxing ambient light for a luxurious bath without the need for candles.
- Bedroom – A bedroom is a place of rest so you should not need the full power of your light bulbs often in this room. A dimmer in the bedroom helps to create a romantic or tranquil space where your body can wind down and go to bed.
- Kitchen – While your kitchen will usually make great use of full light, you have opportunities to use dimmer’s at dinner time or during parties.
- Living Room – Having the ability to lower the lights in your living room to watch TV can be like transforming your space into your private movie theater.
There are four basic aspects to dimmers you want to look for:
- Adjustability. The whole reason for having the dimmer is to adjust the light. You can do this on all types of dimmers, from a knob, a slide, or a touchpad. Have an idea of how much of a range you are looking for.
- Presets. Many dimmers now can set and remember certain lighting settings. This is a great function for specific times such as TV viewing.
- Remote. Some models give you the ability to control the lights for more than one location, not from the dimmer at all but a separate remote switch. Wouldn’t that make turning off the lights in your kid’s room a breeze?
- Indicator light. Often dimmers will have an indicator light so you can locate the switch in the dark or to know if the light is “off’ or just “very dim”.
Best Dimmer Switches
1. Lutron Ariadni
SPECS:
- Dimensions: 4.1 x 2 x 1 inches
- Dimmer: 3-way toggle
Best Overall Dimmer
Most homeowners are looking for a way to add a dimmer to a single light. This dimmer from Lutron features a toggle-style switch that can accommodate LED bulbs up to 150 watts. You can use it as a single-pole dimmer for single-switch lights or with your 3-way lights that function from two switches. The light switch is separate from the dimmer so you can preset the slide switch to the brightness you are looking for when you flip on the switch. There is an adjuster under the plate cover that allows you to fine-tune the dimmer’s range. This dimmer can control up to 17 bulbs at once, making it a great option for rooms with recessed lighting that have a fixture with multiple lights.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who should buy this dimmer:
Anyone looking for a simple, versatile and quality dimmer that is the top on multiple lists.
2. KASA SMART DIMMER SWITCH
SPECS:
- Size: 5 x 3.4 x 1.8 inches
- Dimmer buttons
Best Smart Dimmer
If you’re in search of a smart dimmer switch for a light controlled by just one switch, definitely check out the affordable Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch. This is an easy hub-free way to control your home’s lighting using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana devices since it can connect directly to your wi-fi network. You will need a neutral wire to successfully install this dimmer switch. It uses a rocker switch to turn the light on or off, but it also has side-by-side buttons to make it easy to adjust the brightness. You can also double-click to turn off the light with a slow fade, making the transition easier on the eyes. You can create automated schedules and control groups of switches, as well as program the dimmer to react based on how you touch it. It comes with its app that even allows you to control your lights via your cell phone!
| Pros | Cons |
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Who should buy this dimmer:
If you are looking for a smart dimmer to interface with your current digital assistant Kasa is an ideal option.
3. Leviton DWVAA-1BW
SPECS:
- Size: 1.3 x 1.75 x 4.13
- Dimmer: Push Button
- 2-year warranty
Best for High Tech Lovers
The Leviton smart system doesn’t require a digital hub (Alexa, etc.) but if you have such a device, you can ask your Leviton Voice Dimmer to dim and brighten lights, listen to the news, play music, get the weather, control smart home devices, and more. Even without a hub, you can schedule your lights to turn on and off according to the sunrise/sunset in your area by using the Leviton app. It can control your ceiling fans, multiple dimmers and has an auto shut off a device in closets. There are so many bells and whistles to discover on this device. Easy to install but requires a neutral wire. Comes with a 2-year warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who should buy this dimmer:
If you are a true tech lover this dimmer does everything but control a spaceship!
4. LUTRON Diva CL Dimmers
SPECS:
- Product Dimensions: 1.75 x 2 x 4.2 inches
- Dimmer: Rocker switch
Best For LED Bulbs
Many people have already traded in their traditional incandescent light bulbs for LED lights. LEDs are great, energy-saving alternatives to the traditional incandescent light bulbs. However, standard LED screw-in replacement bulbs are not all dimmable. Whether or not these bulbs are dimmable should be stated on the box or on the bulb itself. Now that you have switched over to the new technology you can achieve a much higher quality result by adding a dimmer. The Lutron dimmer eliminates dimmer interaction and it works with your existing wiring. The product provides easy to adjust dimmer ranges and provides superior dimming with LED bulbs. The product has been tested on 1,000s of bulbs from dozens of brands to ensure superior dimming. The paddle switch turns lights on/off and returns light to the preset level, while the convenient slider dims and brightens to the level you require.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who should buy this dimmer:
If you have converted all of your bulbs to LED this is a great interface for your home.
5. Maxxima Dimmer Electrical Switch
SPECS:
- Size: 2.1″ W x 4.1″ H x 1.7″ D
- Dimmer: Slider
Best on a Budget
The Maxxima Dimmer Electrical Switch is a truly budget-friendly dimmer switch. Your purchase includes a wall plate and mounting screws for easy installation. This is a no-frills switch and it is compatible with halogen and incandescent, but reviews have shown complaints with LED bulbs. It is very easy to install and includes a one year warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
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Who should buy this dimmer:
If you are looking for a quality dimmer on a budget, your search stops here!
Last Words
Dimmers can enhance your home décor, decrease energy use, extend light bulb longevity and even improve your quality of life. Light dimmers offer significant advantages for your wallet and the environment, plus smart dimmers can interface directly through your wi-fi and work with your current digital home portal. There couldn’t be an easier, more affordable way to instantly upgrade your home.