Switches & dimmers · Checked list
Smart switches that work without a neutral wire
Buy the Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer (PD-6WCL) if your switch box has no neutral wire. It needs no neutral and no ground to work, and it works with Alexa, Google and Apple Home through Lutron's hub.1 We checked 11 popular smart switches on Amazon: 6 work without a neutral, 4 need one, and 1 listing says both.
Our picks
Best for most homes
Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer (PD-6WCL)
No neutral, and Lutron says it works with no ground wire too. Dims up to 150 W LED. Add a Pico remote later for a second switch spot.1
$64.95 on Amazon
Best for stairs and halls (3-way)
Lutron Caseta 3-Way Smart Dimmer Kit (PD-6WCL + Pico)
The same dimmer plus a Pico remote that sticks to the wall as your second switch. No new wires.2
$74.95 on Amazon
Best if you want Leviton
Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer (DN6HD)
No neutral, and it handles bigger loads: 300 W LED. It does need a ground wire and Leviton's MLWSB bridge.3
$49.98 on Amazon
Cheapest that works
Aqara Smart Light Switch, No Neutral (WS-USC01)
No neutral, but it needs an Aqara Zigbee hub. Use it only if you already have one.4
$39.99 on AmazonEvery switch we checked
Green means it works in a box with no neutral wire. We read each maker's own spec sheet where one exists, not just the Amazon title, because the titles get this wrong.
| Switch | Neutral wire | Hub | Ground wire | 3-way | Works with | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer (PD-6WCL)1 | Works without a neutral | Lutron hub for app and voice (dims without it) | Not needed | Yes, with a Pico remote | Alexa, Google, Apple Home | $64.95 |
| Lutron Caseta 3-Way Smart Dimmer Kit (PD-6WCL + Pico)2 | Works without a neutral | Lutron hub for app and voice (dims without it) | Not needed | Yes, Pico remote included | Alexa, Google, Apple Home | $74.95 |
| Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Dimmer (DN6HD)3 | Works without a neutral | Leviton MLWSB bridge | Required | Yes, wire-free companion | Alexa, Google, Apple Home | $49.98 |
 Leviton Decora Smart No-Neutral Switch (DN15S, 2-pack)5 | Works without a neutral | Leviton MLWSB bridge | Not listed | Yes, wire-free companion | Alexa, Google, Apple Home | $79.96 |
| Aqara Smart Light Switch, No Neutral (WS-USC01)4 | Works without a neutral | Aqara Zigbee hub | Not listed | Not listed | Apple Home, Google, Alexa | $39.99 |
 GE Cync Smart Switch, On/Off Button, No Neutral (CSWONBLBWF1NN)6 | Works without a neutral | None (Wi-Fi) | Required | No | Alexa, Google | $49.99 |
 GE Cync Smart Paddle Switch (93131814)7 | Listing says both | None (Wi-Fi) | Required | Alexa, Google | $22.99 | |
 Lutron Caseta Smart Switch for Lights and Fans (PD-6ANS)8 | Needs a neutral | Lutron hub | Yes, with a Pico remote | Alexa, Google, Apple Home | $64.95 | |
 Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer, Matter (D36HD)9 | Needs a neutral | None (Wi-Fi) | Yes | Alexa, Google, Apple Home | $39.00 | |
 Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch (HS220)10 | Needs a neutral | None (Wi-Fi) | No | Alexa, Google | $14.98 | |
 Tapo Matter Smart Dimmer Switch (S505D)11 | Needs a neutral | None (Wi-Fi) | No | Apple Home, Alexa, Google | $17.99 |
Prices on Amazon, November 2, 2026.12
Three listings that look right but aren't
Lutron Caseta Smart Switch for Lights and Fans (PD-6ANS)
Same look and same price as the no-neutral Caseta dimmer, but this on/off switch needs a neutral.8
Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer, Matter (D36HD)
Says Decora Smart like the no-neutral line, but this one needs a neutral.9
GE Cync Smart Paddle Switch (93131814)
The listing says both. GE's no-neutral paddle is model CSWONBLPWF1NN; this listing names model 93131814.7
How to tell if your box has a neutral
Turn off the breaker first. Take off the switch plate and look at the back of the box. A neutral is usually two or more white wires twisted together under a wire nut, often tucked behind the other wires.13 If you only see black wires and a bare copper ground, you have no neutral. Buy from the green rows above.
Not sure what you are looking at? Stop and call an electrician. A white wire wrapped in black tape is not a neutral.
Why no-neutral switches can make LEDs flicker or glow
A switch with no neutral powers itself by letting a tiny bit of current through the bulb. Lutron says LEDs react to almost any voltage, so some never fully turn off.14
The fix depends on the switch. For Lutron's no-neutral on/off switch, Lutron includes a small part called a LUT-MLC that goes in the light fixture.15 Inovelli calls the same kind of part a bypass and says some LED setups need one.16 If you have only one or two low-watt LED bulbs on the switch, expect to need it.
Questions people ask
Do I need a neutral wire for a smart switch?
Most smart switches need one. The ones in green above do not. The Lutron Caseta dimmer is the easiest: Lutron says it needs no neutral and no ground to work.1
Do no-neutral smart switches need a hub?
Most do. Lutron needs its Smart Hub for app and voice control, Leviton needs its MLWSB bridge, and Aqara needs its Zigbee hub. GE Cync is the one that uses Wi-Fi with no hub.6
Can I use a smart switch without a neutral in a 3-way?
Yes, with Lutron or Leviton. Both add a wireless second switch instead of using the old wires.2, 3
Is the Lutron Caseta on/off switch no-neutral too?
No. The Caseta on/off switch sold for lights and fans (PD-6ANS) needs a neutral, even though it looks like the dimmer.8
Turn off power at the breaker before you touch any switch. If your home has aluminum wiring or you are not sure, hire a licensed electrician.
Sources
- Lutron support: Caseta in-wall dimmers, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “If you do not have a neutral wire in the switch box, you must use either the PD-6WCL or PD-10NXD.”
- Lutron Caseta load controls spec sheet (369987, 2024), read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Use with Pico remote for multi-location dimming”
- Leviton DN6HD product specification (2022), read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Line, Load and Ground connections are required for proper operation.”
- Aqara Smart Wall Switch (No Neutral) specs, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “600 W/way(Incandescent), 200 W/way (CFL/LED)”
- Leviton support: no-neutral switches in 3-way, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “No-neutral line: DN6HD dimmer and DN15S switch”
- GE Cync no-neutral switch spec sheet, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Minimum of 15W required. Note: Included bulb adaptor for medium base bulbs can be used if less than 15W.”
- Amazon.com listing (GE Cync), read November 1, 2026.
- Lutron Caseta switch spec sheet (369831, 2021), read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Installation requires neutral wire”
- Amazon.com listing title (Leviton): "Neutral Wire Required", read November 1, 2026.
- TP-Link Kasa HS220 product page, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Requires a neutral wire”
- Tapo S505D datasheet, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Requirements: Neutral wire in wall box”
- Prices and photos: Amazon product data, read November 2, 2026.
- TP-Link FAQ: how to find the neutral wire, read November 1, 2026.
- Lutron: why a neutral-based dimmer, read November 1, 2026.
- Lutron Caseta spec sheet, LUT-MLC footnote (369987, 2024), read November 1, 2026.
- Inovelli Blue Series 2-1 product page, read November 1, 2026.