Shopping checklist
Replace a light switch
45 min · Moderate · 8 steps
Materials
| Done | Item | Quantity | SKU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-pole switch | 1 | 078477151211 | $1.39 | |
| Wall plateMatch it to your switch; a toggle switch takes a toggle plate | 1 | Ask | ||
| Black electrical tape | 1 roll | Ask |
Tools
- Non-contact voltage tester
- Screwdriver set
- Wire stripper
- Needle-nose pliers
- Flashlight or headlamp
Before you start
- Turn off the breaker AND verify the wires are dead with a non-contact voltage tester. Never trust the breaker label alone.
- Test your tester on a known live outlet before and after you check the switch box.
- Stop and call a licensed electrician for three-way or four-way switches, aluminum wiring, missing grounds, scorched or crowded boxes, or anything beyond a like-for-like swap.
- Work with dry hands, stand on a dry floor, and keep one hand out of the box when you can.
- If you're not sure, don't guess. A licensed electrician is always the right call.
Prices are current as of printing and may change. Bring this list to the counter, or call (928) 669-9254. If we don't have it, we can order it.
Replace a light switch
Swap a worn single-pole switch for a new one, like for like. If anything in the box looks different from what's described here, stop and call a licensed electrician.
- Time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Category
- Electrical
- Steps
- 8
Before you start
- Turn off the breaker AND verify the wires are dead with a non-contact voltage tester. Never trust the breaker label alone.
- Test your tester on a known live outlet before and after you check the switch box.
- Stop and call a licensed electrician for three-way or four-way switches, aluminum wiring, missing grounds, scorched or crowded boxes, or anything beyond a like-for-like swap.
- Work with dry hands, stand on a dry floor, and keep one hand out of the box when you can.
- If you're not sure, don't guess. A licensed electrician is always the right call.
Step by step
- 1
Make sure this is a single-pole switch
A single-pole switch controls a light from one place and has ON and OFF printed on the toggle, two brass screws, and a green ground screw. If the light is controlled from two places (a three-way switch), or you're adding a dimmer, smart switch, or new wiring, this guide doesn't cover it. Call a licensed electrician.
- 2
Turn off the breaker
Switch off the breaker for that circuit at the panel. Put a piece of tape over it and tell everyone in the house so no one turns it back on while you work.
- 3
Prove the power is off
Test your non-contact voltage tester on an outlet you know is live so you know the tester works. Remove the cover plate and the two mounting screws, pull the switch out by its metal strap without touching the terminals, and check every wire in the box. Then test the tester on a live outlet again. Some boxes carry more than one circuit; if anything still reads live, stop.
- 4
Photograph the wiring
Take a clear photo of which wires go to which screws before you disconnect anything. It's your map for the new switch.
- 5
Disconnect and inspect the wires
Loosen the screws and unhook the wires. If wires are pushed into holes in the back (back-stabbed), press a small screwdriver into the release slot or cut them off close and strip 3/4 inch of fresh insulation. Stop and call an electrician if the wire is silver-colored (aluminum), the insulation crumbles, or you see scorch marks.
- 6
Connect the new switch
Attach the bare or green ground wire to the green screw. Attach the two hot wires to the two brass screws; on a single-pole switch either wire can go on either screw. Bend each wire into a hook that wraps clockwise around the screw so tightening pulls it in, then tighten firmly. If a white wire is one of the switch wires, wrap black tape around it to mark it as hot.
- 7
Mount the switch
Fold the wires neatly back into the box, push the switch in with ON at the top, and tighten the mounting screws so the switch sits straight. Don't overtighten; the strap can bend.
- 8
Restore power and test
Install the cover plate, turn the breaker back on, and try the switch. If the breaker trips, the switch buzzes, or it feels warm, turn the breaker off and call a licensed electrician.
Pro tip
Bring your old switch and your photo to the counter. We'll match it, and if it turns out to be a three-way switch, you'll know before you're standing in a dark room with the wrong part.