BESTTEN 2 Pack Dimmer Light Switch, Universal Lighting Control, Single Pole or 3 Way, Compatible with LED Dimmable Lamp, CFL, Incandescent, Halogen Bulb, Decorator Wallplate Included, UL Listed, White

I’m a fan of upgrades that add comfort without complicating the wiring, and that’s exactly the appeal of the Bestten dimmer. It’s a straightforward, no‑neutral, paddle-style dimmer with a side slider that aims squarely at the common pain points of LED dimming—flicker, limited low-end control, and inconsistent compatibility—while keeping the install approachable. After installing and living with a pair across a few rooms, here’s how it fares.

Installation and setup

The Bestten dimmer arrives as a two‑pack with matching decorator wallplates. Each dimmer uses leads (not screw terminals), so you’ll wire-nut line, load, traveler (if 3‑way), and ground. There’s no neutral required, a big plus for older homes where neutrals aren’t present in the switch box. In a basic single‑pole setup, installation is quick. In my case, replacing an old toggle took under 15 minutes including labeling wires and testing.

In a 3‑way configuration, it’s equally straightforward—but you must use only one dimmer in the circuit and pair it with a standard 3‑way mechanical switch on the other end. That limitation is typical at this price point and prevents the weird behavior you can get from dueling dimmers.

One practical note: the body is standard depth for an electronic dimmer, but between the lead wires, wirenuts, and existing conductors, tight boxes can get crowded. In a four‑gang metal box that already had a lot going on, I had to be deliberate with wire routing to avoid binding at the faceplate. In single‑gang applications using the included plate, fit and finish were clean and flush.

Dimming performance

The headline feature here is the low-end trim adjustment—a small wheel on the side of the dimmer. LEDs often start to flicker or cut out below a certain threshold. With the trim, you set the minimum brightness so the light turns on reliably and stays stable at the bottom of the slider. This is a bigger deal than it first sounds. On a run of six A19 dimmable LEDs, I initially saw a hint of shimmer near the lowest setting. A half-turn of the trim eliminated it and gave me a usable, very low night-light level without dropouts.

On incandescent loads, performance is what you’d expect: smooth, silent dimming through the full range. On LEDs, it’s as good as the bulb’s driver allows. With quality dimmable bulbs, I experienced smooth ramping, instant-on, and no buzz. With a budget bulb I had on hand, there was a faint step near the bottom, which disappeared with a small trim adjustment. The dimmer is rated for up to 150 W of dimmable LED/CFL and up to 600 W incandescent, with a minimum LED load of 3 W. Staying within those bounds matters; push a mixed LED load too high and any dimmer will show its limits.

The memory function makes everyday use pleasant. Tap the paddle off, and when you turn it back on, it returns to the last brightness level. That behavior is great in spaces like dining rooms or bedrooms where you dial in a preferred level and want it to stick.

3‑way behavior

In a hallway controlled from two locations, I installed the Bestten at one station and kept a standard 3‑way rocker at the other. The circuit behaved properly in all switch combinations, and the dimmer side retained its memory and trim behavior. As noted, you cannot install two of these on the same circuit; it’s one dimmer plus one standard switch. If you need multi-location, synchronized dimming control, this isn’t that product.

Design and ergonomics

The paddle has a definitive mechanical click. It’s not whisper‑soft, but it’s consistent—more like a typical decorator switch than a mushy electronic touch control. The slider is horizontal and low-profile, which keeps the face clean, but the edge texture is a bit sharper than some rounded designs. If you tend to slide your finger across to dim without looking, you may notice the tactile edge. It didn’t bother me in daily use, but more rounded sliders feel nicer.

Aesthetically, it blends well with standard white decorator plates. The included plates match in color and sheen, and the overall look reads as “modern neutral” rather than a statement piece. If you’re mixing brands across a multi‑gang plate, expect some minor alignment and tolerance differences; that’s common, and pairing like-with-like helps.

Compatibility and limitations

This dimmer is billed as “universal,” and practically that means “works with most dimmable LEDs, CFLs, incandescent and halogen bulbs.” That’s an important distinction: the bulbs must be dimmable. With non-dimmable LEDs, you’ll get flicker or misbehavior—it’s not a fault of the dimmer.

On bulb compatibility:
- Use known dimmable lamps from reputable brands when possible.
- Start with the trim in the middle and dial it down until the lamp flickers or drops out, then bring it back up until stable.
- Expect some variation between fixtures; a vanity with multiple small-base LEDs may behave differently from a single A19 pendant.

The dimmer isn’t rated for motor loads. Don’t use it to control ceiling fans or other inductive devices. If you need fan speed control, choose a dedicated fan controller.

Safety and build quality

The unit is UL listed and built around a polycarbonate body. Heat buildup was a non-issue in my installs, even after an evening of dimmed operation on a larger LED load. The faceplate color resisted visible yellowing through my evaluation period, though any long-term color stability claim requires years, not weeks. The internal electronics behaved predictably—no audible hum, no radio interference in my space, and stable operation after multiple daily cycles.

Quirks and troubleshooting tips

• Flicker at low levels: This is what the side trim is for. Bring the minimum up until the flicker disappears. It’s the single best tool you have for chasing LED weirdness.
• Lights won’t turn on at the set level: Raise the minimum trim slightly, especially with small total LED loads near the 3 W floor.
• Multi‑gang fit issues: If a multi‑gang plate feels tight, loosen the mounting screws slightly, square the devices, and tighten incrementally across the row. Mixing device depths from different brands can cause binding; using matched plates and careful alignment helps.
• 3‑way confusion: If your 3‑way doesn’t behave correctly, double-check that only one dimmer is in the circuit, verify traveler orientation, and confirm which conductor is line vs. load. Label wires before disconnecting the old switch.

Value

As a two‑pack, the Bestten dimmer lands in the budget‑friendly tier without feeling bargain-bin. You get the features that matter for modern lighting—memory, a usable slider, and low‑end trim—plus the convenience of no neutral and included plates. There are premium dimmers with softer sliders, advanced 3‑way/4‑way companion systems, and app control, but they cost substantially more. If you simply need reliable, flicker‑managed dimming at the wall, this hits a practical sweet spot.

The bottom line

The Bestten dimmer does what it sets out to do: make mixed‑technology lighting behave like it should, with an install that respects older wiring and a control that’s intuitive for anyone in the house. Its strengths are the low‑end trim, stable LED behavior within spec, and a sensible memory function. The trade‑offs are modest: a decidedly “clicky” paddle, a slider edge that could use softer ergonomics, and the usual care required when fitting into crowded multi‑gang boxes.

Recommendation: I recommend the Bestten dimmer for homeowners who want dependable, adjustable LED dimming without rewiring for a neutral or buying into a whole-home system. It’s a cost-effective way to tame flicker, extend the usable low end of your LEDs, and give rooms a more flexible feel. If you need multi-location dimming with companion controls, a whisper-quiet tactile feel, or a guaranteed match in multi‑gang designer plates, consider a higher-tier line. For most single-pole and simple 3‑way applications, though, this is a smart, straightforward upgrade.