4-Way Switch Wiring With Power at the First Switch

Power enters the first 3-way switch, travelers pass through the 4-way switch in the middle, and the far 3-way switch feeds the light. Neutrals run through every box.

Safety first. Turn off the breaker and confirm the power is off with a non-contact voltage tester before touching any wire. Follow your local electrical code; some areas require a licensed electrician or a permit. If you find aluminum wiring, cloth-covered wiring, scorched insulation or more than one circuit in a box, stop and call an electrician.

Switch box 1

Grounds: join the bare copper wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in, the bare copper wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box and a short bare copper pigtail to the 3-way switch 1’s green ground screw under one wire nut.
Neutral splice: join the white wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in and the white wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box under one wire nut.
3-way switch 1, COMMON screw (the dark/black one) → the black wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in.
3-way switch 1, traveler screw (brass) → the black wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box.
3-way switch 1, other traveler screw (brass) → the red wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box.

Middle switch box

Grounds: join the bare copper wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 1, the bare copper wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 3 and a short bare copper pigtail to the 4-way switch’s green ground screw under one wire nut.
Neutral splice: join the white wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 1 and the white wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 3 under one wire nut.
4-way switch, first pair screw (usually brass) → the black wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 1.
4-way switch, first pair, other screw → the red wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 1.
4-way switch, second pair screw (usually dark) → the black wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 3.
4-way switch, second pair, other screw → the red wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box 3.

Switch box 3

Grounds: join the bare copper wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box, the bare copper wire in the 14/2 cable to light box and a short bare copper pigtail to the 3-way switch 2’s green ground screw under one wire nut.
Neutral splice: join the white wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box and the white wire in the 14/2 cable to light box under one wire nut.
3-way switch 2, COMMON screw (the dark/black one) → the black wire in the 14/2 cable to light box.
3-way switch 2, traveler screw (brass) → the black wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box.
3-way switch 2, other traveler screw (brass) → the red wire in the 14/3 cable to middle switch box.

Light box

Light fixture, black lead → the black wire in the 14/2 cable to switch box 3.
Light fixture, white lead → the white wire in the 14/2 cable to switch box 3.
Light fixture, ground lead or screw → the bare copper wire in the 14/2 cable to switch box 3.

What you need

4-way light switchGoes in the middle location(s).

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3-way light switches (pair)One for each end of the circuit.

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Non-contact voltage testerConfirms the power is really off before you touch a wire.

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Lever wire connectorsFaster and more forgiving than twist-on wire nuts for pigtails and splices.

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4-Way Switch Wiring With Power at the First Switch

Which setup do you have?

Flip the switches

Wire it box by box

Switch box 1

Middle switch box

Switch box 3

Light box

Other 4-way switch setups

What you need

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