Interactive diagram

Single-Pole Dimmer Switch Wiring

A standard single-pole dimmer is wired like a switch: incoming hot to one lead, the wire to the light to the other, and the green lead to ground. It doesn’t need the neutral.

Buying a smart switch? Check if your box has a neutral wire first.

Tool

Interactive dimmer switch wiring diagramThree steps: pick your setup, flip the switches, wire it

Step 1 of 3

Which setup do you have?

Look in the box with the breaker off: what matters is where the power cable comes in. Pick the one that matches, or keep the one already selected.

Step 2 of 3

Flip the switch

Tap a switch, button or GFCI on the diagram. Glowing wires are carrying power right now. On a small screen, scroll the diagram sideways.

Show power flow

Black: hot
White: neutral
Red: hot / traveler
White + black tape: hot
Bare copper: ground
Wire nut
Glow: carrying power now

Use a dimmer rated for LED bulbs (often labeled C•L or LED+), and keep the total bulb wattage within its rating.

Step 3 of 3

Wire it box by 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

Grounds: join the bare copper wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in, the bare copper wire in the 14/2 cable to light box and the dimmer’s green ground lead under one wire nut.
Neutral splice: join the white wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in and the white wire in the 14/2 cable to light box under one wire nut.
Dimmer, dimmer lead 1 (either black lead) → the black wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in.
Dimmer, dimmer lead 2 → the black wire in the 14/2 cable to light box.

Light box

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

Other dimmer switch setups

What you need

LED dimmer switchSingle-pole and 3-way capable, rated for LED and incandescent bulbs.
Check price
Smart dimmer (neutral required)Wi-Fi dimmer for boxes with a neutral wire.
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No-neutral smart dimmerFor switch boxes without a neutral.
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Non-contact voltage testerConfirms the power is really off before you touch a wire.
Check price

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Single-Pole Dimmer Switch Wiring

Which setup do you have?

Flip the switch

Wire it box by box

Switch box

Light box

Other dimmer switch setups

What you need

More wiring tools