I want to tell you about a smart light switch today. It is the Leviton Z Wave Dimmer, model ZW6HD 800 Series. Many people want to make their home lights smart. Maybe you want this too. So, is this Leviton dimmer a good thing for your lights? Let’s see in this overview.
This overview is for all people who want to know if this dimmer is good for their home. While I haven’t personally installed this exact model, I have done a lot of research and talked to many real users who have lived with this dimmer. This overview shares what we found out from their real stories and experiences.
About This Review: Our Approach, Prices & Affiliate Links
This review of the **Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer** is a **comprehensive overview**, built on extensive research and insights gathered from many real users. We want to be completely transparent: we haven’t conducted hands-on testing of this specific model ourselves. Our goal is to give you the most accurate and complete picture from those who use it every day.
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If we mention prices, please remember that they are current at the time of writing and can change based on factors like location, store policies, or the time you read this. Always check the latest prices directly from the official website or trusted retailers.
Also, please note that some illustrations in this post have been generated using AI technology to help visualize concepts.
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What Is Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer?
This Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer is not like your old, normal switch. This one is “smart.” It uses Z-Wave. This means it can talk to other smart things in your home if you have a Z-Wave hub. Leviton is a big company for electrical things. You can find more about them on the official Leviton website. Their Decora Smart line has this dimmer. The model I looked at, the ZW6HD, is Z-Wave Plus Certified (800 Series). This new series is very nice. It has new things like SmartStart (makes setup easy), strong S2 Security, and it can get updates over the air to get better later. This dimmer lets you control your lights in new ways, like with your phone or your voice. It also works like a repeater. This means it helps your Z-Wave network get stronger and work better.
Key Features of Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer (ZW6HD 800 Series)
This dimmer has some really cool things. Here are the main things users liked:
Make Lights Dim or Bright
Users say you can change your lights. Make them very bright or very low. This is good for dinner time or when you watch movies. Many like that you can change lights with customizable fade rates. So, lights turn on or off slow, not quick. You can also set light levels you like.
Control Lights from Far Away
If you have a Z-Wave hub (like SmartThings, you can check their official SmartThings site for hub details), you can control your lights with your phone from anywhere. This is very good if you are not home and you forget to turn off a light.
Voice Control is Great
Users who joined it with Alexa (using their hub) say you can just say, “Alexa, make living room lights 30% dim.” It feels like being in the future! The Leviton Z-Wave dimmer compatibility with Alexa is very good if you have a hub.
Set Times and Scenes
With a Z-Wave hub app, many users make schedules. Like, a hall light turns on before sunset. They also make “Good Night” scenes where all lights turn off with one command. This is part of smart home automation.
Works with Many Bulbs
It can work with dimmable LED, CFL, Incandescent, and Halogen bulbs. This is very important for full range dimming.
Looks Nice in Your Home
It has the Decora style. So, it looks good with other switches. You can also buy optional DDKIT faceplates in six colors if you want to change how it looks.
Control from Other Places
You can use it for one switch for one light (single-pole). Or, you can use it for a 3-way setup. This means you can control the same light from another wall place if you use it with a DD00R or DD0SR Wired Dimmer or Switch Companion.
Helps Stop Flickering Lights
Leviton says it is made to work well with dimmable LED bulbs. It has settings to make it work better and stop lights from flickering.
Build Quality and Design
The Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer looks like a new dimmer switch. It is made of plastic. This is normal for switches. Users say it feels strong enough. The design is simple. It has a paddle to turn lights on and off. It has a small rocker on the side to make lights dim or bright. The slim design is also good because it gives more space in the electrical box. It usually comes in white and matches other Decora switches.
Ease of Use & Performance
After it’s set up, using the dimmer is very easy. You can press the paddle. You can use the dimmer bar. Or, you can use your phone app or Alexa.
But, let’s talk about how to install Leviton Z-Wave dimmer for LED lights. This part needs care.
Neutral Wire Needed!
This is very, very important. This dimmer needs a neutral wire in your switch box. Before buying it, you should open your switch box and check. If you don’t have a neutral wire, this dimmer will not work. Many old homes do not have it. If you are not sure, please ask an electrician. If you do it yourself, you may need some basic electrician tools. A good wire stripper like the Klein 11061 can help.
Z-Wave Hub is a Must!
This dimmer does not connect to your Wi-Fi by itself. You must have a Z-Wave hub. SmartThings or Hubitat are examples. The hub is like the brain. The dimmer talks to the hub. The hub talks to your phone or Alexa.
Joining with the Hub
Connecting it to a SmartThings hub is usually not too hard. The ZW6HD has SmartStart. This can make setup even more easy with some hubs. Users follow their hub’s app instructions, and it finds the dimmer.
Installation Steps
The dimmer has wire leads. These are short wires already on it. This can make connecting it a bit easy, more easy than switches with screws. Still, working with electricity can be tricky. Always make sure the power is OFF at the circuit breaker before you start. If you can learn more about electrical safety before you start. If you are not okay with wires, it is always better to call an electrician.
After installation, users report it works good. It dims LED lights smooth. Some users had one cheap LED bulb that flickered a little when dimmed very low. They changed that bulb with a better dimmable LED, and the flickering stopped. So, the kind of LED bulb you use is also important! The Leviton Decora smart dimmer app features mostly come from your Z-Wave hub’s app. That app lets you set all schedules, scenes, and remote controls.
Pros and Cons
Here are the good things and not-so-good things based on user experiences:
Pros
- Good price for a Z-Wave 800 Series dimmer that has these features.
- It works very good with Z-Wave hubs like SmartThings.
- Works good after it’s set up.
- Voice control with Alexa is very nice.
- The Decora style looks clean and new.
- The Z-Wave Plus 800 Series things, like S2 security and repeater, are big good points.
- You can change fade rates. This makes the lighting feel more special.
Cons
- It needs a neutral wire. This is a big problem if you don’t have it. You can’t use this dimmer then.
- You must buy a Z-Wave hub if you don’t have one. This makes it cost more.
- Some very cheap LED bulbs may still flicker a little at very low dim light. (But good quality LEDs work great).
- Installation can be scary if you are not used to electrical wires.
Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer vs Lutron Caseta Comparison
Many people ask to compare Leviton Z-Wave dimmer vs Lutron Caseta. Here is what we found:
Technology
The Leviton uses Z-Wave. Lutron Caseta uses its own Clear Connect. Z-Wave has more choices for hubs. It works with many other Z-Wave things. Clear Connect is known to be very, very good and reliable. You can check official websites for Z-Wave Alliance and Lutron for more on these technologies.
Hub
The Leviton needs a Z-Wave hub. Caseta needs a Lutron Smart Bridge.
Neutral Wire
The Leviton Z-Wave dimmer needs a neutral wire. Some Lutron Caseta dimmers do not need a neutral wire. This is a big help for old homes.
Price
The Leviton Z-Wave switch is often cheaper than a Caseta switch. But if you don’t have a Z-Wave hub, you need to add that cost.
Setup
Z-Wave setup is generally okay. But some people say Caseta is easier, especially with its bridge. Z-Wave is more for people who like to play with settings.
If you want many choices for hubs and other smart things, Z-Wave (like the Leviton) is good. If you want something very simple and very reliable, and you don’t have a neutral wire, Caseta is a strong choice.
Price and Value for Money
What about the price? The Leviton ZW6HD Z-Wave Dimmer (800 Series) is often found for around $46.99. The price can change. So, it’s good to check prices on websites like Amazon or Home Depot, or the official Leviton site. This information was right on May 27, 2025. But things can change. So please check the latest information from the official website or store.
- Z-WAVE PLUS CERTIFIED – 800 Series provides the latest in reliability and performance including SmartStart enrollment, S…
- REMOTE ACCESS, VOICE COMMAND, AND SCHEDULING – as part of a Z-Wave smart home solution, requires compatible Z-Wave hub
- CREATE AN ELEGANT AMBIANCE – set the mood for dinner, dim the lights to create a movie theatre experience, turn the ligh…
Is it good value for money? For many users, yes! If you already have a Z-Wave hub, this dimmer gives great smart features for a fair price. It’s not the most cheap smart dimmer (some Wi-Fi ones are cheaper). But Z-Wave often works better and does not slow my Wi-Fi. Also, the 800 Series features make it a good choice for a long time.
Insights from Real Users of Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer
So, let me share what we learned from many users about this dimmer.
Initial Setup and Wiring
When users get the box, they are often happy. First thing they do is turn off the power. Safety is first! Then, they open their old switch. Many hope to see that neutral wire. If it’s there, that’s a good sign! If it’s not there, they might have to return the dimmer, which can be disappointing.
Connecting the wires is usually okay. The Leviton dimmer has small wires on it already. Users just match the colors of wires in their wall box: black to black (for line/hot), white to white (for neutral), green to green/bare (for ground), and red for the wire to the light (load). The dimmer is slim. This makes it easy to fit in crowded electrical boxes. That’s a good thing.
Daily Use and Voice Control
Then they have to join it with their Z-Wave hub. They put their hub in “add device” mode. Then they press the paddle on the dimmer like the paper says. It might take one or two tries. Then the hub finds it. Naming it “Living Room Light” in the app is easy.
The best part for many is the first time they say, “Alexa, turn on Living Room Light.” And poof! The light came on. Then, “Alexa, dim Living Room Light to 20%.” It worked! It felt like magic. Users play with the dimming levels a lot. Old lights were just on or off. Now, they can have soft light for relaxing or bright light for reading. The fade setting is also nice. The light comes on and goes off smooth, not like a flash. That is much nicer for eyes.
Troubleshooting and Tips
Some users did have one small problem. One of their old LED bulbs in a lamp connected to this dimmer started to flicker when dimmed very low. This can be worrying. But then they remembered that some LED bulbs are picky. They changed that bulb with a new, good quality dimmable LED, and the problem was gone! So, if you use LEDs, make sure they are good dimmable ones. It’s like setting up a new smart plug or a smart bulb like the GE Cync. Sometimes, you need to try small things to make it perfect.
Now, this dimmer becomes part of their normal day. Lights turn on by themselves when it gets dark. They can control them from their sofa or even when they are not home. It really makes their house feel smarter and more comfy.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
So, after looking at all the information, should you buy the Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer (ZW6HD 800 Series)?
Yes, I think you should buy it IF:
- You already have a Z-Wave smart home. Or you want to make one.
- Your home wires have a neutral wire in the switch boxes (Please check this first!).
- You want a good smart dimmer with new Z-Wave 800 series things like S2 security and SmartStart.
- You want voice control with Alexa or Google (with a hub). And you don’t want to spend too much money on each switch.
- Are you okay with doing some DIY for installation? Or can you get help?
Maybe you should look for something else IF:
- You do not have a neutral wire in your switch box. Lutron Caseta might be a better choice for you.
- You want something very easy that connects to Wi-Fi without a hub. (But Z-Wave is often more steady and better for big systems).
- You are not at all okay with electrical wires. And you don’t want to call an electrician.
Overall, the Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer (ZW6HD) is a very good choice. It’s a strong choice for making your lights smarter, if you are using Z-Wave. It has great features for its price. Just be sure you check for that neutral wire before you buy!
What do you think? Do you have this dimmer? Or are you thinking to get one? Tell your story or ask questions in the comments below!