What Kind of Dimmer Is Needed for LED Lights?

LED lighting needs an LED-compatible dimmer to work properly — many older dimmer types simply aren't compatible. We'd always advise upgrading your dimmer at the same time as your lighting.

Why do LED lights need a specific dimmer?

Older dimmers were designed for the electrical characteristics of incandescent or halogen bulbs. LED bulbs behave differently, and using an incompatible dimmer with LED lighting commonly causes flickering, buzzing, or a limited dimming range. An LED-compatible dimmer is designed to work correctly with the lower power draw and different electrical profile of LED bulbs.

Which dimmer would you recommend?

A trailing-edge dimmer. That's the type designed for the electrical profile of LED lamps. Leading-edge dimmers are cheaper and more widely available, but they were built for incandescent and halogen bulbs, and they're the usual cause of flickering and buzzing on LED circuits. Our LED dimmer switches use trailing-edge modules and are available across every finish we make, so the control can match the rest of the sockets and switches in the room. All come with a 10 year warranty and our 60 day returns policy.

If you already have a dimmer plate you're happy with, it's often possible to replace just the module in the back rather than the whole plate.

One thing to check regardless of the dimmer: the lamps themselves need to be dimmable LEDs. Standard non-dimmable LED bulbs won't dim on any dimmer circuit. For the technical background on why the two dimmer types behave differently, see how dimmers work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do LED lights need a special dimmer?

Yes. LED lighting needs an LED-compatible dimmer. Many older dimmer types aren't compatible and can cause flickering or a limited dimming range.

What happens if I use the wrong dimmer with LED bulbs?

Common issues include flickering, buzzing, and a reduced or unreliable dimming range. Switching to a trailing-edge, LED-compatible dimmer normally resolves it.