Z-Wave at a glance
- Frequency
- Below 1 GHz: 908.4 MHz in the US, 868.4 MHz in Europe
- Range
- Up to 100 m per hop; Z-Wave Long Range up to 1.5 miles
- Mesh network
- Yes (Z-Wave Long Range is a star network)
- Hub-free
- No: it needs a Z-Wave controller (a hub or a USB stick)
- Power efficiency
- Works with
- SmartThings (on some hubs), Home Assistant
Is Z-Wave right for you?
Pros
- Below 1 GHz: no interference from Wi-Fi or other 2.4 GHz devices
- Up to 100 m per hop, and Z-Wave Long Range reaches much farther
- S2 security mandatory for certified devices since 2017
- Low power: Long Range sensors can last up to 10 years on a coin cell
Cons
- Needs a Z-Wave controller
- No Z-Wave in Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home
- Joins Matter only through a bridge
- Devices are made for one region's frequency
- Fewer devices than Zigbee in our catalog
Larger homes and outbuildings where locks, switches and sensors must reach far and stay out of the crowded 2.4 GHz band, run from Home Assistant or a SmartThings hub.
What you need to start
Z-Wave devices need a Z-Wave controller, a USB stick for Home Assistant or a hub:
- Dongles
Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
4.6(262)$79.00For Home Assistant: a Z-Wave and Z-Wave Long Range controller, one model for every region.
- Dongles
3% OFF
Z-Wave Long Range Stick
4.6(630)£29.99£30.95A USB Z-Wave Long Range controller, for the US frequency.
- Hubs
Smart Home Hub
4.2(2.1K)$159.99For SmartThings: the hub with a Z-Wave radio.
Products that work with Z-Wave
41 products, the best sellers first.
Alarm Systems that work with Z-Wave
- Alarm Systems
Alarm (2nd Gen) 8-Piece Kit
4.7(18.1K)$249.99 - Alarm Systems
Alarm (2nd Gen) 5-Piece Kit
4.7(5.4K)$199.99 - Alarm Systems
Alarm Pro 14-Piece Kit
4.4(1.7K)$379.99 - Alarm Systems
Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit
4.5(1.1K)$299.99 - Alarm Systems
Alarm (2nd Gen) EU
4.7(3.4K)£219.00 - Alarm Systems
Smart Security Kit (4-Piece)
4.2(204) - Alarm Systems
Smart Security Kit (8-Piece)
4.4(2)
Door & Window Sensors that work with Z-Wave
See all 7 door & window sensors- Door & Window Sensors
Window and Door Contact Sensor (2nd gen)
4.7(29.6K)$14.99 - Door & Window Sensors
23% OFFWindow & Door Sensor (3rd Gen)
4.2(532)$22.99$29.99 - Door & Window Sensors
5% OFFRecessed Door Sensor 7
3.8(354)$37.99$39.99 - Door & Window Sensors
Door / Window Sensor 2
3.6(58)$47.72 - Door & Window Sensors
Door Window Sensor 7
4.2(47)$37.99 - Door & Window Sensors
Door Window Sensor 8
4.1(16)$39.99 - Door & Window Sensors
Outdoor Contact Sensor
4.4(1.7K)€59.00
Wall Switches that work with Z-Wave
See all 6 wall switches
Buttons that work with Z-Wave
See all 5 buttons
More categories
- Motion Sensors4
- Plugs3
- Sirens2
- Temperature & Humidity Sensors2
- Water Leak Sensors2
- Energy Monitors1
- Smoke & CO Detectors1
- Water Shutoff Valves1
- Window Coverings1
How Z-Wave connects and compares
 Z-WaveInterference-free dedicated frequency |  Wi-FiUniversal connectivity, no hub needed |  ZigbeeLow-power mesh for large networks |  BluetoothShort-range direct connections |  MatterUniversal standard for interoperability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 800-900 MHz | 2.4 / 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 / 5 GHz |
| Range | ~30m (mesh extends) | ~30m indoors | ~10-20m (mesh extends) | ~10m | ~15-30m (mesh extends) |
| Mesh network | |||||
| Max devices | ~230 | ~30-50 practical | ~300 | ~7 active | ~250 |
| Power usage | |||||
| Hub-free | |||||
| Latency | |||||
| Interference | |||||
| Maturity | |||||
 Google Home | |||||
 Alexa | |||||
 Apple Home | |||||
 Home Assistant | |||||
| Best for | Reliable interference-free setups | Simple setups with few devices | Large device networks with sensors | Proximity devices & sensors | Cross-ecosystem compatibility |
Z-Wave in our catalog
Where they are
Frequently asked questions
What devices use Z-Wave?
Mostly locks, switches, sensors, water valves and thermostats. Each category on this page lists the Z-Wave products in our catalog, the best sellers first.
Do I need a hub for Z-Wave?
Yes: a Z-Wave controller, such as a USB stick for Home Assistant (the Connect ZWA-2, for example) or a hub with a Z-Wave radio like the Aeotec Smart Home Hub for SmartThings.
Is Alexa compatible with Z-Wave?
Not directly: no Echo has a Z-Wave radio. Z-Wave devices can reach Alexa through a hub that links to it, such as SmartThings or Home Assistant.
What is Z-Wave Long Range?
A Z-Wave mode that reaches up to 1.5 miles and up to 4,000 devices in a star network, on the same controller as classic Z-Wave mesh devices.
Z-Wave or Zigbee?
Z-Wave runs below 1 GHz, away from Wi-Fi interference, and reaches farther per hop; Zigbee runs at 2.4 GHz and has more devices and more ecosystems that support it.
Does Z-Wave work with Matter?
Only through a bridge: Matter supports bridges that bring Z-Wave devices into a Matter ecosystem.