December 01, 2025

Turn off lights after motion stops

While modern LED lights use minimal power, automatically turning off lights when a room is unoccupied creates a satisfying smart home experience and ensures energy isn’t wasted. This automation completes the motion detection lighting cycle.

Use cases

Quick Access Spaces

Bathroom - Turn off lights 5 minutes after no motion detected
Closets - Turn off immediately after 1 minute (quick access areas)
Garage - Turn off after 3-5 minutes of no activity

Living & Work Spaces

Living Areas - Turn off lights 2 minutes after no motion at nighttime
Home Office - Longer delay (10 minutes) for stationary work

Products needed

Essential Equipment

Motion Sensor

Same sensor used for turning lights on
Should detect motion continuously, not just entry
Battery life consideration: some sensors report too frequently

Smart Light Switch or Bulb

Connected to your automation platform

💡 Outdoor Tip

Use weather-rated sensors (IP65+) or protect from elements

Basic automation setup

IF no motion detected for 5 minutes THEN turn off lights

⏱️ Timing Strategies by Room Type

Quick Access (1-2 min): Closets, pantry, laundry room, hallways - Brief visits, quick in and out
Living Spaces (3-5 min): Living room, dining room, kitchen, home gym - May have brief stationary moments, but generally active
Work/Relaxation (5-10 min): Home office, reading nook, craft room, bathroom - People often sit still for extended periods
Bathroom Special: Use door sensor override (don't turn off if door closed), OR extended delay (10-15 min), OR multiple sensors

Triggers

Motion no longer detected for X minutes
Fast-access areas: 1-2 minutes
Living spaces: 3-5 minutes
Work areas: 5-10 minutes

Conditions

Time-based: Different delays for day vs. night
Door status: Don't turn off if bathroom door is closed (someone may be sitting still)
Additional sensors: Check other sensors in room for activity

Actions

Turn off light switch/bulb
Can include gradual dimming before turning off (advanced)

Platform-specific examples

Home Assistant

Trigger Bathroom motion sensor no motion for 5 minutes

Condition Bathroom door sensor shows door is open (not in use)

Action Turn off bathroom light

Advanced: Dim to 50% after 3 min, wait 30 sec, check motion, then off

SmartThings

IF Motion sensor no motion for 5 minutes

AND Door sensor is open

THEN Turn off light

Hubitat

Trigger Motion inactive for 5 minutes

Condition Door contact is open

Action Turn off light

Setup: Use Motion Lighting app or Rule Machine

Apple HomeKit

When Motion stops

Wait 5 minutes

If Bathroom door is open

Do Turn off bathroom light

Alexa

When Motion sensor detects no motion for 5 minutes

Condition Door contact is open

Action Turn off light

Google Home

When Motion no motion for 5 minutes

Condition Door sensor is open

Action Turn off light

Advanced features

Day vs. night timing

Create separate automations with different delay times:

Daytime: Shorter delays (2-3 minutes), more active movement
Nighttime: Longer delays (5-10 minutes), slower movement

Multiple sensor logic

For larger rooms, use multiple sensors to ensure no one is present:

All motion sensors must show "no motion" before turning off
Set appropriate delay (e.g., 5 minutes)
Prevents false shutoffs in sensor blind spots

Activity-based override

Don't turn off lights if other activity detected:

TV is on in the room
Music is playing
Computer is active
Smart plug shows power usage

Common issues and solutions

Lights turn off while room is occupied

Problem: Person sitting very still, motion sensor dead zone, or delay too short.

Solutions:

Add door sensor - don't turn off if door closed
Use longer delay (5-10 minutes instead of 2-3)
Add additional motion sensors for full coverage
Use occupancy sensors instead of motion
Add manual override button to extend time

Lights stay on too long after leaving

Problem: Delay too long or sensor sees movement outside room (hallway traffic).

Solutions:

Reduce delay time
Reposition sensor to focus on room interior only
Add door sensor - turn off immediately when door closes
Use presence detection for faster response

Inconsistent behavior

Problem: Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't respond at all.

Solutions:

Replace batteries before fully depleted
Add Zigbee/Z-Wave repeaters
Check sensor configuration
Update firmware
Test sensor range and coverage

Best practices

Testing your delays

Start conservative: 10 minute delay initially
Monitor: Watch for false shutoffs over several days
Gradually reduce: Find the sweet spot
Room-specific: Different delay per room type

Sensor coverage verification

Walk through room at different paths
Stand still in each area for 2 minutes
Verify motion sensor still "sees" you
Add sensors to eliminate dead zones

Manual override options

Always provide a way to override automation:

Physical switch: Manual operation keeps lights on indefinitely
Voice command: "Keep bathroom lights on" for 30 min override
Dashboard button: Toggle to disable/enable automation

Energy savings

While LED bulbs use minimal power, automatic shutoff still provides benefits:

10W LED × 2 hours/day = 7.3 kWh/year per bulb
Halogen/incandescent: 60W bulbs save 10x more
Commercial spaces: significant savings
Environmental impact: reduced energy generation

Related automations: