Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch HS220, Single Pole, Needs Neutral Wire, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Light Switch Works with Alexa and Google Home, UL Certified, No Hub Required, 1 Pack

Why I installed the Kasa HS220

I wanted a reliable, affordable way to add dimming and smart control to a few indoor circuits without committing to a full ecosystem or expensive smart bulbs. The Kasa HS220 dimmer checked the right boxes: Wi‑Fi control without a hub, a physical paddle that anyone in the house can use, and native support for Alexa and Google Assistant. After living with a few units for several weeks, here’s how it performed—from wiring to daily use.

Setup and installation

Installation is straightforward as long as you have a neutral wire in the switch box. That requirement isn’t optional—no neutral, no go. If your home was wired in the last few decades, there’s a good chance you’ll find the white neutral bundle tucked in the back of the box. Turn off the breaker, verify with a tester, and the rest is largely by the book: line, load, neutral, ground.

Two practical notes from my installs:
- Space matters. The body is deeper than a dumb switch (about 1.74 in. without the faceplate), and adding wire connectors plus the neutral pigtail can crowd a shallow or older box. Plan on some careful cable management; multi‑gang boxes can get tight. If your boxes are particularly shallow or jammed with splices, be prepared to spend extra time or consider an electrician.
- Faceplate and sizing. The HS220 includes a clean, screwless white faceplate. It also fits standard Decora wall plates if you’re matching other switches in a multi‑gang setup.

The Kasa app’s guided setup is refreshingly clear. The switch powers up, broadcasts a temporary Wi‑Fi network, and the app walks you through joining it and handing off your 2.4 GHz credentials. I had no issues linking to a mixed 2.4/5 GHz network, but do make sure your router is broadcasting 2.4 GHz—this dimmer won’t join 5 GHz.

Design and controls

The HS220 uses a familiar paddle form factor with small, dedicated brightness controls at the top. That layout is more practical than full capacitive dimmer faces I’ve used—your on/off press doesn’t inadvertently change the level. The tactile click is positive without being loud; there’s a faint relay sound inside the wall when switching, which is typical for this class of device.

A couple of thoughtful touches stand out:
- Gentle Off. A double‑click gently fades the lights down instead of snapping them off. A single click can fade on as well. It’s a simple feature that ends up being surprisingly handy in bedrooms and hallways.
- Status indicator. A subtle LED helps you find the switch in the dark. It’s not blinding, and in the app you can adjust behavior so it only lights when the load is off or turn it off entirely if you prefer a completely dark plate.

App experience and automations

Kasa’s app remains one of the easier smart home apps to live with. The essentials are up front—on/off, a large dimmer slider, and quick access to schedules and timers. I built a few useful automations in minutes:
- Timed fades at bedtime using Gentle Off
- Countdown timers for utility spaces (e.g., auto-off after 20 minutes)
- Away Mode to randomly toggle a couple of circuits in the evening for lived‑in presence

Schedules run on the device, so the rules continue even if your internet blips. Remote control does require the device to reach TP‑Link’s cloud, which in my experience has been reliable and fast enough for routine use. I’d still treat this like a smart switch first and a remote switch second—the physical paddle remains the default for most people in the house.

One nit: there’s a slight delay—usually about a second—between tapping the paddle and the lights turning on or off. It’s consistent and feels like a purposeful soft start rather than lag, but if you expect instant relay‑style switching you’ll notice it the first few times.

Performance and dimming quality

Dimming is smooth with modern dimmable LEDs, with no visible stepping or pulsing through most of the range. With a couple of finicky bulbs, I noticed faint shimmer at the very lowest levels. Swapping to better‑quality dimmable LEDs solved it. That aligns with general dimmer advice: pair smart dimmers with known, dimmer‑rated bulbs and avoid mixing bulb types on the same circuit.

Brightness memory works as expected—the HS220 remembers the last level and returns to it on the next on command. Ramp up/down is pleasant and unobtrusive. I did not encounter flicker during normal operation or after power restoration.

Load capacity will cover standard residential lighting circuits. Don’t use this with non‑dimmable loads, ceiling fans, or low‑voltage transformers unless the transformer and fixtures are explicitly compatible with forward‑phase dimming. When in doubt, check the fixture documentation.

Voice assistants and integrations

Once the switch is in Kasa, linking to Alexa and Google Assistant is a few taps. Both platforms discovered the dimmer cleanly and supported on/off, percentage‑based dimming, and routines. Voice control feels natural—“set the dining lights to 40%” lands in about a second.

There’s no native Apple HomeKit support for the HS220. If HomeKit is your primary ecosystem, you’ll need a different model or a bridge workaround, which I don’t recommend for most users. For Alexa and Google households, the HS220 fits right in.

Reliability and Wi‑Fi behavior

On my 2.4 GHz network, connectivity has been stable. After a router reboot and a brief power outage test, the HS220s reconnected on their own without prompting. Control latency via the app is low on the LAN and acceptable over cellular.

A few network hygiene tips that help:
- Keep 2.4 GHz enabled and avoid band‑steering that aggressively forces clients to 5 GHz.
- Assign static DHCP leases if you want predictable IPs for local control.
- Place the switch within reasonable range of your access point; plaster, brick, and metal boxes can attenuate the signal.

Safety and build quality

Build quality is solid. The terminals clamp down securely, the housing is sturdy, and the included faceplate sits flush with standard Decora devices. UL certification is table stakes for in‑wall gear and the HS220 has it; that matters for insurance and peace of mind.

This model is designed for North American electrical systems. If you’re on 220–240 V mains (common in the UK and many other regions), this isn’t the right product.

Limitations and what I’d change

• Requires a neutral. That’s expected for Wi‑Fi dimmers but rules out older two‑wire switch loops unless you rewire.
• Slight on/off delay. I grew used to it, but instant‑on purists may not.
• No HomeKit. If you’re all‑in on Apple, look elsewhere or to a variant with the right ecosystem support.
• Tight boxes can be a struggle. If your junction boxes are shallow or crowded, installation can be fiddly.

Who it’s for

The HS220 makes the most sense if:
- You want to smarten an entire circuit (e.g., a room’s cans or outdoor eave lights) without replacing multiple bulbs.
- You use Alexa or Google Assistant and prefer not to run a hub.
- You value dependable app control, basic schedules, and a physical control that anyone can use.

If you need multi‑way control on the same light from two or more locations, choose a compatible 3‑way model in the same family. The HS220 is single‑pole only.

The bottom line

The Kasa HS220 is a practical, well‑rounded smart dimmer that nails the fundamentals: clean design, smooth dimming, dependable Wi‑Fi, and a straightforward app. It doesn’t chase every advanced feature, but what it does, it does consistently well. Installation is approachable if you’ve got a neutral and a reasonably roomy box, and everyday use balances smart features with a familiar wall control.

Recommendation: I recommend the HS220 for Alexa or Google homes looking for a no‑hub, budget‑friendly smart dimmer that just works. It’s cost‑effective versus outfitting a room with smart bulbs, the Gentle Off feature is a thoughtful bonus, and Kasa’s app and scheduling cover most needs. Skip it if you require HomeKit, lack a neutral wire, or are wiring in a region with 220–240 V mains. Otherwise, it’s a solid upgrade that modernizes a space without complicating it.