How much does home automation cost?

$168 buys all 4 essentials.

4 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission

Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick

$168

4 items, nothing rented

Against 247 hobbies

Above median

Dearer than 67% of them. Median hobby: $84.

What each thing costs

Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.

Smart Home Hub essential

mid $195top $299

$80

Smart Home Starter Kit essential

top $100

$55

Smart Plugs essential

mid $26top $38

$24

Smart Lighting essential

mid $75top $242

All 4 essentials

$168

What you need

$168

Everything you need to start home automation. None of it is a big commitment.

Smart Lighting

Smart bulbs vs smart switches: bulbs for renters and lamps, switches for permanent installation.

Kasa Smart Bulb A19

mid $75top $242

Smart Plugs

$24

Smart plugs let you control any electrical device without rewiring. The starter automation device.

Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug

mid $26top $38

Smart Home Starter Kit

$55

Voice speaker + 4 smart plugs + camera covers the foundational pillars: voice control, automation, security.

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Kasa Smart Plug Bundle

top $100

Smart Home Hub

$80

Hub coordinates between devices and protocols (Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, Matter). Skip if all your devices are pure WiFi.

Amazon Echo Dot (newest model)

mid $195top $299

Later, if you stay

Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.

Smart Thermostat

$80

Learning thermostats save 10-20% on heating/cooling bills through optimization. Pay back the cost in 1-2 years.

Amazon Smart Thermostat

mid $114top $240

Startup cost · all 247 hobbieslog scale

$1Blogging

$84median

$1245Kite Surfing

$145

Home Automation costs more to start than 67% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.

Cost questions

How much does Home Automation cost to start?

About $168 for the 4 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each.

What does each thing cost for Home Automation?

Smart Home Hub: from $80. Smart Home Starter Kit: from $55. Smart Plugs: from $24. Smart Lighting: from $9.

Is Home Automation an expensive hobby?

Home Automation costs about $145 to start, dearer than 67% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this sits around the middle.

What should I buy first for Home Automation?

smart lighting, smart plugs, smart home starter kit, smart home hub — $168 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.

Hobbies that cost about the same

The 6 nearest to home automation by startup cost, out of 247.

Bowling$2 less$143 Horseback Riding$2 less$143 Ice Skating$2 less$143

Home Automationyou are here$145

Birdwatching$4 more$149 Baking$10 more$155 Roller Skating$10 more$155

Start home automation Home Automation beginner guide