Star, Not Mesh

LR devices talk straight to the controller. No routes, no hops, no repeaters required, which makes behavior easier to predict at the edges of your property.

Much Longer Reach

Device makers quote up to about 1,300 feet open-air, and controller makers quote up to about a mile. Real-world range is shorter but still well beyond a single mesh hop.

More Devices

Classic Z-Wave is limited to 232 nodes; the LR specification allows networks of thousands of devices, which matters for large properties.

Battery Friendly

Without multi-hop routing, battery sensors spend less time on the radio. LR controllers can also adjust transmit power dynamically.

Mesh Still Matters

LR devices don’t relay for others. Many LR devices can join in either mode, so use mesh indoors and LR for the far-flung ones.

Aeotec’s Z-Stick 10 Pro packs a Z-Wave 800 controller with Long Range and a Zigbee 3.0 radio into one USB adapter, with Aeotec quoting up to a mile of wireless range for Z-Wave LR. It’s ideal if you also run Zigbee devices in Home Assistant and want one stick instead of two. It averages about 4.5 stars from 180+ ratings.

HomeSeer’s SmartStick G8 is another 800-series USB controller supporting both mesh and Long Range. The listing stresses it isn’t a standalone hub and must run with smart home software on a computer. It’s a natural fit for HomeSeer users and averages about 4.5 stars from 98 ratings.

Monitoring a well house, greenhouse, barn or detached garage is a classic LR job. Zooz says the ZSE44 covers up to 1,300 feet with LR, with better battery life and S2 security. The listing names Z-Box, SmartThings, Hubitat and Home Assistant compatibility. It averages about 4.1 stars from 130+ ratings. See our Z-Wave temperature sensors guide.

The ZSE18 offers two power sources: a single battery Zooz rates for up to a year, or USB power for constant operation. It’s small and light enough for a magnetic mount, making it handy in a workshop or garage on the LR network. It averages about 4.1 stars from 260+ ratings.

For driveways and yards, the ZSE70 is built for outdoor use and, per Zooz, extends range up to 1,300 feet when your hub supports LR. It runs on batteries or a 12 V supply (sold separately) and also reports temperature, so it can trigger outdoor lights and freeze alerts. It averages about 3.9 stars from 62 ratings. See our best Z-Wave motion sensors guide.

Aeotec’s Door Window Sensor 8 adds temperature and humidity sensing, a 3-axis sensor and a mold-hazard function to an LR contact sensor, all on the 800 series for range and battery life. It’s a new listing with 16 ratings averaging about 4.1 stars.

The best-reviewed LR device we found: Minoston’s outdoor 800-series plug says it can reach up to 1,300 feet in open range when your hub supports LR. Use it for holiday lights, fountains, pumps or a barn heater far from the house. It averages about 4.3 stars from 880+ ratings. See our best Z-Wave outdoor plugs guide.

Minoston’s mini LR plug is a compact indoor option for a guest house, workshop or detached office. Remember that a plug joined in LR mode won’t repeat for your mesh, so join indoor plugs in classic mode if you want them to strengthen the mesh. It averages about 4.5 stars from 115 ratings.

The ZEN14 gives you two outdoor outlets on one LR device, for example landscape lights and a pond pump. The listing specifies a total resistive load shared between the two outlets, so check it against your loads. It averages about 4.2 stars from 100+ ratings.

The ZEN77 is one of the best-reviewed Z-Wave dimmers, now on the 800-series LR platform. Use LR mode for dimmers in a pool house or detached studio, and mesh mode inside the main house. It averages about 4.5 stars from 160+ ratings. See our best Z-Wave light switches guide.

The ZEN76 is the on/off sibling of the ZEN77. It’s a natural choice for garage, barn and floodlight circuits in outbuildings that are too far for a reliable mesh. It averages about 4.3 stars from 210+ ratings.

Enbrighten’s LR on/off switch is a paddle-style 800-series alternative to Zooz, from the brand behind many GE-branded Z-Wave switches. It averages about 4.1 stars from 52 ratings.

The battery-powered ZEN34 remote and scene controller mounts like a wall switch without wiring, so you can add a “barn lights off” or “gate open” button anywhere on your property. It averages about 4.4 stars from 410+ ratings, the best-reviewed Z-Wave remote we found.

The Shelly Wave 1 US LR is a compact, UL-listed 15 A single-channel relay that fits behind an existing switch or inside a junction box. Use it to automate a well pump circuit, an outbuilding heater or gate lights over LR. Wiring mains relays is a job for a qualified electrician. It averages about 4.5 stars from 20 ratings.

Detached garage

ZSE41 on the door, ZEN76 for lights, ZSE18 for motion.

Mailbox or gate

ZSE41 with an outdoor case, or Aeotec DW Sensor 8.

Barn or greenhouse

ZSE44 for climate, Minoston outdoor plug for a heater or fan.

Long driveway

ZSE70 outdoor motion, ZEN14 for lights.

Well or pump house

Shelly Wave 1 relay plus a ZSE44 freeze alert.

The controller

ZST39 LR for Z-Wave only, Z-Stick 10 Pro if you also run Zigbee.

Do Z-Wave LR devices work with my older hub?

Usually yes, but as ordinary Z-Wave mesh devices. To use Long Range, you need an LR-capable controller (an 800-series stick or hub) and software that supports LR. Many people upgrade just the USB stick, such as a Zooz ZST39 LR, in Home Assistant.

How do I choose LR or mesh for a device?

It’s usually decided at inclusion. With SmartStart, controllers like Z-Wave JS let you pick LR or mesh when you scan the device’s QR code. A common pattern is mesh for indoor mains devices (to build the mesh) and LR for distant or battery devices.

Will I really get 1,300 feet?

Only in open air with clear line of sight. Exterior walls, metal siding, trees and terrain all reduce range. Placing the controller centrally, high and on a USB extension cable helps more than anything else.

Do LR devices act as repeaters?

No. In LR mode, devices talk only to the controller. If you need to extend your classic mesh, join mains-powered devices in mesh mode or add a dedicated repeater. See our best Z-Wave repeaters guide.

Is Z-Wave LR available outside North America?

Z-Wave LR launched in the US frequency region, and the devices in this guide are US models. Availability in other regions depends on regulatory approvals, so check your local Z-Wave Alliance and manufacturer information before buying.