Leviton Decora Good Movement Sensing Dimmer evaluation: Get your transfer on

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At a look Knowledgeable's Ranking Execs

Connects on to Wi-Fi, no bridge or good house hub required

Spectacular movement sensor catches all the pieces

Unimaginable assortment of person choices

Nice 3-way assist, together with a wi-fi choice

Cons

Requires a impartial wire

Movement sensitivity is sort of blind at decrease ranges

Dearer than the competitors

Our Verdict Leviton’s up to date motion-sensing dimmer pulls out all of the stops with wired (or wi-fi) 3-way circuit assist and spectacular customization choices.

Worth When Reviewed

This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined

Greatest Pricing At this time

Worth When Reviewed $54.99 (MSRP)

Greatest Costs At this time: Leviton Decora Good Movement Sensing Dimmer (mannequin D2MSD)

$39.71

With each dimming and movement sensing in-built; plus, assist for 3-way wiring setups, Leviton’s 2nd-gen Decora Good Movement Sensing Dimmer (mannequin D2MSD) in-wall good swap has nearly all the pieces you can ask for.

As its identify explicitly states, that is an replace to an earlier mannequin, the principle additions being improved compatibility with third-party ecosystems and assist for Leviton’s wi-fi distant management companion, which I’ll delve into in a bit. All advised, it’s properly price its $40 road worth.

Specs

This dimmer has an intensive checklist of options, however the wanting it's that it’s fairly the loaded system.

A Guidelight setting turns a managed gentle on very dimly when movement is detected at night time, however turns the sunshine on to your regular brightness settings when daylight is detected.

Once more, that is an in-wall swap that requires everlasting set up and the presence of a impartial wire within the field the place it’s put in. The swap is rated to assist as much as 300 watts of LEDs or 450 watts of incandescent bulbs, or one other load of as much as 450 volt-amps. It’s additionally appropriate with MLV (magnetic low voltage) masses. As with most dimmers, fluorescent bulbs usually are not beneficial to be used with this product (though dimmable compact fluorescents are OK).

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Leviton-app-screenshots.png?w=1200" alt="Leviton app screenshots" class="wp-image-2911186" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy"/> Leviton’s app provides a bunch of advantageous controls for the corporate’s motion-sensing dimmer.

Christopher Null/Foundry

The swap connects to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks solely, and also you’ll want Leviton’s cell app for setup and administration. You may as well combine the dimmer into Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant ecosystems. It isn't, nevertheless, appropriate with Matter at the moment (Leviton tells me a firmware replace is within the works; most of the firm’s different 2nd-gen Wi-Fi merchandise–together with its typical on/off swap and dimmer–already assist Matter after a firmware replace).

The centerpiece of the system is its built-in movement sensor, which sits simply above the button-style energy swap. This sensor includes a 180-degree discipline of view with a most vary of 30 ft. Naturally, the sensor’s major perform is to show the lights on when movement is detected, although this may be simply disabled and adjusted within the app.

Bodily controls work as anticipated. Press the central button as soon as to toggle the sunshine on or off. Or use the pair of tiny buttons to the best of the ability button to regulate brightness, both by tapping up or right down to shortly soar by way of 10 broad ranges of brightness, or by holding one of many buttons right down to extra easily and steadily regulate it, releasing while you get to the sunshine stage you need.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/15-dimmer-switch-in-the-box-1.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200" alt="15 dimmer switch in the box" class="wp-image-2911192" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy"/> Press the massive button beneath the movement sensor to toggle the managed gentle on and off; press the small buttons on the right-hand aspect to brighten or dim the sunshine.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Lastly, the system helps the Leviton Wherever Companion Dimmer ($27 at Amazon), a wi-fi distant management with a 50-foot vary that syncs with the D2MSD and replicates its dimming capabilities (though not its motion-sensing function). It’s additionally appropriate with the Leviton Wherever Companion Swap ($25 at Amazon) Powered by two coin-cell batteries, both system may be mounted to the wall and lined with a plate to emulate a three-way swap with out requiring any wires or electrical work in any respect (the Swap product, after all, lacks a dimming function).

If the swap you’re changing is already wired on a 3-way circuit, nevertheless, you’ll want to switch that different swap with a Leviton Dimmer Companion ($27 at Amazon) or Swap Companion ($25 at Amazon)—each of that are wired merchandise—for the D2MSD to work.

Set up and setup

Like most wired good switches and dimmers, the D2MSD requires a stage of consolation with gentle electrical work and a modest quantity of know-how to finish the set up correctly (we are able to stroll you thru the method with this easy-to-follow information to putting in a light-weight swap). The system is designed totally with pigtail connections, with wire nuts included within the field that will help you join the 4 obligatory wires (5 if connecting to a 3-way circuit).

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/13-wire-nuts-installed-1.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200" alt="13 wire nuts installed" class="wp-image-2911190" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy"/> The Leviton good dimmer D2MSD requires a impartial wire and it provides the choice of a 3-way set up through a traveler wire (or you need to use Leviton’s wi-fi companion swap).

Christopher Null/Foundry

As is widespread, the in-wall portion of the dimmer is moderately massive (although Leviton says the 2nd Gen system is slimmer than the first Gen), so getting it into the receptacle so it’s totally flush in opposition to the wall can take some effort, however I used to be capable of wedge the system into place with out a lot bother. A white swap plate is included within the field, which snaps on over a mounting body that connects to the swap with two small screws (so the screws received’t be seen while you’re completed).

From there, digital onboarding is accomplished by way of the My Leviton app. The app is simple, auto-discovering new Leviton gadgets close by as quickly a they're powered on. A number of easy selections allow you to bridge the system to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi community. Oddly, whereas setup runs you thru a couple of fundamental configuration choices, it doesn't immediate you to replace firmware. You’ll need to try this manually, beneath the “Gadget Well being” menu choice within the Settings tab; out of the field mine was properly outdated.

If you wish to add the swap to HomeKit, the QR code is printed on a sticker connected to the swap, beneath the body.

Utilizing the Leviton Decora Good Movement Sensing Dimmer

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Leviton-app-screenshots-2.png?w=1200" alt="Leviton app screenshots 2" class="wp-image-2911185" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy"/> Leviton’s good dimmer can assist a wide range of lighting varieties, together with compact fluorescent, incandescent, LED, and magnetic low voltage masses.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Out of the field, the D2MSD labored precisely as I anticipated it to. On the highest movement sensitivity setting, the swap was very aware of motion within the room. I put in the swap in my storage, on the identical wall because the door main into the home, about 6 ft away from it. The sensor was so efficient that the related gentle would sometimes be on by the point I took my first step from the home into the storage, with zero delay.

It’s nearly too delicate, to be sincere; but I discovered the medium and low sensitivity ranges to be too insensitive to make use of. The low setting typically wouldn't activate with out me standing straight in entrance of the dimmer and waving my arms. What I would like is a sensitivity setting someplace between excessive and medium, although that’s a really minor criticism.

The dimmer can both be set to return to essentially the most just lately used brightness stage or to a preset brightness every time it's used. Fade on and off speeds will also be set by the person.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-Installing-Leviton-smart-motion-sensing-dimmer-1.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200" alt="1 Installing Leviton smart motion sensing dimmer" class="wp-image-2911187" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy"/> One half of Leviton’s two-piece swap cowl will get screwed to the swap itself. The opposite half snaps onto this half, hiding the screws.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Digging deeper into the settings, the dimmer may be set in one in every of two modes: Occupancy turns the lights on when movement is detected and off when it stops; Emptiness requires you to show the sunshine on manually, it then leaves them on till movement stops, at which level it turns them off. You'll be able to configure the size of time for no movement to be detected till the lights flip off, with choices starting from 1 to 60 minutes.

An ambient gentle sensor constructed into the swap can be utilized to maintain the lights off if the room is already vibrant from one other supply (reminiscent of daylight from a window). This may be toggled on or off and the minimal gentle stage specified by a slider. (You’ll want to make use of some trial and error to dial this in.)

A last movement sensor function is the choice to allow or disable a pink LED inside the sensor to flash if movement is detected. There’s additionally a separate inexperienced LED beneath the movement sensor that may be set to be both on or off when the sunshine is lively, or off altogether.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/14-wires-stuffed-into-the-box-1.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200" alt="14 wires stuffed into the box" class="wp-image-2911188" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy"/> You'll be able to add Leviton’s good dimmer to your Apple HomeKit ecosystem by scanning the QR code on the system.

Christopher Null/Foundry

One other helpful function of the swap known as Guidelight. That is an elective mode that turns the lights on very dimly throughout night time hours when movement is detected, however turns the lights on to your regular brightness settings throughout different instances. These hours may be configured manually or in relation to dawn and sundown, primarily based in your location.

I had zero bother with any of those options, and the dimmer labored flawlessly all through per week of testing. The {hardware} controls work properly, and the app is simple to navigate and fast to reply. Novices ought to discover it simple to work with, however energy customers who need whole management over the way in which it really works received’t be dissatisfied, both.

Do you have to purchase the Leviton Decora Good Movement Sensing Dimmer 2nd Gen D2MSD?

I’ve been utilizing a really related product, the motion-activated Kasa Good ES20M Good Wi-Fi Dimmer from TP-Hyperlink, for almost three years. After changing it with Leviton’s system, I have to say the sting goes to Leviton.

These are each superb merchandise, however Leviton’s system has a superior movement sensor, it helps 3-way circuits–together with that wi-fi distant–and I merely most well-liked working with the My Leviton app over the Kasa Good app. You’ll pay $15 extra for the D2MSD, nevertheless, so if money is a priority, TP-Hyperlink provides efficiency that’s almost nearly as good. For those who don’t want 3-way assist, you possibly can’t go flawed with both choice.

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Leviton Decora Good Movement Sensing Dimmer evaluation: Get your transfer on

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